Let's Be Honest!

It's been a long time since I have blogged. I believe February 10th was my last post date. Much has happened since that date. God is good all the time. I have been a pastor for about a year and a half. It has been an amazing journey full of grace and joy. Yes, there are challenges, but that's just life. I have tried to pastor out of authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty.

Honesty is more than a forgotten and forsaken word. In a day and age when it seems to be something of the past, because current culture mostly despises it. Every man is a liar and God alone is absolute truth. Humanity has always struggled with being honest. It's sort of came with the fall, Adam and Eve in the great garden. They knew only truth, but after they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they began a process of decay. Needless to say, honesty is a part of the sin nature of all man.

I am going to be writing about the importance of this word, in God's word, and share some of my own struggles with it, and hopefully gain greater insight in how to live sincerely before God and man.

Move Out Of My Way!

You ever feel overwhelmed by the trials, obstacles, and daily dose of hardship that just seems to be in your way to thriving and happiness?

How do you respond to those nasty little life blows that happen without your invitation or "friend request" as on Facebook? You quickly find yourself trying to unfriend these hardships and distractions. You find yourself doubting and struggling to stay focused on the truth, that if God is for you then who can be against you?

That is the truth, its also the truth that you and I have an enemy. How should we respond knowing that there is a powerful enemy out to destroy our lives? He hates everything about God and his people. Is it no wonder when trials happen that often times we take offense at God and don't know how to respond.

 We are told that in this world we will have trouble, but Jesus said take heart, because I have overcome the world! This is really good news. The gospel is good news, especially in a chaotic world where all sorts of evil abounds. The only truly good news is that Jesus Christ has reconciled us back to God in that while we were sinners he died for us and gave us a hope and a promise that we could live in his kingdom. A kingdom of love, peace, joy and freedom now and in the age to come. 

There are so many promises for the righteous, even in the center of dangerous trials and hardships. We are told in Romans 5 that we can rejoice in our trials because they are producing character and perseverance and patience inside of us. The fruits of the Spirit are sometimes best manifested in the mist of difficult situations, not necessarily when everything is going great. Do not lose heart today no matter what you are going through, but be encouraged because you are a child of God if you belong to him.