Living Water Church

Last week we got back from our trip to Oklahoma. We drove about 800 miles in one day and our boys did great. At one point, I watched Nate (my 5 year old) just sit there in the van, staring out the window. For about an hour and a half, he just watched the scenery. (Oh, and we were in Kansas, by the way, so the scenery was well…. you get the picture.)  That said, I was amazed at how well my boys handled the long car ride.

When we got home however, all their pent-up energy exploded and there were numerous fights, complaining, arguing, and any other related event. I found myself struggling with a bad attitude as my home erupted in general chaos and noise. And in the midst of that, a friend of mine called me to see how I was doing. In just that one phone call, my spirits were lifted.

The scripture tells us to “encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11. I looked up the word encourage in my Webster’s dictionary. It means “to inspire with hope; to stimulate; to give help.” Sometimes life gets tough, mundane, or just plain overwhelming. At times like this we need people in our lives who encourage us. The phone call from my friend offered me just what I needed. Let’s all learn to be encouragers. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit and respond to His prompting to call someone, help someone one, and offer hope. Find someone to encourage today.

In my opinion, last week’s message by Pastor Paul, was the most significant sermon I have heard in many years. I realize that is a grandiose statement, but it adequately expresses how I feel. I urge you to download it, listen to it, and chew on it.

Though I can in no way duplicate what was said last Sunday in this small space, nevertheless I want to give a brief summary. Are you hungry for more of God? Do you want to see God’s power touch your loved ones? Do you desire healing? There is God’s part and our part. Last Sunday’s message clearly defined our part.

Like in the natural, where a critical mass of plutonium comes together to create an nuclear explosion, so it is true in the spiritual realm. When Christians come together, in a critical mass, purified and cleansed, praying together in one accord, there will be a spiritual explosion, with revival, healing, and restoration. This can’t be achieved by just one or two people. It requires many of us to be seeking God, walking in purity, praying and fasting.

Are you willing to be a part of that critical mass? Are you willing to sacrifice for it? I want us to create a spiritual atmosphere where God commands His blessing. Again I urge you to listen to the sermon entitled “Critical Mass.” Let it change how you think.

In my time with the Lord this morning I read this verse — “Praise the Lord!  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever.  Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord?  Who can ever praise Him enough?” Psalm 106:1-2 NLT

Every Sunday, we gather together and give God praise.  But is that enough?  David wrote this in Psalm 34, “I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak His praises.” If you think about it, if you are constantly praising the Lord throughout your day, you’re not complaining and grumbling.  If I’m praising the Lord at all times, I’m not criticizing my neighbor (or my husband, my children, or myself.)

So the question the psalmist asked is, “Who can ever praise Him enough?”  Is Sunday enough?  And though the psalmist’s question is probably of a rhetorical nature, I will, nevertheless answer it.  No one can ever praise the Lord enough.  He is far too worthy.  But, know that when life get tough, when worry, disappointment or fear threatens your peace, choose to praise the Lord.   God inhabits the praises of His people.  He might not take away all your problems, but He will come to you and be your very present help in times of trouble.

I’m not sure who wrote this, but it’s worth repeating…

Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.

Did you know that during World War II, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace?

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9 pm Eastern time (7 pm Mountain time), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States.  Pray for our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation.  Stop and pray.  Can you give just a minute?

Some words of wisdom by Pastor Rick Warren:

Forgiveness is easy until you have something to forgive.

The more you know and understand about yourself, the less prideful you are.  The more you know and understand God, the more grateful you are.

When you expect others to meet needs in your life that only God  an meet, it’s unfair to them and insures disappointment in you.

God’s unconditional love for me doesn’t mean He approves of everything I think, do, or say.  Every parent knows the difference.

Like gum, never swallow flattery.  It’s a lie used to control you.  “They lie and deceive each other with flattery.”  Psalm 12:2

How you feel about you is determined by what you think the most important person in your life thinks about you.  Make that person Jesus.

Trust and obey.  Trust and obey.  Trust and obey.  Trust and obey.  Got it?

What would you think if someone came up to you, untied your shoes, pulled off your socks, and began to wash your feet?  The thought just makes me cringe—I’m afraid I might kick the person in the nose.  (I’m not that big into someone tickling my feet.)  Yet, the Bible tells us to wash each other’s feet?

In Biblical times, people walked through dirt, sand, and other unmentionables as they travelled from place to place.  Washing ones feet was a means of helping someone, giving to them, taking care of them.  Today, we travel differently (thank God) and so foot-washing is no longer necessary.  But there are other ways that we can give to each other.  This last week, Steve H. came and moved a ton of dirt for us; Julie helped us move furniture; my mom babysat Nate so I could work; my Dad helped us paint.  All of these people “washed my feet.”   They gave of their time and energy, they gave of themselves, to help Ken and me.

It’s somewhat humbling to accept help.  I think that’s why we often resist it.  But let’s not let pride keep us from receiving from others.  Additionally, look for opportunities to serve others.   Are you a foot-washer?

Do you ever feel like the world is going by at 100 mph and you’re only traveling at 55 mph?  Often, I have trouble keeping up with each of my boys’ schedules and activities.  The events of my life can pass by in a blur.  I think being too busy is one of the curses on the American culture.  We can get so busy we start to focus on the small things instead of the big picture.  We “major on the minors.”

One of my favorite songs is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”  There is a line in the song that ministers to me every time I hear it.  It says, “Look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim…”  There is something that changes us when we slow down long enough to look into Jesus’ face, to read the words He spoke as recorded in the Scriptures, to talk to Him in prayer.  When I slow down and do this, I am constantly amazed that the things of earth (life’s worries and craziness) pale in comparison—they grow strangely dim.  Take time this week, in your busy schedule, in spite of all of it’s demands, and look full in His wonderful face.  Talk to Him.  Cast your cares of Him.  Tell Him who much you need Him, how much you love Him.  Turn your eyes upon Him.

This week, I found myself singing the old Gaither song, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.” Though it’s a line from a song, the message behind it is absolute truth.  Have you ever noticed that if you have a conversation with someone about God, no one seems to take notice?   You blend in.  But if in your conversation you bring up the name ‘Jesus’ suddenly people react?  There’s something about the name ‘Jesus’ that polarizes people.  No other name evokes such strong reactions.  Why is that?

Popular culture will acknowledge Jesus’ existence, and many will claim that He is one way to heaven.  But the only way?  Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.  No one can come to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6.  The exclusivity of this statement has caused generation after generation of people to react.  Nobody wants to be told that there is only one way.  So people react to Jesus, the name and the man.

For me, the name Jesus evokes an entirely different reaction.  His name gives me a sense of peace, a sweetness, but also an awesome wonder.  Because of Him, I have hope beyond this life.  And because of Jesus, I have hope and peace in this life.  This Easter season, will you take a few moments today and praise the name of Jesus?  “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.

What do you think is the most beautiful word in the English language?  Some might say love or friendship; sadly others might say money or success.  To me, the most beautiful word in all of language is the word forgiveness.  Without forgiveness love and friendship couldn’t exist.  Without forgiveness, we would live in the depths of guilt and condemnation.

Ken and I got mad at each other this week.  (I know, shocker… you find it hard to believe.)  We said things to each other that we would take back if we could.  (How quickly I forgot what I said in a recent sermon that a harsh word spoken is not easily forgotten by the person it is spoken to.)  However, in spite of our shortcomings, because of the redeeming grace of the Father, we forgave each other.

Ken and I confessed our issues to each other, and we looked each other in the eye, and said, “Will you forgive me?”  Then the other one said, out loud, with direct eye contact, “I forgive you.”  The words are simple but the question and response are completely humbling.  And the result is powerful—beyond words really.  There is amazing power in forgiveness.  There is healing, hope, and restoration.   Choose to forgive someone today.  Say the words, “I forgive you.”  “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

“This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24.

As our church draws our study of Philippians to a close, one of the themes of the letter is the command to rejoice.  The concept of rejoicing or joy appears 16 times in just four chapters.  Paul dedicated his life to following Christ, but in so doing he faced poverty, beatings, and imprisonment.  In his letter to the Ephesians, he wrote that he was writing while living in chains.  Can you even imagine…living in chains?  But in spite of all this, Paul chose to rejoice.  He learned to be content.  How?

Wouldn’t it be easy if the answer was just a simple formula like A+B = contentment.  Sadly, it is not so.  As I pondered the question, I came to the conclusion that Paul did not live in denial.  He didn’t live in some mental la-la land where he refused to admit to his problems.  Rather, he openly acknowledged the chains, the poverty, the pain.  But at the same time, he chose to focus his mind and his heart on the promises of God.  Promises like:  “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.”  Phil. 4:19.

Paul had an assurance about him, a hope, that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with Him.  And with this confident assurance, Paul was able to choose to rejoice.  The Psalmist wrote, “I will rejoice and be glad…” Sometimes rejoicing is an act of our will.  Choose to rejoice today!