Monday - "Real Love Hurts"

Real Love Hurts
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16, NIV

So THIS is love, I thought.

I was only about nine years old at the time, but I just knew that I was experiencing real love when I gazed at my first crush. He was a good church boy with blond hair and brown eyes. I don't remember his name now, but at the time I just knew it was written on my heart.

A few years later, seasons and feelings had changed and another church boy caught my attention. He was new to our congregation and a year older than me. And when he sang a duet with his older sister in our Sunday evening service, I was hooked. I would pine away for this boy 'til we were both in high school. And finally, when I was 15, he asked me out.

Real love? Hardly. It was infatuation all the way. And I ended things with him a few months later when I got "tired" of him. As the years went by, I did more of this with other young men - usually as preemptive strikes so that I would never get hurt.

See the pattern? Well, fast forward a couple of decades to recently when my tried-and-true method didn't work out so well for me. I got dumped first! And I never saw it coming. I was pursued, wined and dined and showered with gifts. But these outward actions were not very tell-tale of what was going on internally with my suitor. It was all a whirlwind act that couldn't last more than a couple of months, and it didn't.

I was crushed. Hurt beyond measure. But by what? By real love gone wrong? Not really. There was no love there - just selfish desires connecting two emotionally unhealthy and hurting people for a short while.

It took this dumping for me to finally wake up and see how I had been treating others for all of these years. I only stayed in a relationship until I got what I wanted, and then I was out. This is and was not love.

Love is not what I'm getting out of a relationship. It's about my will, my choice to love others and give of myself.

The Lord wants us all to see what real love is and that it requires great sacrifice and that it does hurt and make us uncomfortable to love in the way he has loved us. In short, real love is this: A Savior, who became a man and died for the sins of you and me and the rest of the world.

May we all be encouraged to open our hearts, sacrifice and show real love toward one another because He first loved us.

Copied from http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalkdevo/ (Feb. 13)

Thursday - "Go Team!"

As a Pastor, I get asked all the time "What makes a marriage stronger?" I honestly think it boils down to a few simple things...we've discussed a couple of them already this week:

1) Keep Christ the center of your marriage
2) Trust each other
3) Communicate with each other in a positive way
4) Enjoy each other

It is this fourth component that we are going to pray about this morning. What does it mean to "enjoy" your relationship? Let's look at today's verse:

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT2) "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength."

What does it mean to have a cheerful heart and not a "broken spirit?" Simple, a cheerful heart has the right attitude and perspective of how Christ wants their marriage to be. They realize that they are part of a team...each member giving 100% to the relationship. I have heard is said many times that marriage is 50/50. I disagree. That implies that each person only gives half of what they are able to give. No, cheerful hearts give unselfishly... Cheerful hearts serve unselfishly... Cheerful hearts love unselfishly.

If you are married, you are part of a team...a whole...in the eyes of God, you are one. I understand that in many marriages, only one spouse is willing to live with a "cheerful heart" while the other seems to be a taker. However, Christ has called us to be individually accountable for our behaviour. We have to make the choice to be dedicated to our husband/wife...how they behave is their issue with God, not yours. You can't force your spouse into a cheerful heart...

Do you want to enjoy your relationship? Keep praying, listening, and serving God... give, serve, and love your spouse without bitterness... and watch your marriage blossom into exactly what God intended it to be. Go team!

Pastor Brian

Tuesday - "Painting the Walls"

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT2): “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Do you like to paint? I don't mean paint a picture...I mean the walls of your house? I'm not a big fan of painting because no matter how careful I try to be, I always miss a little part of the wall. Usually it's right at the ceiling line where the wall meets the roof. I take my brush and ever-so-carefully try to create that sharp edge line...but either hit the ceiling with the color...or leave a gap.

I'm glad that God doesn't paint His followers the same way.

2 Cor. 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are covered in a brand new color with no gaps, smudges, or missed corners. When God looks at our lives as Christ-followers, He doesn't see the old "us" anymore....He sees the complete us....the redeemed us...the forgiven us...the masterpiece He created us to be.

You are a new creation. The old has gone the new has come.

There is not a single square inch of you that He has missed with His Divine paintbrush. You are His. He forgives you. He watches out for you. He loves you...and if Christ is Lord of your life...you will spend forever with Him in Heaven.

