Halloween Based Message

2 Corinthians 11:14
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Pastors, spread an amazing message today.

Today’s passage is in a chapter that addresses people acting as something they are not. Finally Pail has the quote that’s the scripture above.

People wear costumes on Halloween, people wear masks, but in reality, many people wear masks every day. Let’s disgard any untruths about ourselves to others. God made all of us to be who we are. If any of us have a “mask” on, let’s remove it and be honest about who we are with ourselves as each other.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

WWJD

John 10:14
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

Remember those WWJD wristbands? They were a hit for awhile, but I haven’t noticed them for quite some time. I feel like those wristbands and this verse could work together.

What makes us know Jesus? I believe that one way to know Him is to know what He would do in situations that we may find ourselves in.

To me, one of the best examples of knowing Him would be when it comes to forgiveness. When Jesus was on the cross, He asked God to forgive those who were crucifying Him.

When we wonder what Jesus would do, we know that He asked for forgiveness for the men who set Him up for death. So if we know nothing else, we know His heart, we can see an example of the depth of His ability to forgive and to love.

That’s one way we can know him.

Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 10/29: Worry

Good morning, men!

Over the last year, our family has really struggled with anxiety and worry. Sarah with our finances, me with my job and baseball, Jase with sports and school…it has been ever present in our home for months.

I woke this morning to a post on my Twitter feed that read:

When worried, we often….

* Overestimate the probability a problem will occur

* Overestimate how imminent the problem is

* Overestimate the severity of the problem

* Underestimate our ability to cope with the problem if it does occur

The account that posted this is a secular account, and I would like to add to this “underestimate the power of the Lord, and the fact that he goes before us.”

Ecclesiastes tells us there is nothing new under the Sun. While that checks our ego, it should also speak to us that nothing we are going through is novel to human suffering.

Have a blessed day, men! Enjoy your weekend and let go of worry.

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Why Do I Keep Sinning?

Sorry…a little longer message today.

Is this a question you have ever asked yourself?  Do you find yourself in consistent conviction?  Asking God for forgiveness after dealing with the same sin you have already asked God to forgive you of multiple times?

I had a very good conversation with a good friend of mine over the weekend.  He said, “I want to know God and I want to be close to him….but there are so many things in my life I have to remove before I can approach Him…a few big things that I know are wrong and God would not want me close to Him with these sins in my life!”  Lets come back to that in one second.

1 Corinthians 10:13

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I want to give you a personal testimony.  I use to drink.  I am not throwing anyone under the bus here, but, if you wanted to trace a generational sin in our family back through our lineage, alcohol would be the strongest.  Eventually that was me as well.  I would also tell you that during that time of my life was when a large amount of the sin and regret was created.  When I was under the influence I did not think with a clear mind, I especially did not think with a mind of Godliness either.  My wife continued to ask me to quit drinking, until she finally realized she had no control over whether I was going to drink or not.  When I was first “born again” I was still drinking similar to when I didn’t know God.  Until one day the Lord just impressed on me a few points:

1. Dustin, you can be the difference maker in stopping the generational sin of alcohol in your family. This does not have to go on to your children. I pray the Lord protects them.
2. My Holy Spirit cannot dwell in you while you are drinking.
3. You keep thinking you can quit drinking on your own, but its only me that can change your desires, and direct them more toward me.  Give it all to me!!

When I did this, the Lord completely transformed my desires.  Do I still think about drinking and what it would be like?  I do.  But, I do not have the urge to drink like I use to…He took that away…I do not put myself in situations where I might be tempted to…He puts me in situations to draw closer to Him.  I also, hope and pray, that by living life through Him, and not drinking the way I once did,  He will take any urge away from future generations of my family to fall into that same sin.  Men remember this important quote I use consistently “God will not love a future version of you better than the one you are today!”  Surrender it to Him.

With love,

Dlp

Family

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”Proverbs 17:17

It’s the last part that was an emphasis for our family. God given us all siblings as part of the body of Christ. Brothers and Sisters, we were born for one another! He has created us to support one another, lift each other up in the hard times. A kind word of encouragement or checking in on them just to make them feel loved. Maybe it’s helping with yard work or groceries. Adversity is different for us all. God has called us to bear one another’s burdens. Be the hands and feet of Jesus in someone’s life today!“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”Hebrews 10:22-25 MSG

Drew

Family

Good morning men! This past couple weeks has been birthday central for us. We celebrated my wife’s birthday 2 weeks ago and last week we celebrated my grandparents who turned 95 & 97 and our sons birthday yesterday who turned 5. We got the pleasure of going to visit my grandparents on Sunday and as they are getting older, we know our time with them is getting shorter. We are so blessed to have had them around as long as we have and to watch them be leaders for our family. They have both been outstanding spiritual leaders and my papa has shown us what it’s like to lead a family humbly. If I am half the man he is one day I will have done something meaningful with my life. As they are getting older, their health is beginning to decline. So men, call up that relative you haven’t seen, or the friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Be present with one another when you are there with them. Enjoy the moments you have together. We know they aren’t forever but we still let time get away from us. Have a blessed day men and know you are loved and that you are enough.

Family

Good morning men! This past couple weeks has been birthday central for us. We celebrated my wife’s birthday 2 weeks ago and last week we celebrated my grandparents who turned 95 & 97 and our sons birthday yesterday who turned 5. We got the pleasure of going to visit my grandparents on Sunday and as they are getting older, we know our time with them is getting shorter. We are so blessed to have had them around as long as we have and to watch them be leaders for our family. They have both been outstanding spiritual leaders and my papa has shown us what it’s like to lead a family humbly. If I am half the man he is one day I will have done something meaningful with my life. As they are getting older, their health is beginning to decline. So men, call up that relative you haven’t seen, or the friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Be present with one another when you are there with them. Enjoy the moments you have together. We know they aren’t forever but we still let time get away from us. Have a blessed day men and know you are loved and that you are enough.

Chosen

My family may have been late to the party, but we finally started watching The Chosen a few weeks ago. It is a free TV show about the life of Jesus. Several friends recommended it to us and we finished season 1 this weekend. My teenage kids really enjoyed it.

https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

The show is so good, and yes while it does make some assumptions and is not word for word following along the scriptures I believe it honors the word of God and the gospel message of who Jesus is and why He is here.

John 4:25-26: 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Psalm 34 (ESV)

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

^[a] Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
² My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
³ Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
⁹ Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
²¹ Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Encouragement

Mark 10:27
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Pastors, go make it happen.

I watched a show on miracles yesterday. I didn’t intend to, but it was there and I watch it.

Personally, I believe in miracles, I believe in angels, and I believe that with God all things are possible. I want to encourage everyone to keep praying. Believe in that miracle. I don’t know what it is or what it’s for, but keep going.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey