Learn to enjoy the CONTENTS of life by being CONTENT

I woke up this morning with a keen awareness of how blessed I really am. Oh, I recognize it regularly, but I was overwhelmed by it today. A spirit of thanksgiving came over me. I began to name the blessings that God has placed into my life. On that list were several things that I take for granted. I believe that many of us have developed an attitude of complaining rather than an attitude of thanksgiving and we don't even realize it.

Listen to what Paul said in Philippians 2:14-15:

Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], (15) That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

We don't realize that when we complain, we are saying that God isn't caring for us like He should. We rob Him of the praise and Thanksgiving that He so deserves.

• We complain about the price of groceries instead of offering Him thanks that we can afford to buy food.
  

• We complain about our spiritual struggles instead of offering Him thanks that Jesus died on the cross for my salvation.
  


• We complain about the price of gasoline instead of offering Him thanks that we have a vehicle.
  


• We complain about how messy our families are instead of offering Him thanks that we have a family.
  


• We complain about how much our kids fight instead of offering Him thanks for our children.
  


• We complain about our country instead of offering Him thanks that we live in the greatest nation in the world.
  


• We complain about our spouse instead of offering Him thanks that we are married.
  


• We complain that we don't feel very well instead of offering Him thanks that we are alive.
  


• We complain that we don't make enough money instead of offering Him thanks that we have more wealth that a large percentage of the world
  


• We complain about the traffic jam on the interstate instead of offering Him thanks that we are not causing the jam due to car problems or an accident.
  


• We complain about the music of our church instead of offering Him thanks that we have the right and freedom to worship God in our church
  


• We complain about the problems that have to be fixed in our house instead of offering Him thanks for our house.
  


• We complain about how busy we are today instead of offering Him thanks for this day
  

I could go on and on. I (we) can very easily become a complainer. That is why my theme verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." I have to remind myself often that I choose to be full of thanksgiving and not complaining… TODAY. I have to take one day at a time. I often teach on how we need to enjoy each season of our lives. Well, I actually believe that we need to enjoy each minute of each day, or each season of our lives. How do we do that? Develop an attitude of gratitude.

Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12:

Philippians 4:11-12 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. (12) I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

He says, "I have learned to be content in every circumstance." Being content is something you have to learn. You learn it through your daily choices. You will never be content as long as you make the choice of complaining! However, when you strive to give thanks daily, you will slowly but surely become content, regardless what comes along in your life.

I love the CONTENTS of my life (Salvation, family, home, vehicles, etc), but I will never be CONTENT in my life until I daily choose to give God thanks before I bring my needs or complaints before Him. It is the absolute least that I can do for a God who has blessed me abundantly.

So my prayer today is: "Lord, help me to enjoy the CONTENTS of my life by learning to be CONTENT in my life. I become content by becoming a daily, habitual thanks giver!"

Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Practice these things

Have you ever been reading God's Word, and you can't get past a certain passage for several days? Well, that is what has happened to me the past four days. God has kept me in Philippians 4:4-9 and has been speaking into my spirit. Let me share a little bit with you.

I love Philippians 4:9. There are four things in this verse that Paul says we should "practice these things" and if we do, the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Remember that Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." There are many that say, "Don't follow me, I may lead you astray", yet here is Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit saying, "Follow me..." There is a big difference between worshipping someone, and following their example. No one should worship us, but everyone should be able to follow our example if we are Christian men and women. We should, like Paul, be able to say, follow me as I follow Christ. To better examine how good of an example we are, we need to look closely at Philippians 4:9 and what Paul says.

First of all he says, what you have LEARNED from me, put it into practice. For us to tell people to "practice what you have learned from me", we must first ask ourselves the following question: What am I TEACHING? Are those who are around me learning forgiveness from me? How about faith? Worry? Fear? Anger and frustration? Joy? Patience?

Before I tell people to put into practice what they have learned from me, I better make sure that I am following Jesus in what my life is teaching.

Secondly, Paul says what you have received from me put into practice. Now we need to ask ourselves the question, what am I giving? Am I giving of my time? Am I willing to sacrifice? One of the most powerful stories in the Bible is found in 2 Samuel 24. Let me share a little bit of it with you:

2 Samuel 24:21-25 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." (22) Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. (23) O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." (24) But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. (25) David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Before we say to those around us, put into practice what you have received from me, we must examine what we are giving. Do we, like David, say and MEAN, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." We have some who's worship of God depends upon the style of music that is being played. My friends, true worship is a matter of the heart and not of style. Worship never has been about style and never will be. If it is for you, then I am afraid that you haven't found the essence of worship. What are you willing to give to the Lord? What price are you willing to pay in worship to your God? David was concerned with what he was giving to the Lord. May we be as well.

