Hopeless to Grace-filled!

2 Peter 1:5-7   For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

 

In today’s culture our families have been broken, separated, or drowning in doubt. I know these are tough times for many of us to see grace vs. hopelessness. From a spiritual perspective, your home is the place to take your stand against the fires of hell and the winds of our sinful culture.

By God’s grace and power we must create a spiritual spot of protection to keep the storms of life from destroying families. The Bible is filled with examples of those who did not know how or felt like they deserved to be a leader. It is hard to allow God to rise up as well as keep His promises of provision.  But your testimony is the proof of God at work…just like Abraham, Ester, Peter, and Mary. They all allowed God to create a spiritual place for them to protect and raise them up to lead. They all have common threads-they all felt lost and wounded by the world. They also had great faith that put them in tough spots to lead from a God driven grace and not the hopelessness of the world.

We have testimonies and the only true bad testimony is the one not given. When the love of God is dropped in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Christ is easily first.  Then, we must practice working out of these things keep us from God. This is where your personal testimony comes in to play because OUR actions share more with the world than our words alone. We need to write it out and then write it to our hearts…. 

 Making your testimony- God Created a Need -Are you personally changed?

 

·        Describe the condition of your life.

o   In what way did God change your priorities?

o   If there has been no personal change can a person go to Heaven?

o   When you were personally changed or converted? What changes has Jesus made in your life that others can see?

 

·        What spiritual, material, emotional and/or physical needs are in your life?

o   How did your needs change… for the good from the bad?

o   What does James say about a professed faith that gives no evidence of change?

We go through trials, its part of His master plan to fine-tuning our faith. God allows us to be put into the furnace to burn off the pride, the anger, the smugness, the lust, the prejudice, or whatever sin that is present in our lives. Beware of the tendency of asking the way, when you know it perfectly well. Take the first step. Be unwavering when God speaks, act in faith and love of God. We have to get into the habit of listening to God about everything. When a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God and to the world.

In the end, a refined faith is a treasure and a stronger family is better than gold. Through the refining process, you and I discover just how real our faith is, and so do those around us. Our personal testimonies show the journey and our growth in Christ. Ask in prayer for help in creating a spiritual place of blessing and protection for you and your family.

Living Life Large 4 Christ!
Pastor Frank

Jesus- A Passionate Lifestyle

In life, we at some point, ask the question, “Do I matter? What is God’s plan for my life?  Does God still have something for me?” The answer to these questions is, “Yes!” Regardless of your circumstances as a follower of Jesus, God is at work declaring and ordering your steps. He’s working in your home, in your family, and in your future. 

We need to be in a relationship first with Jesus, then our family, and with whomever God brings before us. We only have a limited number of days to live, would you live them large or would you just curl up in a ball waiting on death?  When we live large… it’s a bold and a passionate statement of following the word of God. We tend to end our lives before it even starts. The main cause is because we lose our passion due to the beat down the world gives us. God promises to lead us, to hold onto us, and to never ever let us go. In every part and every aspect of our lives, He is on the journey with us. We have His word on it! God calls us to be more than just bold about His gift of life, but passionate about it.

In today’s society, so many people have a passion and they bring change in the world around them.  Unfortunately, many of those changes are not of God.  The remedy for life’s unanswered questions is joy and contentment in what God has provided. The journey of life is peppered with encouragement from God. Once we learn to accept each day as a stepping to stone on the journey of life, then and only then will we enjoy what God has given you. The change starts with your first then to the world around you. If the change is done without integrity, then your questions are to how can I live for you Lord but how can I live for me?

2 Peter 1:5 Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge

We as Christians need to have more passion for Christ, instead of allowing the world without integrity to win!  See, we are on a limited number of days in each of our lives. We could die today or fifty years from now…it is how you live that matters. Live with a passionate lifestyle in Jesus, in prayer, and in living with integrity by God’s words. When you find the assurance in being content with God then you’ll see the signs your life has been protected! The journey is not how fare with go but who is leading our steps. 

Living Life Large 4 Christ

Pastor Frank Lott

“Not” A 2nd Class Citizen

It is true that most couples in America today have been or are going through a divorce. In fact, statistics show the numbers are 49-51% of marriages today will end up in divorce. This happens in the church as well as out of the church and those who are charged with showing forgiveness won’t or don’t know how. The church is losing entire families because of its reaction to those who get divorced. Then if a leader within a church gets divorce he or she becomes modern day lepers. In short the families of divorce become 2^nd Class Citizens within the vary community that relies on forgiveness.

The word "forgiveness" is found in the New International Version Bible in 15 different scriptures and the word “forgive” is found 63 in the same version. So, why is it not easily done? The answer is like the act itself, it must be with a genuine heart.  The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:21-35 outlines the art of forgiveness. It is not about counting because it does not matter as long as the person seeking forgiveness is truthful and heartfelt. 

Matthew 18:21-22  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

The framework of the passage (Matthew 18:21-35) is about Christians forgiving those who seek forgiveness. However, your forgiveness truly lies with God who forgives even the most horrific and unapologetic of sins. We as Christians tend to believe we have all the answers and are more than Christ-like. We become the judge, jury as well as the executioner of those who offend us with their actions. The controversy over whether divorce and remarriage is allowed is a bigger issue than killing or stealing for many. The truth is that it is all equal in the eyes of God. God hates all sin and in Malachi 2:16: “I hate divorce, says the LORD God of Israel.” Which is clear but, does that mean we who are divorced are 2^nd Class Citizen in His eyes? And I believe in my heart and soul the answer is NO!

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God hates divorce and that resolution and forgiveness should be the marks of a believer’s life.  He also recognizes that divorce will occur, even among His children Sheppard’s. A divorced and/ or remarried believer should not feel any less loved or unworthy by God.  God uses our sinful disobedience to accomplish great good and in the process allows us to heal from pains of the world as we step through this world.  Besides, church leaders are not autocratic judges who lord over those who sinned more than them, but are servants who apply influence with concern and love ALL who have sinned.

I guess my point is that sin is sin and God hates it all, but He still loves us as divorced, remarried, recovering addict, fat, skinny and host of other things that would just be to redundant  to cover. If you think you are still a 2^nd Class Citizen because of what you did or you think others are lesser because of their sin please read and pray over Matthew 18:21-35.

Live Life Large 4 Christ 

Pastor Frank Lott

eMotivational- March 2011

03-29-11 

When God calls us to work some-days we're the hammer and some-days we're the nail. It isn't what part that we play, but who is the builder that really matters....
 
03-22-11

What you think of yourself today can turn into who you'll be tomorrow.
THINK MORE BE MORE...
THINK LESS BE LESS... 
Your choice!
  
03-21-11

A dream becomes a miracle the moment you let God be in control and let something happen in the super nature. It is a FAITH THING!

03-18-11

Our misfortunes always spotlight our desire to have, to be, and to find something bigger than ourselves. 
 The bigger God is the smaller our troubles seem to be.

03-03-11

Nobody alive is ever lost...they just have not been found by themselves or by others!
If you don't look can you really claim to be alive?

03-01-11

We are drawn to those who we are most like..For some it is a chance forgive and for others to be forgiven. Are you a healer or a hurter?