God Knows Your Name

Posted on Aug 28, 2019 in Midweek Meditation, MM19 |

Read: Isaiah 43:1-7
 
In a recent news story from Cleveland, Ohio a bank robber made a couple huge mistakes.  His first mistake of course was robbing the bank in the first place, but his second mistake led to his capture.  As he handed the note to the teller demanding money he failed to realize that he had written his command on the back of his vehicle registration card that had his full name and address on it.  The teller gave him the cash, thanked him by name, and kept the note to give to the police.
 
When I read this story in the news I was reminded of how God knows all of us by name.  Not only does he know us by name, he knows everything about us. Nothing is hidden from the creator of the universe and the creator of human beings.  This can be intimidating or it can be comforting. Intimidating if we are out of step with God, and comforting if we need God’s help in life. It can also be reassuring to know that God cares for us in a personal way.
 
In Isaiah 43 we are given these reassuring words, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire you will not be burned…. Do not be afraid for I am with you.”  In the New Testament God’s Son Jesus also reassures us of his personal love, care, and concern for us.  John chapter 10 says, “I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep… He calls his own sheep by name and leads them.”
 
Whatever it is that you are facing this week, know that God is there for you.  He has created you, He knows you by name, and he is ready and able to support you, bring you peace, forgive you, and extend his grace to you for any sin or mistake you have made in life.  I sure hope the bank robber in Cleveland will learn this truth and allow it to turn his life in the right direction.
 
Make it Personal:  Most of us would never think of robbing a bank, but how many times have you beat yourself up over smaller missteps?  Too often we allow the guilt of those mistakes to be carried around for way too long. Jesus knows them and wants to forgive you so that you can move on from them without the guilt and condemnation.  He knows your name and loves you!                 Have a blessed week everyone, Pastor Glen Rhodes


The First Step

Posted on Aug 21, 2019 in Midweek Meditation, MM19 |

Read: Nehemiah 1
 
When the name Nehemiah from the Bible is mentioned most people remember the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem. This was one of Nehemiah’s greatest callings and accomplishments for the Lord. He was a brilliant planner, organizer, and motivator for sure. But when Nehemiah sensed this call upon his life his first step was not to plan, organize, talk to the king, or begin his trip back to Jerusalem, it was to pray.
 
The first chapter of Nehemiah includes his prayer. He prayed for forgiveness, he offered praise and thanksgiving, and he committed himself to the Lord’s will. Only after a time of mourning, fasting and praying did he have the courage to go to the king and ask if he could return to Jerusalem to help his people and rebuild the broken down walls.
 
In our fast paced world we are often tempted to barrel straight ahead with what we think is the right direction. I wonder what would have happened if Nehemiah would have proceeded in that way? What if he did not take time to mourn for what had happened, to fast and seek after God’s direction through prayer? Things might have ended up much differently for him. Perhaps the king would not have been so willing to let him depart from Susa?
 
The first step for Christians should always be prayer. We need to make sure that our will aligns with God’s will. Yes, he placed something on our heart, but the entire plan and direction may come through many hours of prayer and discernment, not the first inclinations of our flesh.
 
Make it Personal:  If your first inclination is to act, step back and think about the first step that Nehemiah took. Prayer and open communication with the Lord can open up many doors that human minds have not even considered. If you read the entire book of Nehemiah you will see that this was not a onetime decision for Nehemiah, he often turned to the Lord in prayer and asked the Lord to remember him, to deal with his enemies, and to use him in only the way God desired. Hopefully that will be our approach as well.                                 
 
Have a great week everyone,
Pastor Glen Rhodes


“Kind, Smart, and Important!”

Posted on Aug 14, 2019 in Midweek Meditation, MM19 |

Read: Ephesians 3:14-21

Those of you who have read Kathryn Stockett’s book “The Help” or have seen the movie by that same title probably recognize the three words in this weeks title.  One of the most powerful moments in that movie is when the nanny stoops down to the level of a little girl and tells her the words that she really needs to hear from her parents.  She says, “You are kind, you are smart, and you are important!”  
 
It’s hard to watch that or listen to that without feeling good about the encouragement and love being shared in those words.  It’s just too bad that we can’t treat each other in that same manner more often! Instead, our world so often tells us the opposite.  As I hear those words I am reminded that we have someone in Jesus Christ who continually speaks this kind of love and affirmation over us. 
 
In Ephesians 3:17-19 Paul says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
 
You see, no matter what the world (or anyone) says about you, God has an unconditional and everlasting love for you.  It is so big that it is even hard for us to totally comprehend it. Jesus wants us to believe in him and follow him in our lives, and he loves us despite our accomplishments and worth in the eyes of people.
 
We live in a culture that often seems to look at the negative before the positive, and often we take it personally and feel unloved or attacked.  But Jesus affirms us with his love, and fills us with the goodness, and the good news of God. If we have any doubts about that we should turn to John 3:16-17 where it says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
 
Make it Personal:  I’m not sure what words you have been hearing this week or this month, but you need to hear what God is saying to you and about you in His Word.  The Christian music group Mercy Me says it so well in one of their songs, “You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His, You’re beautiful!” Please don’t forget that when you hear others say something else!  
 
Have a blessed week everyone, Pastor Glen Rhodes

Knowing the Savior

Posted on Aug 7, 2019 in Midweek Meditation, MM19 |

Read: 1 John 5:13-20
 
I just returned this week from a visit with my family in Carlsbad, New Mexico.  I was amazed at how the oil and gas industry in that area has caused everything to expand and grow in recent years.  They are building housing and schools left and right in order to make room for everyone. As we flew into Midland, Texas and saw all the oil fields down below I was reminded of the story of how it all began.
 
During the Great Depression years in the 1930’s Ira Yates struggled to make his sheep herding ranch provide for his family.  One year when he could not pay his bills and was in danger of losing his ranch, a crew from an oil company came to him and ask if they could drill a test well on his property.  Yates agreed, signed the contract, and the rest is history. 80 years later Yates Pool in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico is still producing oil and has now become one of the largest oil reserves in the world.
 
What Ira Yates didn’t know about is what ended up saving him and his family from financial bankruptcy.  The same is true for so many people in a spiritual sense. What they don’t know, believe, or accept about Jesus Christ is keeping them from living their best life possible.  To know the Savior is to find salvation, grace, forgiveness, and hope in a world that is too often spiritually bankrupt.
 
In 1 John 5 the apostle John writes about the things we can know about God and Jesus.  We know these things because God has made them known to us through his Son Jesus Christ and through the power of His Word, the Bible.  We know how to overcome the evil, sin, and trials of this world. We know how to be saved from those things. We know how to receive eternal life in heaven.  We know these things and need to make sure others know them as well. Perhaps you can be like the oil company was for Ira Yates, you can reveal to them spiritually who can save them for eternity.  Jesus is the one!  
 
Make it Personal:  As you read 1 John 5 take note of how many times John says, “We know.”  Then think about why we know these things and the difference it makes for us and all those who believe, receive, and follow Jesus as the Lord and Savior.

Have a wonderful week everyone, Pastor Glen Rhodes


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