"Merry Christmas"
Zechariah 8:1-23
Revelation 16:1-21
Psalm 144:1-15
Proverbs 30:29-31
Merry Christmas! My prayer is that today you spend time celebrating Christ, and
pondering the incredible fact that he came to earth to bring us peace, joy, and to
give us the opportunity to be in relationship with the father.
Look at today's reading in Psalms: "O Lord, what is man that you even notice him?
Why bother at all with the human race? For man is but a breath; his days are like a
passing shadow. Bend down the heavens, Lord, and come. The mountains smoke
beneath your touch. Let loose your lightning bolts, your arrows, Lord, upon your
enemies, and scatter them. Reach down from heaven and rescue me; deliver me
from deep waters, from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are filled with
lies; they swear to the truth of what is false."
Puny man crying out to an awesome God for help. What does this amazing creator
of the universe do to save this man who is but a wisp of smoke?
He comes as a baby.
The power of all the universe placed in the most vulnerable of human form. For
what purpose? To save man. To rescue him. to deliver from the power of the
enemy.
Rejoice! "I will sing you a new song, O God, with a ten-stringed harp. For you
grant victory to kings! you are the one who will rescue your servant David from
the fatal sword." (vs. 9-10)
I don't know that we yet fully can comprehend the power of the Gift this Christmas
morning. It was such a small package, but no power can compare!
Thank you, for coming to save us!
Merry Christmas!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label God's Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Love. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
12.18.11 "Christain"
"Christain"
Habakkuk 1:1-3:19
Revelation 9:1-21
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 30:10
The misspelling of the title is intentional. I'll explain in a minute. (cuz I know it drives some of you crazy!)
Today's reading from the One-Year Bible is pretty intense. At first glance it's tough to find a scripture that gives you that "warm-fuzzy" feeling. It's about destruction and plagues, and torment.
Habbakuk (I love that name!) is crying out to God because of the rampant sin and lack of justice. The Lord answers with this: "Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe. I am raising a new force on the world scene..." (Hab. 1:5-6)
Sounds great doesn't it? God's going to do something amazing! Do you know what it is? In the scriptures following he says he's raising up the Chaldeans, a "cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it."
How does that make sense? At first it doesn't to Habakkuk. "O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal - is your plan in all of this to wipe us out? Surely not! O God our Rock, you have decreed the rise of these Chaldeans to chasten and correct us for our awful sins. We are wicked, but they far more! Will you, who cannot allow sin in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up? Should you be silent while the wicked destroy those who are better than they?" Hab. 1:12-13.
Growing up in the late 70's & early 80's there were these movies that showed some of the post-Rapture terror that would cover the earth. They would scare me to repentance every time. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I think if that's our only exposure to the character of God, it leaves our understanding at about the level of Habakkuk's question.
I think many believers stop there as well. "Oh-oh. Look at that war, look at that disaster... here come the end times... better hunker down. Hit the fox-holes, it's going to be bad."
None of that is wrong, but it's tragically incomplete! In the 2nd Chapter of Habakkuk the Lord says this: "Note this: Wicked men trust themselves alone [as these Chaldeans do], and fail; but the righteous man trusts in me, and lives!"
Revelations 9 speaks of the same torment. It describes these horrific metal locusts out of a sci-fi movie that come to torture millions. in verse 4 it says, "They were told not to hurt the grass or plants or trees, but to attack those people who did not have the mark of God on their foreheads."
Here's why the title's misspelled. I'm a pretty fast typer, but some words I consistently spell wrong cuz i'm going too fast. One of them is "Christian". For some reason, I spell it "Christain". It's misspelled, but I'm really starting to like that word. I want to have the mark (stain) of Christ on my life.
What's the point of all this? There's a real urgency for us to BE who Christ wants us to be. The very nature of God is to weed out all of the impurities of sinful man. If you don't know God, trials and disasters will be overwhelming, but for those who truly know Christ it is a different story.
Habbakuk gets it. "O Lord, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe for the fearful things you are going to do. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. In your wrath, remember mercy." (Hab. 3:2)
Listen to the contrast: "But the men left alive after these plagues still refused to worship God! they would not renounce their demon-worship, not their idols made of gold and silver, brass, stone, and wood - which neither see nor hear nor walk! Neither did they change their mind and attitude about all their murders and witchcraft, their immorality and theft." (Rev. 9:10-21)
"Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit, and though the olive crops all fail, and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my Strength, and he will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains." (Hab. 3:17-19)
Which option do you wanna take? I want to trust in the Lord! I want to BE stained with the precious blood of Christ so that the stain of sin is gone! I don't want to be tainted with the injustice of the world. God's wrath WILL be poured out on the earth. But it's not a wrath of hatred. It's a wrath that comes from incredibly intense love for His own.
