Is there anything more annoying than the phrase, "Back when I was a kid..."
Which is usually followed by some story about walking 5 miles to school in the snow.... barefoot.... uphill both ways....
Well, today is my turn to be annoying.
Have you looked outside?
It looks like the middle of April. "Back when I was a kid...." the first snow of the year that stuck was on Halloween.
I remember getting ready for "Trick or Treating" by putting on my Lone Ranger costume (I was always the Lone Ranger).... only to put on layers of coats, hats, gloves, boots.... which made me look like a cross between the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man and a Raccoon.
Anyway, we could count on SNOW for Halloween.
I saw people on motorcycles all over Colville on Saturday -- January 11th. That is just wrong.
Every Monday I am a primary crew member with the Ambulance service. So for the last few weeks, I have been bundling up for work because of the cold temperatures. Today, I left the Underamor gear at home because it is sunny and warm. That is just wrong.
Anyway, I have a couple thoughts to pass along for you to keep in mind as you travel through your week:
#1. Please send up prayers of strength and healing for those battling the flu. This year, it seems especially aggressive and resilient.
#2. Take a moment to look up at the sunshine and thank the Good Lord for such a beautiful day. We often take for granted what a breathtakingly beautiful land we are blessed to live in.
Psalm 118:24
"This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it."
I'm praying for you....
Pastor Shane
Monday, January 13, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Keep a Close Watch
Keep A Close Watch
James 4:8 NLT
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."
2014 is the year to meditate on "Coming close to God".
What does it mean to come close to God?
How do you do it?
What will it cost?
How will I know if I am close to God -- or not?
If coming to God is a good thing -- then why isn't everyone doing it?
Recently I had one of those faith shaking moments when someone I dearly trusted, spent 2 hours expressing doubt about me and every aspect of my service to God.
The sad part is that I could not salvage the friendship.
The positive aspect of the experience is that it served to encourage me to examine areas of my life that I often take for granted.
1 Timothy 4:16 NLT
"Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."
My thought for today is this,
"How often do you stop and ask yourself if your life pleases God?"
"How often do you stop and ask yourself if what you believe is consistent with what God's Word states?"
It is easy to "drift" along and avoid causing waves.
The problem is, drifting moves you further away from God.
For you to draw close to God -- you have to desire it and make decisions that move you closer to Him.
So what decisions move you away from God?
I will give you a HINT:
99% of them involve your thought life.
What you choose to think about determines your values and beliefs -- which eventually determines your decisions.
Do your thoughts move you toward God?
What do you spent the majority of your time thinking about?
Philippians 4:8 NLT
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
Perhaps this is something you and the good Lord should spend some time thinking about.
I'm praying for you.....
James 4:8 NLT
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."
2014 is the year to meditate on "Coming close to God".
What does it mean to come close to God?
How do you do it?
What will it cost?
How will I know if I am close to God -- or not?
If coming to God is a good thing -- then why isn't everyone doing it?
Recently I had one of those faith shaking moments when someone I dearly trusted, spent 2 hours expressing doubt about me and every aspect of my service to God.
The sad part is that I could not salvage the friendship.
The positive aspect of the experience is that it served to encourage me to examine areas of my life that I often take for granted.
1 Timothy 4:16 NLT
"Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you."
My thought for today is this,
"How often do you stop and ask yourself if your life pleases God?"
"How often do you stop and ask yourself if what you believe is consistent with what God's Word states?"
It is easy to "drift" along and avoid causing waves.
The problem is, drifting moves you further away from God.
For you to draw close to God -- you have to desire it and make decisions that move you closer to Him.
So what decisions move you away from God?
I will give you a HINT:
99% of them involve your thought life.
What you choose to think about determines your values and beliefs -- which eventually determines your decisions.
Do your thoughts move you toward God?
What do you spent the majority of your time thinking about?
Philippians 4:8 NLT
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
Perhaps this is something you and the good Lord should spend some time thinking about.
I'm praying for you.....
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