Why do people hate and show intolerance for one another? Have you ever asked yourself that?? We are all just people, with the same basic needs for love, shelter, food, security etc. Half of the USA is in a severe drought, other places in the world are being deluged with rains... people have lost jobs, families fighting are divorcing at all time highs, children are being abused and so on and so on.
With all the world in such a mess, why do we find time to fight with one another? Are we so self absorbed that we are blind to the bigger issues? Freedom of speech and freedom of religion is a good thing. Diversity is a good thing. People of differing colors, nationalities is a good thing.
While having different values can be good, there are moral absolutes upon which we set what is acceptable in society and what is not. Each of us have a right to what we believe those moral absolutes should be and not impose our beliefs on others. I happen to believe God's Word, the Bible is the absolute upon which I live my life. If you or others do not agree with me, that is your right also.
Let's focus on what we can do to right the wrongs in this world, to love one another. We should all be able to agree upon this... Matthew 22: 34- 40 "34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
And finally, if we, who call ourselves "Christian" would truly live our lives based upon love for God, and for others... then perhaps those who do not know love in their life may find the Christ we serve... for after all... God is love. Blessings, Pastor Sandy
Friday, August 3, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
FEAR brings limits, let Christ bring balance!
Felt like the Lord was telling me to write the following Blog... that someone will be set free in order that they may grow more balanced in life through Christ.
*********************************************************************************
Fear can be a motivator or a detractor in finding truths and growing in character. I think it is good to look at the root of all our motivations to see if they line up with God's Word.
2 Timothy 1:7, (NKJV) New King James Version
"7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The Bible calls fear a spirit, and that God has not given this to us. We then see that scripture tells us what God has given us... power, love and a sound mind.
There are two basic types of fear:
-Fear of God: reverence and astonishment of Him
-Fear of loss: which stems from a lack of trust in God.
At the core of our personalities is our belief system… in a Christian it should be one of trust in God. For example, when Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the boat, the disciples cried out” do you not care that we perish?” (Mark 4:31-35) Why did they say that? They feared the storm. Why did they fear the storm? Lack of trust in Jesus, which was lack of faith as He called it. They were viewing a life difficulty through a filter of self limitation, fear of loss not basing their belief on Christ himself, who is limitless (Matthew 19:26).
Haven’t you ever known two children with the same parents, similar life circumstances grow up to be total opposites? Our personalities are formed out of our faith beliefs and personal experiences. These beliefs and experiences shape how we react, respond and view life, which is often referred to as filters directing us towards our current belief system.
For instance, take two people who have a similar trauma happen to them when they are young. One person may react to the life difficulty by gravitating to “love” and “grace” almost exclusively. We sometimes call this person an “Enabler” in their relationships. The other person may gravitate toward “order and law”, which may make him/her feel comfortable having structure and boundaries. This person is more commonly known as “Controlling and Manipulating” in their relationships.
If both people are open to God’s leading and correction, then He will guide them to more balanced and healthy personalities. At their core, they both have fear(s) stemming from life traumas, that have not been dealt with.
All of life can be found in Christ and it is through Him that we are sanctified. He promises as we look to Him in all things, that He will grow our faith and trust of Him thereby overcoming our limitations bringing us into a God centered healthy balance. (Hebrews 12:1,2 -11)
Praying for you,
Pastor Sandy
*********************************************************************************
Fear can be a motivator or a detractor in finding truths and growing in character. I think it is good to look at the root of all our motivations to see if they line up with God's Word.
2 Timothy 1:7, (NKJV) New King James Version
"7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
The Bible calls fear a spirit, and that God has not given this to us. We then see that scripture tells us what God has given us... power, love and a sound mind.
There are two basic types of fear:
-Fear of God: reverence and astonishment of Him
-Fear of loss: which stems from a lack of trust in God.
At the core of our personalities is our belief system… in a Christian it should be one of trust in God. For example, when Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the boat, the disciples cried out” do you not care that we perish?” (Mark 4:31-35) Why did they say that? They feared the storm. Why did they fear the storm? Lack of trust in Jesus, which was lack of faith as He called it. They were viewing a life difficulty through a filter of self limitation, fear of loss not basing their belief on Christ himself, who is limitless (Matthew 19:26).
Haven’t you ever known two children with the same parents, similar life circumstances grow up to be total opposites? Our personalities are formed out of our faith beliefs and personal experiences. These beliefs and experiences shape how we react, respond and view life, which is often referred to as filters directing us towards our current belief system.
For instance, take two people who have a similar trauma happen to them when they are young. One person may react to the life difficulty by gravitating to “love” and “grace” almost exclusively. We sometimes call this person an “Enabler” in their relationships. The other person may gravitate toward “order and law”, which may make him/her feel comfortable having structure and boundaries. This person is more commonly known as “Controlling and Manipulating” in their relationships.
If both people are open to God’s leading and correction, then He will guide them to more balanced and healthy personalities. At their core, they both have fear(s) stemming from life traumas, that have not been dealt with.
All of life can be found in Christ and it is through Him that we are sanctified. He promises as we look to Him in all things, that He will grow our faith and trust of Him thereby overcoming our limitations bringing us into a God centered healthy balance. (Hebrews 12:1,2 -11)
Praying for you,
Pastor Sandy
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Love covers a multitude of sins....
Why is it that those we love often hurt us more than others?
Oft heard quote of Mark Twain...."Familiarity breeds contempt". The following Bible verse says almost the same thing.... Matthew 13:54-58.. He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Loved ones often know us better than others and tend to see any little fault we may have.... additionally it hurts worse when those we love find fault with us for we have more invested in the relationship so feelings are magnified and so are sensibilities.
One thing that helps me when my family or close friends find fault with me... is to take it before the Lord letting Him bring conviction in my heart if any is needed and if so then repenting. If the fault finding is unfounded God has taught me to recognize that the person may have issues they are dealing with that I do not have knowledge of... so therefore I then give them grace, love and pray for them. In essence it is a form of turning the other cheek, for it goes against our natural nature and isn't that easy!!
God gave us love and grace, so we should also follow in His example. John 3:16
Hope this helps... blessings!!!
Pastor Sandy
Oft heard quote of Mark Twain...."Familiarity breeds contempt". The following Bible verse says almost the same thing.... Matthew 13:54-58.. He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Loved ones often know us better than others and tend to see any little fault we may have.... additionally it hurts worse when those we love find fault with us for we have more invested in the relationship so feelings are magnified and so are sensibilities.
One thing that helps me when my family or close friends find fault with me... is to take it before the Lord letting Him bring conviction in my heart if any is needed and if so then repenting. If the fault finding is unfounded God has taught me to recognize that the person may have issues they are dealing with that I do not have knowledge of... so therefore I then give them grace, love and pray for them. In essence it is a form of turning the other cheek, for it goes against our natural nature and isn't that easy!!
God gave us love and grace, so we should also follow in His example. John 3:16
Hope this helps... blessings!!!
Pastor Sandy
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Why I voted FOR the Marriage Amendment
With the recent Marriage Amendment to the NC Constitution coming to pass, I was asked to explain why I voted "For" the Amendment. As I prayed about it, I realized the best way I could explain why I voted the way I did was to let God explain it through His Word, the Bible. This is written from the viewpoint that I believe that God is real, His Son, Jesus Christ is real, and His Holy Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
Before I begin, let me say that God loves us all, enough for Him to send His Son to pay the price for our sins (John 3:16). We have all sinned, there is none righteous. The wages of sin is death. Death meaning eternal separation from God and all that is good by living in a place called hell when we die. If it was not for God loving us even while we were yet sinners, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we would all be doomed. His love is eternal and His forgiveness is there for us to ask for. Time is short though... for we never know when we might depart this world, so today is the day to turn back to God and let Him bless us with His salvation through the price Christ paid on our behalf.
In Leviticus (18:22; 20:13), the Bible tells us that it is an abomination for a man to lie with a man as with a woman, or a woman to lie with a woman as with a man. Scripture also tells us that because of certain abominations such as homosexuality, a land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Apostle Paul called it "shameful", the result of being given up by God to "vile passions" (Romans 1:24-27). 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 tells us that those who practice homosexuality will not enter into the Kingdom of God. Paul further shows that homosexuality is a final order of rebellion against God. When people exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship the creature instead of the Creator, they are given up to evil. When values disintegrate and moral anarchy appears, men burn with lust for men, and women for women, they will receive in their own bodies the punishment for their actions (Romans 1:22-27). From a Biblical view point, the rise of homosexuality is a sign that a society is in the final stages of decay.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God. God hates sin but loves the sinner... not condemning but offering a way out of the "hell" we have doomed our selves to, through Christ. The person who practices homosexuality or any other sin, is a valuable human being to God and to me. God's love, compassion and forgiveness is available to all who call on His name. For the reasons written above about how God views homosexuality, I voted "For" the Marriage Amendment. The Bible makes it clear that marriage is to be between one man and one woman not between people that are homosexuals.
22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.
23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.
24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
Before I begin, let me say that God loves us all, enough for Him to send His Son to pay the price for our sins (John 3:16). We have all sinned, there is none righteous. The wages of sin is death. Death meaning eternal separation from God and all that is good by living in a place called hell when we die. If it was not for God loving us even while we were yet sinners, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we would all be doomed. His love is eternal and His forgiveness is there for us to ask for. Time is short though... for we never know when we might depart this world, so today is the day to turn back to God and let Him bless us with His salvation through the price Christ paid on our behalf.
In Leviticus (18:22; 20:13), the Bible tells us that it is an abomination for a man to lie with a man as with a woman, or a woman to lie with a woman as with a man. Scripture also tells us that because of certain abominations such as homosexuality, a land will vomit out its inhabitants.
Apostle Paul called it "shameful", the result of being given up by God to "vile passions" (Romans 1:24-27). 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 tells us that those who practice homosexuality will not enter into the Kingdom of God. Paul further shows that homosexuality is a final order of rebellion against God. When people exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship the creature instead of the Creator, they are given up to evil. When values disintegrate and moral anarchy appears, men burn with lust for men, and women for women, they will receive in their own bodies the punishment for their actions (Romans 1:22-27). From a Biblical view point, the rise of homosexuality is a sign that a society is in the final stages of decay.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God. God hates sin but loves the sinner... not condemning but offering a way out of the "hell" we have doomed our selves to, through Christ. The person who practices homosexuality or any other sin, is a valuable human being to God and to me. God's love, compassion and forgiveness is available to all who call on His name. For the reasons written above about how God views homosexuality, I voted "For" the Marriage Amendment. The Bible makes it clear that marriage is to be between one man and one woman not between people that are homosexuals.
Leviticus 18:22-25
New International Version (NIV)
23 “‘Do not have sexual relations with an animal and defile yourself with it. A woman must not present herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it; that is a perversion.
24 “‘Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. 25 Even the land was defiled; so I punished it for its sin, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
Leviticus 20:13
New International Version (NIV)
Romans 1:22-27
New International Version (NIV)
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sight in your scope....
So often we get distracted from what God has called us to, or in other words His purpose and plan for our life, by yielding to our flesh in managing things ourselves. We think that if it is a good thing, then it must be God's direction for our life when often times it isn't. The enemy of our souls comes to side track us... he will whisper things that seems to be good, when they are just a little off God's plan. No, not totally off but just enough that you will miss your mark.
Any of you ever shot a Bow with an arrow? In my new town folks here love to target shoot. Well, any marksman knows that if your scope is off by just a little the trajectory of the arrow or the bullet will be off by quite a bit. That's why it is important to sight in your gun before going hunting.... to make sure you hit your target, right?
God has called each of us for a unique purpose. His voice is known by His sheep but we must listen to hear Him. Scripture says let him who has ears to hear, let him hear. This means we must be in tune to Him, having a heart yielded to Him to hear Him. God is a Spirit, and speaks to our spirit. Getting in tune to God is like sighting in your scope on a rifle... it allows you to take a better aim, as to not miss the goal or target. Getting in tune to hearing God's voice takes time with Him, yes you will have some mistakes in which He is quick to forgive if you ask Him, but you press on in being yielded and teachable.
When we are not teachable, then we won't hear God as well. We will stumble along, wondering why God isn't answering our prayers but in reality we are not lined up with God's Word, His will or His purpose for us. We are praying for things that aren't in His plan for us. Thank God, He doesn't answer all our prayers... for we surely would make more of a mess of our lives than we have.
Let's resolve to draw close to God and let Him teach us and let Him lead us through giving us His peace in our inner man. Setting our priorities based upon what He says do, not basing priorities on our thoughts or feelings or by what seems good.
Let's have ears to hear.
In Christ, Pastor Sandy
Any of you ever shot a Bow with an arrow? In my new town folks here love to target shoot. Well, any marksman knows that if your scope is off by just a little the trajectory of the arrow or the bullet will be off by quite a bit. That's why it is important to sight in your gun before going hunting.... to make sure you hit your target, right?
God has called each of us for a unique purpose. His voice is known by His sheep but we must listen to hear Him. Scripture says let him who has ears to hear, let him hear. This means we must be in tune to Him, having a heart yielded to Him to hear Him. God is a Spirit, and speaks to our spirit. Getting in tune to God is like sighting in your scope on a rifle... it allows you to take a better aim, as to not miss the goal or target. Getting in tune to hearing God's voice takes time with Him, yes you will have some mistakes in which He is quick to forgive if you ask Him, but you press on in being yielded and teachable.
