by George | Oct 7, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Thinking About Worrying
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”
Luke 12:27
We have heard it over and over again from the pulpit… “Don’t worry!”
But have you ever thought of the WHY? What’s the reason we shouldn’t worry?
Jesus explains this in Luke 12.
First of all, He tells us not to worry.
“And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.”
Luke 12:22
Then, He gives us several things to think about when we are tempted to worry.
- Think about the ravens: “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!” Luke 12:24
- Think about the fact that you can’t increase your height, or lifespan: “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Luke 12:25
- Think about the fact that you can’t do it on your own: “If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?” Luke 12:26
- Think about the lilies: “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Luke 12:27
- Think about the grass: “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?” Luke 12:28
- Think about the notion that you are acting like an unbeliever when you worry: “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.” Luke 12:30
When you are tempted to worry, remember the reasons Jesus gave us not to worry.
Also, remember that Jesus told us: “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
Luke 12:31
Finally, remember to pray:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 –
Blessings!
Pastor George Nix
by George | Sep 20, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Empathy Training
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;”
I Peter 3:8
My wife was reading a magazine the other day. I inquired what she was reading about. She said: “Empathy training.” The article was about our local school system implementing empathy training classes for students.
Empathy training? Don’t the kids know already how to have compassion for others?
Shockingly, the answer is no. Same goes for adults.
We all need reminders to be empathetic.
“The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.” (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy/definition)
Here’s some reminders from the Bible to be empathetic:
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;”
I Peter 3:8
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15
Christ modeled empathy:
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36
When Lazarus died, Jesus was SO MOVED with compassion that He wept. (John 11:35)
Let’s follow our Master’s example!
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Theodore Roosevelt
by George | Aug 18, 2022 | Community News, Devotional
One Of A Kind
“Before him, there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.”
2 Kings 23:25
Have you ever heard the expression, “One of a kind?”
Merriam Webster defines this phrase as:
“A person or thing that is not like any other person or thing.”
An example of this is:
“I don’t know how we’ll ever replace Mary after she retires. She’s really one of a kind.”
One of a kind, not like any other…
King Josiah was one of a kind…
How was Josiah different from all the other kings?
First of all, he got an early start, literally… He was 8 years old!
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images, and the molten images.”
2 Chronicles 34:1-3
He began to seek God “while he was still a youth.”
I don’t know about you, but my years of youth have been gone for a long time. This verse challenges me to seek God, much like Josiah.
Then, he put his faith into action and got rid of the idols, and false places of worship.
So how do we start the process of becoming “one of a kind?”
Paul instructs us:
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be CONFORMED to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2
We don’t have to be conformed to this world, we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds…
It’s much like the idea of shutting your computer or phone down and restarting. It gets rid of junk and clutter that hinders performance.
Start right now to seek God with all your heart, soul, and mind. You will truly be “One of a kind!”
