Real Life Archives - Faith Grand Detour

There Is Hope

Posted on 07/31/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care | Tags: faith, fear, hope, Jesus, Real Life, Soul care

What do you hope for you in your life? What keeps you pressing forward when life become tough?

For me, there are several things that keep me moving forward.

I grasp onto the things that matter.
I hang on to those most dear to me- my wife, my kids, my close friends.
I hold firmly to these concepts:
There has to be something greater than me.
There has to be something greater than this life.

Some people call it a higher power, while others refer to a superior being. I call Him Jesus.

I believe that deep down, everyone hopes to have a good life- a life filled with the basic needs we all have- love, family, shelter, food, peace and happiness. A life without fear, knowing that things will somehow work out for the best.

Sometimes they don’t always work out for what seems the best, but we can still grasp onto those things in life that give us hope. I want to encourage you with this one thought: THERE IS A HOPE.

A hope deep in your soul that confirms there is something bigger than this life.
A hope there is someone greater than the troubles of this world.

A hope that someone that will give you the strength to face your trials, worries, fears and temptations.

There is that someone. His name is Jesus Christ. He is our hope.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. If He is for us then who can be against us? Isaiah 41:10

In the face of life’s difficult and heart-breaking trials- death, addiction, lies, betrayal, infidelity, depression, and more-
you can find hope.

We all hope for something. Why not take a chance on God and put your hope in Him?

What do you have to lose by putting your hope and trust in a God who loves and cares for you more than anyone else…

more than you can ever possibly know?

Be encouraged friend. Put your hope in Jesus today.

Listen to this song by Tenth Avenue North titled “I Have This Hope” and let it sink deep into your soul.

Author:

Lessons We Learn From Our Children

Posted on 07/19/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care | Tags: faith, Kids, Parenting, Real Life, Soul care, trust

As parents we often think about all the responsibility and important life lessons we are called on by God to teach our children. While here on this earth, He has given us these wonderful blessings to teach, nurture and care for.

All too often we get caught up in what we can teach them throughout the day, when sometimes we need to sit back and observe the things they are teaching us daily. Here are a few things I’ve observed lately, and maybe you have too:

Childlike Faith

When you look at the life of a child, you see the unwavering faith they have in their parents. They know their parents will pick them up from school without even thinking twice. They know they are going to be caught at the end of the slide while playing at the playground. If we could only have this type of faith in our relationship with our heavenly Father…how much better would we live life unafraid!

Matthew 18:2-3

Jesus called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Worry Less

We tend to worry about something on a daily basis…

What will we have for dinner?
How am I going to pay that bill?
What if the load of laundry with our kid’s baseball jersey won’t be done in time for their game tonight?
What will that other mom think of my child’s lunch I packed while walking out the door?

All of us have stuff stress out about. While our children are young, they may not have those types of stresses in their lives, but they do remind us to stop worrying so much about the small things in life. They live life day to day without thinking about things that don’t matter.

While kids can rest in the care of their parents, so can we rest in the care of our heavenly Father. That issue that’s restlessly plaguing your mind? He already knows all about it, and desires for you to let Him handle it in His way and His time.

Philippians 4:6

Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.

Enjoying the Simple Things

When very young kids open presents, often times they end up playing more with the box than the actual toy itself. They enjoy the simple things in life: playing peek-a-boo, picking flowers outside, walking to the park, throwing a baseball. It does not take trips to Disney or shopping sprees to please them. All it takes is spending time with them to enjoy life to its fullest. If we could only realize that life does not exist around things and more around relationships… the simple things in life, how much more would we enjoy life and not always be needing (or wanting) the next best thing.

Focus on what matters and practice gratefulness in the simple things every day. We are God’s children and He has given us so many simple things- and relationships- to delight in.

Proverbs 15:16

Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.

Author:

Jordan Bivins

Children’s Ministry Lead at Faith Assembly

Jun '18

Stand for the Truth

Posted on 06/05/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: honesty, Humility, Identity, Real Life, Soul care, Spiritual Growth, Truth

Jun '18

Pastor Jon’s sermon last week on honesty really convicted me, as well as the many people kneeling before the Lord at the altar.

Every day, it seems we have opportunities to make big and not-so-big choices. But are there really “not so big” choices?

Sure, in our way of thinking a choice to not be truthful (more appropriately called a lie) is much worse and more condemning when compared to exaggerating how many or how big the fish really were… or embellishing a real achievement to make ourselves look just a little bit better.

