Soak in the Psalms: Psalm 11

 Join us tonight as we look at what Psalm 11 has to say to our present time.

Rebuilding

 With some of the major holidays behind us, I can’t help but look forward a bit. No one could have predicted how this year has gone so I won’t pretend to know much about what is ahead. No predictions from me on when we are back to normal, or what that normal is. I won’t try to give you a date or any other guesses, but I won’t let that stop me from guessing there’s ways God is still planning to use our ministries here at Lakeview.

As I look forward a bit, I start to get excited and my mind will race at the possibilities. Whether we are talking about mission efforts, cards and mailers, new classes and Bible studies, or service opportunities in our community, I see so much potential for what is next for us. Sometimes I have to take a moment to just step back and wait for things to work out in God’s time, and other times it seems like there’s enough time for waiting already, it’s time to start doing!

Well, with anything new, it’s going to be different. Doing something new or different can be uncomfortable. Sometimes, I need to push through the discomfort to see the blessing God is giving when I serve. Doing something new or different can be challenging. My prayer is that God will give me the growth I need to rise to the challenge, rather than taking the easy way out when things start to get tough.

When new and different don’t compromise the Gospel message, let us run with endurance towards the prize. Let us be cautious, yes. New doesn’t always mean better. Different doesn’t always mean right. But if God is leading us towards serving Him in some new way, let us not follow the example of Jonah who ran from his call. No, let us follow in the steps of Peter who recognized God’s power working in the lives of the Gentiles and welcomed them into the family of God. Jonah resisted bringing the message to a new land and a new people. Peter saw God working, and preached the Gospel.

So, let us ask ourselves then: “What am I resisting that could be God calling?” or “What is God trying to do through me that I just don’t see?” or “Where is there more room for ministry in my life?”

Hope in the midst of darkness: Psalm 6

 "Hope in the midst of darkness: Psalm 6" will be the subject of our Mid-Week Bible Study this evening starting at 6:30 -- Hope you can make it!

A Season of Giving - Never Giving Up Hope

 

Faith & Trust

"Faith" can usually be understood well through the lens of "Trust". 

The faith of Jesus led Him to empty Himself of His divine nature (Phil. 2:7) and the faithfulness of Jesus led Him to submit in humble obedience to the commands of God, all without sin (IS 53:9). He trusted in the Father.

Jesus is our example, our guide, our Lord. He should do much more than influence us, but I thought this was a cute graphic anyway! Happy Monday!

1 Peter 2:21-23 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly."

Giving Heed to God's Word

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb. 4:12).

This morning, we will take a look at a few passages and try to view them in their proper context. Whenever we study the Bible, we are looking for answers. The challenge we will always face is ensuring we are looking for the answers provided as opposed to the answers we want. Many people over many years have found ways to make the Bible say what they need it to say, or what they want it to say, so that it will support their view or help them win their argument. This has been happening from the very beginning of the church. So soon in fact, Peter had to address it concerning the NT texts that Paul had written through inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:16)

The warning stands for us also. If we ask, seek, and knock then we will find. But if we are trying to twist the words of God to fit our perspective or our preconceived ideas, we are doomed to fail. Instead, the right perspective is to approach the Word with a humble heart, an open mind, and as a faithful witness to the revelation before us. Scripture will challenge us. It's our job to wrestle with it and allow it to shape us, rather than casting for ourselves a god made in our likeness.

 

A Season of Giving: Sharing in God's Gifts

It’s the time of year when people are thinking about giving – I hope! This time of year, more than ever, we are bombarded with ads for the latest greatest of anything and everything from cars, to games, to toys for all ages. It’s easy to think more about what we might be getting from someone instead of thinking about ways that we could be giving.

Granted, the giving of things is itself something that is hard to do. Many of us have been through or are going through hard times in life and just can’t give like we want to give or feel like we should be giving. This happens when we think about giving in too narrow of terms. We shouldn’t just think about things when it comes time to give, instead we need to realize we have a great many other gifts that people need so much more than things and stuff. We can give a kind word, a listening ear, a tear with a broken heart, or share in the joy of simple moments.

Another way that we can give is to speak. In our world, there are people that are having a difficult time keeping work, finding a place to stay, or having their basic needs met. What difference can we make the lives of these families and individuals that have so little? When we speak the truth in love, when we speak about the care and compassion that Christ showed, we can be leaders in the world that can help to meet these needs that we find very hard to meet alone. Alone, I can do very little. But through Christ, I can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

The world is at odds with Christ and His love. If more people had the love of Jesus in their hearts, the world would be a much different place. Our mission is to bring that love of Christ into the world (2 Corinthians 5:20) in a way that shows others and leads others on a path of discipleship (Ephesians 4:15).

This morning, we’ll take a closer look at what it means to speak for those without a voice and we’ll look at ways that we can help make a difference in the lives of the struggling and hurting. Prayers and love should be the beginning of our actions, not the beginning and end of all we do.