Some Trust in Chariots

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

~Psalm 20:7

During these seemingly uncertain times in our world I am holding firmly on God’s promises and His character, specifically in the way that He worked with His people during times of war. Time after time we see the key to victory was trust and obedience. As the people of God trusted Him and in doing so showed it by their obedience we see victory. There were times when they had the upper hand by pure might, but the victory was from the Lord. There were other times when they had just a few and were humanly out numbered, but God brought the victory. God Almighty is the Victor and those who trust in Him and obey His commands have already won.

In our times there are many who are assuming that no matter what happens in the coming days that America will be victorious, because we have the “bigger guns” and we are the world’s only “Super Power”. However, might alone in our day does not always help. I lived very close to the World Trade Center and we all know now that evil does not need to have the biggest guns. We are in a battle now that is not against flesh and blood. (Eph. 6)

Trinity, I believe that more than any other time we must face reality and realize that we are in times that we may well be seeing the change of life as we now know it. We are afforded so many privaliges and freedoms, such as we are enjoying today. Do we take for granted the freedom to come and worship this morning without the fear of being jailed or worse? Do we take for granted that we have a corporate prayer time that will “always be there”? Are we crying out to God for our nation, our leaders, our children, etc.?

I’ve heard that some of the most incredible worship services are in the places where the people experience the most pain and suffering. I myself, went to one service where the room was filled with people delivered from crack, prostitution and sexual addictions. Next to them were others with hearts being mended from divorce, rape, post-abortion and more. I heard more praise, worship adoration and thanksgiving that day than I had ever heard. Those who have been forgiven most, love the most...hopefully.

What happens tomorrow in Iraq is uncertain. What the United States will be like next year is uncertain. Who our God is, is sure and unchanging. Let’s not wait until the worst hits to cry out to Him. Let’s not wait until we are in the midst of the furnace to praise Him. Acknowledge His love, strength, hope, mercy, forgiveness, power, might, grace, peace, healing, provisions and more and worship Him for them today and the next and the next, so when trouble comes you will rest in the place where you’ve already been and not forget in the dark what He revealed to you in the light. The battle is the Lord’s:

“Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5 (NIV)

Purpose Driven Destruction

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

(John 10:10a)

 From the beginning of time we see him working out his purpose with Adam and Eve.

We are all created in the image of God. That image is best seen in the expressions from and in our hearts. Satan cannot take away our salvation but if he can destroy, break or in other ways nullify the heart of Almighty God’s image bearers then He will be happy. God’s glory is expressed best here on this earth through the lives of His children. As Saint Irenaeus wrote, “The glory of God is man fully alive”. Satan’s plan is to break your heart, especially in things towards God. If he can do that then the glory of God coming from your life is dimmed and less of an influence for God.

Satan tried to do this to Adam, the nation of Israel, Jarius, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel, Jesus and millions of others. Where was God when the Jews were commanded to make more bricks with less material? Were was God when Jarius held His almost lifeless daughter in his arms? Where was God as Joseph as being thrown into the dry well? Where was God when Jacob received news of his favorite son being killed by wild animals? Where was God when Daniel was being thrown into the lion’s den? Where was God while Job was getting the mess kicked out of him? Where was He when your husband/wife walked out? Where was he when your best friend died of AIDS? Where was he when you were betrayed by those you trusted the most? Where is He now? Why didn’t/doesn’t He step in?

Each one of those questions is fueled by Satan’s sole purpose to destroy your heart. He wants to steal your joy, your hope. He wants to kill your emotion towards your Creator, your Father and to kill your heart towards Him and in some cases not only your heart but your very life.

Without the well, Joseph would have never brought the Jews to Egypt. Without the cross, no resurrection. God won. He always does.

My friend, you may not see, feel, sense, or even believe that God is with you in the midst of your situation or that He even cares.

He is and He does… One day every question will be answered, every doubt will be erased, every fear quenched, every tear dried. Go ahead, cry, get mad. My prayer for you today is that you will be able to say, even in your brokenness, just as Job did, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him (Job 13:15 NIV) Today may be your “Friday”, but your “Sunday” is coming.

With you, desiring a heart fully alive……...MJ

At This I Fell At His Feet

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me,

"Do not do it… Worship God!” (Rev 19:10 NIV)

As John was caught up with what he was seeing in heaven he was so overcome with the culture of praise and worship and being in the presence of the Almighty that he began to worship the messenger of God rather than the God of the message. The angel reminded him that there is only one who is worthy to be worshipped and that is God Almighty! We are created to be worshippers. Every created being is made with the ability and the drive to worship, to give worth to something, someone higher than themselves.

The problem comes when the object of our worship is wrong. Since the beginning of time people have been worshipping “out of focus”. This happens when we see incredible things coming from something that has been created and we become so focused on the beauty, the talent, the power, the love, the comfort, or the provision that we forget where those things ultimately originated from.

Lest we think that only those who worship trees, the sun, feet, or animals are the only ones off course, consider some of the things even many Christians can fall into the trap of worshipping and by doing so, ascribe more worth to the creation than to the Creator.

Financial stability – instead of worshipping the One who provides.

A loved one – instead of worshipping the One

who brought the loved one into our lives.

A sports hero – instead of worshipping the one

who gave them their talents and abilities.

The tools of worship – instead of worshipping the Object of our worship.

Physical beauty – instead of worshipping the One

who fashioned the beautiful one.

God is the only one worthy to receive our worship. Today, ask the Lord to reveal in your life where this may be true. Is it your finances, your family or even your religion? Talk to Him about it today and make the journey back to the place where He receives the worship that He is worthy of. Be sure to thank Him for the gift, but never allow your thankfulness for the gift to get in the way of your worship of the Giver.

Pastor MJ

Called By His name

“…everyone who is called by my name, whom

I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

(Isaiah 43:7 NIV)

“Why?”, is a question that we tend to ask when we don’t understand the reason for something that has happened. It’s a question that most of us if asked would admit that we’ve asked God. It’s a question that I’ve asked and have with tears in my eyes just yearned for an answer from God.

In John 11, when Jesus heard that his close friend Lazarus was dying, He told those around Him, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." (John 11:4 NIV) Then it says that Jesus stayed where He was for two more days. If it were up to Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, they would have had Jesus drop everything and come right then to heal their brother and keep him from dying. But as we read this portion of scripture we see that it wasn’t up to them and that it wasn’t about them, or their brother, rather the circumstance that they found themselves in was all about God’s glory.

It’s a very natural thing for us to become focused on ourselves when in the midst of our circumstances we find ourselves weighed down and burdened by the reality of pain and suffering. Could it be possible that the cancer our loved one is facing is for God’s glory? Can my losing my job and not being able to get one for this long be because God wants to be glorified though it?

Mary and Martha are beautiful in the way they relate to Jesus. They were honest enough to say to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” In reality Lazarus would probably still died, we don’t know, but we do know that the sickness, the death, the sorrow, the hurt and the pain that this family was feeling was all a part of God’s plan to reveal His glory.

In the midst of our circumstances, as we face uncertainties day in and day out, we must remember that not only were we made for God’s glory, but that every circumstance in our lives, the good, the bad and the seemingly indifferent, are all a part of the plan that God has to bring glory to Himself. It’s not about our good and well being, it’s about His glory which when accomplished will always work out for our good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28 NIV) Our circumstances will look much different when viewed through the lenses of God’s glory. My friend, that is why we are here.