Twenty-Five years ago TODAY

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Every day is a blessing from God, but today is even more special to me. Twenty-five years ago today, Dorinda Rutherford walked the aisle of her church to become my beautiful bride. I have NEVER regretted even a moment of it. God truly smiled on me that first day at Central Bible College when Dorinda walked into my life and I was mesmerized by her beauty. I knew instantly that she was the one God created for me.

She is the most beautiful, godly, sweet woman I have ever known. She is the epitome of integrity and character. I truly love everything about her.

She is a Lady, and yet much, much more than a Lady...she is my Lady.

I want to use some lyrics from a secular song to help describe how I feel on this special day:

Thanks for the times

That youve given me

The memories are all in my mind

And now that weve come

To (our 25th anniversary)

Theres something

I must say out loud

Youre once, twice

Three times a lady

Yes youre once twice

Three times a lady

And I love you

When we are together

The moments I cherish

With every beat of my heart

To touch you to hold you

To feel you to need you

Theres nothing to keep us apart

Youre once twice

Three times a lady

And I love you

I love you

"Thank you baby for 25 years. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing. After all of these years I still say, "I Do!" I can't wait to renew our vows today!"

Rusty

25th Wedding anniversary and Washington DC

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you will as well.

We are having a great time visiting with our oldest daughter and her family in DC. We went sight-seeing yesterday and found out a LOT of people decided to do the same thing. It was packed, but well worth the effort. I plan to use my blog this week to share our Washington DC experience with all of you. I will post pictures and stories.

After church, we went to China Town:

We then went to the National Mall:

Then we went by the National Christmas tree, with every state having a tree:

Right across the street is the White House:

I love our great country and I am so thankful for our heritage. This morning we are going to the National Museum of American History. I will take pictures and post them tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a very special day for me. I celebrate the 25th anniversary of the day I married the most awesome, beautiful, godly, sweet, supportive, Christ-like woman God ever made. I am so blessed to have Dorinda as my soul-mate, best friend, and wife. We have a big day planned tomorrow. There is no one that I would rather spend time with than my precious wife. God has truly blessed me beyond words with such a wonderful marriage. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change one thing. I would marry her a thousand times over.

I better move on before I get "weepy". Those that know me are aware that happens pretty easily for me. Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Merry Christmas-“John 3:16”

In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner. The people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said:

"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight.

Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in."

So he did.

He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered.

He looked up and said, "John 3:16"

The lady said, "Come on in son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a real big, old fireplace, and she went off.

The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16.......I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later, she came back and asked him, "Are you hungry?"

He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days and I guess I could stand a little bit of food."

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself: John 3:16..... boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16..... I sure don't understand it but it sure does make a dirty boy clean.

You know, I've not had a real bath in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window, at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16.... I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning, the lady came back up and took him down again to that same table full of food. After he ate, she took him down again to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible. She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.

"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently.

He replied, "No ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it."

She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing.

I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in Heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

That really does sum up what Christmas means, doesn't it?

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! Blessings.

Pastor Rusty

Sixteen Power Truths in Eleven Verses (#5)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the past few days we have been looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

We have already looked at eleven of these truths over the past couple of days. Today, let's look at the remaining five:

#12 Do not quench the Spirit-

This phrase is taken from the way of putting out a fire, and the sense is, we are not to extinguish the influences of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Possibly there may be an allusion here to fire on an altar, which was to be kept constantly burning. This fire may have been regarded as symbolic of devotion, and as denoting that that devotion was never to become extinct. The Holy Spirit is the source of true devotion, and His influence is to never be extinguished in our lives.

#13 Do not despise prophecies-

To those who would extinguish the Holy Spirit Paul says: (1) "Do not quench the Spirit." (2) "Do not despise prophecies." The Holy Spirit is often pictured in the Bible as fire. To deny or resist the gifts or working of the Holy Spirit is likened here to quenching the Spirit. Perhaps the most commonly used bucket of water is the ancient saying, "But we've never done it that way before." Apparently, the gift of the Spirit most rejected by the religious crowd was prophecy. We must never reject or despise the workings of the Holy Spirit.

#14 Test everything-

We shouldn't make fun of those who are called to speak for God ("scoff at prophecies"), but we should always "test everything that is said," checking their words against the Bible. We are on dangerous ground if we laugh at a person who speaks the truth. Instead, we should carefully check out what people say, accepting what is true and rejecting what is false.

