Author: Wesley Fryer

Focus Our Relationship With God

focus, God

These are my notes from Mateen Elass’ sermon today on August 11, 2013.

God calls us to focus not on the things of this world, but on our relationship with God.

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12:16-21 NLT)

The average house size has grown immensely for average US citizens the past few decades, at the same time storage rental facilities have boomed in popularity to store all our stuff.

No where in this story from Jesus do we see or hear the rich man mentioning God or talking with God. The man seeks advice and wisdom from himself, and “says to his soul” (the transcendent / eternal part of his life) to take it easy.

Some millionaires today have actually set up trust funds for themselves so they will have those funds when they are brought back to life hundreds of years in the future.

If you are consumed by your work, you may neglect your family, your health, and your relationship with God. We study the Bible so we will desire the things God desires. The world, however, speaks with a megaphone and says otherwise: The world tells us to focus on consumption and ourselves.

April 2011 example: “India bank termites eat piles of cash”

Retired CEOs in Naples, Florida, start measuring their lives by how many rounds of golf they can play. They find themselves leading empty lives.

Story of Katie as an elementary student, collecting pennies trick-or-treating at Halloween, for a fresh water mission project in Mexico.

Remember: Life is NOT about the accumulation of THINGS.

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Be Patient

gifts, prayer

God calls us to be patient and wait on Him to fulfill the promises He has made. Patience is a virtue, and we rarely hear it extolled in the worldly messages which surround us. In the book of James we read:

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:7-9 NIV)

Dear God, help me be patient and have faith in your promises. I see the fullfillment of so much around me and in my life, and I am thankful. I pray that your patience would fill my heart, and rather than look to tomorrow, I would rise up to meet the challenges and opportunities of this day with you by my side.

Amen.

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Chosen To Praise and Serve

God

I found this verse reading notes from others in the YouVersion iPhone Bible this morning:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

This verse explains one reason we are called and blessed by God is to praise Him. This is one reason why worship is so important for us every week and even every day.

We are called to follow the example of Jesus, who not only took time to praise God but also to seek God alone as well as with others regularly. Jesus also made time to serve others regularly, and explained to his disciples that service is at the heart of following him and God.

Sometimes when we hear the phrase “chosen people” I think we may overlook or ignore the purposes for which God calls us. God does not call us to simply live in our homes and closed communities and remain separated from the troubles and challenges of the world. God calls us to praise and worship him, and go forth serving him by becoming his hands and feet!

This verse also speaks to how we are called to be witnesses for Christ. We declare our praise for God as we share with others the ways he has and continues to work in our lives.

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The Heart is the Tree & Words are Your Fruit

God, struggles

A powerful message from Pastor Robert Morris on the value and power of words.

Here are some verses and key messages from this sermon.

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:20, 21 NIV

and

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:31-37 NIV

Speak life into your family. The words we speak shape ourselves and shape our family members into the creations we and they become.

7 divine words for healing every relationship: “I was wrong, will you forgive me?”

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Focus Your Mind on Holy Things

focus

The world is constantly encouraging us to focus on the wrong things. Whether it is money, sex, power, or something else, the world (in large part now through advertisements which bombard and surround us on multiple screens) tells us to look at the wrong things. Jesus, however, calls us to focus on God, the Holy Spirit, and holy things which are set apart from the world. In Romans we read from Paul:

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:5, 6 NLT)

This day I will invite God’s Holy Spirit to control my mind, especially whenever I am tempted to focus on the values of the world.

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Shine the Light of Jesus

evangelism, God, Jesus

I love these verses. I have shared a reference to these words many times in presentations in reference to student work, which we should share and celebrate rather than hide / keep private.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)

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Tell Others How Jesus Has Saved You

evangelism, Jesus

The commandments of Jesus are not difficult to understand, but they can be very challenging to follow. One of the most basic commands Jesus gives us all is to tell others how God has provided for us and saved us from perils. In the Gospel of Mark we hear this after Jesus heals the man of Legion (many demons):

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. (Mark 5:18-20 NLT)

God saved me from death when I was in pilot training, but I was loth to tell this story to others because of my own shame and embarrassment at not achieving what was MY goal in life, becoming a pilot and a career Air Force officer. God’s providential act became a story I largely kept to myself and hid away, instead of something I joyfully shared with others.

I have lived many years of my life in a secular stupor. Even though I professed faith in God with my lips, in my heart I ignored the reality of His Holy Spirit and His Holy Son. I want to live my life with my eyes and my heart wide open to God and His Word. I do not want to hide away the stories of how God has acted to save me for His own purposes.

I see in my own family and the lives of our children the tremendous blessings which God has poured out. These are not things we deserve or have earned. These blessings are from God’s grace, and we are called to respond to Him by living our lives for Him.

Praise God for the lost souls like mine which He has saved from the darkness! Praise Jesus that He still works miracles today, claiming His sheep and bringing them safely into His sheepfold for protection.

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