But according to God’s way of thinking, a lie is a lie- pretty cut and dried.

As we learned, every time we exaggerate or embellish the facts, it gets a little easier to do it the next time. We stretch it just a little further each time we embellish. Eventually, this is who we become and reflects our way of interacting on everything- from what we say and how we act to what we get in the habit of doing.

Some of my friends and I- way back from high school- still talk about a person we knew who always “climbed a little higher” or “ran a little faster” than we all knew to be true. It is sad to see how these seemingly insignificant embellishments (over several decades) now have affected his employment, marriage(s), reputation and walk with the Lord.

As for me, I can easily be tempted to wear the Admiral’s star or the sheriff’s badge. Meaning this: when I use inappropriate leverage to get more help, drum up additional resources or win additional funding for a new project. This can often include an embellishment (a.k.a. an outright lie) regardless of whether or not it’s a “not so big” exaggeration.

Consider this example. Do you recall growing up and saying to your siblings, “mom said you are supposed to go do this” when really she told you to do it. This is where it starts, little by little. Before you know it, it turns into exaggerating a project requirement at work to be competitive since you know others are doing it. Yikes! It’s an all-too-easy, slippery slope that so often we don’t even realize is happening.

The Bible has a lot to say about truth-tellers (those that don’t exaggerate, embellish, pretend, tell outright lies), as well as how God feels about those that practice deceit.

One of my favorites though, is what Jesus says in the gospel of John verses 31-32: “To the Jews that believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’.”

Bottom line? Run from falsehood whenever temptation strikes.

Run towards Jesus and His revelation of Truth in every part of your life.

Be a truth-teller and be set free.

Author:

Randy Ortgeisen, Elder at Faith Assembly

Honesty Is the Only Policy

Posted on 05/29/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: honesty, Humility, Real Life, Truth

As a student at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, one thing other students always would try to argue and prove in class is that there are times when it is not wrong or immoral to lie. They would try to find a situation in which I would find it expedient, advantageous or necessary to lie.

This is the point they missed: I am not the standard or authority

that makes lying or dishonesty immoral.

It’s an absolute in natural law and from God.

If I lie to save or protect myself, my wife, or even my sons; it’s still a lie and it’s still wrong. I must repent, confess and seek God’s forgiveness.

My fellow students were sure I would find lying acceptable if I was the one “sinning”. But God sees, and eventually the truth comes to light.

No, honesty is not the best policy- a.k.a. the best choice among other equally good options-

honesty is the only policy.

One reason the message of honesty is so important is because people (individuals) and groups (i.e. a culture or nation) are on the path to self-destruction when it has contempt for truth. Our nation has contempt for truth. Honesty has lost its value in our world.

So where are we headed as people? As a nation?

“Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16) is not a suggestion or a negotiation according to God.

It’s a commandment applying not only when we are in court, but honesty in general… in all of life.

With Him, with yourself and with others- God wants honesty always.

Honesty is more than not telling lies and more than saying something false. Honesty is speaking that which conforms to truth and reality. It is living in integrity and Godly character; which includes moral rightness, truthfulness, trustworthiness and to be free of deceit.

The Bible does not teach that “honesty is the best policy” like Ben Franklin liked to think.

The Bible teaches that honesty is the only policy.

May the Truth reside in your heart, mind and in deed- always- for the glory of God.

Author:

Pastor Liandro Arellano

4 Things to Remember When You’re On the Edge

Posted on 05/08/2018 in Devotions, Perspectives, Real Life, Soul Care | Tags: anxiety, fear, fruit of the spirit, Grace, Patience, Peace, Real Life, Soul care, Spiritual Growth, Time

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you feel like one more major event, circumstance or let-down and you could completely fall apart?

You are on the edge: you hold it together and keep calm or you are about to have a melt down?

Doesn’t it feel like the expectations we have to live up to are just too exhausting?

I can honestly tell you this: you are not alone. Over the past two years, I have had some major events in my life that have not only tested my emotions and thoughts, but also tested everything I believe in and the will to keep pushing through those events. By the grace of God and a great support system, I have come out of all of those circumstances a much stronger person… or so I thought.

Every now and then, a little something from each of those events creeps back into my life and thoughts. I feel the weight of things that happened in the past all over again. I feel the wounds they have left behind- in my mind and the inner most parts of my being.

It is usually then that I find myself right on the edge of keeping it all together…

I feel like I’m about to have a good old fashion freak-out moment.