Thirdly, Paul said what you have heard from me put into practice. I need to ask myself, what am I saying? If I encourage people to put into practice what they have heard from me, I better watch my tongue and my words. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

The message puts the same verse like this: "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose." "Oh be careful little tongue what you say" because your words are impacting more people that you can imagine.

Finally, Paul said what you have seen in me put into practice. I need to ask myself what I am doing. My daily decisions: the places I go, the way I place myself in compromising situations, the way I refuse to avoid the very appearance of evil, the words I speak, the habits I develop (good and bad) impact people. I need to be careful what I do.

Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ" by practicing what you learned, received, heard and received from me. When you do, God's peace will be with you.

As I have studied this, the Holy Spirit has asked me over and over again, "as people follow you, where will it lead them?" Ask yourself that question. Will your example lead people closer to Christ, or further from Him? It really is something to think about, and re-examine. Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

The Lost Art

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

I have been reading different verses the past few days on Thanksgiving. As we get closer and closer to Thanksgiving Day, I have purposely turned my heart towards thanksgiving. I have determined to count my blessings and give God thanks. I am afraid that "thanksgiving" has become a lost art. Being unthankful is one of the signs of the time. In other words, a sign that Jesus is preparing to come back to this earth. God's Word tells us that "perilous times" would come, and part of those troubling times would be how arrogantly unthankful this world would become. My prayer is that we all slow down TODAY, and give God thanks for His blessings.

Throughout history, many cultures have set aside a time for expressing their thankfulness. In the US, Thanksgiving Day originated with the pilgrims. In the midst of extreme hardship, loss of loved ones, and meager supplies, they still believed they were blessed. They chose to celebrate God's blessings by sharing a meal with Native Americans who had helped them survive.

We know we've lost the spirit of that original celebration when we catch ourselves complaining that our Thanksgiving Day has been "spoiled" by bad weather, disappointing food, or a bad cold. It's we who are spoiled—spoiled by the very blessings that should make every day a day of thanksgiving, whatever our circumstances.

Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. —Hebrews 13:15

Billy Graham wrote, "Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible." He then quoted Romans 1:21, one of the Bible's indictments against rebellious humanity. Then Dr. Graham added, "Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness."

We can read much about thanksgiving in the book of Colossians. The apostle Paul had never been to the church in Colosse, but he had heard all about it from Epaphras. He knew it was a church under attack by false teachers, so he prayed fervently for this congregation (Colossians 1:9-14; 2:4-7).

Among his requests, Paul asked that they would give joyful thanks to the Father because He had rescued them, moving them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His Son (1:12-13).

Then he told them to make sure and: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, . . . and be thankful. —Colossians 3:15

We too need to be thankful for what Christ has done for us.

Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersbe illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.

Let's take time often to recall how God has rescued us from eternal death and has given us eternal life through His Son. May we "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." Let's make certain that we never allow thanking the Father to become a lost art. Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

The Lord is at hand

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

We started looking at Thanksgiving this past Friday, and we will continue to do this as we lead up to Thanksgiving Day.

A few moments ago, during our Staff prayer time, the Lord really ministered to me from Philippians 4:4-9. I would like to share a few of these thoughts with you:

Philippians 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians is my favorite book of the Bible, so I've read through it several times. However, as I was reading this morning, I knew the Holy Spirit was wanting to show me something. I reread verse 5, and there it was The Lord is at hand. Think about that for a moment...The Lord is at hand, very near. When you get ahold of that, then you really understand the premise of everything Paul is telling us.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Paul was in prison as he wrote this phrase, not knowing how long he was going to live. How could he be rejoicing during this difficult time of his life? Because he knew, without a doubt that The Lord is at hand.

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. It's difficult when you are in prison being treated as inferior, and many times less than human, how in the world could Paul be reasonable? The Lord is at hand.

6 do not be anxious about anything, Now, this is truly a difficult one, because I am naturally an anxious person. I battle worry on a regular basis. However, Paul in prison, not knowing whether he was going to see tomorrow or not writes to you and me and says, don't be anxious about anything. Wow! How can we not be anxious? Is that feasible? Only when you realize what he did...The Lord is at hand.

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Now, Paul takes it a step further. Not only should we not be anxious about anything, but in everything we bring our needs to God with thanksgiving. It doesn't matter how difficult the situation you are facing today, it fits into this everything and regardless of how upset you are about it, the way to bring it to God is through thanksgiving. How can we do this? Remembering that The Lord is at hand!

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. My friends, when we understand that even when we don't feel Him at all, The Lord is at hand, then we WILL walk in the peace of God that we can't even begin to understand, and that peace will guard our hearts and minds from fear, doubt, anxiety, etc.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Paul then explains to us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the boundaries of what we should think and dwell on. These eight things should be the litmus test of what we allow into thought life. This thought that I am tempted with, is it: true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praise worthy? If it is, then think on it. If it isn't, then push it out of your mind. When you have a legitimate concern, how can you keep it from causing depression in your life? Remember, The Lord is at hand.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. And finally, Paul encourages everyone to put into practice what they had seen in him and God's peace would follow. How could he say that? Because he really, really knew that The Lord is at hand.

My question for all of us today is this: Can we truly tell people that if they put into practice what they see in us then God's peace will follow? Or would what we show people lead them to stomach ulcers and fear?

The key is to remember today, whatever happens, whatever you go through that The Lord is at hand. Oh, by the way, at hand actually means very near! That is "shoutin ground!" Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

Am I filled with THANKSGIVING or COMPLAINING?

It is so to complain, gripe and bellyache, and forget how blessed we really are. Remember the ten lepers in the Bible (Luke 17:11-19)? All ten were healed, but only ONE returned to give glory to God after he had been healed. That is 10% of those who had been blessed beyond measure, slowed down enough to say "Thanks Lord!"

What about you? What about me? Are we thankful? Or do we have a tendency to complain?
Philippians 2:14 says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing"

A good question for us today is, "Am I filled with THANKSGIVING or COMPLAINING?"

David C. Egner writes: While I was teaching at a Christian college, a talented young man pushed his way into my life. He needed one more course to graduate, so he decided that I should give him an independent study in writing. He would be everlastingly grateful if I would just do this--even though it required extra work on my part. The college dean agreed to the idea because of the young man's abilities.

What a headache! He skipped appointments, missed deadlines, and rejected my evaluations of his writing. He even turned in the last assignment just hours before graduation. After all that was done for him, you'd think he would have been grateful. But he didn't express one word of thanks on graduation day nor in all the years since.

I don't ever want to be that kind of person. I would rather be like David. When he was in deep trouble, he called out to the Lord for help (Ps. 28:1-2). Afterward, he remembered to give God thanks for delivering him (vv.6-7). In fact, David's heart of gratitude toward the Lord is evident throughout the book of Psalms.

"Dear Abby" is a popular syndicated newspaper column, Started in 1956 by Abigail Van Buren, the advice column is written today by her daughter Jeanne Phillips. In an edition a few years ago, she included this Thanksgiving Prayer written many years before by her mother:

O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food
and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health
and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends
and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom
and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances
stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used
for others. Amen.

The words of this prayer echo the clear teaching of Scripture. Our thanksgiving to God should always be accompanied by thinking of those in need.

"Therefore," said the writer to the Hebrews, "by [Jesus] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).

But there is more to it than thankfulness. We are to put actions behind our gratitude. "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (v.16).
Be thankful for God's many blessings, but be sure to remember those who have less.

What about us? Do we have an ungrateful response to the Lord's graciousness? Or are we, like David, unceasingly expressing our thanks to God for His goodness?

Is there someone whose kindness I've been taking for granted? How can I show that person gratitude today? In what ways can I show my gratitude to God? When you count your blessings, it adds up to thankfulness. At least it should. Amen? Blessings!

Pastor Rusty

The Word became Flesh

John 1:14 tells us that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

I am so thankful that the only "begotten" Son of our Heavenly Father was willing to become man and live among us to not only die for our sins, but to show us how to live.

I love Max Lucado and read everything he writes. I have never heard anyone explain this kind of love (John 1:14) any better than Max. Please read and comtemplate the following:

He could have given up. No one would have known otherwise. Jesus could have given up.

One look at the womb could have discouraged him. God is as unbridled as the air and limitless as the sky. Would he reduce his world to the belly of a girl for nine months? He could have given up. If not, at least he could have stopped short. Did he have to become flesh?

How about becoming light? Her is an idea. Heaven could open, and Christ could fall on the earth in the form of a white light. And then in the light there could be a voice, a booming, thundering, teeth-shaking voice. Toss in a gust of wind and the angels for background vocals, and the whole world notices!


And the stable. Is that not yet another reason for Christ to back out? Stables are smelly, dirty. How are they going to cut the umbilical cord? And who is going to cut the umbilical cord? Joseph? A small-time carpenter from a one-camel town? Is there not a better father for God? Someone with an education, a pedigree. Someone with a bit of clout? This fellow couldn’t even swing a room at the hotel. You think he’s got what it takes to be the father to the Maker of the universe?

Jesus could have given up. Imagine the change he had to make, the distance he had to travel. What would it be like to become flesh?


This question surfaced as I was golfing recently. Waiting my turn to putt, I squatted down to clean my ball and noticed a mountain of ants beside it. Must have been dozens of them, all over each other. A pyramid of motion at least half an inch tall.

