"When?" - A Devotional for Monday

This week, we're going to look at

Acts 1: 6-7 "So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."

I was browsing the web the other day and came across the Death Clock. What is the death clock you may ask? You plug some personal info into their form...and out pops the date that you are more than likely going to die. I was intrigued by this in light of today's verse... does anybody but God know when things are going to happen? I think not.

Look at today's verse...the disciples were asking Jesus if He was going to set things right...regain control over the land and lift Israel up to it's rightful place...and how did He respond? He told them it was not their business to know the time or date...that only His Father in Heaven had control over that...

That's important to remember this morning. How much worry would it save you to know that God knows the time and dates of things...when you're getting married...when you're time is up...when that stock is going to come back around...when your baby will take his first step... only GOD knows when. I get asked all the time...WHEN?!? When is God going to take action? When is Jesus coming back? When will life get better?

Just trust. Trust that God has all of the times and dates and will allow things to happen at the absolute perfect time. After we have learned His intended lesson...after we demonstrate our faith...after we learn that He is in control...after we live our life remembering that we don't have to be God.

Concerned about times and dates? Don't worry...God's got the Master calendar...let Him reveal to us in His time what He wants.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian

"Sacrifice Worry" - A Devotional for Wednesday

Yesterday, I was driving back from lunch and started thinking...about money.

Do I have enough? Will I pay everything on time? What about my job...is it secure? What if I lose it? What will I do then? When is God going to step in here? Is He already here and I'm ignoring Him? Why do I feel so unfulfilled with what I have? Can I afford to be eating lunch out everyday? Am I making the most out of what I have? Why am I feeling like this as a Christian?

I parked and got out of the car and as I did, a spark of blue in the tree caught my eye. The most beautiful blue jay was just sitting there on a branch...looking around...seemingly unconcerned that I was in its presence. Then it hit me... hard.

Last weekend, Pastor Troy quoted one of my favorite yet most challenging verses:

Matthew 6:25-26 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

I have literally read that verse a hundred times or more. Yet...sometimes I still worry. I wish it weren't so. I wish I could just give my financial concerns over to God and be done with them. Sometimes I think I have to help God by worrying about these matters. I want to help Him manage things sometimes, don't you?

Do you ever feel that way? Here's what I am telling myself this morning as I do this devotional with you...if you ever want to achieve financial freedom...you have to place your worries at the foot of the cross. You will have to sacrifice worry. Sounds easier said than done, right? Here's what I know...if I am obedient and follow what Christ wants me to do (ie; salvation, baptism, tithe, serve and love others), I will have a blessable life. If my life receives blessings from God...what do I have to fret over? I don't want to worry anymore...and I am praying for each one of you to feel the same way. Let's do something about it...let's sacrifice our fear and doubt and replace it with peace and wisdom.

See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian