Archive for the ‘Christian Living’ Category

27 Jan

Out Of Tune?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Holy Spirit, The Good News.

The devotional thought for this week takes a more light-hearted turn. There will be time for more serious stuff next week.

A few weeks ago, I treated myself to the purchase of a new guitar. It is a basic acoustic model, but can be plugged into an amplifier. It also has a built in-tuner, which should allow me to keep it always in tune. If you know something about music, you know that instruments are tuned to a specific standard. In the instance of this guitar, the standard is built into the instrument.

Did you know God has given Christians a built in tuner? He is called the Holy Spirit, and He keeps God’s people in tune with His will. The Spirit is in tune with God’s standard, that is, his Living Word. When we as Christians get outside of God’s standard, the Spirit reminds us that we are “out of tune” with God, and brings us back. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

As a whole, when the body of believers, much like a collection of musical instruments, are in tune with God and with each other, beautiful music is made as we work together for God’s glory. “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step (in tune) with the Spirit” Galatians 5:25).

In 1 Peter, 3:8, we read: Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

I’ll close with this thought; If you are not sure if you are in tune with God, read his Word. In it you will find everything you need to know about the standard he has set for his followers.

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

20 Jan

Living in Sin

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Forgiveness, God's Word, Marriage, Sin, Truth.

I had the privilege of officiating at a wedding this weekend. Weddings are such fun times, and I appreciate the chance to be involved. While researching my message to the couple, I came across these statistics: In 1990, 50 out of 1000 divorced or widowed persons chose to remarry.

In 2011, that number was only 29 out of 1000.
Here are a few other numbers from the article in USA Today. Unmarried couples of all ages are moving in together. According to 2012 census data, 37 percent of those who live together have been married before. Between 1990 and 2012 the percentage of unmarried couples living together more than doubled, from 5.1% to 11.3%. A generation ago it was called “living in sin”, today it is called “cohabitation.”
The reason I bring this up is to remind us that God had a plan at creation, and he has never changed his plan. The Bible says to live together outside of the bond of marriage is sexual immorality (the old term was fornication). There is no exemption for the divorced or widowed. I must insert here, that Jesus said divorce is a sin. The Bible also teaches that confessed sin will be forgiven (1 John 1:9). Also, according to scripture,the death of a spouse frees a person to remarry (1 Corinthians 7:39). We who are older may try to blame the younger generation, but who is their example? Retired people are also involved in cohabitation.
As always, I must apply scripture to my thinking, so here ya’ go: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality…For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4).
When we deliberately disobey God’s commands and refuse to repent of our sin, we are in danger of judgment. Those are God’s words, and his word is unchanging.
In His amazing love,
Pastor Jerry

13 Jan

In Defense of Life

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Faith, God's Word, Sanctity of Human Life, Truth.

Dear friends,

It is good to return to a “normal” schedule after all the busyness of the holiday season. We’re probably not any less busy, but it is at least somewhat predictable from week to week. This week, I have an appointment with the dermatologist to see about a spot on my lip that isn’t healing. After having a cancerous spot in the same area a few years ago, I tend to be a bit cautious about these things. Also, this week, Alex hopes to get his learner’s permit to drive.

Each year, as January rolls around, we are reminded that since 1973, abortion has been legal in this country. We are also reminded of the millions of unborn who were sacrificed on the altar of convenience. It is a sad commentary on our culture when we have to have a Sunday set aside to recognize the Sanctity of Human Life. Somewhere we have discarded God’s command that all human life is sacred. From Genesis to Revelation, God placed a high value on people at all stages of life. He has not changed.

The following is from an article by Russell Moore, president of The Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, written last January: “I hate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, because I’m reminded that we have to say things to one another that human beings shouldn’t have to say.

  • Mothers shouldn’t kill their children
  • Fathers shouldn’t abandon their babies
  • No human life is worthless, regardless of skin color, age, disability, or economic status.

The very fact that these things must be proclaimed is a reminder of the horrors of this present darkness.”

God says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). As human beings are created in the image of God, killing a person is an attack on God: “…in the image of God has God made man” (Genesis 9:6). The Bible places a high value on all human life, including the unborn.

I pray we, the people, would repent of the sin of abortion, and return to the moral and ethical standard of our God and His Word, the Bible.

In defense of the innocent,
Pastor Jerry

6 Jan

We Are Not Gods

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God, God's Word, Sin, The Good News, Truth.

My lovely wife and I were able to get away for a few days last week. We went to Lake George on New Year’s Eve, and upon arriving, found there was no water in the house. I was convinced it must be an electrical problem, because I had “fixed” all those places where the pipes had frozen in the past. Long story short, the pipes had actually frozen, showing me that all my preparations were not as secure as I had assumed. In spite of the water issue, we had a good week, and celebrated the arrival of 2014 over a steak dinner with two of our dearest “old friends.”

Inspiration for this weekly letter often comes from some really strange sources. The following is from the label on an anti-antiperspirant sitting on my bathroom shelf: “We Are All Judges Of Ourselves And My Verdict Is Champion.” Another part of the label has this bit of wisdom: “Believe In Your Smellf”*
Therein lies the problem for many people today. We judge ourselves and declare that we are okay. We might even go so far as to judge ourselves “superior”, or “wonderful”, maybe even “excellent”, or “champion.” We are filled with pride over our “self-worth.” In effect, we are setting ourselves up as gods.

What does God think of all our self-exaltation? Let’s look at some verses from His word: “You shall have no other gods before me” (#1 of the Ten Commandments). “There is no one righteous, not even one…there is no on who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). There are numerous verses where God says, “The Lord is God; besides him there is no other.”

 There has been much emphasis on concepts like “self-worth” and “self-esteem” over the years, but I wonder, wouldn’t we be much better off if we would put God in his proper place, and ultimately base our own worth on our relationship with Him? After all, he thought we were worth sending his only Son to die for us.

Just thinking,
Pastor Jerry

*[Trade Mark of Proctor & Gamble]

25 Nov

Give Thanks

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Praise, Salvation, thanksgiving, Worship.

The last time I visited the house at Lake George, I came away feeling good about having drained the automatic sprinklers in the lawn, and doing some other preparations for winter. About the second day of our recent cold snap, my lovely wife asked if I had turned on the heater in the well house (so much for my self-satisfied feeling). My answer: “No, I forgot all about it!” We’ll be heading up there today to see how that turned out. The last time I forgot, I discovered my mistake when I saw water running out the door and down the hill to the lake.

I just realized it’s only one month until Christmas! However, since I believe the Thanksgiving holiday comes first, I’ll focus on it today.

As we observe Thanksgiving this week, let us first acknowledge the One to whom we give our thanks. Without a Creator, who created this world and everything in it, there would be no giving of thanks. So we first thank Him for Who he is. We then thank him for our very lives, and for the air we breath, the food we eat, the shelter he provides, and so on. Where do we stop? Could we ever stop? I think not.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100).

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4).

One last thing: We thank you God, for the Lord Jesus, and for the gift of salvation. I pray everyone who reads this has received that gift.
Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor Jerry

18 Nov

Praying to Whom?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Faith, Prayer, Salvation, thanksgiving.

Here is a verse of scripture that caught my attention this week:1 Peter 3:12…” For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I read, and sometimes hear, people promise to pray for a person or situation. I also know some of these who would pray, and I wonder, to whom do they pray? I hope it is the God of the Bible, because if it is any other god, those “prayers” are just wasted effort. The above verse from Peter’s letter indicates that God hears the prayers of his people, not those who deny his existence. Proverbs 15:29 reads, “The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

The word “righteous” indicates right standing with God. No one is righteous in God’s sight without having placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Only then are we in right standing with God, and only then does he hear our prayers. Romans 3:22 says this: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” James tells us, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

As a footnote; as far as the prayer of an unbeliever goes, I believe the one prayer God is obligated to hear is when that person comes in confession and repentance, asking for forgiveness and inviting Christ into his or her heart. It is that person who God hears, and whose prayer he answers.

It is indicated in other places, that there are things that hinder the prayers of God’s people, but that will wait for another time.
In His amazing love,
Pastor Jerry

4 Nov

Obey God

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Service.

From time to time, a verse or phrase from Scripture will prompt me to share the lesson I learn with all of you. One of those showed up in this week’s sermon, and I pass it on to you now.

Exodus 32:33…”The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. After further study, I saw a pattern develop. In John’s gospel, the man who Jesus healed of his blindness, said to the religious leaders, “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does His will.”

Who is the godly person? The person who God has declared righteous, by his or her belief in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to provide salvation and the forgiveness of sin. And, following this, to commit to following God’s commands. How do we think God is with us, when we refuse to obey Him? Scripture tells us he hears those he knows, and we are told that there is no fellowship with the Father apart from faith in Christ alone.

The problem, as I see it, is that we expect God to bless us, when we only give Him lip service. He desires to have unhindered fellowship with us, and we in turn, call on Him only when we need something. We hide sin in our hearts, and expect blessing from Him. The Psalmist had it right; we need to take a lesson. “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek Him with all their heart” (Psalm 119:1-2).

Will you join me in renewing our commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly, without reservation? After all, that is his desire for us. Can we not obey?

In His Love,
Pastor Jerry

27 Oct

Are You Ready?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, God's Word, Salvation, Second Coming, The Good News.

Can you beat this fall weather? This is one of my favorite seasons. The down-side to this time of year is that winter is just around the corner, in fact, it may come this week. This leads to the realization that preparations need to be made for freezing temperatures. In light of this fact, I spent some time Monday at Lake George winterizing the lawn sprinklers. And, here at home, the camper has been made ready for storage.

The Bible has something to say about being prepared for winter: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6). Preparing for winter is a good idea for all of us, and it involves storing up provisions for a long winter.

Perhaps the most important preparation is the one we make for our eternal destination. Jesus had this to say concerning his someday return: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).

If your preparation for eternity consists of doing good works, let me give you a tip. No one gains access to the throne of God by doing good works. Why? Because no one can earn their salvation; it is a free gift of God, made available to all who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This should be a familiar verse: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8). Referring to the Old Testament, the apostle Paul asked, “What does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). You see, even in the Old Testament, people were not saved by following the law, but by faith in the promised Messiah, just as people are today.

How are you preparing for your eternity? Are you storing up treasures on earth, or are you counting on the riches of heaven, made available through the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross?

“Jesus is coming back one day, ready or not.” (Passion Network)

Prepared,
Pastor Jerry

21 Oct

God Is My Guide

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living.

As advertised, the annual meeting of our two-state Convention of Southern Baptists was a blessing. We were treated to great preaching and teaching, an uneventful but important business meeting, and much good fellowship. I came back re-energized and very much encouraged to press on in the Lord’s work.The trip to Lincoln was interesting, to say the least. It rained for most of the trip, and combined with my relative inexperience with the city, there may have been some doubt of our safe arrival. Then, as darkness came, the adventure took on a whole new challenge. We did manage to stay out of serious trouble and arrive at our destination on time. If I was to write a title for the experience, it would be “Twists, turns, missed opportunities, and dead ends.” In fact, there were even a few U-turns thrown in the mix.

This sounds a lot like the journey many of us have taken in life. We think we have a plan, but along comes the realization that it is not an easy road. For some reason, we believe life will be pretty simple and straight forward. Then when our plans are changed, or we reach some dead-end or detour, we want to throw our hands in the air and return to comfortable surroundings.

Here is something to remember, God has a plan, even though the road takes us into unfamiliar territory. When we encounter those detours, or maybe fail to understand some direction, or miss a turn now and then, He is still with us, guiding our steps back to the right way. As I look back on my own walk with the Lord, I can see how he has guided my steps, even in the dark times.
Here are a few verses that give encouragement: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
And from the Psalms: “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Psalm 25:9).
Is God your guide, or are you still trying to find your own way? Something to think about.
In his guidance,

Pastor Jerry

14 Oct

Working For the Lord

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, God's Word, Work.

I like to read. I blame it on being nearsighted at an early age. Outdoor activities didn’t appeal to me because I couldn’t see well, but I could see to read books. Today, I read, not only to study to prepare my sermons, but also to get ideas and inspiration for these weekly articles. I recently read the following in an article from a men’s ministry, concerning our God-given ability to work at a job or a vocation.

“And then he said something amazing, “I am an ordained math teacher.” Isn’t that great? Every vocation is important to God. If you’re a salesman, you’re an ordained salesman. Are you a truck driver? You are an ordained truck driver. A farmer (or rancher)? You’re ordained.”

Think about this. Every job, every career, every occupation is given to you by God. If we understand that truth, I believe it will change the way we think about our work, and our station in life. How much less complaining about our jobs would we do, if we understood that they are gifts from God? Would we see our work from a different perspective, if we really believed it?

The word ordain means to “appoint, consecrate, or commission persons for special service to the Lord and His people”. To view our work as ordained, then, would be seen as doing special service, first to the Lord, then to His people.

Solomon spoke of this in Ecclesiastes: “A man can do nothing better than to…find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.” (Eccl. 2:24). The apostle Paul puts it this way: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Can you praise God for your job? Even if it is sometimes difficult?

Something to think about,
Pastor Jerry
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