Today’s Devotional is taken from our Grace Harbor School Staff devotional time. Enjoy!

“It’s Not Complicated”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

STOP TRYING TO WORK THINGS OUT before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today’s agenda. If it isn’t, release it into My care and go on about today’s duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time.

A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things so that in Me you may have Peace.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Have a great day! 

“Arise, O Lord”

Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O Lord; Let the nations know they are but men. Selah - Psalm 9:19-20

We celebrate Easter every year as Resurrection Sunday. In a world that turns over what is current in less than 72 hours, the Good News can be seen as “old news” pretty fast. We consume everything at an alarming rate, then move on to the next new thing. In essence “what’s new” is what’s news. What if the historical resurrection could happen afresh every year? I mean the actual event. I know Christ died once for all and that will not change, what if it could though?

I think I like what this Psalm says about the Lord arising and what His power could do. How about Him intervening where man has overstepped his boundaries? Sometimes it seems like man is prevailing. It seems like nations are out of control with genocide and oppression on the rise. Maybe human kind needs to be checked and reminded of God’s power and that we are just mere humans.

Kind of exciting scenario if you ask me. With one important caution though. Every time we call for or desire reckoning, we should go to the front of the line. What I can also do about injustice besides advocate is deal with myself. Peace and accountability begin with me.

Mercy Lord!

Pastor Fred. 

“The Needy and Afflicted”

Psalm 9:18 "For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever."

The very heart of Jesus is with the poor. I mean poor such as in hungry and/or oppressed, not poor such as in "not as rich as the uber-wealthy". Many feel poor by comparison, but if anyone would feel poor compared to you, then you are not poor or needy. We most often are "wanty", which is way different than needy. Our hang nails, or conditions brought on by our poor diets are a far cry different than being afflicted and dying from starvation or epidemic diseases.

God does not forget the poor, we do. Although it is easier to ignore them. Again, I am not speaking of people who are working the system, nor am I saying everybody in need in the U.S. is not poor or needy or oppressed somehow. But, God knows and He wants us to respond. Jesus said that we would always have the poor with us, but we wouldn't have Him. Meaning we cannot obsess on the poor and ignore or miss Him. If we truly focus on Jesus, we will respond righteously to the poor. The poor around His world. Remember, "God so loved the world...

" If you can bring any hope, please do. God wants to use us to carry out His heart. Hope we can find a way to be part of that more and more.

In His Service with you,

Pastor Fred

Mad, Sad, or Glad

Psalm 9:1-2 "I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High."

Gladness is an attitude of the heart. Totally committed thankfulness is a choice. Speaking of that gratitude is a blessing to all. Celebrating the goodness of God will bring a song of praise out of our spirits. Naming Christ as the recipient of all glory will put our minds in perspective. In this world today there are too many things that are saddening and maddening. Inexplicable cruelty, hard- heartedness, exploitation, wickedness, injustice and oppression are rampant.

The only defense we have against being sucked into a vortex of negativity is to choose not to be. We must fight the good fight of our faith with hope and love. Let gladness overwhelm you so you can offer the gospel with integrity. Choose today to be glad, not mad or sad, by thanking God, speaking of His goodness and by celebrating His praises. He desires to turn our mourning into dancing.

Rejoice in Him,

Pastor Fred

“Numbering Our Days”

Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may present You a heart of wisdom."

So smart to always be thinking to redeem the time. Time is precious. It is the measure by which we live our days. We waste too much of it, yet we do not relax and just enjoy it slowly either. So strange. I hurry about to save time, then waste it foolishly worrying about where it went. We only have so many days, sunrises and sunsets. 

I have often thought of my time here on earth in terms of summers. Since summer is my favorite time of year, I think about how many more summers I will have. You may do the same with Christmases or birthdays, or some other special time. Hope you enjoy your day today. Try to do something that counts today. Do something that makes someone else's time more enjoyable or meaningful. We are all doing the best we can on our better days. Hope your day is blessed and productive, precious and redeemed. Be wise about your days and your time, they are a gift from God. Open them, each one with gratitude and reflection.

Time to go now,

Pastor Fred

“Angering Christ”

Mark 3:5 "After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart..."

What makes Jesus angry? Remember, Jesus is only capable of righteous anger. We are rarely righteously angry. Let me set the scene. It is the Sabbath and the religious types are waiting to set Him up. So a man with a withered hand comes in and the question is, will Jesus break the Law and heal on the Sabbath. Of course He does. This verse takes place right before He heals the man. Jesus was angry specifically at each of them for their hardness of heart. Their total lack of compassion. What else makes Him angry you may ask? Here is a short list in addition to hard-heartedness.