I'm so glad that I'm one of His own! I want to be who He's created me to be! I want to devote my life to helping others to do the same... to be a "Christain"... to Live the DREAM!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, December 12, 2011
12.12.11 "Come In!"
"Come In!"
Amos 7:1-9:15
Revelation 3:7-22
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 29:23
We have two dogs. If you want see them get excited quick, yell "Come in!" as if someone is at the door. For some reason they freak out at the potential that someone is at the door. I guess it's their job to make sure that every person who walks through the door passes the sniff test & is formally introduced to the ferocious 9 pound guard dogs.
Rev. 3:20 says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."
This verse reveals a profound insight into the nature of our Savior. His desire is to have a personal relationship with us. He wants to commune with us. He wants to be with us. The creator of the universe says, "Hey, can I come over for pizza?"
I think it's in the guilt-driven human nature to envision a God who is behind massive closed doors with a sign on it that says, "You're not good enough for God!!" But what does Jesus do? He comes to us!
These are the words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea. This church has become lukewarm in it's love for God. They have become complacent. They're so caught up in their own concerns that they're just going through the motions. They've not realized that they've pushed Jesus outside the door. Their relationship with Christ has fallen to the back burner.
But Jesus doesn't kick the door down and start screaming at everyone. He stands and knocks. He speaks, hoping someone will recognize his voice. He desires the door be opened so he can be with friends.
Where are you right now. Have you taken the time to sit and visit with Jesus, or are you thinking, "now that you mention it, I'm not sure where he is." Do you hear his voice calling you? Don't let the condemnation of the enemy keep the door to your heart locked. The enemy would like you to think, "don't let him in, he's going to make you feel guilty!" That's a lie. He just wants to be with you as a friend.
Do you hear him knocking?
"Come in!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Amos 7:1-9:15
Revelation 3:7-22
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 29:23
We have two dogs. If you want see them get excited quick, yell "Come in!" as if someone is at the door. For some reason they freak out at the potential that someone is at the door. I guess it's their job to make sure that every person who walks through the door passes the sniff test & is formally introduced to the ferocious 9 pound guard dogs.
Rev. 3:20 says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."
This verse reveals a profound insight into the nature of our Savior. His desire is to have a personal relationship with us. He wants to commune with us. He wants to be with us. The creator of the universe says, "Hey, can I come over for pizza?"
I think it's in the guilt-driven human nature to envision a God who is behind massive closed doors with a sign on it that says, "You're not good enough for God!!" But what does Jesus do? He comes to us!
These are the words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea. This church has become lukewarm in it's love for God. They have become complacent. They're so caught up in their own concerns that they're just going through the motions. They've not realized that they've pushed Jesus outside the door. Their relationship with Christ has fallen to the back burner.
But Jesus doesn't kick the door down and start screaming at everyone. He stands and knocks. He speaks, hoping someone will recognize his voice. He desires the door be opened so he can be with friends.
Where are you right now. Have you taken the time to sit and visit with Jesus, or are you thinking, "now that you mention it, I'm not sure where he is." Do you hear his voice calling you? Don't let the condemnation of the enemy keep the door to your heart locked. The enemy would like you to think, "don't let him in, he's going to make you feel guilty!" That's a lie. He just wants to be with you as a friend.
Do you hear him knocking?
"Come in!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
11.16.11 "Someone's Thinking About You"
"Someone's Thinking About You"
Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22
It can be a great feeling to know that someone is thinking about you. Yesterday was my birthday, and again this year, thanks to the marvels of technology and the facebook birthday reminder, I had hundreds of greetings from people on facebook. It was a "this is your life" moment from friends from grade school through every stage of life. It was great to walk down memory lane.
It can also be disconcerting worrying about what people think. I heard a great line once. "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if realized how rarely they do!" Deep down, we're often motivated or directed by what people think of us. But, the truth is, everyone else is so worried about who's thinking about them, no one has time to think about anyone else. So there no sense in worrying about it.
But there is someone who is thinking about you. Constantly.
"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us..." Ps. 115:12
As I read the Word I am in such awe of God's love for us. Today the separate passages from the one year bible share a theme.
"For the Lord God says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day.... I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and cause them to lie down in peace, the Lord God says. I will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick." Ez. 34:11-16
It's God's desire to draw us to him. He wants us to be close to him. Without Him, we are sheep without a shepherd, lost and in danger.
Ez. 34: 31 says, "you are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men and I am your God, so says the Lord."
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen."
God has been thinking about us so much that he sent his son as the great Shepherd. This deal is sealed with an everlasting covenant signed in the precious blood of Christ.
All because someone is thinking about us...
You know, it's not a good idea to live life worried about what people are thinking all the time. It's a very "self"-conscious lifestyle. But, it is good to live life knowing who IS thinking about you constantly.
What does God think of right now when he thinks of you? Do you have some broken limbs that need splinting? Do you need healing? That's what he's there for! He longs to be our shepherd. Let's follow Him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, November 11, 2011
11.11.11 "What's the Bible About?"
"What's the Bible About?"
Ezekiel 23:1-49
Hebrews 10:18-39
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 27:13
In the movie "City Slickers", the weathered cowboy, Curly is saying to a searching man in mid-life crisis. "Life is all about one thing." Billy Crystal's character asks him, "what's that one thing?" He replies, "That's what you have to figure out."
If someone were to ask you, "What's the Bible about?" What would you answer? Guess what? Just like Curly's philosophy, the Bible is about "one thing."
This is nothing profound or anything to make a slogan out of or anything, but I was thinking that The Bible is an epic story of the contrast between a holy God and depraved man and of a love so intense that the Creator will stop at nothing to reconcile the relationship. In simpler term"s, the one thing is, "God wants to be in relationship with you.
The 23rd chapter of Ezekiel describes two daughters, Jerusalem & Samaria, and how thy prostitute themselves to Egypt. How in spite of being delivered from bondage, their heart for "prostitution" never left (Ez. 23:8). Can you imagine if this was the life of your daughters? How bad would that hurt? God's description only scratches the surface of how he must feel when the people he created out of love choose to worship other Gods.
Then the ultimate price for our sins is paid in the death of Christ on the cross.
Hebrews 10 sums it up. "Now, when sins have once been forever forgiven and forgotten, there is no need to offer more sacrifices to get rid of them. And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies where God is, because of the blood of Jesus. This is the fresh, new, life-giving way which Christ has opened up for us by tearing the curtain - his human body - to let us into the holy presence of God." Heb. 10:18-20
verse 23 :"Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt,..." Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - our relationship with him is right! "...and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that he will do what he says." We have a Mission to Reach our world for Christ with this good news!
Verse 24 commands us to serve one another (Active Ministry Involvement) and be committed to each other (Relationships Devoted to Unity). "In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good."
Verse 25 directs us to be Empowered through Biblical Training. "Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near."
What an incredible love God has for us. If we REALLY understand the price he paid, and REALLY could fathom the reward for those who accept his love, there's no way we would falter in our walk with him.
What's the bible about? God is Good and I'm bad, but he loved me enough to make me right with him. He died for me, so I can live for him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 23:1-49
Hebrews 10:18-39
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 27:13
In the movie "City Slickers", the weathered cowboy, Curly is saying to a searching man in mid-life crisis. "Life is all about one thing." Billy Crystal's character asks him, "what's that one thing?" He replies, "That's what you have to figure out."
If someone were to ask you, "What's the Bible about?" What would you answer? Guess what? Just like Curly's philosophy, the Bible is about "one thing."
This is nothing profound or anything to make a slogan out of or anything, but I was thinking that The Bible is an epic story of the contrast between a holy God and depraved man and of a love so intense that the Creator will stop at nothing to reconcile the relationship. In simpler term"s, the one thing is, "God wants to be in relationship with you.
The 23rd chapter of Ezekiel describes two daughters, Jerusalem & Samaria, and how thy prostitute themselves to Egypt. How in spite of being delivered from bondage, their heart for "prostitution" never left (Ez. 23:8). Can you imagine if this was the life of your daughters? How bad would that hurt? God's description only scratches the surface of how he must feel when the people he created out of love choose to worship other Gods.
Then the ultimate price for our sins is paid in the death of Christ on the cross.