I don’t know what you think when you see ants on a green as you are waiting to putt. But here is what I thought. Why are you guys all bunched up? You have the whole green. Why, the entire golf course is yours to spread out in. Then it occurred to me. These ants are nervous. Who could blame them? They live under a constant meteor shower. Every few minutes a dimpled orb comes crashing into their world. Bam! Bam! Bam! Just when the bombing stops, the mallet-swinging giants arrive. If you survive their feet and sticks, they roll a meteor at you. A golf green is no place for an ant.


So I tried to help them. Leaning down where they could hear me, I invited, “Come on, follow me. We’ll find a nice spot in the rough. I know it well.” Not one looked in my direction. “Hey, ants!” Still no reply. Then I realized, I don’t speak their language. I don’t speak Ant. Pretty fluent in the idiom of Uncle, but I don’t speak Ant.

So what could I do to reach them? Only one thing. I needed to become an ant. Go from six feet inches to teeny-weeny. From 200+ pounds to tenths of an ounce. Swap my big world for their tiny one. Give up burgers and start eating grass. “No thanks,” I said. Besides, it was my turn to putt.

Love goes the distance…and Christ traveled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us. He didn’t have to. He could have given up. At any step along the way he could have called it quits.

When he saw the size of the womb, he could have stopped.

When he saw how tiny his hand would be, how soft his voice would be, how hungry his tummy would be, he could have stopped. At the first whiff of the stinky stable, at the first gust of cold air. The first time he scraped his knee or blew his nose or tasted burnt bagels, he could have turned and walked out.

When he saw the dirt floor of his Nazareth house. When Joseph gave him a chore to do. When his fellow students were dozing off during the reading of the Torah, his Torah. When the neighbor took his name in vain. When the lazy farmer blamed his poor crop on God. At any point Jesus could have said, “That’s it! That’s enough! I’m going home.” But he didn’t.

He didn’t, because he is love. And “love…endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7 NKJV). Blessings!



Pastor Rusty

God doesn’t GIVE UP

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

Have you ever felt like God has forsaken you? Have you ever felt like your prayers aren't getting above the ceiling? If you have felt this way, please understand that you are not alone. Even Jesus felt that way.

Matthew 27:37-47 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (38) Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. (39) Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads (40) and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" (41) In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. (42) "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" (44) In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (45) From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. (46) About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (47) When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

How do I know God is with me? What if this is all a hoax? How do you know that is God who is speaking?

The thick and dreadful darkness of doubt. The same darkness you feel when you sit on a polished pew in a funeral chapel and listen to the obituary of the one you love more than life.

The same darkness that you feel when you hear the words, "The tumor is malignant. We have to operate."

The same darkness that falls upon you when you realize you just lost your temper.. . again.

The same darkness you feel when you realize that the divorce you never wanted is final.

The same darkness into which Jesus screamed, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Appropriate words. For when we doubt, God seems very far away. Which is exactly why he chose to draw so near.

Listen to some words from Max Lucado about the fact that God NEVER gives up:

Throughout time, though God's people often forgot their God, God didn't forget them. He kept his word. God didn't give up. He never gives up.

When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn't give up.

When Moses said, "Here I am, send Aaron," God didn't give up.

When the delivered Israelites wanted Egyptian slavery instead of milk and honey, God didn't give up.

When Aaron was making a false god at the very moment Moses was with the true God, God didn't give up.

When only two of the ten spies thought the Creator was powerful enough to deliver the created, God didn't give up.

When Samson whispered to Delilah, when Saul roared after David, when David schemed against Uriah, God didn't give up.

When God's word lay forgotten and man's idols stood glistening, God didn't give up.

When the children of Israel were taken into captivity God didn't give up.

He could have given up. He could have turned his back. He could have walked away from the wretched mess, but he didn't. He didn't give up.

When he became flesh and was the victim of an assassination attempt before he was two years old, he didn't give up.

When the people from his own home town tried to push him over a cliff; he didn't give up.

When his brothers ridiculed him, he didn't give up.

When he was accused of blaspheming God by people who didn't fear God, he didn't give up.

When Peter worshiped him at the supper and cursed him at the fire, he didn't give up.

When people spat in his face, he didn't spit back. When the bystanders slapped him, he didn't slap them. When a whip ripped his sides, he didn't turn and command the awaiting angels to stuff that whip down that soldier's throat.

And when human hands fastened the divine hands to a cross with spikes, it wasn't the soldiers who held the hands of Jesus steady. It was God who held them steady. For those wounded hands were the same invisible hands that had carried the firepot and the torch two thousand years earlier. They were the same hands that had brought light into Abram's thick and dreadful darkness. They had come to do it again.

So, the next time doubt walks in, escort him out. Out to the hill. Out to Calvary. Out to the cross where, with holy blood, the hand that carried the flame wrote the promise, "God would give up his only son before he'd give up on you." Blessings!

Pastor Rusty