Pastor's Journal

FAITH VS. FEAR 

In Numbers 14, not only does Israel refuse to go into the land because of the giants---the Israelites want to return to Egypt! Do they not remember that they were slaves there? Do they not remember that they cried out in tears to God for deliverance from Egypt? 

What are the giants staring you down? Unemployment, abandonment, sexual abuse, or depression. Your giant doesn’t parade up and down the hills of Elah like Goliath; he prances through your office, your bedroom, your classroom. He brings bills you can’t pay, grades you can’t make, people you can’t please, whiskey you can’t resist, pornography you can’t refuse, a career you can’t escape, a past you can’t shake, and a future you can’t face. 

How long has the giant stalked you? 
Maybe you’ve groaned the words,
 “I’m becoming a workaholic, just like my father.” “Divorce streaks through our family tree like oak wilt.” “My mom couldn’t keep a friend either. Is this ever going to stop?” With all the giants we must face, where is our focus?
 

If we were to get perspective from the account of David and Goliath 1Sam 17, we would find that David majors in God. He sees the giant, mind you; he just sees God more so. Look carefully at David’s battle cry: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” 1Sam. 17:45
 

The difference between faith and fear is focus. Focus on giants – you stumble. Focus on God – your giants tumble. Lift your eyes, giant slayer. The God who made a miracle out of David stands ready to make one out of you. 
 

You can't go back to your old life. There is nothing there but bondage. Your hope lies in following the Lord by faith. Walk forward. 

One of the ways to do that is to give praise to the God who is powerful enough to defeat the giants in our own lives: 

You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created Revelation 4:11.

WHAT IS GOD DOING IN THE WORLD? 

Living on auto-pilot can often prevent us from seeing God at work in other environments. Auto-pilot may mean that we keep doing the same thing over and over and never seeing God at work in our lives or in other parts of the world. 

One of the passions of Grace Fellowship is to keep you from falling into the auto-pilot mode, and to stay alert to what God is doing around us so that we can join him in his work. 

It is also a passion of Grace Fellowship to connect you with how God is working around the globe. We have recently heard from Lindita, serving with Campus Crusade for Christ in ALBANIA. Last Sunday we heard from Roman Brychook from the western UKRAINE, and this Sunday Emily Rolsten will be sharing the power of God at work in the lives of people in LIBERIA. 

If we truly are about the business of sowing the seed, and casting the bait---talking about the gospel, then we should expect the LORD of glory to bring in the harvest and catch the fish. And God invites us to be involved on a personal level of sowing and casting. It is why we are still here on the planet. 

Taking it off auto-pilot for the glory of God! 

SHORT TERM MISSIONS 

One of the major purposes of the church is to share the good news of Jesus Christ and his love for us. We are commanded to do that in a local context---in the place where God has placed us with people he brings across our path. We are also challenged in the Great Commission to take the Good News to the world---to places that have not heard and places that may beyond our comfort zone. 

Short term missions is a life-changing experience with the living God. I want to invite you to consider a 10 day mission with me to the Ukraine in October 4-14. I have been involved with this outreach for several years and this would be the 10 year anniversary of involvement from Chillicothe. We have a luncheon scheduled for Saturday, February 3 for those who would like to receive more information from the director of E-3 Partners. I hope you will let me know of your interest this week and explore how God could use heart and passion to fulfill his purposes.

TRANSITION 

This time of year always finds me in a state of transition---looking back and looking forward at the same time. We are accustomed to transitions in our lives as we move from one phase to another. And even through out the day, we recognize that we are moving from one thing to the next in accomplishing the tasks before us. 

I want to take a moment to help you transition spiritually in your relationship with God as we bridge 2006 and 2007. In looking back on 2006 can identify two experiences with God as reflected in these phrases from Scripture: 

• He has carried me to this place. Deuteronomy 1.31 

• He has helped me. ISamuel 7.12 

Notice the words carried and helped. Whether we have consciously realized it or not, that is what God has done on our behalf. You are where you are in this very moment because of God's faithful hand upon you life and he has provided for your needs---not your wants, but your needs. If we will stop for a moment and reflect, the LORD's good and kindness extended to us will be more than evident. 

God has not only carried me and helped me in 2006, but here is what he promises to do in 2007: 

• He will guide me forever. Psalm 48.14 

• He will sustain me. Psalm 55.22 

As we fix our eyes on Jesus and trust him with all our heart, God promises to guide us through every decision and to sustain us with his strength and power. I like the catch phrase that says: "If God brings you to it, he will bring your through it." Through out his New Year, we will have perhaps a number of different experiences, and when God brings us to those moments, here is how he will bring us through them: 

• In happy moments, PRAISE GOD! 
• In difficult moments, SEEK GOD! 
• In quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD! 
• In painful moments, TRUST GOD! 
• In every moment, THANK GOD

The New Year is always a great time to make some solid decisions about how to get going in some aspect of your life that is not where it could be. This Sunday, I want to invite you to join me for a couple of weeks to explore, How To Make A Fresh Start With God. In spite of what may have happened in 2006, God says that now is the best time for a fresh start in your walk with him. I hope you will come and bring a friend as we move forward together in the strength of the LORD.