Archive for the ‘Faith’ Category

7 Mar

Leave It There

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Christian Living, Faith, Forgiveness, Freedom, Possessions, Rest, Sin, The Good News, Uncategorized.

It’s Monday again, and time for another news update and devotional thought. I would never have believed, when I started composing these articles, that I would still be doing it. Thanks to all who have encouraged me along the way.

We are still in the moving process. I believe one never has a true understanding of how many things we accumulate until we try to move it from one place to another. I was told yesterday of a man who said everyone should put their place up for sale every ten years. The point is you may or may not sell it, but you will get it cleaned up. Wise words, I believe.

I am reminded once more of those Bible passages that speak of being unhindered in our Christian journey. The writer of Hebrews gives the illustration of an athlete running a race, leaving behind the things that slow him down and hinder his best effort. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1). You get the picture.

The things that weigh us down and hinder our journey are many. Perhaps it is a load of guilt, or some sin that goes unconfessed that keeps us from being all that a Christian can be. Other burdens we may bear are jealousy, unforgiveness, anger, resentment, worry, and any number of others. Jesus encourages us to bring them to him, to come and leave them at the foot of the cross, as it were. Our problem most of the time, is that we lay our burdens down, then pick them up again when we leave. As we allow Him to remove those heavy loads we are carrying, we are able to live as free men and women. These are Jesus’ words; “You will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

Allow me to quote the words of an old hymn:
“Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt,
He will surely bring you out—
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Resting in Him,
Pastor Jerry

15 Feb

Which Jesus?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Faith, God, God's Word, Gospel, Truth, Uncategorized.

Hello friends,
In local news, our church’s 10th Valentine supper was held Sunday. The weather man is predicting warmer temperatures for the week ahead. I’m sure the ranchers will welcome this news, as calving season is very near.

What Jesus do you follow? Is it the Jesus of the Bible, or one of your own design? A recent article from BreakPoint, the radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries, addressed this question. Many people would rather follow their idea of who they want Him to be, rather than who He really is.

Quoting from the article: “The purpose of the Bible is to reveal God. But for a growing number of progressive Christians, the God they want can’t be found in the pages of Scripture. So they look for Him elsewhere—in personal experience, through relationships with other people, and through private interpretations of when they say God “speaks into” their life.”

Some liberal churches insist that “God is still speaking.” They are actually suggesting that God has changed His mind on issues like morality and marriage, and that their ideas of who God should be trumps the God His word reveals.

One author writes that for Christians, Jesus, not the Bible, has the final word. To this statement, a Christian blogger asked this important question: To which “Jesus” are these folks referring? He then goes on to say, “The only real Jesus we have intellectual access to is the Jesus revealed to us in the Bible.” That Jesus reaffirmed the exclusivity of natural marriage, endorsed every “jot and tittle” of the Old Testament, and talked as much about hell and judgment as He did the Kingdom of Heaven.

A devotional that made the rounds on social media featured a pretty purple flower and a quote from Luke 4:7: “if you worship me, it will all be yours.” It’s meant to inspire—until you realize who said it: Satan.

How we use the Bible is important, and we should always consider the context of the scriptures we read. Our approach to the Bible is vitally important. God’s word is not a calendar of inspirational, feel good quotes. When we open the Bible, we are stepping into God’s story, understanding our place in His design and meeting Him on His terms, asking the question, “Are we looking for the real God, or remaking a god in our image?

In Truth,
Pastor Jerry

1 Feb

New Life

Posted by sandhillspastor in Assurance, Bible, Change, Eternal Life, Faith, Family of God, God's Word, Gospel, renewal, Salvation, The Good News, Uncategorized.

As I sit enjoying the scenery here at the lake, I see a lot of brown vegetation across the way, trees without leaves and a frozen lake surface. Yet, in all of this, I know that there is life waiting just under the surface; waiting for the warmup that is to come. When that happens, the grass will change from brown to green, leaves will reappear, flowers will bloom, and new life will appear everywhere.
Sometimes we look around at people, and see only discouragement and despair. It seems that for many people life is like a winter scene, where everything looks brown and lifeless. As Christians, we should look beneath the surface and realize that there is hope for a new beginning in every soul.
Jesus came to give meaning to life. His coming brought hope to the hopeless, healing to the spiritually wounded, and mending for the broken-hearted. Spring is on the way for those who place their faith in Him. He invites those who are burdened down with life’s cares to let Him carry the load. As he says, “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 11:29-30).
To those who despair, who have no hope because they have no knowledge of Jesus Christ, Peter has these encouraging words: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus said to Mary, the sister of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).
We who are God’s people, must introduce those who have no hope to the One who can give them new life, eternal life; the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Him,
Pastor Jerry

25 Jan

CHOICES

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Eternal Life, Eternity, Faith, Freedom, Gospel, Heaven, Judgment, Salvation, Truth, Uncategorized.

The forecast for today (Monday) is for windy, with some snow showers. The good news? Sunshine is predicted for most of the rest of the week. I’ll be one of many who will be glad to see the sun again.
Our Sunday school lesson this week is the starting point for us today. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” What was Jesus talking about when He was comparing the narrow to the wide?
He was speaking of a choice we each must make. Narrow road or wide road. The easy way or the hard way. It is the choice between spending eternity with Him, or spending eternity separated from Him. The narrow road means there is one way to God. In John 14:6, Jesus makes this statement: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We are seeing that the narrow way is unpopular. It is called narrow minded, but the rewards at the end of this path are heaven and eternal reward.
This contrasts the popular wide, easy road that leads to destruction, and that so many people are choosing today. It offers temporary, worldly reward and satisfaction, but in the end, it leads to condemnation and an eternity in hell.
We all make choices every day. These choices range from what shall we eat or wear, what college will I attend, or to what political candidate will I support? The most important choice we make in life, I believe, is whether or not to follow Jesus Christ. You see the answer to that question is of eternal significance, whereas all the others are simply temporary.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).
This is a topic I visit from time to time. It is because I believe it to be of utmost importance. Delay in making the decision to follow Christ may result in a person being too late. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation.
In His love,
Pastor Jerry

18 Jan

Who’s In Charge?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Change, Christian Living, Eternal Life, Faith, Judgment, Politics, renewal, Salvation, The Good News, Uncategorized.

January is just over half gone. A national champion football team has been crowned, and now football fans are focused on the Super Bowl. The political races have taken on a new urgency, as we begin the count-down to the November election. Who knew there would be this much excitement this month?

Regarding the presidential race, I have mostly been observing the candidates as they jockey for position and try to convince the voters to support them. I will definitely make up my mind which one will get my vote before November rolls around.

One thing is sure; no one politician is going to solve all the problems of this country. Why? Because our problems, although politically driven in many cases, are the result of a spiritual deficit in this country. There are large numbers of people who see no reason to seek God, or to follow His commands. Many who claim to be Christians refuse to live according to God’s Word. Others seek to rewrite scripture to make it support their favorite sin, calling it a lifestyle, or claiming that God really didn’t mean what he said.

From Old Testament times, into the days when Jesus was on the earth, and continuing today, God has said that he will judge disobedience. I believe it is true for those who reject His gift of salvation, as well as those who claim to be His people and yet keep on living exactly like the rest of the world. If we continue down the path we are on as a nation, I see nothing but judgment in our future.

My reason for bringing this up is not to judge, but to give a warning. It is not too late to turn things around. God promises judgment on those who are disobedient, but in His grace and mercy, He offers salvation and the promise of eternal life to those who come to Him, confessing their sins, and asking His forgiveness.

Choose who you will vote for this November, but first choose to follow Jesus Christ. He is the answer. “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

In His amazing love,
Pastor Jerry

21 Dec

God With Us

Posted by sandhillspastor in Advent, Christmas, Faith, Gospel, Incarnation, Praise, The Good News, Uncategorized.

We have definitely had some weather to put us in mind of the Christmas season. After a few days of this chill, I was wondering if a vacation in the south might be a good idea. That said, I would probably take my chances on a warming trend, rather than go to the effort of loading up and moving for a few months.
Christmas is this week, and in another week, it will be a new year. As I reflect on the past year, I am thankful for many things. Among those are the progress on our lake house, and the improvements there, including getting a lawn established and other goals met.
I am thankful for the EMT’s of our community, and their service to its people. I probably have a greater understanding of their importance after having to call on them last summer. I don’t know yet if I properly thanked those who came to my aid, but I assure you, they were much appreciated! Also, I thank the Lord for giving me another year.
As we contemplate the reason we celebrate Christmas, I pray we never forget that it is about God coming to earth to live among us, and set for us an example of how we should live. Not only was Jesus our example, he came to save us from our sins. The scripture tells us, in fact, that he was “God with us”, and that his purpose in coming was to seek and to save the lost.
Let’s remember the angel’s words to Joseph concerning Mary: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” In the same passage, Matthew reminds us of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel—which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:20-23).
God with us, come to save his people from their sins. That is the gospel in a nutshell. I remember the words of Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas; That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!
Have a Merry Christmas, everyone. Next week, we’ll spend some time looking toward the New Year.
Blessings to all,
Pastor Jerry

23 Nov

Being Thankful

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Blessings, Faith, Freedom, God's Word, Gospel, Praise, thanksgiving, Uncategorized.

Rain! Who would have guessed we would have received so much rain in late November? Since I had taken the rain gauges inside for the winter, I don’t have an accurate measurement. All I know, is, I am very glad we didn’t get that much precipitation in the form of snow.

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, let me share some things I am thankful for. First of all, I am thankful for still being here to write these columns. In relation to that, I thank the Lord for bringing me though my medical crisis back in August. I believe I am almost back to normal. I am reminded in writing this that we too often take good health for granted. It only takes a moment for that to change in a big way. I am now more aware of the need to thank God for each new day; another day to be with family, another day to serve Him.

The topic of thanksgiving, I believe, should always turn our thoughts toward God, who provides for our every need. After all, He is our Provider, the Giver of every good gift. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:4). Regarding our tendency to worry about the future: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

The Psalms have much to say concerning being thankful to the Lord. Here are a few verses: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30). “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song” (Psalm 100:4). “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp” (Psalm 147:7).

Finally, the one thing for which we are eternally thankful, the gift of salvation through faith in Christ. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Pastor Jerry

19 Oct

Renewing the Fire

Posted by sandhillspastor in Faith, Holy Spirit, Prayer, renewal.

We had our first freeze last week, although it didn’t seem to affect much of the vegetation right here in town. The leaves are changing colors and many are falling from the trees. I suspect winter is on its way.

I got some actual work done this week. It wasn’t much, but considering the time it has taken to regain a measure of strength since my hospital stay, it is a big improvement. There were some maintenance issues needing my attention, so I figured I might as well get at them.

A piece of siding had blown off the side of the house one windy day, so I got the ladder and put it back. I mowed the lawn (with the riding mower), and was going to trim, but the trimmer wouldn’t start. I quit trying to start it just before I gave out completely. After working on the trimmer a while, I decided the spark was weak. We went to town the next day, so I picked up a new spark plug. With the new plug installed, the trimmer started on the second pull of the rope. A stronger spark was all it needed.

Christians, I believe, sometimes lose their spark, so to speak. The zeal we have as new Christians seem to fade after a while, and we need to renew the spark. In Romans 12:11, believers are told, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” How do we renew, or regain that spark? I believe it begins with prayer. As we renew our relationship with the Lord through prayer, he will renew our passion for Him.

Psalm 51:10…A prayer of David; “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” To his disciples, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8).

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Paul prayed for the believers in Rome, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Trusting Him,
Pastor Jerry

21 Sep

Your Best Life

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Bible, Christian Living, Faith, God's Word, Trials.

I am a fan of late summer/early fall weather. I enjoy the cooler temperatures most of all, and in my youth it was my favorite time of year because of hunting season.

Last week, we spent a couple of days camping near Grand Island. We spent part of our time there shopping, and enjoying eating out. In one particular fast food place, there was a sign on the soft drink dispenser that said, “Live for the fizz. Live for now!” Along that line, a book was written a few years ago entitled “Your Best Life Now.” It promoted what is known as the prosperity gospel, which claims God will give you all the stuff you want, if you just have faith. According to the Bible we are not to just live for now, and now is not our best life, even if a popular TV preacher wrote a book promoting that idea.

Scripture reminds us that in this world we will have trials and troubles. Jesus clearly says as much. “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). We are encouraged not to focus on the here and now, but to consider our eternal destiny. That is, to understand that this life is not all there is, and that we are here for only a short time, which is followed by an afterlife that lasts forever.

Jesus came to provide the means by which we may enjoy eternal life with God the Father. He paid the debt for our sin, so that we might have real life. To those who truly believe in Him, he gave these promises: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full“(John 10:10). “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25). “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).

If this life is our best life, we don’t have much to look forward to. Eternal life with Jesus, that is what really counts. That will truly be our best life.

Resting in Him,
Pastor Jerry

20 Jul

Decision Time

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Christian Living, Faith, Freedom, God, God's Word, Persecution, Prayer, The Good News, Truth.

We are enjoying some more time spent at our lake house. All the hard work on the house and yard is easing up, and it is nice just to sit and enjoy the view. We have a couple more camping trips in mind, but no specific dates or destinations yet. School starts in a month, and we will once more settle into a more structured routine.

Recent events in world and national affairs require we who are followers of Jesus Christ, and who believe in the Truth of God’s Word, to examine our commitment to the faith. One of those events is the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States of America concerning same sex marriage. As one commentator said, “there is no longer any fence to sit on.” We must take a stand regarding what we believe on this topic. I’m reminded of the challenge of Joshua to the children of Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15).

The question for us is this: Will we serve and obey the Lord, or will we give allegiance to the secular philosophy of the culture around us? It is time to choose. There is no fence left to straddle.

Jesus’ apostles were commanded by the Jewish Sanhedrin not to speak or teach in His name. Their response was, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God” (Acts 4:19).

Serving Him,
Pastor Jerry

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