You are a masterpiece...a complete and perfect new color...a new creation.

Thank you Lord.

Pastor Brian

Monday - "Not Just a Work of Art"

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT2): “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Million have seen it. It stands proudly behind glass in a French museum. Scholars and critics alike have wondered who is depicted in the oil paint. Can you guess what it is? If you guessed, La Gioconda...you are exactly right!

La Gioconda?

Most of us don't know it by that name. That is the name the artist gave to it. Here in the United States it is known by its more familiar name, the Mona Lisa. Regarded by many to be the most beautiful painting ever created by the hands of man. Art scholars the world over hail it as Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece....the best work he ever created.

Did you know that you are just like the Mona Lisa?

Think about it. People the world over know you as the name given to you by your parents. John, Sandra, Todd, Elizabeth...whatever your birth name. But you are far more than just a common name.

You are a masterpiece.

Your real identity and worth comes from the Creator. God has a name for you, too. Beloved, child of God, loved, precious... I could go on. You are His masterpiece...the best God has ever done. I don't know what you woke up feeling like this morning. Maybe last week was tough...maybe the weekend was no better... and here you are...facing Monday again...

You are a masterpiece.

Remember, God sees you differently than you see yourself. He always loves, always forgives, and always cares. He hears your prayers and will give His grace and wisdom to you when you ask for it. Today, as you go after the dream God put in your heart, remember these truths... and never forget that no matter what happens today...you are more than just a work of art....you are a masterpiece.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian

Tuesday - "WITH"

The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered. Genesis 39:2

The LORD was with him. Genesis 39:21

This past weekend, Pastor Matt said in his teaching that most people have "fair weather" faith. While I'd like to disagree with him, I honestly can't. In fact you could probably pin me with that same accusation...

When things are going very well, we celebrate the great things that we have done.
When things are up, we stop dreaming.
When things are at the top of the mountain, we forget the climb.

But the opposite is also true.

When things are bad, we blame God.
When things are down, all we do is lament and worry.
When things are in the valley, we forget to look up.

It seems that in both cases, we seem to forget one important facet of God's character. Look at today's verses...see a common thread? God is WITH someone. They don't mention that He's looking at someone...or is thinking of someone...He's actually there. This week, as we talk about dreams, let's not forget that we serve a God who is actively THERE with you... through good times and bad. When we dream big and it comes to fruition, let's remember to give God the glory and not try and take it for ourselves. When we are struggling and want to give up dreaming...let's keep in mind that God, our Creator, loves us more than any person on the Earth and wants to help us see the plan for our lives.

Are you starting to think bigger? Are you beginning to journal about what God's plan is for your life? If so, remember that no matter what, He is WITH you. His plan is perfect...and He wants you to find it...

Blessings,
Pastor Brian

"The Truth" - A Devotional for Thursday

Matthew 5:5 (TM): “You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.”

I was in the grocery store the other day and saw the magazine "Men's Health". The guy on the cover had ripped abs and incredibly large, muscular arms. I looked down at my own stomach and realized that, while I wanted "six-pack" abs...I was going to have to settle for the "party keg" body shape for now. It's amazing how we can go from feeling extremely happy about ourselves to something much less. Sometimes we can feel downright miserable about who we are...our appearance, our abilities and gifts...even our brain power... all seem as though we are less than what we want to or should be.

I've got news once again that should make you happy...you can change that. I'm not talking about losing weight, sit-ups, plastic surgery, or the like. What I'm talking about is reality. Realizing that who you are is who God made you to be. You are His best work...

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

We could all change something about ourselves...all of us...whether it is a physical trait or something inside our own personality or thought-life. Some of you today reading this devotional are disappointed that God made you the way He did. Don't be. Every hair on your head is intentional...the way you smile, think, and blink are all part of God's plan for your life. You are His masterpiece...the best God can do...

What is in you right now is extremely valuable...your gifts (and everybody has at least one) are meant for you to use to help others...to share with the world. You ARE somebody Christ can use...you ARE meant to be happy with His creation in you...you ARE valuable...you ARE important...you ARE blessed...and you ARE His child. No matter how you feel right now...that is the truth.

Want to live a happy life? Remember who you are in Christ...that's where your value is.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian