Pastor’s Thoughts 11-6,2024-11-19-2024
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN EVERY SEASON
Let’s reflect on the faithfulness of God that carries us through every season of life. Whether we are in times of abundance or walking through difficult wilderness seasons…God is always with us…providing for our needs and guiding our steps. His faithfulness does not change with our circumstances—He is constant, always working for our good and leading us toward His promises. In moments of uncertainty…we can trust that He knows our journey and is guiding us with love and care.
Deuteronomy 2:7 says, “The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” This verse recounts God’s provision and care for the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years. Despite the difficulties they faced, God remained faithful, providing for their needs and guiding them each step of the way. The Israelites lacked nothing because God’s presence and provision were with them throughout their journey. It is a reminder that even in the wilderness seasons of our lives…God is faithful to meet every need and guide us to where He wants us to be.
As we go through today, let’s hold on to the truth that God sees and watches over our journey. Whether we are in a season of blessing or a season of struggle, we can trust that God is with us, providing what we need for each moment. We may not always see how God is working, but we can rest in the assurance that He is faithful and we lack nothing in His care.
Today, may we walk with gratitude and trust…knowing that God is with us every step of the way…leading us toward His promises with unfailing love! ❤️
—Cathy C. Charles
BLESSED ASSURANCE!!
God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 We are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, distinguishing us from all other earthly beings. We were made like Him so that we could be in relationship with Him. Jesus is the perfect image of God. “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God” (Hebrews 1:3). To know Christ is to know God. Jesus shows us what God meant when He said, “Let Us make man in Our image.” The question is, do you have a relationship with Him? God bless you abundantly 🙏 ❤️ —Liz Nova I’M NOT SELF MADE…I’M GOD MADE!!
ATTITUDE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
EVERYONE needs encouragement. No matter how secure and confident someone may appear…everyone needs to be reassured, built up, and comforted. And we are all called to minister to one another, every day, with encouragement; "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today" (Hebrews 3:13). Therefore, we are all called to meet one another's need for encouragement.
True encouragement requires us to be "others" oriented: "Consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). We will never effectively encourage until we begin to look outside our own needs and intentionally examine the needs of others. And our encouragement of others will always be hindered unless we are genuinely excited by the new growth and health we see in others.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory."
Our journey with the Lord actually begins long before our day of Salvation as He calls us and draws us to the cross; we would never even seek if He did not first call and soften our heart. This part of the journey (the part which leads us to His secure arms of Salvation) may last MANY years and require encouragement from many different people. But as we place our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin and continue our journey (with all the many hills and valleys)…our walk is definitely much easier and enjoyable if we join with others and walk together.
Let's encourage one another with each wonderful step toward Heavenly glory. Let's be proud and excited for the accomplishments of others no matter how great or small. And let's refuse to become threatened when we witness others mature and grow - we are absolutely secure in the love of God (and we really don't want to be the only walker in His Family!). Let's turn our hearts outward and begin to minister with a compassionate, loving, and secure attitude of encouragement. ❤️
—Steve Troxel
UPWARD & ONWARD
When relationships are strained and issues take centerstage...step back and remember this: we serve a God who means what He says and will do what He promised.
May you fear God, not man.
May God’s Word be your shining light...not the mob, the crowd, or the culture.
Refuse to get lost in the weeds of divisive debate. Hold fast to your convictions but walk in humility and exercise wisdom with every step you take.
May you cultivate such a rich and deep relationship with the Lord Jesus that you actually start to feel hopeful instead of hopeless.
May you acquire such a taste for His presence that people actually notice the twinkle in your eye.
May you grow so confident in His character that you learn to speak with power and pray with precision...and remember...you are a part of His Kingdom.
Let's walk and live as Jesus did. Upward and onward we go! ❤️
--Susie Larson
1 John 2:6 (NLT) ~ Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
Zephaniah 3:17
In Zephaniah 3:17, we encounter a breathtaking image of God’s love and delight for His people. This verse reassures us that God is not a distant observer but is “in the midst” of us, …actively present and powerful. His might is not only to judge but to save, to lift us out of despair and into His embrace.
Imagine the Creator of the universe not only watching over us but rejoicing over us with joy…resting in His love for us…and even singing over us. This is a profound picture of God’s tender affection, a love that celebrates us as His children. In a world where we may often feel unseen or unappreciated…this truth offers profound comfort: we are cherished and celebrated by our mighty God.
Relating this to our daily lives, consider how many of us strive to earn approval from others…carrying the weight of perfectionism or the pressure to be “enough.” But in God’s presence, we are already enough! He doesn’t love us based on our performance…His love is steadfast, unchanging, and overflowing.
When we truly grasp that the Lord “rests in His love” for us, we can let go of the need to strive. We can rest, knowing that we are safe in His embrace and that His joy over us is constant.
Just as a parent finds joy in their child’s mere presence…God delights in you…not for what you do…but simply for who you are in Him! ❤️
Prayer:
Loving Father, thank You for being in my midst, mighty and near. Help me to rest in Your love, knowing that I am deeply cherished and celebrated by You. Teach me to find my identity not in the opinions of others but in the truth of Your love and joy over me. Let Your delight bring peace to my heart and strength to my spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
—Cathy C. Charles
HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!!
Hebrews 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus endured more humiliation, disappointment, and pain than we can imagine. But the "joy" that allowed Him to endure the cross was the very reason He came to the world. He came to bring God's children back into a relationship with their Heavenly Father. The sacrifice of His death allowed a bridge from death to life. His joy was knowing that God's children would be able to come to Him and truly know Him; that they could talk with Him and worship Him; that they could sit in His presence and be comforted in His loving arms.
We are those children. We are the joy that allowed Him to "endure the cross." How much love is wrapped up in this deep sustaining joy? Enough love to walk with us through the hottest fires...enough love to carry us when we are weak...and enough love to NEVER let us go! "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
We all face various kinds of trials, but the One who "endured" continues to walk by our side today. He has given us Himself - a true joy which allows us to endure even as He endured. He has given us the joy of an eternity to worship in His throne room...an eternity to be comforted and praise His Holy Name! He has given us the joy of a love and an unequaled strength which this world cannot begin to understand!
We too can face our "cross" with great hope. We WILL endure any and all trials. We can and will endure because He is our joy! ❤️
--Steve Troxel
We are waaaay overdue for a Thursday afternoon Tune-Up!!
“The enemy always fights the hardest…when he knows God has something great in store for you!” ❤️
You don’t know what God can do with:
One step forward…
A raised hand…
A heart that says yes…
Five loaves and two fish…
A slingshot and a few stones…
Remember: with God, the best is yet to come!! ❤️
“Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.”
Psalms 60:12
Psalm 60:12 is a powerful reminder that our true strength comes from God alone. In a world filled with challenges, uncertainties, and even adversities that feel insurmountable...this verse calls us to rely not on our own might but on the Lord’s.
To “do valiantly” is to live courageously, with boldness and resilience, facing life’s battles not with fear but with faith. The psalmist assures us that our success, our victory over obstacles, does not rest in our own abilities...but in the God who fights for us. It is He who “treads down our enemies,” whether those enemies come in the form of external opposition...inner fears...or spiritual struggles.
In real life, we face countless situations that can feel like battles—a difficult relationship, a health crisis, a financial struggle, or a personal failure. In these moments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or to depend solely on our own resources to overcome. But this verse reminds us to shift our perspective and place our trust in the One who is greater than any challenge we face. When we lean on God’s strength...we can move forward with confidence...knowing that we are not alone in the fight.
Our courage is rooted in His power...and our victory is assured by His faithful presence! ❤️Lord, thank You for being my strength and my shield. Teach me to rely on Your power in every battle I face and to trust that You are with me. Help me to live courageously, knowing that through You, I can do valiantly. May my faith rest not in my own abilities but in Your unfailing might. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
—Cathy C. Charles
ENERGIZING
There’s a buzz that comes with living inside the will of God. It’s the helper’s high. It’s joy in serving Jesus. It’s energizing even if you get tired. In John 4, Jesus took His initial team on a little cross-cultural training trip to Samaria. At Jacob’s well, the boys encounter a Samaritan woman. One good look at her and they think, “Her, a divine appointment? You have to be kidding.” Why mess with the mission field on a mission trip, right? Besides, their stomachs are growling and it’s lunchtime.
The disciples go into town while Jesus has a spiritual feast with this lowly, empty lady whose soul longs for living water. Eventually the disciples return totally oblivious to the movement of God that is afoot, a harvest being picked. In the meantime, the disciples say, “‘Rabbi, eat.’ But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ The disciples therefore were saying to one another, ‘No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?’” (John 4:31-34) Can’t you hear Jesus sighing right here? I’m guessing it’s Peter doing the talking. They don’t get it. Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:31-34).
Jesus was making a profound statement that went right over the disciples’ heads, and maybe yours and mine also. You could substitute the word “energy” for food. The right food gives energy. The right food is entering into the will of God. Jesus just had a 7-course meal.
What is your food? What makes you feel most alive? What gives you the highest buzz? Jesus says there is nothing like entering the redemptive drama...living the spiritual adventure through obeying God. It is the ride of a lifetime. It’s pure energy.”
Periodically, when speaking to a group, I’ll try to gauge whether they personally own these truths with a diagnostic question. “How many of you are in full-time service for Jesus Christ?” I ask. People look at me and the wheels start to turn mentally. The pastor and missionary types in the room immediately put up their hands, then a few committed laypeople. Many look confused about whether to raise their hands. Then I clarify: “I didn’t say how many of you are in full-time vocational Christian ministry, but how many of you are full-time for Jesus Christ?” People smile. The light comes on. Many more put their hands in the air.
I want to blow up the myth that only a few pastor types are full time for Jesus Christ. The day you trusted Christ, you got a full-time ministry contract for Jesus. You are “a plain clothes agent in the Jesus Revolution – the only revolution that will ultimately be successful.” Royal blood flows through your veins, and you have an inheritance that makes Bill Gates’ money look like petty cash.
You are a kingdom player...pulsating with the life of the Spirit. Fasten your seatbelts and live! ❤️
—Michael Sprague
God is taking you places your résumé doesn't qualify you for...GET READY!!
Ponder today the reality that God sees you...loves you...and sings over you. He knows the state of things on the earth and He’s still on His throne. He sees mankind and He knows how it burdens your heart. When you pray, when you cry, and when you sigh…He’s near, closer than your next breath. He watches how you love your family and friends...how you pray for your enemies...and how you’re kind to strangers. All of these He receives as gifts of love, as offerings unto Him. He hears your prayers...moves on your faith...and one day your eyes will see all He’s been up to because you exist on the earth today. You are one of His most prized possessions! ❤️ Psalm 34:18 NLT ~ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed --Susie Larson
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." —Philippians 3:13-14
Paul's words are a vivid reminder that the Christian life is a journey, not a destination we reach in this life. He humbly acknowledges that he hasn't "arrived" but focuses on one essential principle: moving forward.
"Forgetting what is behind" doesn’t mean ignoring lessons from the past but choosing not to be shackled by failures or even past achievements. Fixating on yesterday can rob us of the energy we need to embrace God’s calling today.
Instead, Paul exhorts us to "strain toward what is ahead." This image of exertion evokes an athlete pushing toward the finish line, fully committed and undistracted. The "prize" is the ultimate reward of eternal life and fellowship with Christ—a reward worth every effort.
Are you holding on to past mistakes or glory days? Lay them at Jesus' feet. Look ahead with hope and determination, knowing that God equips you for the race He’s set before you.
Stay focused on the goal. It’s not perfection but progress in Christlikeness, fueled by His grace and empowered by His Spirit.
Prayer Points:
Ask God for the strength to release the past and embrace His future plans.
Pray for focus and perseverance in your spiritual journey.
Thank God for the eternal prize awaiting you in Christ Jesus.
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Grace Lutheran Church