#15 Hold fast to what is good-

This is just as much a duty as it is to "test everything." A man who has applied the proper tests, and has found out what is truth, is bound to embrace it and to hold it fast. He is not at liberty to throw it away, as if it were valueless; or to treat truth and falsehood alike. It is a duty which he owes to himself and to God to adhere to it firmly, and to suffer the loss of all things rather than to abandon it

#16 Abstain from every form of evil-

Christians cannot avoid every kind of evil because we live in a sinful world. We can, however, make sure that we don't give evil a foothold by avoiding tempting situations and abstaining from every form of evil by concentrating on obeying God. Also, we are not only to abstain from evil, but also the very APPEARANCE of evil. We are responsible for perception and reality when it comes to our Christian walk and testimony.

Well, there you have it. "Sixteen powerful truths in Eleven verses." I love God's Word, don't you? There is so much good stuff to meditate on. I hope you have a great day and weekend enjoying the presence of God. Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Sixteen Powerful Truths from Eleven Verses (#4)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the past few days we have been looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. I hope to expound a little on each one. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

Previously we have looked five of these truths:

#1 Respect & Esteem (highly in love) those in leadership
#2 Be at peace
#3 Admonish the undisciplined and idle
#4 Encourage the fainthearted
#5 Help the weak
#6 Be patient with everyone #7 Do not repay evil with evil #8 Seek to do good to everyone

Today, let's look at three others:

These three verses (v. 16-18) have been called by some "the standing orders of the church." They are in the imperative mood, forceful commands directing our attitudes and actions. The very use of the imperative forces us to regard rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks as things other than feelings. We all know that feelings cannot be commanded. Telling your spouse not to feel angry or your child not to feel badly seldom leads to a happy evening at home. But behaviors can be called for. And that's what Paul is doing.

#9 Rejoice always-

Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands—be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful—often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

"Rejoice always." This is not the same as commanding one to feel happy at all times. Feeling happy is the natural response to experiences that bring us rewards. Please don't ask me to feel happy when I've just smashed my thumb with the hammer or even when the Razorbacks have just lost a close football game. But neither smashing my thumb nor the Razorbacks losing need have anything to do with my joy and rejoicing in life.

Thus, throughout the Bible, we are called to joy and rejoicing in our sufferings. I can't make any sense of this without distinguishing between joy and happiness. I've long since accepted the fact that I cannot be happy at all times. But I'm satisfied that there can always be a basic joy in my life. The basis of that joy is Jesus Himself. There is a perspective on life in Jesus Christ that enables us to rejoice always, even when we are unhappy. And this is something we can choose to do, whatever the tone of our feelings. It really becomes a matter of obedience.

#10 Pray without ceasing-

This basically means, "to think and live in the presence of God". To live with a growing awareness that God is always present. It is to grow in our openness to God—to bring consciously all of our words and deeds into His presence. It's long past time for us to issue an urgent call for unceasing prayer as an object for our attention and discipline. Such prayer means nothing less than practicing the presence of God in everything that we do.

The Greek is, "Pray without intermission"; without allowing prayer less gaps to intervene between the times of prayer. The enemy will do everything he can to distract us from spending daily, regular, consistent, and passionate time with the Lord in prayer. We must think and live in the presence of God at all times. When we do, it will affect the way we talk, walk, and the daily decisions that we make.

#11 Give thanks in all circumstances-

There is a silver lining to every cloud. God is with us whatever befalls us. It is God's will that we find joy in prayer in Christ Jesus in every condition of life. If we rejoice always, pray without ceasing (recognize moment by moment the presence of God), then it will be a lot easier for us to "give thanks in all circumstances."

We are too prone to murmur and complain. We need God's Spirit to help us develop an attitude of gratitude, in every circumstance. Especially, if we truly believe Romans 8:28:

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

I choose today to Rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in every circumstance of my life today! Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Sixteen Powerful Truths from Eleven Verses (#3)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the past few days we have been looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. I hope to expound a little on each one. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

Previously we have looked five of these truths:

#1 Respect & Esteem (highly in love) those in leadership
#2 Be at peace
#3 Admonish the undisciplined and idle #4 Encourage the fainthearted
#5 Help the weak

Today, let's look at three others:

#6 Be patient with them all-

Paul encourages us to be patient with the "fainthearted, undisciplined, and the weak." Many times we are more patient with a complete stranger than we are with the ones we love the most…our families. God instructs us to be patient with everyone, especially those who are struggling. Let's look a little deeper at this word patience.

The Greek word for patience in this passage is, makrothumei, which is patience with people—patience that does not retaliate. It is a picture of self-restraint in contrast to wrath or revenge. Church discipline must always be tempered with this kind of patience. Too often, discipline is exercised as a means of getting even for real or imagined wrongs. Patience is willing to go the extra distance with the goal of restoration and reconciliation.

Makrothumei also denotes "longanimity," slowness to anger or passion; longsuffering, patient endurance, forbearance. It is opposed to haste; to passionate expressions and thoughts, and to irritability. It denotes the state of mind which can bear long when oppressed, provoked, and when one seeks to injure us.