When we are not teachable, then we won't hear God as well. We will stumble along, wondering why God isn't answering our prayers but in reality we are not lined up with God's Word, His will or His purpose for us. We are praying for things that aren't in His plan for us. Thank God, He doesn't answer all our prayers... for we surely would make more of a mess of our lives than we have.
Let's resolve to draw close to God and let Him teach us and let Him lead us through giving us His peace in our inner man. Setting our priorities based upon what He says do, not basing priorities on our thoughts or feelings or by what seems good.
Let's have ears to hear.
In Christ, Pastor Sandy
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Don't believe lies.... be vigilent!
As many of you know by now, I am a Board Certified Pastoral
Counselor through the Board of Christian and Professional Pastoral Counselors,
completing a dual Doctorate: Doctorate of Ministry and Biblical Counseling. My
purpose in writing this Blog is to sound the alarm helping you to become aware
of the devils wiles.
The devil seeks who he can steal from, kill or destroy. He
does not come in to your life so that you will recognize him easily but often
comes as a subtle thought planted to lead you astray. The enemy deceives people so that they
actually believe the lies he plants... thinking they have truths when in
reality they are believing thoughts that are sent to misguide them and
hurt others in life. The Bible says that the serpent/devil is more subtle
than all the other creatures in the garden. God's Word also says we are to be as wise as
serpents but gentle as doves, not pushovers by the enemy but aware of his
deceptions.
The following story sadly is true, with names being withheld
and some facts changed, to protect the identity of the parties. Recently, I had
the opportunity to come to know a young woman with two children, who felt
she was being abused by her husband. After a few years of marriage to him, she
left him stating domestic violence/abuse. As a Pastoral Counselor versed in
Domestic Violence issues, verbal abuse etc I listened to her story
intently. I realized after talking with the husband and other close family
members and friends who knew each person well, that she was deceived. In fact,
she had committed adultery time after time using her perceived issues within herself
to justify her violation of her marital commitment and then abandonment of
the family.
The facts are that she had experienced some abusive violence
in her home as a child. She then
transferred these feelings of abuse to her husband, believing that he was
abusive like her family member had been when he was not, but quite the opposite.
He graciously forgave her marital infidelities and her abandonment of himself
and his children. He admitted that he was angry and hurt over her infidelities but
chose to stay in the marriage praying for God to do a work in his wife's heart and
soul.
The devil chooses those he can manipulate to destroy others.
He will use
misguided people with wounds to do his work. How do we not only defend ourselves against
such attacks but be on the offensive for those who are unaware of the devil's
schemes?
The Bible says that we are to put on the whole Armor of God,
to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee. God has also given us all authority over all
the power of the enemy. But what does that mean? The Armor of God is Jesus Christ, His
atonement that bought us victory.
Submitting ourselves to God means to surrender who we are, lining up our
lives with His Word, His promises... in other words, loving Him with all our
heart, soul, mind and strength.
When Jesus left, He did not leave us as orphans but sent the
Holy Spirit to guide us in to all truth.
As we yield ourselves to God's Word, keeping Him as our priority He says
that He will direct our paths. He will never
leave nor forsake us, nor will He leave us alone to fight the enemy by ourselves,
but has made us more than conquerors.
The next time you hear "gossip" or negativity
about someone, be sure to see the truth through God's Word, not passing on the
information but praying for the parties involved. As for yourself, stay close
to Jesus, seek him with your whole heart, trust Him, stay in fellowship with a
body of believers who are centered in God's Word, stay in His Word for Him to
reveal truths to any wounds you may have and learn to recognize the enemies
lies as he tries to plant them in you.
As for the woman with the issues, she is still living in
deception, refusing to hear truths, seeks out only those who will agree with
her about the lies she believes, has hardened her heart, continues to spread
lies about her former husband and is a self proclaimed domestic violence
spokesperson. This is so sad, as she
will lead many others astray through her deception, while she will not experience
Christ's healing for herself. As for the
husband, he is living a productive life centered in Christ and has
received healing through godly counseling.
What you do with this story is up to you... but the truth is
that you must guard your heart and your mind.
Choose who and what you listen to.
Accept the devils evil thoughts or choose Christ's abundant life. In all things pray, give grace and yes,
love.
In Christ,
Pastor Sandy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)