April 2009
Thursday, April 30th, 2009
It seems this week that the most talked about story on TV or in the workplace is the “swine flu” scare. Everyone seems to be concerned. The depictions on TV and in the newspapers show people walking around with masks. People are afraid to use public transportation. They are afraid of contracting the swine flu. People are comparing it to the scare of 1918 when millions of people died. What is really happening? Should we be concerned?
Well, I want to give you a few thoughts about how I think that we as Christians should respond to what is happening. Psalm 91 is a powerful chapter. I believe in times like these we need to read and believe what the Lord says in chapters like this. In fact, when I began to hear about the swine flu and how it was spreading globally, I thought of this chapter. As a Christian, we can rest in the words the Lord gives us in this chapter. I want to bring to your attention just a few verses, but I recommend reading the entire chapter.
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, BUT IT WILL NOT COME NEAR YOU (Psalms 91:5-6).”
These are words of encouragement to the believer. It is like a covenant that we have with the Lord. We can trust what the Lord says. We do not have to FEAR this disease or sickness. We need to believe what God says in his Word. Remember what the childen of Israel did in Egypt when the last plague was poured out on the Egyptians: they took the blood of a lamb and placed it over the doorposts of their homes. The angel of death had to passover (Exodus 12:13).
We don’t have to shed the blood of an animal any longer; Jesus shed His blood for us. Just believe what the Lord says in Psalm 91. This word is for you as a believer. Do not let fear grip your hearts– just know that God is in control. I recommend reading this chapter everyday in your devotion. Use it as a prayer. Remember: God’s Word is eternal. It stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). Do not fear this sickness, but rest in God’s Word. For He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
Pastor Wes
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Friday, April 24th, 2009
With all the problems in the world, concerns about the economy, terrorism, and global warming, it is very easy to become depressed. Have you ever just sat down at the mall and watched people walk by? Do you ever just observe their countenance? It seems like people are just so unhappy.
God’s word says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). We need to learn to laugh more. When Jesus was here on the earth with his disciples, I believe they had good times together. I believe there were times when they would sit around a fire and simply talk, sharing with each other and laughing a lot. What about when Jesus went to the house of his close friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus? I believe those were times of joy and laughter. Maybe, instead of taking a bunch of different medications to try to improve our moods and dispostions, we should simply laugh more. Because laughter is good medicine; it’s good for the soul. In fact, here are a few of the benefits physicians say we receive from laughter:
- laughter decreases the amount of stress hormones in the body
- laughter activates the cells that boost the immune system
- Laughter increases the heart rate and causes blood to flow to the brain
- laughter increases the production of catecholamines which increases the level of alertness and memory
- laughter releases anti-depressant mood chemicals
You see, even the medical field sees the benefits of laughter. The One who created us, Jesus Christ, surely knows its benefits, too. So, the next time you spiral towards depression, simply think about your future, forever with the Lord. Surely you have something you can be happy and laugh about. Who knows? That disease you have been diagnosed with, it may be cured by a little laughter. Remember, “a cheerful heart is good medicine.”
Pastor Wes
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Thursday, April 16th, 2009
In Psalms 107:27 , there is a phrase– “wit’s end.” It describes merchant men fighting against the tempests of the sea. When I read this passage, I think of another story, found in Mark 6:45-52. Here is a time when Jesus has his disciples go on ahead of him in a boat. While they are on the water, a wind comes up. Jesus walks out on the water and observes their “straining at the oars.” Why were they straining? Because the wind was against them…
Sometimes in our lives, the winds of adversity come and it seems like everything around us is out of control. We do everything we know how to do, trying to control what is happening in our lives. It’s like we are fighting a lost cause. We find ourselves like the men described in Psalms; we are at our wit’s end. We have taken all we can and now we don’t have the strength to fight. This was the case with Jesus’s disciples. They were going against the wind. They did not realize that this is what happens when Jesus is not on board.
Sometimes we go down wrong paths. If we are not careful, we find ourselves “straining at the oars.” Notice what happened when Jesus showed up and got inside the boat– the storm calmed down! Whatever we do or endeavor to do in life, we must make sure that the Lord is involved. If not, then we will find ourselves going against the wind and “straining at the oars.” If we continue that way, then we will be at our wit’s end. Jesus doesn’t want this for your life.
Let Jesus on board; He’ll calm your storm and make sailing through this life so much easier.
Pastor Wes
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Thursday, April 9th, 2009
There is an expression, “little foxes spoil the vine,” that derives from Song of Solomon 2:15. This week while I was on vacation, I thought that I would simply relax and rest, but I soon realized that the week was almost over. Here it is Thursday, and I thought about this passage of scripture. It is so easy to become busy and neglect time to rest physically as well as spiritually. If we are not careful, we will let the little things that seem so important (little foxes) rob us of what is really important. We can learn a lot from the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Martha was always busy, but Mary took time for herself by sitting at the feet of Jesus. There are so many “good” things that we need to do for the Lord, but remember, nothing should take the place of your personal time with the Lord. Remember that He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15). If we are not careful, the little foxes (distractions) will rob us of the Source we really need… Jesus!
Pastor Wes
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Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
The following scripture has been on my heart all week: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).
We are in the season of Easter, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. Easter is about new beginnings and hope. But as I meditated on this scripture through the week, I thought about a couple of things. When you place a seed in your hand, it has a hard shell around it. Only after you have placed it in the ground and time has transpired will the shell soften– and then, the seed will begin to grow into what it was designed to be, and eventually we will see the flourishing result. I am reminded of our lives and how, so many times, we let circumstances harden us. What we must realize is that when this happens to us, we must be like that seed. We need to give the Lord time to soften us and remove our hard outer shell.
The seed being planted in the ground represents us humbling ourselves before the Lord and allowing him to do his work. It takes time, and often, we do not see results immediately. But if we allow the Lord to remove our hard-heartedness and outer shell, then we can bear fruit and affect others positively (producing more seeds of faith). I know with all of the issues in this world today that it is easy to become hard and to close yourself off from others. If that has happened to you, then come before the Lord… humble yourself and allow him to heal you– to soften you– so that you can love and trust people again.
Pastor Wes
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March 2009
Thursday, March 26th, 2009
This is my first entry into our website. I would like to say welcome to our church site. I would like to say something short from my heart. I believe that the Lord has a plan and a future for all our lives. Sometimes we are at a place in our lives where we cannot see that. In fact we may not even know that God cares about us. But Jeremiah 33:3 states that He loves us with an everlasting love. I hope that as you read this you realize that and that you know that there are people who love you as well. Our purpose statement is “Serving one another in love.”
Pastor Wes
The Lord's Vineyard Community Church 