Hebrews 10 sums it up. "Now, when sins have once been forever forgiven and forgotten, there is no need to offer more sacrifices to get rid of them. And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies where God is, because of the blood of Jesus. This is the fresh, new, life-giving way which Christ has opened up for us by tearing the curtain - his human body - to let us into the holy presence of God." Heb. 10:18-20
verse 23 :"Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt,..." Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - our relationship with him is right! "...and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that he will do what he says." We have a Mission to Reach our world for Christ with this good news!
Verse 24 commands us to serve one another (Active Ministry Involvement) and be committed to each other (Relationships Devoted to Unity). "In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good."
Verse 25 directs us to be Empowered through Biblical Training. "Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near."
What an incredible love God has for us. If we REALLY understand the price he paid, and REALLY could fathom the reward for those who accept his love, there's no way we would falter in our walk with him.
What's the bible about? God is Good and I'm bad, but he loved me enough to make me right with him. He died for me, so I can live for him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, November 6, 2011
11.6.11 "Complete Devotion"
"Complete Devotion"
Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
"Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?" Ps. 106:2
Our relationship with the Lord is an incredible thing. I don't think we can understand the full magnitude of this, and how important this relationship is in God's eyes. In Eph. 5:31 Paul quotes a verse that we've heard many times at a wedding. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." He explains something very important in the next verse. "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Our relationship with Christ is one of profound intimacy. In Ezekiel 15, the Lord is describing his relationship with his people. He talks about how he created them, and brought them to him, and then set them apart as his bride. The description of his love for them is quite vivid. It talks of gifts of clothing, jewelry, and how "you looked like a queen, and so you were!"
That's how God views each one of us. The bride of Christ. He loves us more intensely than we can realize. He can't wait to commune with us. To spend time with us. He is passionate about us.
Tragically, his people are not faithful. Ez. 15:15 says, "But you thought you could get along without me..." It goes on to describe how his bride becomes a prostitute to everyone that comes along.
We can be kind of flippant about "priorities" that are out of whack in our lives. Basically, we're talking about idolatry. About how we've found other things than the Lord to please us. To be our "lovers". We prostitute ourselves to flesh pleasing things. This separates us from God.
He created us for Him. We will never be satisfied until there is nothing that stains our intimacy with Him.
Proverbs 27:4 says, "Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger." Do you know why that is? Because when we are jealous, we feel like we are not getting something that we deserve. The dangerous part of it is that it is God who gives all things, so in essence we are mad that God hasn't given us what we feel we deserve. Praise him for the fact that he didn't give us what we REALLY deserve!!!
When you sit down to do your "devotions" each morning, think of what "devotion" means. While often our time in the word can become a ritualistic task, we need to understand the purpose of what we do is to "devote" our heart to the Lord. "Lord, I give you me." That's all it takes.
I love knowing that my wife is devoted to me. She is amazing. She accomplishes so much! She makes sure me and my daughter have our needs taken care of. She'll sit next to me and read during a football game even though she doesn't like football, just because she wants to be with me. She's devoted.
We need to live lives of complete devotion. We must guard against jealousy, bitterness, and all other cancers of the soul.
As you spend time with the Lord today, open your heart to him and ask him to purify you of anything that clouds your intimacy with him. We can't get along without Him. Even if we think we can, we need to be desperately in love with him and devoted to keep our relationship pure.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
"Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?" Ps. 106:2
Our relationship with the Lord is an incredible thing. I don't think we can understand the full magnitude of this, and how important this relationship is in God's eyes. In Eph. 5:31 Paul quotes a verse that we've heard many times at a wedding. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." He explains something very important in the next verse. "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Our relationship with Christ is one of profound intimacy. In Ezekiel 15, the Lord is describing his relationship with his people. He talks about how he created them, and brought them to him, and then set them apart as his bride. The description of his love for them is quite vivid. It talks of gifts of clothing, jewelry, and how "you looked like a queen, and so you were!"
That's how God views each one of us. The bride of Christ. He loves us more intensely than we can realize. He can't wait to commune with us. To spend time with us. He is passionate about us.
Tragically, his people are not faithful. Ez. 15:15 says, "But you thought you could get along without me..." It goes on to describe how his bride becomes a prostitute to everyone that comes along.
We can be kind of flippant about "priorities" that are out of whack in our lives. Basically, we're talking about idolatry. About how we've found other things than the Lord to please us. To be our "lovers". We prostitute ourselves to flesh pleasing things. This separates us from God.
He created us for Him. We will never be satisfied until there is nothing that stains our intimacy with Him.
Proverbs 27:4 says, "Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger." Do you know why that is? Because when we are jealous, we feel like we are not getting something that we deserve. The dangerous part of it is that it is God who gives all things, so in essence we are mad that God hasn't given us what we feel we deserve. Praise him for the fact that he didn't give us what we REALLY deserve!!!
When you sit down to do your "devotions" each morning, think of what "devotion" means. While often our time in the word can become a ritualistic task, we need to understand the purpose of what we do is to "devote" our heart to the Lord. "Lord, I give you me." That's all it takes.
I love knowing that my wife is devoted to me. She is amazing. She accomplishes so much! She makes sure me and my daughter have our needs taken care of. She'll sit next to me and read during a football game even though she doesn't like football, just because she wants to be with me. She's devoted.
We need to live lives of complete devotion. We must guard against jealousy, bitterness, and all other cancers of the soul.
As you spend time with the Lord today, open your heart to him and ask him to purify you of anything that clouds your intimacy with him. We can't get along without Him. Even if we think we can, we need to be desperately in love with him and devoted to keep our relationship pure.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9.24.11 "Think About It"
"Think About It"
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
Idolatry. The context in which we place that word is often in relation to the old testament practice of people who would actually carve idols out of wood, and bow down and pray to them. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah:
"Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. the person who made th idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?' The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?'" (Is. 44:18-20)
What great verses! From this perspective it seems so obvious. How stupid it is to trust in something that is just a hunk of wood. It's a good thing we don't worship idols, right?
While it could be easy to begin to list the strongholds of idolatry in our culture, and even within the Body of Christ, I'd like to just look at the next section of scripture.
"Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free." (Is. 44:21-22)
What a wonderful God we serve. What great love he has shown us. He has made us free! When we focus our minds on thinking of the privilege we have to be called his own, it makes the "idols" around us pale in comparison. We look to people for hope. We look to finances for hope. We look to possessions for hope and comfort... "such stupidity and ignorance!" We have a God who loves us! He set us free!
We need to put aside everything that causes us to lose our focus on the greatness of our God. Think about who He is. Think about what He's done.
"Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel!" (Is. 44:23)
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, April 22, 2011
4.22.11 "Don't Forget What Got You Here"
"Don't Forget What Got You Here"
Joshua 24:1-33
Luke 21:1-28
Psalm 89:38-52
Proverbs 13:20-23
This is the last chapter of Joshua. He was Moses' successor, and one of the last ones to have really experienced the great things God had done in the wilderness. He died at the age of 110.
I find it interesting what he did as his last major act before he dies. He called all the people together, and gave them a history lesson. He went back to Abraham & told the story of Jacob and Esau and then, of course, through the story of delivering them from Egypt. He told of the kings they had conquered and how God had done miracles in those victories.
He told them the Lord says, "It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory! I gave you land you had not worked for and cities you did not build - these cities where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them." (Jos. 24:12-13)
What is the point of all of this? To bring it to this: "So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols... Serve the Lord alone. but if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (Josh 24:14-15)
It is really important that we take the time on a regular basis to remember the great things God has done for us. We need to recount the miracles that he's done in our lives to save us and to free us. We can so often be caught up in our present situation, or concerned about the future that we've lost the wonder and awe of what God has brought us through.
When we take the time to remember and re-tell these things, it's almost as if we tether ourselves to obeying God. Verse 31 says, "Israel obeyed the Lord throughout the lifetimes of Joshua and the other old men who had personally witnessed the amazing deeds the Lord had done for Israel." Basically, it's saying, those who've seen God obeyed him, and those who heard the stories of those who had seen God also obeyed him.
No matter where you are at right now, God has done great things in your life. He saved you. He set you free. Praise him for the great things he has done. As you recall all of the victories he has given you, you are positioning yourself and those around you to obey God.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Joshua 24:1-33
Luke 21:1-28
Psalm 89:38-52
Proverbs 13:20-23
This is the last chapter of Joshua. He was Moses' successor, and one of the last ones to have really experienced the great things God had done in the wilderness. He died at the age of 110.
