Overcoming the biggest hurdle...

What is your biggest hurdle? What is your biggest battle? Is it self-esteem, motivation, weight, image, a bruised childhood, unemployment, being single?

All of these hurdles that life throw at us at times seem insurmountable; however, today I stumbled across a verse that continues to ring in my head, "for everyone born of God, overcomes the world." (1 John 5:4). What an idea....to realize that God is somehow able for us to overcome the biggest challenges that the world can throw at us. But perhaps the bigger concept that God is trying to get us to swallow, is that the "overcoming" is more mental than physical. How often are we brought down mentally because someone says, "No." How often do we struggle to move forward because an employer says, "You're fired." How much more does a cold or arthritis immobilize us, not because we are in deep pain, but because our mind isn't able to conquer the battle that our body faces.

And what causes us to win this battle, to be overcomers....1 John 5:5 "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Our belief, a life changing belief, that Jesus is the hope for us in all circumstances will allow us to be overcomers.

*If you read anything - ponder how this young women, Rachel Barkey's perspective on facing terminal cancer, (a wife, and mother of 2 young children) can say that "Death is not dying" - but life is found in faith! Watch this video of her story shot at the River Rock Casino:
http://deathisnotdying.com/eventvideo/

May God strengthen us to have faith which is ready to overcome.

the week of finale's

So, if you are following Reality TV in North America...it's the week of Finale's....ok and yes I do watch a couple of these crazy reality TV shows. Which one's have caught my attention this year:
1. Amazing Race
2. American Idol
3. The Biggest Loser

All 3 shows reveal to us some of the best in people as they strive to reaching their goal. I have to think of the motivation and devotion of these singers. How many hours have they put in to being the very best they can be? Do I put that type of time into being the best I can be in my relationship with the Almighty God?

These shows push us to think of the potential of people as they utilize their gifts and potential. How incredible to see the way that God can use our lives for his glory and not just our own satisfaction. May we make God famous and not ourselves the biggest prize that we aim for.

God is love

3 Big words found in 1 John 4:8, 16 "God is Love."

Ever think about that idea: God is love. God is the one who is the perfect definition and the true definition of love. John explains how God showed his unconditional and self-sacrificial love by sending his Son, Jesus, to earth to die for us, as sinners.

As I was sharing this morning the thought came to me, that often we don't understand the depth of God's love (most often in difficult circumstances like broken relationships, disease, and difficulties that we can't grasp) because there is a weird interplay with the role sin and Satan plays out in our lives.

We are able to find hope in the words of John as he says, "we rely on the love of God" --- no matter how we struggle to understand (especially in our human perspective) a God who is love, we can still rely on him.

As David says over and over in the Psalms...His love endures forever.

Faith from the home crowd

Today, I was reading in our Life Journal plan (okay I'm a day late), and wow, the verse that hit me, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." Matthew 13:58

Jesus comes to his hometown to show how the kingdom of God is showing up. He's about to do miracles - heal people, proclaim the good news that God has offered eternal life, and share revolutionary teaching that it's time to have an abundant life. But what did he find, people who doubted his power, and questioned his calling from God...yikes is that us?

God really challenged me, Wow - would I welcome Jesus because of my faith in him? Am I recognized by my unwavering faith in God's unbelievable power?

Let's continue to believe in God, who's able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Easter Video worth watching

Ok, I wish I was able to come up with this type of video...but hey, I know my gifts.

But praise God, that other people have creativity - check out this moving video about Jesus' resurrection from Elevation Church:
http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/resurrection-injection-and-such/

A video describing the series on 1 John

Here's a short video about the Sunday morning series based in the book of "1 John."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63MefHn2c_s

A simple message...yah right

So this past Sunday, as we continued our series in 1 John, I was up to preach about love. Now this type of love isn't the erotic love (ie. "check out the singles in your area" ad that comes up on my hotmail account), but this is about a love that is much deeper.

John gives a command to "Love one another." (1 John 3:11). It's not just about being nice to people, it's about loving those around us. He's referring to a love that is self-sacrificing & unconditional. This act of love is displayed most perfectly in the example of Jesus. Jesus came to earth and laid down his life for us.

Are you following me? The type of love that Jesus calls us to show others, isn't based on how we feel, or if it's convenient. Loving one another is about stepping up and being sacrificial. Perhaps that's in doing the dishes for our spouse, or maybe spending time with our sick kids, or phoning a friend who is always negative. Loving one another challenges us to step up and be proactive about the relationships that need mending and the people who need encouragement around us.

Is it easy for you to love...one another? Why is it tough to love those who are annoying? Are we willing to accept God's strength and Spirit to help us show love to others?