Tuesday - "He Knows"

A Man of Sorrows

Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go on ahead to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. (Matthew 26:36–37)

If I had the opportunity to know my entire future from today on, I think I would pass. I would rather not know.

But Jesus, being God, knew everything about His future down to the smallest detail.

As He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew that in just a few short hours, He would be nailed to a Roman cross and crucified. He knew that He would be humiliated. He would be beaten. He would go through a horrendous whipping. He knew the great anguish that was ahead.

The Bible tells us Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief” (Isaiah 53:3). The Bible also says in Hebrews, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it” (4:15).

In other words, God knows what you’re going through. You have a High Priest—that is, Jesus—who has faced the challenges you presently face. Jesus was in this horrendous, difficult time, experiencing deep loneliness and abandonment by His friends. Yet He went through it.

The next time you face difficulty, the next time you face hardship, the next time you feel misunderstood and abandoned, remember that Jesus already has experienced those things. You have someone who understands you, sympathizes with you, and is there to strengthen you.

Copied from: http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/harvestdaily/

That's why Jesus came to earth...to know our pains...to know your heart...

I am praying that if you are feeling defeated...remember that Jesus came to Earth so that you could live a life of victory...stay faithful and God will see you through.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian

Thursday - "A Reflection"

Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
“32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

I have learned many truths in my life and I'd like to share one with you this morning...the mirror never lies. No matter how hard we try to hide the extra 10 pounds or the gray hair...the reflection we see in the mirror is what the world sees us to be. As a Christ-follower, we face that same type of situation.

When you are dealing with someone in your life...relationally, spiritually, emotionally, etc... the world is watching you. People want to know how a Christian deals with the same stresses that they are going through. They wonder if we are different in some way...unique...Christ-like. When we are, they will probably want to know how to become like Christ themselves. When we're not...people see a hypocrite. I'd like to put it in kinder terms than that...but that's the label that many non-Christians place on people that aren't walking the talk.

Let's be different. Stand out. Let's be the direct reflection of the God we serve... put on qualities like forgiveness, hope, love, strength, peace, patience, self-control, and grace. Just like we talked about yesterday...let's demonstrate the character of Christ (even if we don't FEEL like they deserve it...) The world needs us to be Christ-like. One of the greatest legacies we can leave behind is kindness demonstrated through the imitation of our Savior.

Are you in?

Pastor Brian

Thursday 1-24-08

Greetings Internet Campus,

We round out our look at God's guidance with this study from Charles Swindoll. It reminds us of just how close God, our Shepherd, is when we need Him.

TENDER MERCIES
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Genesis 41:41-46

Pharaoh swept his hand out wide, so as to include all that vast land of Egypt, and said, "It's all yours, Joseph." Then he took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph's hand.

You know what that ring signified, don't you? It was the platinum charge card of that day. It was the way the king stamped the invoices, the laws, or anything else he wanted to verify or validate with his seal. Now Joseph had that ring on his finger, placed there by the Pharaoh himself. Joseph wore the authority of the king's imprint.

Joseph's Cinderella-like promotion was incredible. But when God determines the time is right, that's the way He operates.

When the reward comes, thank God without pride. Only God can bring you through and out of the dungeon. Only God can reward you for your faithfulness. If He has, be grateful, not proud. Remember, with humility, that it is God who has put you there.

Some of you are on the verge of promotion and you don't even know it, because God doesn't announce His appointments in advance. What you have to do, while you wait, is to believe His promises. While in the darkness of your dungeon, by faith, trust him to bring the light of a new dawn. In the winter of your discontent, believe there'll be a spring.

The God of Joseph will stay beside us during the dungeon days; He will not forsake or forget us. He will be there during the blast of the winter storm, holding out the promise of springtime. He will be there through the darkest night, quietly reminding us of the promise of morning light.

Joseph learned that a broken and contrite heart is not the end, but the beginning. Bruised and crushed by the blows of disappointment and unrealized dreams, he discovered that God had never left his side. When the affliction ended, he had been refined, and he came forth as gold. He had become a person of greater stability, of deeper quality, of stronger character. God's promises are just as much for us as they were for Joseph. His grace is still at work. His tender mercies accompany us from the pit to the pinnacle.

I'm praying for each one of you. I pray that you feel God's presence whether you are on the mountaintop of life right now...or the deepest hole. Remember our theme this week...you are NEVER alone!

