"Refuge"
 
Psalm 142:8 "For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; in You l take refuge; do not leave me defenseless."

When tragedy or calamity strikes we often feel as though our whole world is being swept away. No matter how secure we may feel for eternity, when right here, right now starts coming undone at the seams, or reeling seemingly out of control, it can take all our faith to just turn our eyes toward the Lord.

To seek Him when the water is rising, or the clock is running out is a challenge. We must turn toward Him and to Him. There is no better place to turn. "He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) Verse 3 of Psalm 46 says, "Though the waters roar and foam"... No matter what, turn to Him. He is there. He is our refuge and safe place. He will defend us and be with us, no matter what. He will see us through it, one way or the other.

Turn your eyes, your heart, and your thoughts toward Him. Lord, I pray you will be the refuge for those facing tragedy and calamity. We need you. Thank you for being there with each one who turns their eyes toward you. We call out to you and trust you, God.

In Jesus Name,
Pastor Fred

"In The Morning" 

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, (Psalm 92:1-2)

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. (Psalm 143:8)

Every morning when my eyes flutter open, I whisper “good morning Father” and I listen for the ‘still small voice’ of the Lord (1 Kings 19:11-12). I hear Him speak to me and as I lay still upon my bed, “thoughts of Peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). The Lord has sought me and he has found me in complete innocence to “Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth”. In that moment of time straining against the thoughts that would rob me of this time of worship, knowing that soon the day will increase and the sounds of the world I live in will demand my attention, I give Him my unconditional adoration and trust. He hears me in the depths of my heart and He hears my thoughts and He hears my words, all to thank Him as best as I can to say I love you Lord Jesus. He requires no long prayers or eloquent words but only an authentic moment, such as when a child looks at you and smiles and holds your hand and trusts you to guide them through the day.

Yes Lord, I will meet you in the morning.

Extravagant Worship,
Greg Metcalf

"Having Peace, Standing in Grace  "
 
Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

These verses are a tremendous doctrinal statement about who we are in Christ and how we get there, and being justified by faith is fundamental to the core of our beliefs. But, two phrases are jumping off the page at me today that is the encouragement that l need to hear right now.

First, "we have peace" or simply put "having peace" is what l need to hear today. Jesus bought my peace. High price, but what a blessing. I have peace. I just need to remember that I do. I also have "this grace in which l stand", or, l am "standing in grace". His grace is sufficient, right? I love to think of myself having peace and standing in grace.

As l consider those truths just now, l realize that l am not only gonna be ok, l am gonna flourish, and when l don't, l am still gonna be ok. Why? Because l have this peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and l have this grace in which l stand. So l can rejoice in hope of the glory of God. What a promise. The doctrine is good and true, but often l need to hear the words of what l believe. Beautiful words. Having peace, standing in grace. We are gonna be ok.

In Him,
Pastor Fred

 "Where To Set Your Mind"
 
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."

Our minds are wonderful things. Like our tongues that can say both beautiful things and terrible things, our minds can think beautiful and terrible things too. So we must set our thinking on the things above and not on the things here on earth.

Sounds so easy in principle, but in practice, not easy to do. What is above? Obviously Him, eternal things, pure and lovely things, good things, righteous things. What is here on earth? Temporal things, the enemy, stuff, impure and unholy things, bad things, evil things. Both lists could go on and on.

Two key words in this verse. 1. SET..that is a choice and a matter of the will. 2. YOUR.. take responsibility for your own mind and thoughts. So, set your mind again and again with me today. Why? Because a big part of the setting is resetting. Why? Because our default mode is "things on earth". So reset. "Things above". Feel free to set and reset as often as needed. That is grace.

In Him,
Pastor Fred

"One Spirit"
 
Ephesians 2:18 "For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Here, in this verse, Paul is speaking to Jews and Gentiles. In principle, though this truth could be applied to any two groups that differ as long as they both know Christ. This means, like it or not, we are connected to every other believer via the Spirit, no matter how much we disagree. Note that he says "we" and "both". He, Jesus, connects all believers via His Spirit. Since He connects us we don't get to disconnect. His bond is stronger than our opinion, preference, or feelings. This is a stumbling block for the adamant of heart or the divisive.

If we resist this mandate to be connected we can hinder our connection to Him. Is it ok with you that people you dislike, do not prefer, or have feelings about can access God? Can they access Him with you? At the same time? In the same church? You see there is but One faith, One hope, One baptism, One Savior, One Word of God. One Way. So the One gets to make us one in Him. Baptists and Presbyterians, charismatics and evangelicals, pre-tribs and post-tribs, traditionalists and contemporaries. You get the picture. HE can connect you to anyone who shares the same Spirit and the same Father. Children of the Lord, obey your Father. He says we are one and access the same Father via the same Spirit.

In Him with you,
Pastor Fred

"Boastful"
 
Galatians 5:26 "Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."