I find it interesting what he did as his last major act before he dies. He called all the people together, and gave them a history lesson. He went back to Abraham & told the story of Jacob and Esau and then, of course, through the story of delivering them from Egypt. He told of the kings they had conquered and how God had done miracles in those victories.
He told them the Lord says, "It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory! I gave you land you had not worked for and cities you did not build - these cities where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them." (Jos. 24:12-13)
What is the point of all of this? To bring it to this: "So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols... Serve the Lord alone. but if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve... But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (Josh 24:14-15)
It is really important that we take the time on a regular basis to remember the great things God has done for us. We need to recount the miracles that he's done in our lives to save us and to free us. We can so often be caught up in our present situation, or concerned about the future that we've lost the wonder and awe of what God has brought us through.
When we take the time to remember and re-tell these things, it's almost as if we tether ourselves to obeying God. Verse 31 says, "Israel obeyed the Lord throughout the lifetimes of Joshua and the other old men who had personally witnessed the amazing deeds the Lord had done for Israel." Basically, it's saying, those who've seen God obeyed him, and those who heard the stories of those who had seen God also obeyed him.
No matter where you are at right now, God has done great things in your life. He saved you. He set you free. Praise him for the great things he has done. As you recall all of the victories he has given you, you are positioning yourself and those around you to obey God.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, December 4, 2010
12.4.10 "Knowing God through Loving Others"
"Knowing God through Loving Others"
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, December 2, 2010
12.2.10 "Got Truth?"
"Got Truth?"
Daniel 9:1-10:21
I John 2:18-3:6
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 28:27-28
We live in a world of information overload. Never in all of history is it possible to learn so much from the internet, radio, sports scores on your cell phone, the list is endless. With a touch of the screen on my phone, I've got a calendar, 7 day forecast, email, internet, dictionary/thesaurus, spanish translator, & even a thing where i can hold my phone up to a radio & it will tell me what song is playing! If we have all this information, truth should be easy, right?
So what is truth? What is right? Where do you look it up? In I John 2, John is talking about those in the world who say that Jesus is not the Christ. We have a number of those people around us. Not only are they mixed up about that, they're mixed up about a lot of things.
"But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you know the truth. So I am not writing to you as to those who need to know the truth, but I warn you as those who can discern the difference between true and false." I John 2:20-21
We need to live as people who know the truth. We need to make sure our ideas, beliefs, opinions, and actions aren't defined by what society tells us. We need to make sure they come from the Holy Spirit's direction according to God's Word.
In a "blog" world, where people love to talk and express their thoughts & revelations, it can be too easy to develop a blog theology. It will change & react according to whatever the "hot" topic is. We must be Empowered through Biblical Training, not "Empowered" through opinions or popularity.
Our foundation must be firmly established in what is really important:
"...for God loves you very much." (Dan. 9:23)
"God loves you very much..." (Dan. 10:19)
"See how very much our heavenly Father loves us..." (1 John 3:1)
"Jehovah himself is caring for you!" (Psalm 121:5)
There is a theme to the truth of God's Word. We need to get this. We need this truth. When we know it in our hearts, it will effect the way we live. When we begin to grasp the depth of God's love it will change us. I John 3:2-3 says, "... when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure."
There are people all around us who do not know what is right. They don't know the truth. We MUST be people of the word so they will know the path out of darkness. Your world is desperate for you to be who God has created you to be. You find your direction in the Word so you will be able to provide Direction for those in need. Being Empowered Through Biblical Training and discovering God's love equips us for the Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Daniel 9:1-10:21
I John 2:18-3:6
Psalm 121:1-8
Proverbs 28:27-28
We live in a world of information overload. Never in all of history is it possible to learn so much from the internet, radio, sports scores on your cell phone, the list is endless. With a touch of the screen on my phone, I've got a calendar, 7 day forecast, email, internet, dictionary/thesaurus, spanish translator, & even a thing where i can hold my phone up to a radio & it will tell me what song is playing! If we have all this information, truth should be easy, right?
So what is truth? What is right? Where do you look it up? In I John 2, John is talking about those in the world who say that Jesus is not the Christ. We have a number of those people around us. Not only are they mixed up about that, they're mixed up about a lot of things.
"But you are not like that, for the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you know the truth. So I am not writing to you as to those who need to know the truth, but I warn you as those who can discern the difference between true and false." I John 2:20-21
We need to live as people who know the truth. We need to make sure our ideas, beliefs, opinions, and actions aren't defined by what society tells us. We need to make sure they come from the Holy Spirit's direction according to God's Word.
In a "blog" world, where people love to talk and express their thoughts & revelations, it can be too easy to develop a blog theology. It will change & react according to whatever the "hot" topic is. We must be Empowered through Biblical Training, not "Empowered" through opinions or popularity.
Our foundation must be firmly established in what is really important:
"...for God loves you very much." (Dan. 9:23)
"God loves you very much..." (Dan. 10:19)
"See how very much our heavenly Father loves us..." (1 John 3:1)
"Jehovah himself is caring for you!" (Psalm 121:5)
There is a theme to the truth of God's Word. We need to get this. We need this truth. When we know it in our hearts, it will effect the way we live. When we begin to grasp the depth of God's love it will change us. I John 3:2-3 says, "... when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is. And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure."
There are people all around us who do not know what is right. They don't know the truth. We MUST be people of the word so they will know the path out of darkness. Your world is desperate for you to be who God has created you to be. You find your direction in the Word so you will be able to provide Direction for those in need. Being Empowered Through Biblical Training and discovering God's love equips us for the Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
11.16.10 "Someone's Thinking About You"
"Someone's Thinking About You"
Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22
It can be a great feeling to know that someone is thinking about you. Yesterday was my birthday, and thanks to the marvels of technology and the facebook birthday reminder, I had numerous greetings from many many people on facebook. It was a "this is your life" moment from friends from grade school through every stage of life. It was great to walk down memory lane.
It can also be disconcerting worrying about what people think. I heard a great line once. "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if realized how rarely they do!" Deep down, we're often motivated or directed by what people think of us. But, the truth is, everyone else is so worried about who's thinking about them, no one has time to think about anyone else. So there no sense in worrying about it.
But there is someone who is thinking about you. Constantly.
"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us..." Ps. 115:12
As I read the Word I am in such awe of God's love for us. Today the separate passages from the one year bible share a theme.
"For the Lord God says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day.... I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and cause them to lie down in peace, the Lord God says. I will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick." Ez. 34:11-16
It's God's desire to draw us to him. He wants us to be close to him. Without Him, we are sheep without a shepherd, lost and in danger.
Ez. 34: 31 says, "you are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men and I am your God, so says the Lord."
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen."
God has been thinking about us so much that he sent his son as the great Shepherd. This deal is sealed with an everlasting covenant signed in the precious blood of Christ.
All because someone is thinking about us...
You know, it's not a good idea to live life worried about what people are thinking all the time. It's a very "self"-conscious lifestyle. But, it is good to live life knowing who IS thinking about you constantly.
What does God think of right now when he thinks of you? Do you have some broken limbs that need splinting? Do you need healing? That's what he's there for! He longs to be our shepherd. Let's follow Him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22
It can be a great feeling to know that someone is thinking about you. Yesterday was my birthday, and thanks to the marvels of technology and the facebook birthday reminder, I had numerous greetings from many many people on facebook. It was a "this is your life" moment from friends from grade school through every stage of life. It was great to walk down memory lane.
It can also be disconcerting worrying about what people think. I heard a great line once. "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if realized how rarely they do!" Deep down, we're often motivated or directed by what people think of us. But, the truth is, everyone else is so worried about who's thinking about them, no one has time to think about anyone else. So there no sense in worrying about it.
But there is someone who is thinking about you. Constantly.
"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us..." Ps. 115:12
As I read the Word I am in such awe of God's love for us. Today the separate passages from the one year bible share a theme.
"For the Lord God says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day.... I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and cause them to lie down in peace, the Lord God says. I will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick." Ez. 34:11-16
It's God's desire to draw us to him. He wants us to be close to him. Without Him, we are sheep without a shepherd, lost and in danger.
Ez. 34: 31 says, "you are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men and I am your God, so says the Lord."
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen."
God has been thinking about us so much that he sent his son as the great Shepherd. This deal is sealed with an everlasting covenant signed in the precious blood of Christ.
All because someone is thinking about us...
You know, it's not a good idea to live life worried about what people are thinking all the time. It's a very "self"-conscious lifestyle. But, it is good to live life knowing who IS thinking about you constantly.
What does God think of right now when he thinks of you? Do you have some broken limbs that need splinting? Do you need healing? That's what he's there for! He longs to be our shepherd. Let's follow Him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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