Write it Down: Pray over this question... How has God, our Shepherd, used trials and challenges to reveal His path for your life? Could He have used any other way?

See you in the morning,

Pastor Brian

Wednesday 1-16-08

Greetings Internet Campus,

Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Today we're going to look at yet another thing we don't have to fear as sheep following God, our Shepherd: famine....not having enough.

Let's take apart today's verse...it gives us two conditions:

1) Seek God's First - Every decision, every spoken word, every relationship, every reaction, every thought we have is supposed to be intentional. Have a purpose. What purpose? To bring us closer to God....closer to His character, His perfect will for our lives, and His protection...in other words...to live righteously. Pastor Troy once told me that if I want to be blessed...I have to live a life that is blessable. I believe that a blessable life seeks God's heart first over anything else. What would God want me to do, say, or buy? Did Jesus give His life for me to think those thoughts? Does this relationship that I'm in demonstrate that I sought God's approval first? When we make moves in any other direction, we put ourselves in a position to worry. If we, as sheep, don't want to be concerned that we won't make it or have enough....we need to shift our focus to the Shepherd's direction...and believe that God alone is the centerpiece of our lives.

2) God's Provision - If you are a Christ-follower, God will provide for your needs. He cares more about you than anything... He loves you. He made you. He cries with you. Just imagine with me today what life would be like if our every thought was angled in the direction of God. If we lived lives that were totally subjected to God's desires for us instead of our own...if we followed the Shepherd with a single purpose and determination...what then? I'll tell you. You will find your life's purpose...you will end up where God leads you...and you will receive all of the blessings that God has in store for your life...His provision.

Daily Challenge: In your journal, answer these questions:
1) Is there an area in your life that God is NOT providing for you (be honest!)

2) Is that the result of God's lack of provision or your lack of focus on His plan over yours.

I know this is tough...pray right now that the Holy Spirit will remind you that seeking the Shepherd's path always leads us to the greener fields.

Tuesday 1-8-07

Greetings Internet Campus,

Well based on the feedback that I received from yesterday's post...you like the new format. I forgot to mention that I am labeling these devotionals with tags. You can see them alphabetically listed to the side of this post. If you ever need to reference anything topically...just click the word and it will take you to all of the posts related to that topic....

Today we are continuing our look at the Shepherd.

John 10:14

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,

Today's thought....

God really does know who you are. Really. Every pore on your skin...every thought that you have...He knows you. He's been to every one of your birthday parties...watched you graduate...and sits with you when you cry. He knows you.

Do you know Him?

What do you know about God? Did you know that He IS love. Do you know about His grace for our mistakes? How about the peace that He wants us to feel when we are stressed? God knows us...do we know Him?

Did you know that if you commit your life to Him, He will guide your path? He wants to be your Shepherd!

God knows you...He made you. Let's make every effort to get to know Him better each day!

Daily Challenge: In your journal, write down 5 words that describe God's character....spend some time praying that God will reveal those elements of His character to you vividly.

See you in the morning....

Pastor Brian

Thursday 1-3-08

Greetings Internet Campus family,

Each morning as I sit down and prepare this devotional I think of each one of you. I may not know your name...but I still think about how this devotional will affect your life. I pray for you...talk to God about you...

Now you know.

But did you know that God is also thinking about you? All the time. Seriously. Today's devotional by Greg Laurie talks about just that...

Who Can Be Against Us?

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

—Isaiah 41:10

Have you ever had someone forget an important occasion? Maybe your spouse forgot your anniversary or your birthday. Or maybe your children forgot you at Christmas. Even when people forget you, you need to know that God never forgets you. You are always on His mind. Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

God is thinking about you right now. He is not thinking about you merely as a member of the human race or as a part of your church. He is thinking about you as an individual. The psalmist wrote, “Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalm 40:5).

God’s thoughts toward you are continual and uncountable. God Almighty, the one who holds the heavens in the span of His hand, the one who spoke creation into being, is thinking about you right now.

Not only is God the Father thinking about you, but God the Son is interceding for you. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

God the Father is thinking about you, God the Son is praying for and interceding for you, and God the Holy Spirit is helping you as well: “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27).

God is for you. God is thinking about you. God is on your side!

The next time you are feeling lonely or that nobody cares....remember that God is ALWAYS thinking of you...He truly cares...and loves you dearly.

See you this weekend,
Pastor Brian