Do you love to correct? Or, point out every error, no matter how small? Do you have your verbal "red pencil" out, ready to spell check or grammar judge everyone, every chance you get? Worse yet, are you just waiting for certain people to mess up in any way so you can straighten them out? We all fall prey to this temptation, but some of us love it. This usually comes from feelings of false superiority or even repressed inferiority. Putting people down can make you feel bigger in the moment. Envy is not pretty, neither is boasting. Maybe if we encouraged each other more it would help. Have you been in the awkward position of correcting a corrector? How about out bragging someone? (You know, upstaging someone after they have boasted a little bit too much). Most of these things are pretty childish and immature. So let's build each other up so we don't feel the need to do it for ourselves so often. Be happy for others. Be glad for your own blessings. I think most conflict starts inside and then finds a way out. Let us look within for the source of envy, boasting, and contention.

Time for some reflection.
Pastor Fred

"Right Words" Proverbs 25:11 "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances." Rich illustration here. I have been told that I sometimes have just the right words in certain circumstances. I also know that I have said the wrong thing at the wrong time a number of times. Probably more times than I know or would want to admit. Words are powerful. They heal and encourage, and divide and destroy. They can be just what is needed or the last thing that should be said. We all know that our words should often be reconsidered before spoken. Always wise to ask the Lord what to say, before we feel convicted to ask if we should not have said them. Apples of gold in settings of silver may refer to a piece of art that was near perfect. Just like perfect words at the right time and place. The loveliness of exquisite art can be beautiful beyond words and the ugliness of hate-speech can be loveless beyond description. Apples of gold or rotten apples. Big difference. Join me in a renewed commitment to speaking wisely, Pastor Fred

"Taught By God"
By Greg Metcalf

I have often wondered when did Jesus know that He was the Christ, and how did He come to know it? As Christians we all desire to ‘be like Jesus’ and indeed 2 Corinthians 3;18 reveals that is just what our Father desires for us, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”.

Learning without YEARNING makes reading the bible a struggle and we fall on our own ‘understanding’ to make sense of it. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is filled with ordinary men and women who much like us lived flawed lives; yet they are there for us to examine as being examples of possessing great faith; which is the essence of accepting and trusting the Word for our very own lives. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”.  For me personally, the most direct question the Holy Spirit asked me changed my entire Christian walk and perspective, “Greg, do you believe I exist?” The pause I held in my mind was to quickly say yes, but this required a true and honest answer, “Yes Lord, I do believe you exist”.

The Holy Spirit, my long-suffering Friend and Teacher was able to open the Word so that I too, like Jesus, could know who I am as Jesus said in John 8:28, “Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father TAUGHT Me, I speak these things”. This is how the Father and Jesus desire that you should learn all things, “But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”.

Extravagant Worship,
Greg Metcalf

"Self Talk"

Psalm 43:5 "Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."

When our "self talk" is wise, we should listen. I entertain a number of bad ideas that blow through my head, so when I question myself wisely, I should answer. I know I should not despair. I know I am unnecessarily disturbed at times. I should put my hope in God. Just like the Psalmist recommends to himself. If my own stinkin thinkin can bring me down, then my own wise understanding from God can lead me out of despair and disturbances and depression and the doldrums too.

He can turn my attitude around in a thought or a heartbeat. All I must do is listen to the truth in me. He will even change my countenance. This too not only shall pass, it has passed. I do not miss it. Bye bye despair. So long disturbances. Hello, hope. Hello, my God. Thank you for prompting me to question myself and to hear your answers in me. Let's keep listening when our "self talk" is from Him.

Can you hear Him now?
Pastor Fred

"Heaping Coals Explained" Proverbs 25:21-22 "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you." One of my Study Bibles says this... 'Scholars believe the phrase "heap coals of fire on his head", probably refers to an ancient Egyptian custom whereby a person publicly demonstrated contrition for wrong-doing by carrying on his head a pan of burning coals to represent the burning pain of his shame and guilt. The point of this illustration is that when we love our enemy we become the burning pan of coals on his head. Our love and good works toward our enemy is a painful reminder to him of his evil ways and hopefully, shames him into wanting to correct these ways." God wants us to replace evil with good, hatred with love, unkindness with kindness. In a "get even" "payback" oriented world this practice of The Principle of Replacement is powerful and unexpected. I have been disarmed by kindness and been disarming with my kindness. I pray that you experience this soon. Or, again soon. Hopefully, your experiences of reciprocity bless you and many others. With His Kindness, Pastor Fred

"LIVE IN HARMONY" “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”. Psalm 133:1 I was recently reading an article in The Upper Room about sociable weaver birds that live in the Kalahari Desert in Africa.  They build nests large enough to house hundreds of birds on trees and other tall objects.  The nests are used as shelter from the heat of the day and the frigid temperatures of the desert by night.  The social weavers are hospitable and good hosts.  They share their food and know how to work as a team, such as mending the nest when it shows signs of deterioration.  They even allow a variety of other birds to live in their colonies.  In this diverse setting, they live together in peace and harmony. When I finished reading this interesting article, I concluded that the sociable weavers’ behavior is worthy of imitation within our families, churches, and communities.   In Romans 12:10-11 Paul reminds us that God calls us to love one another, to maintain our spiritual fervor and practice hospitality toward one another. Matthew 22:39 – “Love your neighbor as yourself” In His love, Ron Hodge

"The Truth"

II John 2 "... because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever."

The Truth is why John writes.
The Truth is Christ.
The Truth lives in us.
The Truth is eternal.
The Truth is immutable.
The Truth is powerful.
The Truth is liberating.
The Truth is revealing.
The Truth is convicting.
The Truth is....  God loves you....

In Him,
Pastor Fred

"Holy is He" Luke 24:45-47 Psalm 99:3 "Let them praise your great and awesome name; Holy is He." A few reflections....word by word, phrase by phrase. • "Let".... always reminds me that we must choose. • "them" is us. • "praise" is worship • "your great and awesome name" is Jesus • "Holy" is sacred and transcendent • He is Jesus (in case we forget) Praise the Lord, He is Holy, His Name is Jesus. So choose, Pastor Fred

"Lord, Open our Minds"

 

Luke 24:45-47

"Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and He said to them, thus it is written that the Christ will suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations beginning from Jerusalem." 

Oh LORD, that our minds would indeed be opened to understand the Scriptures. The Old Testament has prophesied that Christ would suffer for sin, and rise again conquering death so that we could be forgiven, know salvation and then proclaim the gospel of the good news. The good news that God has reconciled us to Himself through the sacrificial atonement of His Son.

When we understand what He has done for us, we are compelled to share it with others. How could we know eternal peace and keep it to ourselves? How can the redeemed not say so? Ask Him to open your mind to the truth, so you can proclaim it to others. God desires relationship with us through His Son. This is the good news. This is the Great news, this is the Best news. This is our story. This is His Story. This is History. This is the truth. This is The Greatest Story Ever Told. This is our story. Share it from here to everywhere. We can be reconciled to God through Jesus, The Christ.

In Him,
Pastor Fred

The Works of the Flesh by Os Hillman

TGIF - Today God is First

"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.'" Deuteronomy 8:17

We've all heard someone say, "He's a self-made man." What are they saying in this statement? Are they saying that this individual achieved success by his hard work and sweat? Many a person has achieved success through honest hard work. There is a danger for any of us who may have achieved significance through our work. That danger is the belief that we achieved it through our own efforts apart from God's grace and mercy. When we live in this belief, we assert that we are entitled to certain rights and privileges because of the position we have earned and feel we deserve.

The prodigal son's brother who refused to celebrate the wayward son's return was a man who felt he was entitled to certain rights. He saw himself as one who had been faithful to his responsibilities and deserving of more attention. He could not appreciate his brother's failure and the pain of falling into a sinful life because, in his mind, he had never failed. This pride kept him from experiencing God's real grace. This is how legalism develops in believers. It grows into a cold heart and an insensitive attitude toward others who may have stumbled in their lives. This same brother did not truly understand the love of his father apart from works; for he felt he gained acceptance only by doing his job.

Do you feel accepted by God, regardless of what you do? Have you wrongfully viewed your works as something you alone have achieved? These are the minefields of which each of us in business must be aware. God has gifted us to accomplish anything through His grace, not by our works.
     
Have a Great Day Grace Harbor Family,
David L. Cunningham
Made In HIS Image <><

"Mercy and Revival"

Psalm 85:6-7 "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation."

I am moved today to pray for two things, mercy and revival. I know I need to be constantly reminded of both. My hope is this.... that His mercy would prompt us to repent and that our restoration would generate revival.

It does encourage me that I am forgiven and saved and that even though I falter, He still desires for me to be on fire for Him. I need my zeal stoked, my fervor fanned and my hope heightened. Today Lord I will rejoice in You because I am encouraged, I am stoked, I am fervently hopeful for a fresh touch and a fresh fire from the Spirit.

I sense His mercy, feel His presence and acknowledge His work in me. We are saved for a purpose, let's get excited about that. Mercy and revival dear God. Mercy and revival today.

In Him,
Pastor Fred

"Impulsiveness"

Proverbs 14:26 "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly."

Slow to anger is often encouraged in His Word. I just need to remind myself that avoiding conflict at all costs is something totally different. I understand that, I just need to practice that. The cost of conflict avoidance is often too high. I know, I have paid it too many times.

Balance is sometimes evasive. No need to fly off the handle, which is easier to do when you maintain a firm grip. How do you decide to be decisive without being impulsive? When we slow down a little we get a clearer understanding of the bigger picture.

When we take the needed time to respond and not react we can take that time to ask God about whatever it is. I should be less concerned about avoiding conflict and more concerned about not being foolish. Hope my reflection helps you today.

With grace,
Pastor Fred

"Imperatives"

James 4:7-11 "...sumit to God...resist the the devil...draw near to God...cleanse Your hands...purify your hearts...lament and mourn and weep...humble youselves...do not speak evil of one another... 

James uses a lot of imperatives in these verses. In other terms, here are some "re" words to remember in our daily walk. 

Relinquish control of your life
Resist the devil
Restore worship as a priority
Renounce sinful actions
Reject sinful attitudes
React to sin with sorrow
Refrain from a frivolous attitude toward evil
Respond humbly to success
Refuse to slander your fellow Christians

Do this and restore your joy and refresh your spirit.

Reverently,
Pastor Fred