Sometimes those freak-out moments may feel like anger, other times it is simply crying out… from the pain of what I have seen and those close to me who are hurting. But, I’m here to tell you, even though these cycle of emotions come and go, there is hope!

What has helped me “get off” the edge when I’m feeling overwhelmed with emotions from the past? Here’s the short list:

1. Normal – The definition of “normal” is up for interpretation. What I have learned is that my feelings and my reactions are absolutely normal. I am not weird for feeling upset or wanting to cry about past traumatic events. Neither are you.

2. Time – they say time heals all wounds. Not really. It may be a nice cliché, but in real life it takes intentional work to heal through the pain. This is what heals the wounds and grows us. If the pain isn’t dealt with and merely buried in “time” (denial), it will one day rip that scab off with the same intensity as it did 30 years ago. Scars will always be there, but I know with the Lord working in me as I do the work of healing and the buffer of time- this allows us to become stronger. One step at a time. One day at a time. It must be a conscious choice we make every day.

3. A Support System – they say that you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your family. If you’re not close with your family, you must still have a support system in place. Usually our parents have gone through something in the course of their lives. They can offer advice or just be there to listen. Be wise about this- choose people who are safe, honest and have your best interest at heart.

4. God – they say to just lean on God in the hard times. It’s so easy to say, harder to do. What I have learned is this: God deeply cares for me and feels the overwhelming emotions with me. When I question God on why bad things happen to good people, He doesn’t get mad at me. He tells me that evil things are not His plan- His plan is for our good. His plan is for all of us to live in eternity with him. But there is a darkness in this world and that darkness (our enemy- Satan) is the cause of those bad things happening to good people.

The bottom line?
When I am sometimes on the edge, God can work in my life if I allow him to. God wants what is best for us, and sometimes being on the edge is just where he wants us. No pain is wasted in the hands of our Savior. He desires to grow us through it. He wants us to reach out and grab his hand, so he can pull us into his loving arms.

Check out this song by Elevation Worship called “O Come to the Altar”.

When you feel like you’re on the edge, stop and listen. Jesus is calling and his arms are open wide.

Author: Ryan Bivins

Practice Doesn’t Get Us to Perfect, But Makes Us Better

Posted on 05/01/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Spiritual Growth | Tags: fruit of the spirit, Grace, Patience, Real Life, Spiritual Growth, Truth

Some people count to 10.

Others take a deep breath.

Many simply tune out or walk away.

Personally, when I am faced with injustice- just plain old someone being mean, or unrealistic deadlines that start to build my stress level- I do a couple of things.

First, I Consider the Source

Generally, the people driving me crazy are not drawing from the same source that I do. How do I know this? From the fruits they display.

Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit being love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Once I recognize the fruit isn’t there, I really can’t expect someone to act otherwise. This helps me not respond in a similar fashion even though I often want to respond in kind. I try to pray for them even while they are still “being unreasonable”. Hard to do? Yes. But this helps me have patience, and it gets easier each time knowing their souls might be at risk.

Sure, even some Christians can be the perpetrators! No one is perfect. While their souls aren’t at risk in this case, we can still be poor witnesses when we act like there’s no evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Remember, it’s not their action you can control- your own reaction is your responsibility.

Second, I Realize Sometimes I Am the Unreasonable One
Yes it happens! I am thankful the Holy Spirt convicts me to the point of an apology and eventually changed behavior. Again, this is developed over time with practice, as God allows opportunities. Sad to say, it doesn’t happen in each of us automatically (wouldn’t that be so much easier!), but does get better as we choose to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:11-12:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of false evil against you because of me, rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in Heaven.

It’s helpful to remember that Jesus tells us this injustice will happen when we are living in and for Him. Remembering who I am in Christ and the knowledge that I have all of eternity to look forward to helps me to stay focused and remember what is next!

Practice doesn’t get us to perfect, but in the long run, makes us better. We have much to be thankful for because God’s promises are true. This should drive our behavior. Does it drive yours?

P.S.
This may not be all that helpful (even to some Christians since in my opinion there is a real lack of understanding on what eternity will be like) to some. Considering this, how can one look forward to eternity if one doesn’t know what it is? Another blog for another time! No one knows for sure what eternity will be like, but God does tell us in His Word a lot about this and it will be terrific for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior! Revelation Chapter 21 is the culmination of this. Halleluiah and Amen!

