Archive for the ‘Stewardship’ Category

20 Jan

Return to Respect

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Christian Living, God's Word, Obedience, Politics, Stewardship.

Dear readers,
January is slipping away and before we know it, we’ll be leaving winter behind. This winter hasn’t been bad compared to some I remember and that’s okay. As I write this, it is windy and there is a cold spell forecast, but hopefully it will be short-lived.

As America transitions to a new president, let us remember that the future of our nation lies not in a new political leader, but in a return to Christian values and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us we are to respect the leaders of government, also that our first allegiance is to the Lord and to the truth of the Bible.

Psalm 2 sums it up rather well: “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” (verses 1-3). At the end of the Psalm we read: “Therefore you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:10-12).

In Romans 13:1, Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Peter also spoke to this issue in his first letter: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-17). I believe it is proper to substitute the word ‘president’ in place of ‘king’ in this passage.

We need to return to showing proper respect for our leaders, and for each other.

God bless America,
Pastor Jerry

7 Oct

Excuses, Excuses

Posted by sandhillspastor in Calling, Christian Living, Evangelism, Obedience, Stewardship, Witness.

Dear friends

October has arrived, and the thought of winter coming sends a chill through these old bones. We will certainly enjoy whatever warm days remain before then. What follows is from a devotional by Pastor Greg Laurie titled “A Plethora of Excuses.”

When it comes to sharing our faith and reaching out to others with the gospel, we tend to offer a plethora of excuses as to why we cannot do it. Maybe the reason we don’t try to win people to Christ is because we really couldn’t care less.

Now, that isn’t true of every Christian. But it is true of a lot of Christians. “It’s not our problem. We are set. We’re happy. Go work out your own problems.”

That is the way many people in the church feel. We don’t want to be bothered with it. We just don’t care. We hear so much about the need for evangelism. We hear sermons on how to do it. And we engage in programs designed to mobilize the church to do it. But all this is of no consequence if we lack one simple essential: a burden and a concern for unbelievers.

One of the most important things of all is motivation. We must have the motivation to share our faith. And if we don’t have the motivation, we are not going to do anything.

So, do we really care? Do we really care about people who don’t know Christ? Do we really care if they go to Hell? Does it really matter to us?

Everywhere Jesus went during His earthly ministry, He was mobbed by people who were pushing and pulling and always wanting something from Him. They wanted healings, like the woman who had spent all her money on doctors and still was sick. So many wanted a touch from the Savior.

But Jesus saw their deepest need. He saw where they were hurting the most. He saw behind the facades, behind the defense mechanisms people put up. Jesus heard the real cry of their hearts. And He had compassion on them.

Matthew 9:36 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (NLT).

If we are going to be used by God in any capacity, we have to develop something called compassion. We have to care.

In Truth,

Pastor Jerry

8 Apr

Knowing God’s Word

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Culture, Faith, God's Word, Stewardship, Truth.

Hello friends,

Rain! We’ve been needing some rain and Saturday rain came. It was accompanied by some fierce winds, but with no apparent damage here at the lake. The gauge here at the cabin on the corner showed .70 inch. At this time of year, we usually need rain. As the old saying goes; “April showers…” Before you know it, we’ll be mowing the lawn again.

As I spend time in the company of Christians, the more I understand that many lack knowledge of what the Scriptures say. I would expect those who don’t know anything about the Bible or its message to be ignorant of what it says. I’m not involved with many social media platforms, but the things I read show a surprising level of illiteracy when it comes to God’s Word.

God’s Word is quite specific regarding the need for the Christian to be well-schooled in its message and purpose. Many years ago, I was challenged to read the Bible from beginning to end in a year. The result was that I did so several years in a row. I highly recommend it as a worthy endeavor. Now to those scriptures that relate to the subject.

First, it shows us the way to live: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Paul challenged Timothy to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (1 Timothy 2:15). “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (3:16-17).

The writer of Proverbs stresses the benefits of knowing God’s Word, which brings wisdom; “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity (Proverbs 3:1-2).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

In closing, don’t depend solely on the preacher’s words, but get into the habit of reading the Bible for yourself. It will bring a greater knowledge of God’s Word.

Blessings,

Pastor Jerry

5 Feb

Giving to God

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Blessings, Giving, God's Word, Possessions, Stewardship.

Our week is off to a busy start. Our great-granddaughter is spending a few days with us. The level of activity at our house has reached a level not seen in a long time, or is it just our age? In weather news, our January thaw came in February this year. It has been above freezing in the daytime, most of our snow is gone, and we received approximately a half-inch of rain. It appears ice fishing season has come to an end, at least here at Lake Ericson.

Here are some thoughts on our attitude toward giving to the Lord from Pastor J.D. Greear entitled First Things First: “God calls us to give him our first and best, so when instead we give him our second and the rest, we set God himself against us.

This is one of the most important financial principles in the Bible, stated most clearly by Jesus in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (ESV).

In context, “all these things” are all the other things we worry about, like provision, companionship, marriage, and financial stability. Seek God first, and he will add all these other things to you. But, seek first the kingdom of self, and all these things will be taken from you.

C.S. Lewis famously said that when you put “first” things first, God will throw in “second” things. But put second things first, and you’ll lose not only first things but eventually the second things also.

 Scripture tells us that sometimes we are faithful to God and hard times still come. That’s part of living in a fallen world, and it is often how God tests and grows and shapes our faith. Verses like Matthew 6:33 are not a spiritual rebate guarantee, where you write God a check and he promises every time to send a bigger one back to you.