Digging even deeper, the word means to have the quality of enduring evils without murmuring or fretfulness; sustaining afflictions of body or mind with fortitude, calmness or Christian submission to the divine will; as a patient person, or a person of patient temper.

We all need to ask God to help us in this area of patience. Patience is also one of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

"Lord, help me to be long spirited in dealing with those who are hurting and struggling. Also, help me to be more understanding with my family."

#7 Do not repay evil with evil-

It is natural for our flesh to want to "do unto others what they have done unto us" or "do unto others before they do unto us." However, that is not the way Jesus taught us to live in what is called by many, the golden rule:

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus teaches us to "do unto others as we would have them do unto us." Not to give someone what they deserve. Aren't you glad that you and I didn't get what we deserved from our Lord? I deserved hell, for the wages of sin is death. But thank God, He gave me life through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. Because of that, I should strive to repay evil done to me with good.

In this day of lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul's command to not repay evil with evil sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? (1) Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.

#8 Seek to do good to everyone-

Rendering evil for evil creates the classic lose-lose situation. You insult me. I insult you. We both lose. On the global scale, the superpowers during the cold war developed the ultimate model of the tragedy of evil for evil. You fire your nuclear warhead; I fire mine. We all lose. How do you break the cycle? One party has to risk a new approach.

And that is portrayed as pursuing "what is good both for yourselves and for all." This is about as close to a definition of agapē love as you'll ever find. In the potential evil-for-evil situation, what is good for one is good for both. Whatever risks are taken to break the cycle should be based upon what is good for oneself. This is a point often missed, but Paul's order is profound. He starts with what is good for "yourselves." If I respond to the insult or the attack by asking what is best for me, and pursue that with some measure of long-range common sense, what I come up with will have the highest potential for both of us. So my goal should be to "seek to do good to everyone." Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Sixteen Powerful Truths in Eleven Verses (# 2)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the next few days I plan to look at eleven verses found in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. I hope to expound a little on each one. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

We looked at two of the truths yesterday. They were:

#1 Respect & Esteem (highly in love) those in leadership
#2 Be at peace

Today, let's look at three others:

#3 Admonish the undisciplined/idle

Don't loaf around with the lazy; warn them. Don't yell at the timid and weak; encourage and help them. At times it can be difficult to distinguish between idleness and timidity. Two people may be doing nothing—one out of laziness and the other out of shyness or fear of doing something wrong. The key to ministry is sensitivity: sensing the condition of each person and offering the appropriate remedy for each situation. You can't effectively help until you know the problem. You can't apply the medicine until you know where the wound is.

#4 Encourage the fainthearted

It is so important that we learn to be encouragers. That is part of our ministry as Christians! There are so many ways to encourage. In the Apostle Paul's writings, he models six important principles to help us encourage others:

(A) Begin with encouragement. People who know we will encourage them will be happy to work with us.

(B) Expect of others only what you expect of yourself. People will resist being held to unfair standards.

(C) Develop expectations of others with consideration for their skills, maturity, and experience. People will reject or fail to meet expectations that do not fit them. Be patient with distracted or slow learners.

(D) Monitor your expectations of others. Changing circumstances sometimes require revised or reduced expectations.

(E) Clarify your expectations with others. People are not likely to hit a target that no one has identified.

(F) End with encouragement. People love to be thanked for a job well done.

#5 Help the weak

The actual Greek meaning for this phrase is: We are to shore up, prop up them that are weak; strengthen those wings and companies that are likely to be most exposed, that they be not overpowered and broken in the day of battle.

Presumably, the reference is to moral and spiritual weakness. There always seems to be a more prominent place in the church for the strong than for the weak. Yet the church is to be the place where the weak can be upheld. How tragic when churches become groups that are quick to judge and condemn the weak. I wish we could have a sign over our church door, "The weak are welcome here!"

The word to "uphold" the weak paints a beautiful picture. It comes from a word meaning "to hold before or against." It is the picture of a person keeping oneself face to face with someone, holding on to them. Instead of rejecting or belittling the weak, the Christian fellowship should be the place where a "buddy system" can be developed for them. When someone is first learning to swim at a summer camp, they are assigned a "buddy" who is a strong swimmer. The beginner is not allowed to swim out in the lake without his "buddy." What a source of joy it is for many the following summer to be a "buddy" to a beginning swimmer. Could not our small groups and church fellowship operate on the "buddy system"? Some folks have a hard time staying afloat on the treacherous waters of life. With a "buddy," they just might make it!

We will continue this study tomorrow! Blessings.

Pastor Rusty

Sixteen Powerful Truths in Eleven verses

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the next few days I plan to look at eleven verses found in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. I hope to expound a little on each one. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.