Author:

Randy Ortgeisen, Elder at Faith Assembly

Lessons in the Rearview Mirror

Posted on 04/09/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: fruit of the spirit, Grace, Patience, Real Life, Soul care, Spiritual Growth

I was driving home the other day, heading East just about the time the sun was going down behind me.

Rolling hills, music playing, little traffic. Nice and relaxing.

Until the setting sun just about blinded me in the rearview mirror.

Blinking from seeing spots, I flipped the mirror up and tried to get back to my relaxing drive home.

Not so fast. God had something to say.

As I glanced back up to the rearview mirror, I noticed the strange pattern of shadows it was creating from the reflection of the sun. I had to squint to see any kind of detail. All the rolling hills behind me were now cast in various shades of shadow. I couldn’t clearly make out much of anything, and the beauty I was beholding a few minutes before had now turned to ominous shifting patterns of grey.

In true form, I took notice and began to ponder how with one flip of a switch everything took on such a drastically different appearance. I use this function at night all the time, but rarely during the day.

In true form, God proceeded to do what He regularly does with me… speaking through life, creation and observation.

What I heard was this: Now you see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.

Hold up. I recognized this from my younger years memorizing the King James Version of I Cor. 13:12:

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Ok Lord, but what are you really trying to tell me.

His response:

Your heart may be troubled about many things, but be patient, you can’t see everything clearly yet.

I had questions. Of course I had questions.

But Lord, it’s hard to be patient when I still don’t have the answers I need. I need clarity!

Now you see through a glass darkly. You are my daughter. Trust me, I’ve got you.

But Lord, I’d rather understand right now. How do I find peace in this situation without understanding?

Right now you can only see a small part of the picture. I am bigger than that. Find peace in ME, not in the understanding.

Okay. (sigh) It’s just hard to see beauty through the distortion, purpose in the pain, solid ground in shifting shadows.

Your story is not yet complete. I am doing a good work in you. Work with me.

Do not be afraid, I am with you. I AM your solid ground.

He had more to say, but you get the idea.

When I got home, I looked up that verse in my chosen translation these days. This is how the NLT puts I Cor. 13:12:

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Sometimes we don’t see beauty looking in the rearview mirror- in the car or in our lives.

We often look back and still desire clarity. Sometime hindsight is clearer and sometimes it isn’t. But we serve a God that knows us completely.

As we trust and obey Him, one day we will see- with perfect clarity- the why, the how, the purpose.

This month we focus on the Godly virtue and Fruit of the Spirit: Patience. So often it is in the process of “seeing through a glass darkly” where God does His good work. We practice patience, baby-stepping through circumstances and trusting Him to bear fruit in and through us.

Our lives can shift and change in an instant. We often stumble around trying to gain focus and grasp for stability.

Do not be afraid. Your story is not yet complete. The God of Angel Armies is behind you, goes before you and is by your side.

As Yoda tells an impatient Luke at the start of his training in Star Wars… “Patience you must have, my young Padawan.”

Author:

Michelle Marx

You can read more of Michelle’s writing here.

Am I a Peacemaker?

Posted on 04/02/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Spiritual Growth | Tags: fruit of the spirit, Peace, Peacemaking, Real Life, Spiritual Growth

In March, Pastor Jon preached a series on the topic of peace. On one of those Sundays, he spoke specifically about peacemakers.

This caused me think about myself. Could I call myself a peacemaker?

So before I started to investigate the scripture, I decided to look up the meaning of “peacemaker” to find out who, if anyone, could identify as one.

One of the websites listed the basic traits of a peacemaker. I found the information very interesting, primarily because I had to take an honest look at my own strengths and weaknesses in each area. I definitely felt a cringe of the “ouch” factor!

Dominant traits: people pleaser, friendly, trusting, easy going
Basic fear: conflict, chaos, separation
Strengths: warm, open-minded, caring, peace-loving
Weaknesses: avoids conflict, stubborn, indecisive, does not like change

Keep in mind, this is the world’s definition of a peacemaker. (I only planned to use this as a point of reference)

Regardless, I can look at the description above and see myself in every category.

The dictionary says this: A peacemaker is a person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries (a contest, conflict, or a dispute).

Now, what does God say in the Scriptures?

Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue (to continue or proceed along a path or route) peace with all men and sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord.

James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy.

John 14:27
Jesus says He leaves and gives His peace to us not from the world.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.

Pastor had Genesis 13: 8-9 in his message about Abram letting Lot take the land that he wanted. This was a great example of a peacemaker.

The bottom line: we are all called to be peacemakers.

