Consider what you are really willing to lay on the line...
Jesus gave it all, and we are called to do the same (see John 15:13)
There is no greater love. So love with all you have! Be Jesus' hands and feet as you love the people around you.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, September 12, 2008
Living for all He's worth!
Friends,
Sorry for my long sabbatical from this blog. The past year has been one of the most eventful of my life thus far. I finished a degree, I traveled some, and I said good by to my earthly father as he went on to be with the Lord.
It has been a year where I have done much reflection on the importance of time. And how precious little of it each of us have. The scriptures tell us that the days are "evil". What I believe that means is that they are fleeting. So, we need to make our time count.
How often, I have "spent" time on things that were of little value. With my dad's passing I have come to realize that my time is very precious and needs to be "spent" with care and consideration for the value it is. After all, when a commodity is considered valuable, we do take care of it, or spend it wisely, in the case of money.
So, I am going to consider how I spend my time more carefully. All the while realizing that the best way to spend it is for the One who has purchased my life with His. That is, living my life for Jesus Christ. That means I allow Him to order my time and live this life to glorify His name as the Holy Spirit leads me to do so.
Will you do the same? Think about it!
May God bless you with an abundance of time to spend!
Patrick
Sorry for my long sabbatical from this blog. The past year has been one of the most eventful of my life thus far. I finished a degree, I traveled some, and I said good by to my earthly father as he went on to be with the Lord.
It has been a year where I have done much reflection on the importance of time. And how precious little of it each of us have. The scriptures tell us that the days are "evil". What I believe that means is that they are fleeting. So, we need to make our time count.
How often, I have "spent" time on things that were of little value. With my dad's passing I have come to realize that my time is very precious and needs to be "spent" with care and consideration for the value it is. After all, when a commodity is considered valuable, we do take care of it, or spend it wisely, in the case of money.
So, I am going to consider how I spend my time more carefully. All the while realizing that the best way to spend it is for the One who has purchased my life with His. That is, living my life for Jesus Christ. That means I allow Him to order my time and live this life to glorify His name as the Holy Spirit leads me to do so.
Will you do the same? Think about it!
May God bless you with an abundance of time to spend!
Patrick
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Curious?
Deuteronomy 12:30
Have you ever noticed the farther you lean over a rail to peer at something on the other side, the easier it is to fall completely over the rail? It seems the farther you lean, the more gravitational pull as your weight distribution is increased to the other side. Pretty simple deduction, right? The more you lean the easier it is to fall… common sense!
The same holds true for how we approach life. God has given us a standard to live by. However, the costliness of our curious nature can lead us into “leaning” into things that we have no business making inquiries. Considering the question, “how bad is that movie really?” This question causes on to determine further, “I’ll just see how bad it gets, so I understand…” This is a set up for a fall into something you probably have no business looking into. Really, do you need to see a movie to know that it is going to be bad? Do you have to look on the internet to see how awful things are out there? Should you look at advertisements to see how racy they are getting? All for the sake of educational purposes… or worse yet making a righteous excuse like, just so I can understand how to pray?!?!?
Israel was warned in Deuteronomy 12:30 not to make inquiry of how their enemies worshipped, so that they would not fall into worshipping false gods themselves. It is common sense, if you know that something is bad, believe it is bad and stay away from it!
I want to encourage each of you to consider what you do. Free yourself from things that might snare you into the great big addicting messes that are abundantly available, and lead us away from God. If you think something might be bad, stay away from it, it probably is! The old adage, “curiosity killed the cat” is true of our faith walk too when it relates to unhealthy curiosity!
Live LIFE to please Him!
Blessings,
Patrick
Have you ever noticed the farther you lean over a rail to peer at something on the other side, the easier it is to fall completely over the rail? It seems the farther you lean, the more gravitational pull as your weight distribution is increased to the other side. Pretty simple deduction, right? The more you lean the easier it is to fall… common sense!
The same holds true for how we approach life. God has given us a standard to live by. However, the costliness of our curious nature can lead us into “leaning” into things that we have no business making inquiries. Considering the question, “how bad is that movie really?” This question causes on to determine further, “I’ll just see how bad it gets, so I understand…” This is a set up for a fall into something you probably have no business looking into. Really, do you need to see a movie to know that it is going to be bad? Do you have to look on the internet to see how awful things are out there? Should you look at advertisements to see how racy they are getting? All for the sake of educational purposes… or worse yet making a righteous excuse like, just so I can understand how to pray?!?!?
Israel was warned in Deuteronomy 12:30 not to make inquiry of how their enemies worshipped, so that they would not fall into worshipping false gods themselves. It is common sense, if you know that something is bad, believe it is bad and stay away from it!
I want to encourage each of you to consider what you do. Free yourself from things that might snare you into the great big addicting messes that are abundantly available, and lead us away from God. If you think something might be bad, stay away from it, it probably is! The old adage, “curiosity killed the cat” is true of our faith walk too when it relates to unhealthy curiosity!
Live LIFE to please Him!
Blessings,
Patrick
Sunday, December 30, 2007
New Year Challenge
Psalm 119
Today our church body received a challenge to read through the entire Bible by Ressurection Sunday. This is a tall task, but it can be done. I believe that when we choose to do things like this God will reward our efforts. In this case, I believe God wants to ressurect within us new LIFE in our faith journey. If you would like to join us in this challege, please use the reading schedule below. Also, please share your experience with us upon completion at LIFE@LIFEnc.org.
Blessings,
Patrick
Bible By Resurrection Sunday
Genesis 1:1 - Revelation 22:21
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 - Saturday, March 22, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 Genesis 1:1-15:21
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 Genesis 16:1-27:40
Thursday, January 3, 2008 Genesis 27:41-38:30
Friday, January 4, 2008 Genesis 39:1-50:21
Saturday, January 5, 2008 Genesis 50:22-Exodus 14:31
Sunday, January 6, 2008 Exodus 15:1-28:5
Monday, January 7, 2008 Exodus 28:6-39:7
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Exodus 39:8-Leviticus 12:8
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 Leviticus 13:1-23:25
Thursday, January 10, 2008 Leviticus 23:26-Numbers 5:10
Friday, January 11, 2008 Numbers 5:11-15:31
Saturday, January 12, 2008 Numbers 15:32-27:11
Sunday, January 13, 2008 Numbers 27:12-Deuteronomy 1:46
Monday, January 14, 2008 Deuteronomy 2:1-14:29
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Deuteronomy 15:1-29:29
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Deuteronomy 30:1-Joshua 10:28
Thursday, January 17, 2008 Joshua 10:29-23:16
Friday, January 18, 2008 Joshua 24:1-Judges 11:40
Saturday, January 19, 2008 Judges 12:1-1 Samuel 2:11
Sunday, January 20, 2008 1 Samuel 2:12-16:23
Monday, January 21, 2008 1 Samuel 17:1-30:31
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1 Samuel 31:1-2 Samuel 14:33
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2 Samuel 15:1-1 Kings 1:53
Thursday, January 24, 2008 1 Kings 2:1-11:40
Friday, January 25, 2008 1 Kings 11:41-22:50
Saturday, January 26, 2008 1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 14:22
Sunday, January 27, 2008 2 Kings 14:23-1 Chronicles 1:34
Monday, January 28, 2008 1 Chronicles 1:35-9:44
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 1 Chronicles 10:1-24:19
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 1 Chronicles 24:20-2 Chronicles 11:4
Thursday, January 31, 2008 2 Chronicles 11:5-28:27
Friday, February 1, 2008 2 Chronicles 29:1-Ezra 6:18
Saturday, February 2, 2008 Ezra 6:19-Nehemiah 9:37
Sunday, February 3, 2008 Nehemiah 9:38-Job 3:26
Monday, February 4, 2008 Job 4:1-18:21
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Job 19:1-31:40
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Job 32:1-Psalm 7:17
Thursday, February 7, 2008 Psalm 8:1-33:22
Friday, February 8, 2008 Psalm 34:1-56:13
Saturday, February 9, 2008 Psalm 57:1-77:20
Sunday, February 10, 2008 Psalm 78:1-97:12
Monday, February 11, 2008 Psalm 98:1-117:2
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Psalm 118:1-138:8
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Psalm 139:1-Proverbs 7:27
Thursday, February 14, 2008 Proverbs 8:1-20:30
Friday, February 15, 2008 Proverbs 21:1-Ecclesiastes 2:26
Saturday, February 16, 2008 Ecclesiastes 3:1-Isaiah 4:6
Sunday, February 17, 2008 Isaiah 5:1-24:23
Monday, February 18, 2008 Isaiah 25:1-42:17
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Isaiah 42:18-63:6
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Isaiah 63:7-Jeremiah 12:4
Thursday, February 21, 2008 Jeremiah 12:5-28:17
Friday, February 22, 2008 Jeremiah 29:1-43:13
Saturday, February 23, 2008 Jeremiah 44:1-Lamentations 5:22
Sunday, February 24, 2008 Ezekiel 1:1-17:24
Monday, February 25, 2008 Ezekiel 18:1-30:26
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Ezekiel 31:1-43:27
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Ezekiel 44:1-Daniel 8:14
Thursday, February 28, 2008 Daniel 8:15-Joel 3:16
Friday, February 29, 2008 Joel 3:17-Habakkuk 1:4
Saturday, March 1, 2008 Habakkuk 1:5-Malachi 2:9
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Malachi 2:10-Matthew 11:30
Monday, March 3, 2008 Matthew 12:1-21:46
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Matthew 22:1-Mark 1:34
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Mark 1:35-10:45
Thursday, March 6, 2008 Mark 10:46-Luke 2:40
Friday, March 7, 2008 Luke 2:41-10:24
Saturday, March 8, 2008 Luke 10:25-19:44
Sunday, March 9, 2008 Luke 19:45-John 3:36
Monday, March 10, 2008 John 4:1-11:16
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 John 11:17-21:25
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Acts 1:1-10:48
Thursday, March 13, 2008 Acts 11:1-21:26
Friday, March 14, 2008 Acts 21:27-Romans 5:21
Saturday, March 15, 2008 Romans 6:1-1 Corinthians 4:21
Sunday, March 16, 2008 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 Corinthians 2:4
Monday, March 17, 2008 2 Corinthians 2:5-Ephesians 1:2
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Ephesians 1:3-1 Thessalonians 2:16
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 1 Thessalonians 2:17-Philemon 25
Thursday, March 20, 2008 Hebrews 1:1-James 3:18
Friday, March 21, 2008 James 4:1-Revelation 1:20
Saturday, March 22, 2008 Revelation 2:1-22:21
Today our church body received a challenge to read through the entire Bible by Ressurection Sunday. This is a tall task, but it can be done. I believe that when we choose to do things like this God will reward our efforts. In this case, I believe God wants to ressurect within us new LIFE in our faith journey. If you would like to join us in this challege, please use the reading schedule below. Also, please share your experience with us upon completion at LIFE@LIFEnc.org.
Blessings,
Patrick
Bible By Resurrection Sunday
Genesis 1:1 - Revelation 22:21
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 - Saturday, March 22, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 Genesis 1:1-15:21
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 Genesis 16:1-27:40
Thursday, January 3, 2008 Genesis 27:41-38:30
Friday, January 4, 2008 Genesis 39:1-50:21
Saturday, January 5, 2008 Genesis 50:22-Exodus 14:31
Sunday, January 6, 2008 Exodus 15:1-28:5
Monday, January 7, 2008 Exodus 28:6-39:7
Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Exodus 39:8-Leviticus 12:8
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 Leviticus 13:1-23:25
Thursday, January 10, 2008 Leviticus 23:26-Numbers 5:10
Friday, January 11, 2008 Numbers 5:11-15:31
Saturday, January 12, 2008 Numbers 15:32-27:11
Sunday, January 13, 2008 Numbers 27:12-Deuteronomy 1:46
Monday, January 14, 2008 Deuteronomy 2:1-14:29
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Deuteronomy 15:1-29:29
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Deuteronomy 30:1-Joshua 10:28
Thursday, January 17, 2008 Joshua 10:29-23:16
Friday, January 18, 2008 Joshua 24:1-Judges 11:40
Saturday, January 19, 2008 Judges 12:1-1 Samuel 2:11
Sunday, January 20, 2008 1 Samuel 2:12-16:23
Monday, January 21, 2008 1 Samuel 17:1-30:31
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1 Samuel 31:1-2 Samuel 14:33
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2 Samuel 15:1-1 Kings 1:53
Thursday, January 24, 2008 1 Kings 2:1-11:40
Friday, January 25, 2008 1 Kings 11:41-22:50
Saturday, January 26, 2008 1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 14:22
Sunday, January 27, 2008 2 Kings 14:23-1 Chronicles 1:34
Monday, January 28, 2008 1 Chronicles 1:35-9:44
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 1 Chronicles 10:1-24:19
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 1 Chronicles 24:20-2 Chronicles 11:4
Thursday, January 31, 2008 2 Chronicles 11:5-28:27
Friday, February 1, 2008 2 Chronicles 29:1-Ezra 6:18
Saturday, February 2, 2008 Ezra 6:19-Nehemiah 9:37
Sunday, February 3, 2008 Nehemiah 9:38-Job 3:26
Monday, February 4, 2008 Job 4:1-18:21
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Job 19:1-31:40
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Job 32:1-Psalm 7:17
Thursday, February 7, 2008 Psalm 8:1-33:22
Friday, February 8, 2008 Psalm 34:1-56:13
Saturday, February 9, 2008 Psalm 57:1-77:20
Sunday, February 10, 2008 Psalm 78:1-97:12
Monday, February 11, 2008 Psalm 98:1-117:2
Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Psalm 118:1-138:8
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 Psalm 139:1-Proverbs 7:27