As you read that, and meditate on it, there are some great truths that will affect the way we live and get along with people. Let's look at the first truth:

#1 Respect and esteem with love those in leadership over you. (v. 12-13)

We are living in a time of great disrespect. People curse in front of children, women…it doesn't matter anymore like it used to. There was a time that even the guys who had "potty mouths" would AT LEAST guard their words in the presence of certain people. Not so much anymore. Also, many men and boys will stand through the national anthem, and never remove their caps from their heads. Very few men open doors for their wife and children. I was raised that when you are in a room where women or the elderly have to stand, you get up and give your seat away and stand. I was at a restaurant the other day when a man, about 40 years old, almost ran over a lady who had to be in her seventies just to get to a seat before she did. She ended up standing while this man enjoyed his seat.

My friends, this carries over into the church as well. God tells us to respect and esteem with love our leadership. That would be our pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers…and I could go on and on. Even if you don't agree with them, you still respect them by guarding your attitude and your words. You and I will be held accountable for the way we treat our leadership. Not just to their face, but the way we treat them at our homes in front of our children. So many children today are developing a dislike for the church and its leadership because of their parent's ungodly and disrespectful treatment of leadership.

How about leadership at work? It is important that we respect and esteem with love our employers. If you cannot serve them with a good attitude, then start looking for another job.

How about at school? When I was raised, I knew that if I got in trouble at school, then my dad was going to get me when I got home. If I received two "licks" with a paddle at school, then I would get four when I got home. My mom and dad respected the school and its leadership, and expected me to as well. Too often today, the parents will be at the school getting in the faces of the teachers holding them responsible instead of their children. This disrespect from the parents to the school leadership carries over to the classroom, thus leading us to a lot of the problems that we are facing today in many of our schools.

How about in our homes? It is imperative that we respect, and esteem with love, each other. Children need to obey their parents, parents need to refuse to provoke their children to wrath, husbands and wives need to love each other, and respect one another. Many times our children learn how to treat their parents by watching how their parents get along and treat each other.

Lord, help me today to respect and esteem with love those you have placed in my life!

#2 Be at peace (v. 13b)

God wants us to live in peace with each other and AMONG each other. We should learn to get along with people as men and women of God. There is too much fighting and bickering in the kingdom of God. This does not bring glory to God. Quite the contrary! It brings shame to the kingdom of God. There are many times that I have found myself "trying to get offended" because of what someone says or emails to me. I have to make up my mind, with God's help, to rise above that. We are called to live by a different standard than the world. We must stop responding like the lost around us; in fits of rage, and frustration.

Too often when things don't go our way in the church, we pout and threaten to leave the church. My good friends, it is time for God's people to grow up and learns to resolve conflicts without running from them. We will never be what God is trying to make us, if we do not learn to stop living with a "chip on our shoulder." Many people look for reasons to get offended. This ought not be among God's children. My prayer is, "Lord, forgive me for being such a spiritual baby. I want to grow up into who you want me to be.

It is my choice today, to respect and esteem with love, and to be at peace with everyone! Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

The Real Reason for Christmas

It is hard to believe that sixteen days from today will be Christmas 2008. The year has flown by. As many people run around attending parties, shopping, decorating, spending money that they don't really have, it is very easy to see why so many stress out during this season. We really do need to step back and take a fresh look at the real reason for Christmas.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. — Philippians 2:8

Do you plan on taking the time this Christmas to tell your children or friends about the purpose of Christmas? If so, what will you tell them?

Although we usually meditate on the birth of Jesus at this time of the year, His purpose in coming to earth was not to give us the sweet picture of a baby in a Bethlehem manger. That little baby was born to die for you and for me and thus pay for the forgiveness of our sins. He was born to die on the Cross that we might be reconciled to God.

People rarely think of the Cross at Christmastime because it is the time set aside to celebrate Jesus' birth. But in Philippians 2, Paul connects the two thoughts. As Paul writes about God becoming a man, he goes on to express the ultimate reason God chose to take this amazing action.

Paul says in verse 8, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

I would like to share with you some thoughts from Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems from the Greek" concerning this verse.

Philippians 2:8 says that Jesus was "found in fashion as a man." That word "fashion" is the Greek word schema. This is extremely important, for this was precisely the same word that was used in ancient times to depict a king who exchanged his kingly garments for a brief period of time for the clothing of a beggar.

How wonderful that the Holy Spirit would inspire the apostle Paul to use this exact word! When Jesus came to earth, it really was a moment when God Almighty shed His glorious appearance and exchanged it for the clothing of human flesh. Although man is wonderfully made, his earthly frame is temporal dust and cannot be compared to the eternal and glorious appearance of God. However, for the sake of our redemption, God laid aside all of His radiant glory, took upon Himself human flesh, and was manifested in the very likeness of a human being.

This is the true story of a King who traded His kingly garments and took upon Himself the clothing of a servant. But the story doesn't stop there. Jesus — our King who exchanged His royal robes for the clothing of flesh —loved us so much that He "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross!"

The word "humbled" is the Greek word tapeinao, and it means to be humble, to be lowly, and to be willing to stoop to any measure that is needed. This describes the attitude God had when He took upon Himself human flesh. Think of how much humility would be required for God to shed His glory and lower Himself to become like a member of His creation. Consider the greatness of God's love that drove Him to divest Himself of all His splendor and become like a man. This is amazing to me, particularly when I think of how often the flesh recoils at the thought of being humble or preferring someone else above itself. Yet Jesus humbled Himself "and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

The word "obedient" tells me that this was not a pleasurable experience that Jesus looked forward to in anticipation. To humble Himself to this extent required Jesus' deliberate obedience. As preexistent God, Jesus came to earth for this purpose. But as man dressed in flesh, He despised the thought of the Cross (Hebrews 12:2) and could only endure its shame because He knew of the results that would follow. For Jesus to be obedient as a man, He had to choose to obey the eternal plan of God.

The word "obedient" that is used to describe Jesus is the Greek word hupakouo, from the word hupo, which means under, and the word akouo, which means I hear. When these two words are compounded together, they picture someone who is hupo —under someone else's authority, and akouo — listening to what that superior is speaking to him. After listening and taking these instructions to heart, this person then carries out the orders of his superior.

Thus, the word hupakouo tells us that obedient people are 1) under authority, 2) listening to what their superior is saying, and 3) carrying out the orders that have been given to them. This is what the word "obedient" means in this verse, and this is what obedience means for you and me.

You see, even Jesus had to come to this place of obedience. Although He knew that He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, that didn't mean His flesh was excited about dying as the Lamb of God on the Cross. According to this verse in Philippians 2:8, Jesus had to humble Himself and become "obedient" in order to follow God's plan. He wasn't looking forward to the experience of death on a Cross; He made a choice to humble Himself and to go to any measure in order to accomplish the Father's plan.

So as we celebrate Christmas in the coming days, be sure to remember the real purpose of Christmas. It isn't just a time to reflect on the baby boy who was born in Bethlehem so long ago. That baby was God manifest in the flesh. He was born to die for you and for me. Jesus was so willing to do whatever was required in order to redeem us from Satan and sin that He humbled Himself even unto death on a Cross! That is what Christmas is all about! Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Leave your enemies in God’s Hands

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you will as well.

In my personal devotion today, I read Romans 12 and these three verses jumped off of the page at me:

Romans 12:19-21 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." (20) Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. (21) Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

In this day of lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul's command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? (1) Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.

Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.

I love reading Max Lucado. Please allow me to share with you today an excerpt from his book "Facing Your Giants" that goes perfectly with what I am trying to say today.

Some years ago a rottweiler attacked our golden retriever puppy at a kennel. The worthless animal climbed out of its run and into Molly's and nearly killed her. He left her with dozens of gashes and a dangling ear. I wrote a letter to the dog's owner, urging him to put the dog to sleep.

But when I showed the letter to the kennel owner, she begged me to reconsider. "What that dog did was horrible, but I'm still training him. I'm not finished with him yet."

God would say the same about the rottweiler who attacked you. "What he did was unthinkable, unacceptable, inexcusable, but I'm not finished yet."

Your enemies still figure into God's plan. Their pulse is proof: God hasn't given up on them. They may be out of God's will, but not out of his reach. You honor God when you see them, not as his failures, but as his projects.

God occupies the only seat on the supreme court of heaven. He wears the robe and refuses to share the gavel. For this reason Paul wrote, "Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. 'I'll do the judging,' says God. 'I'll take care of it' " (Rom. 12:19 MSG).

Revenge removes God from the equation. Vigilantes displace and replace God. "I'm not sure you can handle this one, Lord. You may punish too little or too slowly. I'll take this matter into my hands, thank you."

Is this what you want to say? Jesus didn't. No one had a clearer sense of right and wrong than the perfect Son of God. Yet, "when he suffered, he didn't make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly" (1 Pet. 2:23 GOD'S WORD).

Only God assesses accurate judgments. We impose punishments too slight or severe. God dispenses perfect justice. Vengeance is his job. Leave your enemies in God's hands. You're not endorsing their misbehavior when you do. You can hate what someone did without letting hatred consume you. Forgiveness is not excusing.

Nor is forgiveness pretending. David didn't gloss over or sidestep Saul's sin. He addressed it directly. He didn't avoid the issue, but he did avoid Saul.

Do the same. Give grace, but, if need be, keep your distance. You can forgive the abusive husband without living with him. Be quick to give mercy to the immoral pastor, but be slow to give him a pulpit. Society can dispense grace and prison terms at the same time. Offer the child molester a second chance, but keep him off the playgrounds.

Forgiveness is not foolishness.

Forgiveness is, at its core, choosing to see your offender with different eyes. You don't excuse him, endorse her, or embrace them. You just route thoughts about them through heaven. You see your enemy as God's child and revenge as God's job.

By the way, how can we grace-recipients do anything less? Dare we ask God for grace when we refuse to give it? This is a huge issue in Scripture. Jesus was tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners. In the final sum, we give grace because we've been given grace. Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Just Pray

As I write this blog, I am sitting in my office and my mind is wandering in a thousand different directions. One of the things that has been on my mind tonight is, do we (God's children) really know the power of prayer? We talk about it; we preach about it, we even sing about it…but do we do it? Sometimes the best advice we can receive is to just pray!

We have no problem talking to other people about our problems, whether it is on the phone, email, text message or in person. I am thankful that we can talk with each other and we can have help to "bear one another's burdens." However, we must never get to the point where we rely on other people more than we do God. We truly must learn to "just pray!"

Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 14:12-14:

John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Then James says:

James 4:2-3 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. (3) [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.

When Jesus says we can ask for anything, we must remember that our asking must be in his name—that is, according to God's character and will. God will not grant requests contrary to his nature or his will, and we cannot use his name as a magic formula to fulfill our selfish desires. If we are sincerely following God and seeking to do his will, then our requests will be in line with what he wants, and he will grant them.

The test of all Christian prayer is whether it is in the name of Jesus, offered out of our life in Him, and gives glory to the Father. Can we be trusted with the name of Jesus as He was with the Father's name? So much of what we do in the church is temporary and frenzied. It may win compliments and approval from other church people, but it does not give glory to God, nor does it last. We must learn to just pray!

Two children dressed as sheep in the Christmas play at Kaw Prairie Community Church in De Soto, Missouri, had a special part. Whenever Murphy, the main character in the play, encountered a problem, the sheep (Maria and Luke) came on stage to offer a reminder of what he needed to do. One carried the sign: "Just." The other carried the sign: "Pray."

We've all been faced with situations when we didn't know what to do, or there was nothing we could do. When we're distressed, we probably don't want to hear someone flippantly say, "Just pray!" That answer seems too simplistic and can even feel hurtful if it's said unthinkingly.

Dick Eastman said it very well : "We learn prayer's deepest depths in prayer, not from books. We reach prayer's highest heights in prayer, not from sermons. The only place to learn prayer, is in prayer, bent and broken on our knees."

But the simple answer "Just pray" is exactly what we need to do. During the days of the early church, James wrote to believers who were going through trials—difficulties that most of us know nothing about: stonings, imprisonment, and beatings for their faith. He told them to ask God for the wisdom and comfort to withstand those trials:

James 1:5 "Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

When you encounter a problem, remember the simple instructions of the "Just Pray" sheep and talk to God about it. He'll give you what you need. Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy

I love the Christmas season. I know there is a lot of commercialism that takes place, but the entire world talks about Jesus Christ coming to this world in the form of a baby. Make no mistake about it, some talk about Him while arguing about who He really is, and when He actually was born, etc. But the fact remains, He is discussed all over the world.

For the Christian, we need to remember that Christmas is about us celebrating the fact that Jesus came into the world to destroy the works of the devil. That's "shouting' ground" isn't it?

You see the manger and the cross are two symbols that remind the enemy of his ultimate defeat. I am so thankful that Jesus was born to die. And not only did He die, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, He rose from the dead. He defeated death, hell and the grave! That is such good news this Christmas season, and what we can celebrate! May we never grow tired of reading the wonderful story of Christmas:

Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. (19) Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: (23) "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." (24) When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (25) But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

During an all-night festival in Paris, five young people, apparently drunk, broke into the Orsay Museum and left a 4-inch gash in a priceless painting by Claude Monet. Culture Minister Christine Albanel said the painting could be restored, but she was deeply disturbed at the damage done by "a purely criminal act."

One news headline read: "Monet Masterpiece Marred." To mar is to injure or damage; to spoil, disfigure, or impair. It's an apt description of sin's effect on us. We know well the results of our own choices made in ignorance or defiance of God.

As we approach Christmas, it's good to remember why Jesus was born. The Son of God did not come to establish a nostalgic, family-oriented, commercially successful holiday. The angel told Joseph: "[Mary] will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).

Christmas began with a present from God to His sin-damaged world: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

1 John 3:8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

The masterpiece of God's human creation, marred by turning away from Him, can be restored when we give our hearts to Christ. Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

The Christmas spirit

All day long yesterday I had a hard time believing that we are already into December. We have officially entered the Christmas season. There is so much "hustle and bustle" with our schedules, shopping, planning, etc. If we aren't careful, we can turn the celebration of our Lord's birth into something that brings us dread and depression instead of joy.

There are some who love to debate about the actual birth of Jesus and try to make you believe that you are wrong for celebrating Christmas. I believe that it pleases our Lord greatly when we celebrate and remember that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." The date isn't nearly as important as the "spirit" of our celebration. Listen to what Paul tell us in Philippians 2:

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (6) Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, (7) But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. (8) And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! (9) Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, (10) That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How would you define "the Christmas spirit"? Would it be a friendly smile between strangers, the sound of familiar carols, a tree with twinkling lights in a sea of brightly wrapped packages, or just that good feeling you get this time of the year?

None of these elements captures the real meaning of the phrase. They represent feelings that may be a response to the commercialism that distorts the real spirit of Christmas.

J. I. Packer goes to the heart of this matter in his book Knowing God. He writes, "We talk glibly of the Christmas spirit, rarely meaning more by this than sentimental jollity . . . . It ought to mean the reproducing in human lives of the [temperament] of Him who for our sakes became poor, . . . the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor—spending and being spent—to enrich their fellowmen, giving time, thought, care, and concern to do good to others . . . in whatever way there seems need."

In Philippians 2, Paul described the God of heaven and earth as laying aside His divine glory and becoming our servant by dying on the cross for our sins. Then he urged us to duplicate that same mind of humble service to others. That's the true Christmas spirit.

If we look beyond the manger to the cross of Calvary, we will know the reason Christmas brings such joy to you and me. —D. De Haan

The spirit of Christmas giving should be seen in all our daily living. Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

This PERSUASION

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you will as well.

What a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday that my family and I had. We went to my parent's home in Fordyce, and enjoyed a great time of tossing washers, coon hunting, deer hunting, eating, and being thankful for the manifold blessings of our faithful God. I hope you had a "thankful" Thanksgiving as well.

Have you ever had a verse that God brings to your attention, and you just meditate on it for a few days? Well that has happened with me with Galatians 5:7-8. I would like to talk briefly with you about it today.

Galatians 5:7-8 (ESV) You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (8) This persuasion is not from him who calls you.

Galatians 5:7-8 (MSG) You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? (8) This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place.

Who did hinder you – literally means, "Drive you back." The Greek word used here (anakoptō) means to beat or drive back. Hence, it means to hinder, check, or slow down. Dr. Doddridge remarks that this is "an Olympic expression, and properly signifies "coming across the course" while a person is running in it, in such a manner as to jostle, and throw him out of the way." Paul asks, with emphasis, who it could have been that slowed them down in their Christian course, implying that it could have been done only by their own consent, or that there was really no cause why they should not have continued as they began.

I believe the answer is found in the next verse when Paul states, "This persuasion is not from the One who calls you." I am so thankful for the persuasion and influence of the Holy Spirit in my life, but there is another persuasion that is at work to hinder me (and you) in my progression of becoming more like Christ. This persuasion is from satan himself. He will do anything and everything that he can to persuade you that there are more important things in your life than following and trusting Jesus.

This persuasion has been at work in this world from the beginning of time. Let me share just a few examples:

Adam and Eve had it made, but allowed this persuasion to convince them that they couldn't trust the goodness and fairness of God, and that God's Word wasn't valid.

Then there is Esau who traded the blessing of his birthright for a moment of satisfaction. He was hungry, and was persuaded that the pleasure of the moment was more important than the blessings of the future.

How about Demas (2 Timothy 4) who was persuaded that this present world was more important than his eternal one.

Then there is Samson who was persuaded to compromise God's Word and paid a horrible price for it, before being restored.

How about Simon Peter who was persuaded that he should fear man instead of standing up for Jesus.

And King David who was persuaded to have an affair with Bathsheba.

Lot's wife lingered back from Sodom and Gomorrah as it was being destroyed and died a brutal death. The "call from Sodom" was so great that she felt that she had to look back.

I could go on and on with examples. Paul warns us that we can be hindered, or "driven back" by this persuasion so we must be careful. Every one of us has to battle that "call from Sodom" in our lives. It is where the enemy tries to persuade us away from being zealous in our walk with Christ. If we aren't careful we can be persuaded that going to church isn't important, that reading God's Word doesn't really matter, and that prayer isn't effective. I need to ask myself, everyday in every situation..."Who is persuading me?"

There are some reading this blog today that "were running so well" in your walk with Jesus, but this persuasion has driven you back. It is time for you to get up and get back after it. God has given you everything that you need to fight and defeat this persuasion from hell. You have God's Word, you have His Spirit, and you have His people. You are more than capable through Christ, and "more than a conqueror."

Instead of allowing this persuasion to influence you, you can become persuaded in God's goodness and love:

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, (39) Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

God is there for all of the days that end in "WHY"

I was listening to my music of choice (Southern Gospel), when a song came on entitled, "God is there for all of the days that end in Y" I got to thinking about that. That means He is there Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday! Each day of the week ends in "Y". He is with us and for us everyday of the week.

But as listened a little closer to the song, I realized that the message was deeper than that. The song was saying that He is also there for all of the days that end in why! Wow! And we have all had them haven't we? Days that end in "why". Anyway we look at it, we just can't figure out why.

Why did my daugther die so young? Why did my husband die at the prime of his life? Why did God not heal my dad of cancer? Why did my parents get a divorce? Why did my wife leave me? Why am I struggling financially when I pay tithes? Why is my life such a mess even though I'm a christian? Why did I lose my job? Why do I feel so alone? Why do I feel like my prayers aren't getting above the ceiling?

I could go on and on with different "why's". Did you know that Jesus dealt with "why's" as well?

Please read the following from Mark 15:33-34:

Mar 15:33-34 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Jesus was in the darkest time of His earthly life, He had twice in His ministry heard a voice from heaven say, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Once when He was baptized, and the other when He was transfigured. Why no voice from heaven now? Where was God the Father? Where was the affirmation? The physical pain was so intense, but so now was the spiritual. Jesus hadn't heard from His Father. Had He forgotten Him? Was He now all alone?

The physical pain created spiritual pain which led to emotional pain. Jesus couldn't take it any more and He cried out with a loud voice..."My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" There it is, Jesus' why. We know that Jesus dies, and after three days resurrects with victory over death, hell and the grave. It doesn't change the fact that Jesus suffered through the Why's of life.

There are some of you who are reading this blog today that are walking through the valley of why. You can't understand the pain, the loss, the frustration, the quietness from heaven. What is up God? Do you not care anymore? Do you not see me anymore? My God, WHY have you forsaken me?

My friend, please be reminded that just as God the Father had not forsaken Jesus, He has not forsaken you. His ways and thoughts are hard to fathom:

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

To help make this point, I would like to borrow a paragraph from Mark Batterson's "In a pit with a Lion on a snowy day":

Astronomers have spied galaxies 12.3 billion light-years from earth. To put that distance into perspective, consider the fact that light traveling 186,000 miles per second only takes eight minutes to travel the 93 million miles between the sun and planet earth. Sunlight is only eight minutes old. But light from the furthest galaxy takes 12.3 billion years to get here. That distance is virtually incomprehensible! And God says that that is about the distance between His thoughts and our thoughts. Your best thought about God on your best day falls 12.3 billion light years short of how great and how good God really is. We underestimate God's goodness and greatness by at least 12.3 billion light years.

Just remember, when you can't figure out what is going on in your life, when you don't understand the why's, that Jesus really is there for every day that ends in why. Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Praising God with Psalms

I love the book of Psalms. It is a collection of songs that the Hebrews would sing as they would dance and praise God. I believe that we should use Psalms more than we do in our prayer life. We can do this by speaking the Psalm out loud as we read them and personalize them. Let's look at a few of my favorite Psalms:

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100)

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 108)

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." (Psalm 150)

Try praying some of the prayers and praises in the Bible by personalizing them. For example, Psalm 150 starts with:

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness."

Now try personalizing it like this:

"I praise You, LORD. I praise You in Your sanctuary; I praise You in Your mighty heavens. I praise You for Your acts of power; I praise You for Your surpassing greatness."

Just go on and on, showering Him with sincere praise and adoration. He is worthy and He desires your love and devotion!

When we study the Psalms to see how God likes to be praised, we find that we should rejoice in the Lord, we should sing joyfully to Him, we should praise Him by clapping our hands and shouting for joy, we should strike the tambourine and burst into jubilant song with music, and we should praise Him with dancing and with the clash of cymbals! The Psalms describe jubilant, loud, emotional, unrestrained, joyful worship from a heart filled with love and praise and rejoicing! The following psalms were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which means that this is how God wants to be praised! Are we willing to be obedient?

"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise." (Psalm 47:1-7)

"Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Selah" (Psalm 66:1-4)

"Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre." (Psalm 81:1-2)

"Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:1-3)

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the LORD, the King." (Psalm 98:4-6)

"Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp." (Psalm 149:1-3)

"Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." (Psalm 150:1-6)

The Bible tells us that "the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). The New Testament tells us that by believing in Him and loving Him we are "filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8). We are commanded to "Be joyful always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16) because "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace..." (Galatians 5:22). Jesus says that He wants us to have "the full measure of my joy" within us (John 17:13) so that "[our] joy may be complete" (John 15:11). In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that when we are insulted and rejected because of Him we should "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy" (Luke 6:23).

Too many times we believe that praise, worship and thanksgiving are things that you do in a church service or setting. I do not believe that is the way God wants it. We should DAILY and on all occasions give God praise and worship. Why not start right now? I plan to! Blessings!

Pastor Rusty