The information on the internet only identifies the possible characteristics of a peacemaker from the world’s point of view.

God’s Word says the important part is this:
Pursuing the peace we desire to have
Doing the work toward developing a peacemaker heart
Cultivating the characteristics of making peace with everyone whenever possible

We are all called. We are all equipped by the power of His Spirit.
The most effective peacemakers are the ones who follow our ultimate example: JESUS!

Author: Ken Drew

Christ-Follower, Husband, Father, Grandfather

Elder at Faith Assembly

Mar '18

Control Freak

Posted on 03/26/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: Control, fruit of the spirit, Grace, Peace, Real Life, Soul care, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Growth

Mar '18

I’m going to be upfront and honest here.

I’m a control freak.

I am a Type A personality, having to ensure everything is figured out. I need to be the one in the driver’s seat. Having a background in the military and law enforcement; I have my day planned out, I am task driven and I will make decisions… well, decisively!

Because let’s face it: a so-so decision is better than no decision at all… am I right?

Let’s put the brakes on that thought process for just a minute. As we have been talking about peace this month, I couldn’t help but think of the peace I have missed out on in my own life because of my control freak mindset.

It really just boils down to these simple thoughts:
I’m afraid of not having control of my life and my family.
I’m afraid of not having control of my job.
What if something bad happens?
Can I prevent this from happening to my kids?

Somehow, I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way.

God tells us in John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I seek to control the world around me, but the world around me will not bring peace to my life. As a result of sin in this world, bad things will happen, loved ones will die, my children may make bad decisions as they grow up and the list goes on.

I cannot control any of these things, but what I can control is my thought process, resolve to focus on God’s word and remember His promises. One of these promises being that he will never leave me or forsake me- in good times and in bad.

“Let go and let God”… have you heard of that saying?

I’m working on this very concept in my life and I want to encourage you to do the same.

As we release control and let God take over, I know we will begin to find a peace that is only from our Father. A peace that passes all human understanding.

He is our ultimate daddy and he cares for our wellbeing more than anyone on this earth.

He wants us to be at peace with ourselves, with others and most importantly with Him.

So let’s take the brakes off now and re-examine my first thoughts through this prayer:

God, I am asking you to take control. Let my Type A personality be used for your glory and not to try and control the world around me. Lord, help me to slow down in life and not rush to make decisions, but rather seek your council and wisdom first. I ask you Father that as I allow you to take control, you bring a peace in my life that I have never experience before. Help me Jesus to not be a control freak, but rather to let go of control and let you do your perfect work. Thank you for your peace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Author:

Husband, Father and Christ-Follower

Ryan leads worship at Faith Assembly

Feb '18

Fear & Anxiety… What Does God Say?

Posted on 02/12/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: anxiety, fear, Real Life, Soul care, Spiritual Growth

Feb '18

Webster’s definition of fear is…

“an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger”

“the concern about what might happen”

Fear is something that can rule and control every aspect of our lives.

I can tell you, I have often let fear control my actions, thoughts and words. I don’t like to say I was a victim of fear, because it’s my own personal choice to either live in fear or live with no fear. Living with no fear in today’s day and age is something that seems nearly impossible. I fear something bad might happen to my kids or that I may not have enough money to pay the bills.

We all have things that we fear, but you can choose to overcome those fears and live in confidence through Jesus Christ. The Bible has numerous encouraging words about fear, the hope and great confidence we can have in Jesus.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid; but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Psalm 94:19

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

God gives us all the tools we need to overcome our fears and anxiety. We are His children and He tells us he will take care of our every need. When we look for comfort and hope in things like money, jobs, and personal security; our fear and anxiety will only be fueled in a negative way.

Psalm 115:11

You who fear him – trust in the Lord, he is their help and shield.

Having fear in the Lord is how we overcome the fears and anxiety of this life. This doesn’t mean to be scared of God, it means to trust in him, respect and have reverence towards him. When we develop a healthy fear of the Lord, he begins to put life into a perspective from his eyes.

One of my favorite verses is from Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.”
Fear can sometimes be healthy, but when the fear and anxiety consumes our life,

it’s time to take a step back and remember what God says about it.

As always, I like to encourage you with a song that has helped me. Take a moment to listen to Kari Jobe’s song “I Am Not Alone.”

The song doesn’t specifically mention fear, but it does paint a picture of someone who may be struggling with life, fears and anxiety.

Thank God for His love and for his ability to overcome our fears and anxieties. We are truly never alone!