Thursday, February 14, 2008 Proverbs 8:1-20:30
Friday, February 15, 2008 Proverbs 21:1-Ecclesiastes 2:26
Saturday, February 16, 2008 Ecclesiastes 3:1-Isaiah 4:6
Sunday, February 17, 2008 Isaiah 5:1-24:23
Monday, February 18, 2008 Isaiah 25:1-42:17
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Isaiah 42:18-63:6
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Isaiah 63:7-Jeremiah 12:4
Thursday, February 21, 2008 Jeremiah 12:5-28:17
Friday, February 22, 2008 Jeremiah 29:1-43:13
Saturday, February 23, 2008 Jeremiah 44:1-Lamentations 5:22
Sunday, February 24, 2008 Ezekiel 1:1-17:24
Monday, February 25, 2008 Ezekiel 18:1-30:26
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Ezekiel 31:1-43:27
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Ezekiel 44:1-Daniel 8:14
Thursday, February 28, 2008 Daniel 8:15-Joel 3:16
Friday, February 29, 2008 Joel 3:17-Habakkuk 1:4
Saturday, March 1, 2008 Habakkuk 1:5-Malachi 2:9
Sunday, March 2, 2008 Malachi 2:10-Matthew 11:30
Monday, March 3, 2008 Matthew 12:1-21:46
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Matthew 22:1-Mark 1:34
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Mark 1:35-10:45
Thursday, March 6, 2008 Mark 10:46-Luke 2:40
Friday, March 7, 2008 Luke 2:41-10:24
Saturday, March 8, 2008 Luke 10:25-19:44
Sunday, March 9, 2008 Luke 19:45-John 3:36
Monday, March 10, 2008 John 4:1-11:16
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 John 11:17-21:25
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Acts 1:1-10:48
Thursday, March 13, 2008 Acts 11:1-21:26
Friday, March 14, 2008 Acts 21:27-Romans 5:21
Saturday, March 15, 2008 Romans 6:1-1 Corinthians 4:21
Sunday, March 16, 2008 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 Corinthians 2:4
Monday, March 17, 2008 2 Corinthians 2:5-Ephesians 1:2
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Ephesians 1:3-1 Thessalonians 2:16
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 1 Thessalonians 2:17-Philemon 25
Thursday, March 20, 2008 Hebrews 1:1-James 3:18
Friday, March 21, 2008 James 4:1-Revelation 1:20
Saturday, March 22, 2008 Revelation 2:1-22:21
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
You'll Be Missed Myra
A dear friend and mentor of my wife and I has just stepped into eternity with Jesus. Myra Sink, wife of Pastor Jim Sink went to be with the Lord at about 1:30AM last night. She will be missed here on earth, but Heaven is rejoicing upon receiving this good and faithful servant.
Our hearts go out to Pastor Jim and his children, Aaron, Jenny, Hannah, and Ann as they have said farewell for now to this very special women in their lives.
It is times like these that we sometimes ask ourselves how a woman of God, who had so many people praying for her have her life cut short? This is a question that only God knows the answer, however, along with it, we also need to ask, how it is possible that we were graced with such a wonderful woman of God in the first place? The only answer I can come up with is that God loves us. He really does.
It is God's love that will sustain the Sink family, and it is God's love that Myra lived her life by. That is the Love, I choose to rest in and rejoice in my dear friends passing.
If you would like to know this same love please visit the following web page: www.lifenc.org/howtoknowgod
So, Lord, thank you for giving us Myra for the time that we were blessed to know her. She has blessed so many and You have used her to as Your vessel to transform lives, I count myself as one of them. Please, Lord, give those who weep, beauty for their ashes, garments of praise for their spirit of heaviness, and the oil of gladness from your very throne. I pray this in Jesus precious Name! Amen.
May you be blessed,
Patrick
Thursday, December 6, 2007
How Do We Pray?
Luke 11:5-13
Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray. He demonstrated this by giving the a model of the Lord's Prayer, many of us know it as the Our Father. His teaching on the subject did not stop there. He tells a story of a neighbor that went to another in the village to ask for some bread. In Jesus' time it would have been expected that the friend would have helped. Not only that, the visitor that the food was for would have been seen as a guest of the whole village. So, the hearers of this parable would have laughed at the response of the friend who wouldn't come out of the house and help shouting to the neighbor that kids are asleep... at least they may have been before they started shouting back and forth ;-) Jesus, you see has a sense of humor.
The parable demonstrates that God is not reluctant to hear our prayers, but eager. Therefore as we pray we can go before him with bold persistence, because we can have confidence in the heart of our heavenly Father who takes great joy in doing what is good.
Therefore, where ever you are, pray. Pray boldly. Pray confidently, that the Lover of your soul is eagerly listening. Won't you bring all your cares to Him today? He is listening!
May you be blessed as you meet with the Lord,
Patrick
Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray. He demonstrated this by giving the a model of the Lord's Prayer, many of us know it as the Our Father. His teaching on the subject did not stop there. He tells a story of a neighbor that went to another in the village to ask for some bread. In Jesus' time it would have been expected that the friend would have helped. Not only that, the visitor that the food was for would have been seen as a guest of the whole village. So, the hearers of this parable would have laughed at the response of the friend who wouldn't come out of the house and help shouting to the neighbor that kids are asleep... at least they may have been before they started shouting back and forth ;-) Jesus, you see has a sense of humor.
The parable demonstrates that God is not reluctant to hear our prayers, but eager. Therefore as we pray we can go before him with bold persistence, because we can have confidence in the heart of our heavenly Father who takes great joy in doing what is good.
Therefore, where ever you are, pray. Pray boldly. Pray confidently, that the Lover of your soul is eagerly listening. Won't you bring all your cares to Him today? He is listening!
May you be blessed as you meet with the Lord,
Patrick
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Power of Grace
Matthew 18:21-35
I was recently reminded by a friend how much we are changed by the power of God's grace toward us. You see, Jesus has offered to pay the price for all of our failures. This cost of our failure is not a price we can pay, even if we dedicate our entire lives to try to "pay" for our sins. It is simply a gift! However, it is a gift that changes us from the inside out, if we have truly received it.
Sometimes when someone gives us something we are untrusting of their motives, because we judge their actions on what we might be willing to have done. In the case of Jesus, we might not fully receive His gift of grace because we cannot imagine being set free from a price we could never pay without having to do something for it. After all, if we were God, we would might make others pay a little... don't you think?
In the passage cited above, we read a story that Jesus tells of a man that is forgiven such a huge debt owed to a king that he could never have repaid it even if he worked his entire life to pay his debtor. Upon receiving the pardon from his creditor, he goes about his business. Upon finding a friend that owed him an amount that was indeed payable by comparison proceeds to show no mercy. The account indicates that the first man was left unchanged by the king's grace. Common sense tells us this should not be so!
This story give causes each of us to consider our own lives. Have we been changed by the love of our King Jesus? Are there areas of our lives that we hold unto unforgiveness? If so, I strongly encourage you to consider the amount of grace that has been extended to you by Jesus. His grace is the kind that will change your entire life! Any area of forgiveness that you are struggling in is an area that you need to consider under the light of what you have been forgiven of. You have been given much grace and should also extend that grace to every area of your life.
May God bless you and keep you,
Patrick
I was recently reminded by a friend how much we are changed by the power of God's grace toward us. You see, Jesus has offered to pay the price for all of our failures. This cost of our failure is not a price we can pay, even if we dedicate our entire lives to try to "pay" for our sins. It is simply a gift! However, it is a gift that changes us from the inside out, if we have truly received it.
Sometimes when someone gives us something we are untrusting of their motives, because we judge their actions on what we might be willing to have done. In the case of Jesus, we might not fully receive His gift of grace because we cannot imagine being set free from a price we could never pay without having to do something for it. After all, if we were God, we would might make others pay a little... don't you think?
In the passage cited above, we read a story that Jesus tells of a man that is forgiven such a huge debt owed to a king that he could never have repaid it even if he worked his entire life to pay his debtor. Upon receiving the pardon from his creditor, he goes about his business. Upon finding a friend that owed him an amount that was indeed payable by comparison proceeds to show no mercy. The account indicates that the first man was left unchanged by the king's grace. Common sense tells us this should not be so!
This story give causes each of us to consider our own lives. Have we been changed by the love of our King Jesus? Are there areas of our lives that we hold unto unforgiveness? If so, I strongly encourage you to consider the amount of grace that has been extended to you by Jesus. His grace is the kind that will change your entire life! Any area of forgiveness that you are struggling in is an area that you need to consider under the light of what you have been forgiven of. You have been given much grace and should also extend that grace to every area of your life.
May God bless you and keep you,
Patrick
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