Getting Everything You Want

Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas or have you made trips back to the stores to ensure it...? What is the determining factor? Likes or dislikes change, and for some people they can change seemingly moment to moment. That being said, can you ever really get all that you want?

If you are like me it seems as soon as I have something, all I want is something more. I am not saying I don't appreciate gifts...I LOVE getting gifts, and appreciate them beyond measure. It is just that when I have something, I can now focus on what I don't have...just being honest.

Unchecked, this can lead to an endless spiral of unmet desires and empty possessions. Each having held the promise of being the "IT" that would be just what we wanted or thought we needed, and failed to be "IT" after all. So what can we do? Should we live life moving from one empty promise to the next...sounds depressingly hopeless, doesn't it? If that were all there was to life, then collectively we would agree that it seems pointless, but there is a point.

So what is the ultimate gift? Where can it be found? What can keep us from hopelessness? God's love. "What?" You say... That is it? Yep, that is it. God's love has a lifetime warranty, does not require batteries, has no strings attached, and is more than we deserve. That is why David wrote this in the the book of Psalms:

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." Psalm 13:5 NIV

Unfailing love, and the salvation He offers us...more than we could ask or imagine, more than we deserve,unbelievable, incomprehensible, and just plain awesome...period.

It is simply the only gift we will ever need, and it will keep on giving - no matter what. Now that should be everything you ever wanted.

In His Grip.

Pastor Pat

Greatest Gift...

What makes a gift "Great"? We all love to give a gift, that when opened, the person we are giving it to, gasps with surprise and happiness. And there is nothing worse than putting time into a gift to then get the "Really?" look shot out to you when it is opened...not good. And if you have to explain it - even worse.

So what makes a gift good? Cost? Unusualness? I just read the Top 11 Gifts for 2011, where "money is no object" - HOLY CASHOLA!! Gifts so expensive and unrealistic it is unimaginable why they were even made in the first place. I know, it is because there is a market for it.

I am gonna go against the grain here and shake it up, like this is unusual. Who do we buy gifts for? We buy gifts for people who buy gifts for us. Let's be honest - for the most part we buy gifts because we are obligated to. Just being honest, but most gift giving is done out obligation.

Wanna know what the greatest gift is? There is a "perfect" gift. This gift comes without obligation, and we do not deserve it. Guess what? I don't think we can give a gift like this. Sorry, but a "perfect" gift could only come from a "perfect" giver - God.

Maybe this year we need to spend a little less time trying to find the right gift, and accept the gift that God has already given...just sayin'

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat

SAVE ME!!!

What can or will save you from where you are in life? Forget how you got here, but ask yourself if you are looking for something or someone to save you...well are you? Has life gotten so busy and/or out of control, you feel like you need saving? Do you stop to consider if or how any of what you are dealing with could possibly be part of God's plan for your life? Or do you feel that a big God doesn't have the time for your little issues? Things aren't so different now than they were 2,000 years ago.

Almost 2,000 years ago in the small nondescript town of Bethlehem, a child was born in the only place the parents could find for shelter: a manger where animals were kept. The world kept its pace and appointments and Jesus was born (aka Immanuel, which means "God with us"). This would seem to be a BIG deal...but in all the world we know only some shepherds and wise men came to visit and recognized God's gift to mankind.

The world at the time was too busy (no time), and the religious leaders too righteous (not their way), to recognize this event. And where are we today? Are we different? We seem more caught up in the political correctness of the name and who might be offended when we say Christmas to stop and consider the events that gave it its name in the first place. We are also so preoccupied about what we have to give and what we will get, that we are missing the gift God already gave us!

So if you are looking for a something or someone to save you - A new job? A promotion? A relationship? A new marriage? Or whatever. Maybe you are looking in all of the wrong places...try looking up and don't miss the saving miracle of Christmas.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11 NIV.

People and things will only change the circumstances of your lifestyle. God gave us Jesus to change your life...forever. So accept His gift this year, whether for the first time or maybe you need to remember what it was like when you first opened it...either way works...and let Him be what saves you...just saying'

In Him,

Pastor Pat

What Path Are You On?

Choices have consequences; everyone would probably agree this is true. The problem only happens when we start to qualify the types and severity of the consequences, because then the subjective “fairness” has to come into play. Everyone has his or her own version of fair. So what then does the determining factor need to be? Truth: not my truth or your truth, but the truth.

The debate whether or not a loving God would create a place of eternal punishment for a mere bad choice would seem like a convincing argument to have. Have it as you wish, but I am not going to go there right now. Let’s back it up just a bit.

Whatever you believe, let’s say that you believe it sincerely…with all your heart. You would even say that you are committed to your beliefs, and I would agree. I do not want to overly simplify, but humor me here for just a minute.

Let’s say that you believed with all your heart you could fly. Practically speaking, you made a large set of wings out of something and proceeded to the highest building, bridge, or cliff you could find. After throwing yourself off into the air you realize that gravity was true, more so than your beliefs (I am speaking beliefs here, and do not want to engage in scientific explanations for personal flight).

Gravity is true. You can’t choose to agree or disagree with that truth. In the same way, truth is not subjective to our convictions. Even though one sincerely believed that they could fly, they would actually just be sincerely wrong.

The Bible is true. The debates about which parts and who were the authors and the influence of men will continue, but the fact is this: nothing in the Bible has been proven inaccurate or false. Countless “un-proven” stories in the Bible have been proven true and historically accurate through archeological discoveries. This continues to be the case and shows no signs of stopping.

So why the fuss? Honestly, I do not know outside of pride. Think about this: If what the Bible says is truth, then following it or not has consequences, and if it turns out to be wrong…well then the consequences will be a life lived selflessly and for others, and that can’t be all bad, right? But if it is truth, then those who sincerely believe that it is not will simply be sincerely wrong, and the Bible says that will have consequences too…well let’s just say that it says there will be hell to pay.

…just saying’

In His Grip,

Pastor Pat