Christ Follower, Husband, Dad

Worship Leader, Faith Assembly

Jan '18

Commitment of Steel: How About Those New Year Resolutions?

Posted on 01/01/2018 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: commitment, New year, Real Life, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Growth

Jan '18

Every January it seems like everyone turns to thinking about commitment. New resolutions are considered and pledged.

Lots of folks consider making a new commitment, but never do because they assume they’ll fail anyway.

So why try?

This January, we will most likely see a glut of opinion pieces written on how to make and keep new resolutions… and even what to do if we fail. They’re intended to encourage us to not give up- press on- be patient- and imagine the reward at the finish.

Today, I’d like to offer a perspective on one way those commitments begin to break down in the first place.

These thoughts came when I was pondering Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness,

and pondering nearly 3 decades of ministry experiences with people.

We find our story in Matthew 4. Right after Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and His Father speaks some of the most reassuring words a son could hope to hear. Matthew also says that Jesus successfully completed the 40 days and nights of fasting before the tempter came to distract Him (Matt. 4:2).

After so much spiritual accomplishment, one could think that Jesus would be immune to temptation,

and indeed Jesus was able to resist the evil one and give us His example to follow.

And still, I’m intrigued by the timing of the tempter.

So, here are a few of the nuances that got my attention.

First, the enemy of our souls loves to attack when we’re tired and vulnerable.

This seems obvious since the attack came after Jesus’ 40 days and nights of fasting.

Second, the enemy of our souls also loves to attack when we least expect it…usually when we’re fresh and excited.

It’s as if he uses a quick jab to the face to surprise us and knock us just a bit off balance. I’ve heard boxers say they all have a game plan that seems solid until they get hit in the face.

So here’s a couple encouraging tips to remember:

Keep in mind that’s the enemy’s job.

Don’t allow him the satisfaction of making you feel weak or victimized.

God will use the opportunity to continue growing you in wisdom,

further grow you up in His ways, and even toughen you up in the process.

Remember through your relationship with Him in Jesus Christ, God has instilled Himself in you. His wisdom is in you (Psalm 119:98 & 99).

And, “greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

In January we are discussing the theme of commitment with our adults and children.

We define it as this:

Making a Plan and Putting it into Practice

Based on I Tim. 4:8

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,

holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

As you work through setting new resolutions and taking on good advice of how others keep them,

remember these bits of encouragement to help you keep your focus on Jesus.

With His help and in His power, you can turn your resolutions into commitments of steel.

Author:

Pastor Jon is lead pastor of Faith Assembly Grand Detour

Dec '17

Jesus at the Center

Posted on 12/20/2017 in Devotions, Real Life, Soul Care, Spiritual Growth | Tags: Advent, Christmas, Priorities, Real Life, Spiritual Growth, Time, Truth

Dec '17

As Christmas is upon us it’s hard not to notice the lights, decorations and all of the hard work we put into making everything look just perfect for the holidays. One thing that always stands out to me is the nativity scene. It seems that there just aren’t quite as many set up as there used to be. The thing I love about the nativity scene is that Jesus is always in the center…and all eyes are on Him.

This is a great reminder to me. Through all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the most important thing now (and always) is placing Jesus at the center of all we are and all we do.

I want Jesus to be the center of everything…
the center of my life
the center of my family’s life
the center of the Church
the center of my work

We live in a world with so many distractions… and let’s not forget our adversary,

who loves to use those distractions to try and pull us a way from Jesus.

One distraction I have found to be a hindrance- a roadblock- in my Christ-centered life is getting involved with too much. Being too busy can be a tool the enemy uses, and one that is a common struggle for most people. Personally, I’m active in a lot of different groups, meetings at work and at church. All the things I’m a part of are great causes and have great meaning, but the tasks and time that each one of those things takes can take over my true purpose very quickly.

I have found, when I try and put an order of importance on my priorities and stick to that order, I sometimes fail miserably.

I tend to allow all these good, meaningful things to become the center of what I am doing instead of Christ being the center of all I do.
There is a difference.

Through God’s grace in my life, I’ve also discovered this: when I place Jesus at the very center,

my priorities are set by God as he shapes me into who He wants me to be.

I encourage all of us to take a step back this Christmas and holiday season. Take a step back and allow Jesus to be the center of it all.

Only we can do this for ourselves, and when we do, we can truly thank God for His amazing generosity by sending us His one and only Son.

Make this your prayer while you listen to Israel Houghton’s song “Jesus at the Center.”

Author: