Where is God?

Ever ask the question: "Where is God?" If you have you are not alone. I have asked it too. It is very easy with all that is going on in our lives that we feel an absence of the presence of God, and besides what is that supposed to feel like?

I wish I could tell you the "feeling" you get, or what happens when you feel God's presence...but it is different for each of us. I have heard all kinds of stories and experiences where people have felt and/or had an encounter with God. But most of the time I get asked questions like: "Why can't I feel or hear God right now?" or "If God is loving where is he in this horrible event?".

I answer both of those questions the same way - God does not move, because He is everywhere. He is next to you when you feel all alone, and He is with those suffering in or going through a tragedy. He is there even though you do not "feel" Him. Maybe the question is not "Where is God?" that should be asked, but rather "Where did I leave Him?".

"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Matt. 15:8.

When we become believers, when we accept that we can not fill the void in our lives with anything other than the comfort that comes from connecting with our Creator by inviting Jesus to come into our hearts and lives, everything changes. We no longer have to carry every burden that comes our way. We no longer have to struggle with thinking we are not enough.

Jesus died for you so you could have a relationship with God without doing anything, period. That act alone tells you that you are important, valuable, and that God desires a relationship with you. And when we first invite Jesus into our lives we are on fire! That God would love us THAT much...then something happens called life. Life comes at us with ups and downs, happiness and sorrow...and busy. Busy says everything is urgent, and important will just have to wait. And slowly we get further and further away from God, until we simply don't "feel" Him anymore.

Life is fragile and all too short. Ask yourself this question: What matters most in life? Position? Reputation? Be honest with your answer. In all of God's creation the thing that matters most to Him is YOU. If you are wondering where God is I suggest two things - First, stop. Second, turn around...He has been right there the entire time. He is not there to "make" things better. He is there offering hope. Hope that will carry you through and light your path during your darkest times if you let Him. He is there to let you know that this is not all that there is. He is there.

Our personal experience with God is completely determined by us, because, you can't have a relationship with anyone you do not make the effort to. You can't put false expectations on God either...tell Him what to do to show you know He is there.

He is there. If you feel led here is a link to a passage to read and reflect on if you are feeling a distance between you and God...God is only as far away from you as you are from Him.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Isa&c=40&t=ESV#28

May your week be filled with more of Him, and may you feel His presence in a new and fresh way.

Blessings,
pastor pat

ANXIETY!?

Even the word all by itself is somewhat nerve racking. It is one of the words that regardless of how it is used it offers feelings that are uncomfortable. Anxiety denotes fear, worry, and apprehension. If one has too much anxiety it can lead to all kinds of health issues – both physical and mental.

 “An anxious heart weighs a man down...” Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

We all have wants and desires, and we know exactly when we think need them. We do not need to be told when we want something, we are well aware of it, and most of the time we want it now! But nothing seems to happen at the speed we need it to, and it drives us to anxiety. Seems kind of funny, but you can tell yourself to calm down as many times as you like, and then a situation pops up and the anxiety is back! So why is this? Is this a worry issue? I do not think so…I think it is a trust issue. It is all about where and in whom you are trusting.

Most people would say that they are trusting, and that they trust themselves above all else. That is ALOT of pressure! Too much pressure as a matter of fact and that is why we have the term “Breakdown”. This happens when we just can’t do any more, and we reach the end of ourselves and we “Break”.. Kind of feast or famine – we want to do it all, we can’t trust anyone else to care about or be as good at what we can do, and when it is too much we stop altogether. Where and how is one supposed to find balance? That is where trust comes in.

When we trust God, and I mean really trust God, we can get to that marvelous place called balance. First, we need to trust that He is in control not us. Then we need to trust that He has a better plan than the one I keep trying to force on every situation and circumstance we are going through. God wants a relationship with you, and He wants you to live a righteous and abundant life. So how do we do this? Jesus. When you identify with Jesus, accept who He is and what He did, your perspective changes. Jesus changes everything.  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Trusting that you are where you are supposed to be, regardless of situation or circumstance, will change everything. It is positional – IN Christ is enough. We are not enough, and will never have enough on our own…but He is. When you figure this out…anxiety is just a word – a place to visit once in a while, but you no longer have to stay there. 

Blessings,

pastor pat

Calling...what does this mean?

I think the word "calling" is thrown around in Christian circles a little too much. It seems to me that it has developed some sort of connotation that certain people are mysteriously “called” by God to be professional ministers. I want to clear this up a little. Listen to what Paul says to the Church in Corinth:

  

“…so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (NIV)

Ever heard the saying “all for one and one for all”? That is what Paul is saying to the group of like minded believers in this Church, telling them that they were all in it together. Every believer has is a valuable part of the body, and without the parts the body would cease to exist.

But who does what? There is a place of understanding about how God has uniquely designed you differently than anyone else, and how that design can and will fill a need in the church. Each person has different gifts, experiences, abilities and talents, and all have a purpose to make up the Church. When we become followers of Christ, we join the priesthood of believers, look at what 1 Peter says:

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

You see all are called. All are invited to “Follow” Jesus, and collectively we make up the Church – the Body of Christ. The question a believer needs to ask and explore is not “Do I belong?” but “Where do I belong?”, and what part or role do I play in the body? We are not all supposed to do the same thing…but we are all supposed to do something. The church is not the place where we go to watch the “pros” do their thing. The church is supposed to be YOU, and not about a place at all. Church happens when we come together and worship our relationship with God, and find our place in His Kingdom work right now.

Where do you fit? What is your calling, and have you answered it? Pray, seek counsel, and there are even several free tools you can use to help you along the path. We are also starting a new series called “Time to Grow…”. This is a study on the book of James, and is all about Relationship Rescue. How do we grow or fix relationships that seem to be struggling or even dying? Come and hang out , or watch it online later to hear how Scripture can help us with these struggling relationships…

In His service,

Pastor Pat

Obedience and Submission

These words scream there is a "Boss" that is telling you what to do. I do not like this at all. As a matter of record I used to be somewhat of an anti-authority guy, but not any more. The change happened when I stopped worrying so much about who was bossing me around and what truth I was going to follow.

You see rules work, and obeying them is the right thing to do. No one ever followed the posted speed signs and said: "That was a problem...". In the same way no one has ever taken a commandment of God and followed it and said "That didn't work out...". That is because truth works. We want everything to be subjective - I can drive as fast as I need to, speed limits are more like recommendations than absolutes... We treat God's Word the same way, as more of suggestions and guidelines than absolutes.

But God's Word is absolute truth, and if we would follow it as such it can, and will, change your life. For example God gave us the Ten Commandments not to regulate and keep us from having fun, but to enable us to connect with Him and each other harmoniously. Yet we want to follow or apply them when they suit us? We want to relegate them to the "religious" corner because we should not impose our religious beliefs on others? Kind of sounds like convenience more than conviction. Seriously, we are more about getting along than getting it right, or more about political correctness and being non-offensive than stating truth.

Sorry for the ranting, but there is truth, and there are absolutes. We have God's Word, and we need to listen to it. We have been examining the Scripture's direction on how to connect with God and with each other using God's Top Ten as the guide, and it has been enlightening and empowering. Come join us this weekend as we will be finishing the series "God's Top Ten - Living Out the Ten Commandments Today". We have age appropriate classes for your kids, so drop them off, grab a cup of coffee, something to snack on, and hang out with us. And please don't forget to stop and say hi to me!

In His service,
Pastor Pat

God's Will...Where Do I Find It?

How do I find God’s will for my life? I don’t know why I am going through all this? WHY ME? Why can’t I hear God?

Ever felt like this? I have - sometimes I get thinking this way, and I need to change my thinking. Often times it seems easier to blame someone else for whatever is going on, than to take responsibility and focus on the next choice. If something bad is happening, or you are going through tough times, you have to choose – sit where you are and suffer…or move forward and live.

Where you are does not define you…it is simply where you are. What defines you is what you choose to do next. Perspective flip:  What if you looked at where you are as if it were exactly where you are supposed to be?

Look at Jesus’ words from the garden:

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 (NLT)

Without going through tough and trying times we would not be able to experience the power of faith…the power of hope. Faith and hope provide a perspective unmatched by anything. Some things just seem insurmountable…un-climbable…but with God we can find ourselves on the other side of the mountain without really knowing how we got there. But you need to choose to keep going.

You see God’s will is not a thing or a destination – but really all about how you respond to the things that happen - 

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Whatever you are going through know this:  God knows all about it, and is with you. Your part is to choose to move forward – to keep living. Experience power beyond measure: put your faith (all of it) in Jesus, and realize you are right where you are supposed to be…and live out loud for Him, then see what happens.