Tonight at 6:30 at the Crystal Garden we will begin a series on prayer. It is my prayer that this series will be the turning point in your Christian experience. When I was first trying to figure out this whole God thing back in my late teens and 20's I had no idea where my curiosity would lead me.
Now, 40 years later, I find myself as a pastor. What role did I play in this and what role did God play in this? I am still learning. I hope to continue to learn more about God until the day I die at which time I believe much more will be revealed.
What is available to us in this life? That is what most of us are interested in. Has there been a huge misunderstanding in Gods promises? Why has the church become so ineffective? Have we been blind to what the bible is really teaching. My goal with this series for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to to the scriptures and what Jesus really taught about the power of prayer.
See you tonight! Love, pastor kent
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Friday Thoughts
Your concept of God has no affect on God, but greatly affects who you are and the life you experience!
This Sunday I am going to start a series on prayer. If you have ever prayed or have questions about prayer this will be a good series to attend.
Hope to see you Sunday! Love, pastor kent
This Sunday I am going to start a series on prayer. If you have ever prayed or have questions about prayer this will be a good series to attend.
Hope to see you Sunday! Love, pastor kent
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Stop Worrying, Second Guessing, and Keep Praying!
The most exciting thing about God that is confirmed over and over throughout the bible is, When He steps into a situation, the things He can and will do defy human logic. In other words He does what seems impossible! Just read the story of Gideon Judges 7:2-18.
Read Verse Here
When we wait on, and then follow Gods logic defying ways, is when we will see God work His great power in our lives and in our church.
Can God really do the miraculous, YES! But you and I have a major role in allowing Him to do so. We must surrender our will, our wants, and our desires to His! For us humans that ain't easy!
Last night Bonni and I stayed up till midnight watching the news coverage from Ferguson Mo. While I was watching I got caught up in the coverage, which is so easy to do in this life. We get caught up in the things of the world INSTEAD of PRAYING! About 11:00 it dawned on me to begin praying instead of just watching.
Watching = No power
Praying = Power
So, can God really lead our humble little congregation Praise Community Fellowship to do amazing things for His Kingdom? Absolutely. But we must stay in prayer, and allow God to lead EVERYTHING we do! That will be my mantra as long as I remain pastor. God is the leader and the planner, and the developer, and has total authority over everything PCF does! Even when it may not make logical human sense! We worship a God who does the impossible! That is just how He works. But He only does that for those who are willing to follow and obey!
Let me end with a story I borrowed from Henry and Richard Blackaby from their book, "Hearing God's Voice"
" A friend was serving as a student director on a large university campus. He tells an amusing story about the day a concerned student came to see him in his office. She was deeply troubled about her financial situation. She explained, "I am in desperate need of a part time job if I am to stay in school. I have prayed and asked God to help me, but every place I have applied is not hiring." She asked, "Do you really believe God can help me find a job?"
Just then a fellow student passed by the open doorway and saw her meeting with the director. The friend apologized for interrupting , and said, "I've been looking for you! After your meeting we need to talk. My boss asked me today if I knew anyone who needed a part time job. I told him about you, and he wants to talk to you right away!" The anxious student thanked her friend, then turned back to the student director and continued where she had left off, "So do you think God can help me find a job?" It's a good thing there were no two-by-fours within reach! Unbelief can render a person stone deaf to God's voice."
Believe, trust, pray, expect. God has amazingly great things for those who trust, listen, and obey!
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
Read Verse Here
When we wait on, and then follow Gods logic defying ways, is when we will see God work His great power in our lives and in our church.
Can God really do the miraculous, YES! But you and I have a major role in allowing Him to do so. We must surrender our will, our wants, and our desires to His! For us humans that ain't easy!
Last night Bonni and I stayed up till midnight watching the news coverage from Ferguson Mo. While I was watching I got caught up in the coverage, which is so easy to do in this life. We get caught up in the things of the world INSTEAD of PRAYING! About 11:00 it dawned on me to begin praying instead of just watching.
Watching = No power
Praying = Power
So, can God really lead our humble little congregation Praise Community Fellowship to do amazing things for His Kingdom? Absolutely. But we must stay in prayer, and allow God to lead EVERYTHING we do! That will be my mantra as long as I remain pastor. God is the leader and the planner, and the developer, and has total authority over everything PCF does! Even when it may not make logical human sense! We worship a God who does the impossible! That is just how He works. But He only does that for those who are willing to follow and obey!
Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Let me end with a story I borrowed from Henry and Richard Blackaby from their book, "Hearing God's Voice"
" A friend was serving as a student director on a large university campus. He tells an amusing story about the day a concerned student came to see him in his office. She was deeply troubled about her financial situation. She explained, "I am in desperate need of a part time job if I am to stay in school. I have prayed and asked God to help me, but every place I have applied is not hiring." She asked, "Do you really believe God can help me find a job?"
Just then a fellow student passed by the open doorway and saw her meeting with the director. The friend apologized for interrupting , and said, "I've been looking for you! After your meeting we need to talk. My boss asked me today if I knew anyone who needed a part time job. I told him about you, and he wants to talk to you right away!" The anxious student thanked her friend, then turned back to the student director and continued where she had left off, "So do you think God can help me find a job?" It's a good thing there were no two-by-fours within reach! Unbelief can render a person stone deaf to God's voice."
Believe, trust, pray, expect. God has amazingly great things for those who trust, listen, and obey!
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
Monday, August 18, 2014
Want God's Input?
How many "Christians" have faced major life decisions and have spent hours planning, researching, worrying, talking hours with friends and family, fretting, wondering, before making a decision? Not that there is anything wrong with researching, discussing, planning, all those are good things. But! The Christian who leaves out prayer has cheated themselves of one of their greatest gifts in decision making.
Now I do not believe in magic formulas but here is something you should consider before you make your next major life decision. Make sure you put in at least as many hours in prayer as you do all other methods before making a decision. If you have spent 10 hours talking to friends and family, and 15 hours wondering and worrying, and 10 hours on the internet researching, that comes to a total of 35 hours. Wouldn't it only make sense to give God 35 hours of time in prayer? I mean He is the Guy in control of EVERYTHING! He made EVERYTHING! He knows EVERYTHING! And if I'm not mistaken I read somewhere where it says with Him "ALL" things are possible! Or how about this one?
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you're own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Or
Philippians 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So, for all of you thinking about getting married, starting a business, changing jobs, going back to school, making a large purchase, any major decision, remember to keep track of the time you spend on your worldly efforts to arrive at a decision, and then give God at least the same amount of time. All I can say is, "Life Changing!"
A huge thank-you to my amazing congregation for the very wonderful generous birthday gift. Greatly appreciated and I am humbled by your generosity!
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
Now I do not believe in magic formulas but here is something you should consider before you make your next major life decision. Make sure you put in at least as many hours in prayer as you do all other methods before making a decision. If you have spent 10 hours talking to friends and family, and 15 hours wondering and worrying, and 10 hours on the internet researching, that comes to a total of 35 hours. Wouldn't it only make sense to give God 35 hours of time in prayer? I mean He is the Guy in control of EVERYTHING! He made EVERYTHING! He knows EVERYTHING! And if I'm not mistaken I read somewhere where it says with Him "ALL" things are possible! Or how about this one?
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on you're own understanding;
in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Or
Philippians 4:6-7
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So, for all of you thinking about getting married, starting a business, changing jobs, going back to school, making a large purchase, any major decision, remember to keep track of the time you spend on your worldly efforts to arrive at a decision, and then give God at least the same amount of time. All I can say is, "Life Changing!"
A huge thank-you to my amazing congregation for the very wonderful generous birthday gift. Greatly appreciated and I am humbled by your generosity!
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Keep it Simple
As an observer to all that is taking place in St. Louis, I like everyone have emotions and feelings as the story unfolds. I have been praying and asking God for peace and for wisdom in this situation. Here is what He has placed in my heart.
"There are only two ways to react to anything that happens in this life, your way or Jesus' way, you choose!"
Hope to see you all tomorrow for worship at 6:30pm Crystal Garden.
Love, pastor kent
"There are only two ways to react to anything that happens in this life, your way or Jesus' way, you choose!"
Hope to see you all tomorrow for worship at 6:30pm Crystal Garden.
Love, pastor kent
Friday, August 15, 2014
The Purpose
The purpose of nature, the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets, the mountains, the oceans the clouds, the flowers and the birds, all of nature is to lead us to the Creator so that we will worship Him.
The purpose of our feelings and emotions is to lead us to the Creator. As we have been discussing the past several weeks "Worship" is essential to a Christians life. And, "Worship" has a feeling. It is a feeling of complete gratefulness, humbleness, love, and awe! Do we get there during our worship? Too often, no. Why? Because we we are too accustomed to external worship meaning we are accustomed to a time, a place and a structure or routine. Too many people get caught in a trap about thinking that worship is about the place. True worship as Jesus taught, has absolutely nothing to do with a place! What has happened to most all of us in this post modern world is we get caught up in the "externals" like, where, what church, what denomination, who goes there, it's too cold, too hot, I don't like the chairs, the music, and on and on. Now I do believe that externals such as all the things I just mentioned can definitely detract from real worship, but, true worship has nothing to do with any of the externals that our culture seems so hung up on. Now that being said, I'll be honest. Someday, I would love have a beautiful church building of our own, even though I know that having such has absolutely nothing to do with true worship. So, here is what my prayer is:
"God, lead us (PCF) into true worship no matter what that means. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and let us become a beacon of hope and light for your glory. Father keep us from temptation and do not let us fall into the "trap" of external worship. Let your Glory be the desire of our lives even if that means meeting in a field on a cold rainy day. Keep us from falling into the "external worship trap! In Jesus name, Amen!"
Last week I talked about the woman at the well when Jesus made the point to her "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
Spirit and truth is true worship. Worship really has nothing to do with a place. Your life is to become worship.
This Sunday we will be looking at how God uses circumstances and pain to lead us to our Greater Purpose.
See you Sunday, 6:30pm at the Crystal Garden! Love, pastor kent
The purpose of our feelings and emotions is to lead us to the Creator. As we have been discussing the past several weeks "Worship" is essential to a Christians life. And, "Worship" has a feeling. It is a feeling of complete gratefulness, humbleness, love, and awe! Do we get there during our worship? Too often, no. Why? Because we we are too accustomed to external worship meaning we are accustomed to a time, a place and a structure or routine. Too many people get caught in a trap about thinking that worship is about the place. True worship as Jesus taught, has absolutely nothing to do with a place! What has happened to most all of us in this post modern world is we get caught up in the "externals" like, where, what church, what denomination, who goes there, it's too cold, too hot, I don't like the chairs, the music, and on and on. Now I do believe that externals such as all the things I just mentioned can definitely detract from real worship, but, true worship has nothing to do with any of the externals that our culture seems so hung up on. Now that being said, I'll be honest. Someday, I would love have a beautiful church building of our own, even though I know that having such has absolutely nothing to do with true worship. So, here is what my prayer is:
"God, lead us (PCF) into true worship no matter what that means. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and let us become a beacon of hope and light for your glory. Father keep us from temptation and do not let us fall into the "trap" of external worship. Let your Glory be the desire of our lives even if that means meeting in a field on a cold rainy day. Keep us from falling into the "external worship trap! In Jesus name, Amen!"
Last week I talked about the woman at the well when Jesus made the point to her "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
Spirit and truth is true worship. Worship really has nothing to do with a place. Your life is to become worship.
You can listen to the last sermon on worship to get caught up on this series on the Praise Community Fellowship website.
This Sunday we will be looking at how God uses circumstances and pain to lead us to our Greater Purpose.
See you Sunday, 6:30pm at the Crystal Garden! Love, pastor kent
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Why I don't Worry
I have had people ask me if it is true that I no longer worry, and my answer is yes, that is true, I no longer worry. I guess if I were smart I would write a small book, "How to Stop Worrying about Everything!" and buy an infomercial and probably make a million dollars!
But you don't have to wait for that book to come out, it has already come out. It's called the bible. And here is how my worry level went from being above normal to below normal to practically nonexistent. It has everything to do with my belief level in the reality of God and who He is! As my belief level increased in God and who He is, my worry level continued to fall. The more I read, study and pray and talk with God, the more I feel totally safe and confident in this journey called life.
Do you want to find peace and reduce your worry? Then get to know God better! But how do I do that you might ask? Come to Praise Community Fellowship, that is our journey, getting to know God, learning to trust God, and learning to become like His son Jesus.
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
But you don't have to wait for that book to come out, it has already come out. It's called the bible. And here is how my worry level went from being above normal to below normal to practically nonexistent. It has everything to do with my belief level in the reality of God and who He is! As my belief level increased in God and who He is, my worry level continued to fall. The more I read, study and pray and talk with God, the more I feel totally safe and confident in this journey called life.
Do you want to find peace and reduce your worry? Then get to know God better! But how do I do that you might ask? Come to Praise Community Fellowship, that is our journey, getting to know God, learning to trust God, and learning to become like His son Jesus.
See you soon. Love, pastor kent
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)