John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Good morning men. This verse right here is short but so powerful. The world we live in today says it’s all about me, I’m responsible for my own destiny and it’s by my own power. No success we have in this life is by our own power and we have nothing but what Christ has blessed us with. Even then it is all borrowed. The more we have Christ in us, the less we need our old selves in us for he has filled us with what we need.
“Jehovah-Jireh” is one of the many different names of God found in the Old Testament. “Jehovah-Jireh” is the KJV’s translation of YHWH-Yireh and means “The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14). It is the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac. (from https://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovah-Jireh.html)
This weekend I was wrestling with frustration with my job and all the repair needs in our home that keep popping up. I felt like a dog chasing his own tail. And the enemy keeps attacking to tell me I am not worthy of God’s love, grace, blessing, and purpose. The war in the flesh (Romans 7) to do what I shouldn’t is real. And the enemy is right – I am not worthy of it because of my life. There is nothing I could do to earn God’s love and grace in the past and even now. The older I grow in my walk with the Lord the more I see how great He is and how far short I am. But that is the beauty of God’s love and grace: You can’t earn it but He gives it freely in Christ not because of who I am but because of who He is and who I am in Him. I am redeemed, justified, and in the process of being sanctified, and when He returns in glory I will be glorifed with Him (Romans 8)
Romans 3:22-24:22This righteousness is given through faith in h Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
In my worship time this weekend, this song came up and I so needed it. Lord you are enough. Thank you for loving me. Help me to know this love even deeper.
I’ll never be more loved than I am right now Wasn’t holding You up so there’s nothing I can do to let You down Doesn’t take a trophy to make You proud I’ll never be more loved than I am right now
Going through a storm but I won’t go down I hear Your voice carried in the rhythm of the wind to call me out You would cross an ocean so I wouldn’t drown You’ve never been closer than You are right now
Jireh You are enough Jireh You are enough I will be content in every circumstance Jireh You are enough
Don’t wanna forget how I feel right now On the mountaintop I can see so clear what it’s all about Stay by my side when the sun goes down Don’t wanna forget how I feel right now
I’m already loved I’m already chosen I know who I am I know what You’ve spoken I’m already loved More than I could imagine And that is enough
That is enough That is enough …
You are enough You are enough …
You are enough So I am enough …
If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor How much more will He clothe you How much more will He clothe you If He watches over every sparrow How much more does He love you How much more does He love you
Ephesians 3:14-21:14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every familyc in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Acts 1:14 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Pastors, it’s a great day to have the opportunity that is in front of you.
Short one today, but I want to pose a couple of questions? If prayer was that important to the family of Jesus, then shouldn’t it be that important to us? How is your prayer life? It seems as though prayer life can fluctuate based on how things are going. Be sure to pray whether things are going well or not going as well as you’d like.
Work to stay in prayer regardless of the situation.
Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.
James 3:13 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
As you can tell from reading a large portion of the messages I have written over the years, I am a big believer that actions speak louder than words. This scripture fits right I to that line of thinking.
It seems like every week when I write the message, there is something else that I learn that I need to be doing better or I reiterate something that I need to be doing better. I believe many of us want to be thought of as wise and humble. What the Scripture tells us, is that if we are, there won’t be any keeping it a secret. People will know by our actions.
Just more food for thought today. Let’s make sure our actions, words and goals all compliment each other.
Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.
If you have seen this image before, you know it is from the movie Office Space. Jennifer Aniston’s boss is “discussing” her effort with her in regards to her flair. It’s a very satirical conversation about effort and doing the bare minimum required.
I had this conversation with my boys recently. I have a pre-teen and an 8 year old who thinks he is a pre-teen. Both of them are very much in a “bare minimum” phase that, to some point, comes with that age.
I asked them to think about what adults they know that mirror minimum effort. They couldn’t think of any, and I told them the reason for that is they are surrounded by very faithful, successful, driven adults. I challenged them to follow that lead.
A buddy of mine gives away game balls at the end of every game he coaches with scripture from 1 Corinthians about “running the race in order to get the prize.” We are called to strive for greatness by the words of Christ through Paul, not mediocrity by the standards of the world.
The point of the message today is that we strive to make sure all impressions we make on others are positive. Do people see Jesus in us rarely? Sometimes? Most the time? Only at church?
I know that often times I let my how my day is going, my emotions, my feelings (better known as my flesh), control what impression I may have on another person.
When we follow Jesus’ example and invite the Spirit in continuously, all who we come in contact should know it!
Men we get one chance at life, the end will come like a thief in the night, and eternity is forever.
This picture is very sobering to me as anytime someone dies you always here how they are in a better place. The reality is not all are in a better place. Don’t wait to follow the path Jesus laid out for us. Take the steps to get where you need to be today!
Good morning men. This morning I am asking for prayers. Over the weekend a member of our church passed away due to complications from COVID. He was 37. I ask for prayers for his family and for his wife as they go through this time. Losing a loved one is never easy but seems harder when they are so young.
Psalm 46 1-3 “ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Lord I ask that you be with everyone on this message today father. You know their struggles and their pains yet you also know their joys father. We know that true joy lies in you and the blessings you have put upon us lord. Those who are hurting I pray that you give them the strength to carry on father and that things may be hard right now it is a part of your plan. Lord as Michael said yesterday it’s not for our understanding lord. Give us the strength and courage to have faith even though we may not be able to see and understand lord we know that your plan is at work. God I ask that you strengthen and move hearts as you continue to work through us Lord. In Christ Jesus, amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6: 5Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I read this in an article entitled the same on DesiringGod.org. We don’t need to understand God’s purposes now; what we need to do is trust God’s purposes now. For it is through our trust, not our own understanding, that God will direct us along our confusing paths (Proverbs 3:6). And we can trust him that later, when the time is right in the near or distant future, he will give us all the understanding we need.
At points in my life I cry out to God: “Why?”. This verse reminds me it’s about God being in control and trusting Him over my desires, comfort and understanding. It’s not important that I know why, I need to trust him, His purposes and put on Christ and follow.
Romans 13:14 – 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The Manly Message 
Recent Comments