Richly Blessed

If you’re like me, your finances can seem to play cruel tricks on you. It never fails: as soon as we get our tax return back and we’re dreaming of all the great things we could do with it, the car transmission blows or one of us needs dental work done. Maybe you make enough to have a bit of a buffer, but it seems like everyone runs into financial struggles at one point or another and isn’t sure how it’s all going to pan out. That can be a stressful situation.

God tells us that he knows the plans he has for us already laid out. He knew about the car problems or the E.R. trip, the stolen laptop or the unexpectedly high electric bill before they happened. Nothing surprises God and he is ready and able to handle all of the stresses that attack us! We just need to put our faith in Him and trust that He is in control of our finances. He will always provide what we need, even if it’s not exactly how we would have planned. If I look at that tax return as a huge blessing from God to pay for the unforeseen disaster, it puts a whole new perspective on the situation. I can be thankful for the blessing. My good friend Carmen always said, “I’m too blessed to be stressed!” I love that. You are too blessed to be stressed about finances. Trust in Him instead!

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Journey on!

Embracing the Greatness and Holiness of God

Our sermon this past Sunday was about how God blesses us with his greatness and holiness. Hebrews 10:10, 14

Mike gave us an acrostic on the word, HOLY, to help us remember the message.

H….OPE
The greatness and holiness does not depend on us having it all together.
Our hope is based on the grace of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:13/ 1:3-5
Hope leads us to…

O….BEDIENCE 1 Peter 1:14-16

Obedience doesn’t make us holy, we obey out of love because Christ made us holy! ROM.12:1,2

L…OVE 1Peter 1:22

The one characteristic of God that should stand out most in our lives is LOVE! 1 John 4:8

Y….EARN 1 Peter 2:2-5

Holiness craves the presence of God. Psalm 42:1-2

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

God Turns Our Darkness into Light

“ The story of David and Bathsheeba is not about sin, but about God. The God with the broken heart always waits to forgive.” Lynn Anderson

God did not give up on David when he messed up and he doesn’t give up on us either!

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—  he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

God turns my darkness into light!

David, A Man with a Good Heart

We are in the middle of a series on David. I have so enjoyed these lessons!

It is so interesting to see how God said that David was a man after his own heart (I Samuel 13:14) but also to see that he was SO human and made SO many mistakes. It really helps us to relate to this man of God. It is so easy to feel like we can’t possibly please God because of our struggles. But David’s life shows us how God is concerned with the direction of our hearts. May we continue to examine our hearts and make sure that they are centered on God!

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.(Phil. 4:6-8)

Victory Over Suffering

The cross teaches us that there is suffering in this world. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 There is no doubt that Jesus suffered through a horrible death and he did it for us. Because of this, Jesus knows what it means when we suffer. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil…” Heb.2:14

We humans have a tendency to seek out God in times of distress, sometimes for relief, sometimes in anger, and many times with questions. This is a turn in the right direction! Jesus cares for us and wants to help us through our struggles. “ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Turn to Jesus with whatever is causing you trouble, talk to him, knowing that he is working on your behalf! And most of all, remember that he has overcome the world and because you walk with him, you are overcoming daily with him!

Thought Question: What have you been struggling with lately, that you need to put in his hands?

Joe's Rollercoaster Life!

Life can seem like a rollercoaster ride. It certainly did for Joseph in the book of Genesis, starting in chapter 37.

His life started off well. He was his father’s favorite child. He was a dreamer and thought life would meet his expectations. But he had a few issues, he was a tattle tale and his brothers, well, they hated him.

One day as he was on his usual fact finding mission for his father on his brother’s activities, his life took a sudden downhill drop and turned upside down. Now, it could have been worse, his brothers pondered on the idea of killing him! But instead, they sold him into slavery. Not a good thing but God was with Joseph and he did well in the household of his master. Until there was another nasty turn and Joe ended up in prison through no fault of his own. Can you imagine how discouraging all this was?

See, life can be like that. Even when God is with us and we are doing the right things, the rollercoaster may still take another dip. It doesn’t mean I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere. It doesn’t mean God isn’t right there.

You see Joseph would go through all these trials and would wind up in the perfect place to solve a monumental problem of the world at that time with God’s help! He would save the lives of his family because of the position he was in. He was right where he was supposed to be. God had been working through Joseph’s life all along, through the good times and the bad.

Thoughts for Reflection: It is so hard to see any reason when things are going badly. We even feel like God has abandoned us in some of those times. But try to take a step back and imagine God at work on the bigger picture. And remember, to trust in his love and presence!

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9

The Journey Community Church is located at 380 South Seventh Street, Ponchatoula, LA 70454