1. Greed
2. Spiritual Pride
3. Superiority
4. Lukewarm Living
5. Hypocrisy

Pretty convicting huh? What on the list would come to His mind if He looked at me? I just need to have a few moments here to deal with my own convictions. You feel free to deal with yours.

Humbly,

Pastor Fred

“Bold Requests”

Psalm 118:25 "LORD, do save, we beseech You. LORD we beseech You, do send prosperity." (nasb)

Must admit, this declaration of David's has somehow slipped by me over the years. Perhaps because it is preceded by prophetic words about Christ the Cornerstone, that I know I have referenced.  But, after all, there are over 31,100 verses in Scripture. Sometimes you can gloss over a few, right? Interesting request combination. Salvation and prosperity.  Obviously the first request is paramount. Just think, as the Word says, "to gain the whole world and lose one's soul" would be foolish. Maybe the prosperity is not about stuff or wealth. Can we prosper in non-material blessings or in intangible benefits? How about prospering in His wisdom or in the joy of serving Him. I guess it is all about your perspective. How about being saved from consumerism and prospered in generosity. Funny huh? Just not how we tend to first think about it. LORD, give us what we really need before we are destroyed by what we want. Prosper us for your purposes.

Beseeching God to give us what would glorify Him,

Pastor Fred

“As Surely As The Lord Lives

2 Samuel 15:21 "But Ittai replied to the king, 'As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord, the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.'"

David had cut Ittai loose and the 600 Gittites he commanded, giving him the option to go home safely. But Ittai committed to stay and march on with his men. Ittai had no obligation to stay, but he knew that David was with the LORD. So, therefore he decided to support him. Even to death. That is commitment. That is loyalty. Not loyalty to a man, but loyalty to the LORD. Commitment to the Living God.

I understand this. If someone is with the LORD, then I am with them. Even to death. The level of Ittai's commitment is reflected in the title of today's devotional. "As Surely As The LORD Lives". Ittai was confident of that. No question about it, The LORD lives. He is Life. We serve a Living God and whoever is for Him, we are for them.

I have a Pastor/friend in Zambia, named Alwisho Mweni. I am confident that Pastor Alwisho serves the LORD, so I am with him. As surely as the LORD lives, I am with Pastor Mweni. Our allegiances to people should be of the LORD. Do you know people that you are confident that they serve The LORD? Support them, pray for them, march with them, if you can. As surely as the LORD lives, be with those that serve the Living LORD.

In HIS Service,

Pastor Fred

Today’s devotional is taken from “Jesus Today” by Sarah Young

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. – Psalm 55:22 NKJV

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Cast your burden on Me, and I will sustain you. No matter what your circumstances may be, I can – and will – carry you through them. Sometimes you are weighted down by a situation that seems too heavy for you. Do not try to cope with this burden alone. Instead, bring it into My Presence and cast it on Me, releasing it into My care and keeping. Although your circumstance may not change right away, you can find real relief through this process.

Casting your burden on Me is a spiritual transaction. You acknowledge that I am in charge of your life and that outcomes are ultimately My domain. This lightens your load immensely, relieving you from feeling responsible for things beyond your control. When you come to Me weary and burdened, I have promised that I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you – trusting in My unfailing Love – and let Me carry your heavy load. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. 

"The Just Shall Live By Faith" 

Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in Him, but the just shall live by faith."

This often quoted verse in the New Testament from Habakkuk is vital to our understanding of grace. We are not justified by our works, or our church, or the Bible, or anything we do. We are solely justified by our faith in what Christ did for us that we cannot do for ourselves. All our efforts are a form of self-justification. Which can only lead to self-righteousness.

As we know, our righteousness is worthless, hence why we need to be redeemed. His righteousness is perfect. How arrogant and proud we are to think we can reckon with our sin without Christ. That just isn't right, and we sense it in our souls. We know deep inside there is something we need to live at peace within ourselves. It is Christ. We need a Savior to deliver us from our own desires and devices. So we trust the Lord, for He alone is trustworthy. That is why we can live by faith, the faith He gives us when we surrender to Him. So we can just live by faith.

Gratefully,

Pastor Fred

“Be Glad”

Psalm 70:4 "Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, let God be magnified!"

Gladness is something I need to work on. Oh, I am glad, but it passes too quickly. The key word in this passage for me is 'continually'. I must Consistently, constantly, and continually keep magnifying God, so my needs, worries and burdens don't get magnified. When we let Him get the focus of the attention it takes us out of the limelight. Too easy to get preoccupied with the trouble of this world and how they are dragging me down and to dwell on that, instead of lifting Him up, which will, in turn, pull me and others up.

After all, I am seeking Him, and have plenty to rejoice and be glad about. I do love my salvation and the more I draw attention to Him and magnify Him the less I let my circumstances become the focus of attention. The key again is to continually, consistently, and constantly lift Him up, magnify Him and put His work and purposes first. Then and only then will my gladness last longer. Which I would enjoy far more. Choose gladness, it sure beats sadness.

Being Glad in Him,

Pastor Fred

"A Merry Heart" 

Proverbs 17:22

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

Many proverbs share a blessing and a warning. Something we should do and not do. A good thing and a bad thing. So, it is a blessing to others to be merry. It heals. It is a drag to be down hearted, to everybody. We cannot always be merry, but certainly more often. We cannot always avoid a broken spirit, but we can bounce back sooner. Think of it this way, merriness is like refreshing much needed rain. A broken spirit is like a never ending drought. A broken spirit is like a nasty tasting medicine. It leaves a bad after taste. Proverbs are both. Sometimes a convicting medication, sometimes a blessed tonic. What do you need? What do you give? Hopefully you give what you enjoy more. Hopefully you get more of what blesses you best.

Working on this with you,

Pastor Fred

"Joy Inexpressible" 

1 Peter 1:8-9 (NKJ) "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith... the salvation of your souls."

For me, these verses encapsulate my understanding of the joy of my salvation in a very complete way. I know someday I will be with Jesus forever. What joy to be assured of that, absolutely inexpressible. Could not begin to describe it. Just so much more than Wow.

Here is my challenge for us today. In the beginning of these verses Peter reminds us that we do not see Him now, but because we believe, we can rejoice with that inexpressible joy. When? Not only thinking towards the future, but now. That is not as easy, because I allow too many things to steal my joy. Like anything, if I don't want it to be stolen, I must hang on to it with all my strength.

God will even give that strength to hang on to the joy that He also gives me. We should cling to our joy. Hang on tight. Cling to Him. Keep remembering that not only does joy come in the morning and in the future, it is also available right now. We just need to believe and let it wash over us. This devotional has ignited my joy again. Hope it does yours too.

With His Joy Inexpressible,

Pastor Fred

"Could, Should, or Would" 

Psalm 107:31 "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"

I just don't think we are thankful enough. I know I am not. We should be more thankful. But not out of obligation to be so, but out of sincere gratitude. We could certainly consider the Lord more often and then we would more likely be more grateful as we should. You see could and should are not the problem, would is. Could is a matter of ability. Should is a matter of responsibility, but would is a matter of choice or our will. We could and should be more grateful, but will we? Good question. Lord, thank you for your goodness and for all the wonderful works you have shown to your children.

Truly grateful,

Pastor Fred

 “Are Challenging Trials Gifts from God?”

If your first thoughts to this topical question are something like this: “No, not really”, or “Well, I generally don’t have the mindset that difficult challenges are gifts”, or “Frustrations, yes - gifts no”. I don’t know about you, but I think of gifts as something that are pleasant to receive, for which I am thankful because it’s clear that someone with the gesture of their gift has intended to make me feel loved and special.  One would think that unwrapping a gift should bring the expected smile to one’s face.  Well, those might be my first thoughts as well, but God’s Word from one of my recent devotionals prompted me to perhaps look at it from another perspective.   It’s a passage from James, one of the shortest books in the New Testament, three chapters jam-packed with HUGE “life lesson gems” to guide us through life.  It’s great reading if you haven’t read through it in a while.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when Has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God Has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

I know that challenges are faced by everyone, some far greater than others, and some to the point where you many just want to give up because they seem too great to handle. I’ve been there before and maybe you have as well, where there’s a feeling of helplessness and of where do I go from here.   I’ve actually had these kinds of conversations with God (believing He’s listening as I’m feeling sorry for myself),i.e., “What’s God intending for me to get out of these difficult and challenging events?  What’s the point of all this?” This may be exactly where God wants me to be because it is during these times that He likely is getting my undivided attention because I am forced to admit that I can’t resolve it by myself without seeking His help.  When will I learn that, without Him, I can do absolutely nothing? (John 15:4-5) Hopefully, sooner rather than later.  I admit that my faith is tested when I face challenges, but as I am maturing in my walk with  Him, I can also state, that when these I get through the challenges, I know that doing so was not on my own strength, but His.

Well, I don’t know that I answered my topical question, or just gave us something to think about.  Simply put, “everything” is a gift from God, and He will use it all for His purposes.  If the difficult and challenging times make us get down on our knees more and more, seeking Him to help us get through them, there’s likely nothing more pleasing to Him.  So, let’s think about the gifts most of us have already received this morning as we’ve started our day – we awoke, had shelter through the night, had  food to eat, had a car to drive us to our intended destination,  were greeted with  a beautiful  day filled with sunshine, loved ones around us, and the list goes on. Thank you God for putting smiles on our faces and making us feel special today as we remember Your gifts.

Have a very blessings-filled weekend and week. We welcome you to join us Sundays at Grace Harbor for Children’s Sunday School and Adult Bible Study at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Love In Him, 

Charlotte

"Holding"

Romans 12:12 ...rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer…

I would like to share a poem that will be part of the Prayer Summit on Saturday March 11th from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. at Grace Harbor. Please join us or be praying with us as we gather together to seek the Lord for comfort, encouragement and guidance.

Pastor Fred

"Holding"

by Washington Gladden

“In the bitter waves of woe,
Beaten and tossed about
By the sullen winds that blow
From the desolate shores of doubt,

When the anchors that faith had cast
Are dragging in the gale,
I am quietly holding fast
To the things that cannot fail:

In the darkest night of the year, 
When the stars have all gone out,

That courage is better than fear,

That faith is truer than doubt;

And fierce though the fiends may fight,

And long though the angels hide,
I know that Truth and Right
Have the universe on their side;

And somewhere, beyond the stars,
Is a Love that is better than fate;
When the night unlocks her bars
I shall see Him, and I will wait.”

"Launching Deeper"

Luke 5:4 "Jesus said to Peter, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Simon Peter and the other disciples are in a boat with Jesus. Excuse me while digress. I would just love that. Best possible scenario for me all around. In a boat, on the water, going fishing... with my Lord? Sign me up. 

The crowds were pressing in close to hear Jesus teach on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, so to accommodate them he got in Peter's boat and pushed away a little, so people could see and hear better. After teaching he tells Peter to launch out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. If you read the story, Peter is reluctant, but agrees and of course they haul in nets so full of fish they are breaking and need to call out to another boat and both are about to sink there are so many fish. Peter repents of his lack of faith and unwillingness Jesus responds by telling him not to be afraid, because from now on they will be catching men.

Wow. Question. Why won't you launch out or go deeper? I am dealing with that question right now, in my heart. Makes me want to repent. What would the Lord do if we would but trust Him, launch out a little further and let down a little deeper? Hopefully we will find out, individually and together.

Fishing for a bigger catch with you,

Pastor Fred

"Persecution" 

2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB) "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Paul has just appreciated that Timothy understands and has seen firsthand some of the persecution he has been through. Paul then shares this gem of a verse, basically reminding us all that even if you desire to live a godly life you will be persecuted. This goes for all of us, regardless of how successful we are at it.

Persecution is not necessarily commensurate with holiness or righteousness. In the same way our enemy, the devil, does not necessarily pick on the "best christians" in some kind of order. Funny how we like to order the whole world in this funny capricious system of tit for tat based on our limited perception, lack of objectivity and personal bias. As the Word says, the rain falls on the just and unjust, or else the places with the "best christians" would have the nicest weather. What if only some of those “best christians” like colder weather, which ones would be preferred?

Anyway...excuse my theological ramblings today, but in this world you are gonna have trouble. All of us. Hang on to Him, help each other, desire godliness and press on individually and together.  

In Him,

Pastor Fred

"The Cause Of The Poor" 

Jeremiah 22:15-17 "So you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy, then it was well. Was not this knowing me? Says the Lord your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence."

The Bible is full of references to the cause of the poor and needy. God's eyes and heart are on the oppressed, hungry and disenfranchised. We are not safe, secure or "set up" because of our own doing. The patriarchs of our faith cared for the poor and needy. We need to do justice and be righteous toward those who are least secure, most at risk and most vulnerable. Doing this is literally knowing God. If we know His heart and see with His eyes we will care about others and not be self-focused. If not, we are just like those who persecute and take advantage of others in need. If our eyes and hearts are on ourselves, we will be consumed with covetousness. Me, me, me...want, want, want... get, get, get. Consider what God considers. Do what He would do. Care for the poor and needy.

Today, please take a moment to pray for the millions of people in Somalia and South Sudan at risk of starvation because of drought, oppression and war. Last week hundreds died, just the beginning of a potential catastrophic loss of human lives, if the world does not respond now. I recommend World Vision, Samaritan's Purse or other Christian Outreaches that can respond quickly.

With a heavy heart today,

Pastor Fred

 The Gospel in Diversity - by Madison Pinto

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female,

for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

God is redeeming all sorts of people to Himself. Jesus commissioned His disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The gospel began in Jerusalem, spread to Judea, and then Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). We know that this is increasingly true because here we are today – 21^st century Americans who worship the Savior that first came from Israel.

Have you ever considered how diversity shows the gospel? This verse from Galatians isn’t trying to eliminate our distinctions. It’s not that our ethnicities, our gender, or our jobs suddenly don’t matter when we come to Christ. That is something that today’s world would try to convince us of. No, instead, God delights in our differences. He redeems from all over the place and creates a hodgepodge group of people. Then He puts those redeemed people in a church and tells them to love one another, serve one another, and worship Him together. Isn’t that strange?

Imagine a church with people groups that normally don’t mix: blacks with whites, rich with poor, Republicans with Democrats, millennials with baby boomers, college graduates with high school drop outs, athletes with the physically disabled, Americans with those from the Middle East. Could you imagine what kinds of questions the world would ask if they saw a room full of those people singing to God together? “What in the world is going on with those people? How is it that they all get along?”

For this reason, the church makes the gospel visible. Salvation not only reconciles us to God, but through God, it reconciles us to one another. People that normally hate each other now love and sacrifice for one another. Consequently, the more diverse our relationships, the more God is made known. Ultimately, the friendships that we have in Christ point to the strangest relationship of all – that the holy and perfect God of the universe would make a way to have relationships with sinful and rebellious men and women.

Therefore, let us pursue Christian relationships with people that are so very different than us. May our strange friendships put the gospel on display to the world.

"Like Silly Doves" 

Hosea 7:11 "Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense, they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Wherever they go I will spread my net on them, I will bring them down like birds of the air, I will chastise them according to what their congregation has heard."

Ephraim, referring to Israel, had often turned to other nations for rescue or protection. Turning everywhere and to anyone instead of turning back to God. The nation of God's people, like God's individual people tend to try or resort to almost anything rather than to God.

Reminder.... only God can save you, or protect you. Silly us, always looking to something else other than prayer, or His Word, or fellowship, or serving others, just anything other than what God would have us do. We flit about aimlessly like frightened, or startled and senseless birds in panic-mode, looking for help, answers, hope and solutions, anywhere but from God.

Take sparrows for example, look at them, His eye is on the sparrow, is it not? Turn to God. Not one sparrow falls outside of God's will. (Matthew 10:27-31) Whether a nation, or a church, a family, an individual or a dove or sparrow.... God is Lord of it all. Silly to think any other way.

Seriously,

Pastor Fred

 "Bible Knowledge" 

Colossians 4:14 "Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you."

Sometimes Bible knowledge is a strange mystery. Ever hear someone say something so authoritatively you just had to question how they figured out that was true? In my very early 20's I questioned pretty much everything. So in a Bible study one evening I stopped the teaching to inquire just where does the idea that Luke was a doctor come from? The teacher, without a pause told me to look up Colossians 4:14 and had me read it to everybody. To this day I do not have that kind of knowledge of the Scriptures. But, he also said, "Keep asking questions and check out everything. Keep learning for your whole life."

Luke was Paul's personal physician. He attended to him during his imprisonment. Also, during some of his mission journeys. How do I know that? From reading Acts and Paul's prison epistles. Keep asking questions. Check out everything. Keep learning for your whole life. Bible knowledge acquisition is like eating and elephant... One bite at a time. It is the chewing and swallowing that take time. If I had read a chapter of scripture for every television show I have watched, I would have read all of the Bible, Lord knows, how many times over. Keep eating and maybe consider changing your diet.

In His Word,

Pastor Fred