But there are enough passages in Scripture like Matthew 6:33 that we should be sure to understand: We put God first, and he multiplies it, and if we don’t do that, he may frustrate our efforts,”

A lesson learned in forty years of following the Lord is that you cannot out-give God. Give Him what you can and be ready to receive blessings according to His will for you.

In Him,

Pastor Jerry

7 Aug

Want or Need?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Christian Living, Contentment, Happiness, Stewardship, Wisdom.

Dear readers,

Last week was nice, not too hot and with some nice rain. Sunday morning was much cooler; something about a cold front passing through the area. It made me think of fall, but I know this was wishful thinking. There is a very real possibility of a return to summer temps. We made a trip to Grand Island last week. We had been discussing the possibility of putting recliners in the camper in place of the very uncomfortable love seat/hide-a-bed. We made a purchase and of course, there wasn’t one in stock so we will wait a few days then go back to pick it up. Life at the lake is great, but sometimes we seek entertainment in other places.

On the topic of seeking whatever we might see as a need, I have found that needs and wants are two very different things. My life has been littered with things I wanted because I thought I needed them. After obtaining them, reality showed them as merely wants and they ended up in some scrap pile. Money spent foolishly because of a want that wasn’t really a need.

People chase after all kinds of things they think they can’t live without, only to be disappointed in the end. King Solomon in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes had much to say about this. He said this: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:10-11).

Further in the book Solomon continued: “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them (5:10-11)?

He ends the book with these words: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Reflecting on life,

Pastor Jerry

17 Jul

Re-Creation

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Christian Living, Obedience, renewal, Rest, Stewardship, Work, Worship.

Dear friends,

Weekends at the lake remain busy. From Friday to Sunday, the river, the lake, and the streets are filled with people enjoying the summer days. The rest of the week is less busy, but there are still those who can get away for a few days. As someone who used to see Sunday as just another day to work, I wonder how many give a thought to the Lord on His day as they seek recreation and enjoy God’s creation.

The word ‘recreation’ gives the idea of something being re-created, that is, to be restored or made new. One would think that God’s command to observe a day of rest might remind us that we need rest from our work. God did not rest because he was tired, he did it as an example for us to follow. That one day was set aside for God’s people to focus on Him. There was to be no work, but time to honor the Creator.

In the Ten Commandments, there was not only the one concerning a day of rest, but there was also one that forbade the worship of idols. An idol is anything that takes the place of God in worship. Could the lake become an idol? How about a nice bass boat, or maybe the sporting event that keeps us from attending worship service on the Lord’s Day? (Exodus 20:1-9).                

Our work becomes an idol if it keeps us from putting God first in our lives. I used to ask the question, if I feel I need to be making hay on Sunday, is that Bale worship (play on words there); or if I think I need to be present when each calf is born, is that worshiping the calf? Remember, Israel got in a heap of trouble with a golden calf idol.

I’m not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone here, just a reminder to check our priorities to see if there is something that is taking the place God has reserved for Himself. I am not opposed to taking time to renew and recharge our batteries, so to speak. I am just encouraging you to take time to put the important thing at the top of the list. Everything else will fall into its proper place and God will be given what He desires from his people, their worship.

Just thinking,

Pastor Jerry

5 Jun

Responsibilities

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Culture, Obedience, Politics, Service, Stewardship, Work.

Dear friends,

How can it be that we are already five months into 2023? I must be having fun, because the time has flown by. In news from our little corner of the world, Milrae has recovered well from having two knee replacement surgeries. After her checkup Friday, she was told to come back in a year. I’m now married to a bionic woman!

We had very little rain this past week, and it appears we will be busy watering the lawn and the garden if it stays warm and dry. The vegetable plants are off to a good start, and we pray that trend continues.

It is interesting to read the news headlines from a Christian, or biblical worldview. After the recent passage of legislation allowing the federal government to raise the debt ceiling, there were comments concerning the idea that people need to work in order to receive some forms of financial aid. The media seemed to think that the idea was some antiquated saying that is not relevant to our current time.

I’m sure it will be a surprise to some that this concept of working to earn your food comes from the Bible. The apostle Paul writing to Christians waiting for the Lord’s return, was rather direct as he encouraged his readers to not just sit around looking up in the sky waiting for Jesus to come again. He stressed the fact that as we wait for the Lord to return, we are to keep on making a living and doing his work. He says to his readers, “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat. For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

In another place we read that we are to care for those who can’t help themselves. “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress… (James 1:27).

In summary, it is good to seek to care for those in need, but those who are able-bodied and healthy are to work for their food and other needs.

In His unending love,

Pastor Jerry

31 Oct

Your Vote Counts

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Culture, Freedom, God's Word, Politics, Stewardship.

Hello friends,
Rain! This week, we had a nice gentle rain. My gauge showed .40’ when it was over; not a huge amount, but very much appreciated. This is only the beginning of what we need to get back to normal. Now is not the time to ease up in asking the Lord to bless us with more moisture.

We started a project this week that has been waiting all summer for me to get motivated. When we had the big windstorm last spring, the outside pane on our entry door was broken. This defeats the purpose of an insulated door, so a new one was ordered. It stood on the porch for months, but has been installed just as the weather begins to cool off. Now to get the window replaced that was broken by an unidentified flying object; either a stick or a rock thrown by the mower.

Vehicle repairs were a part of our week, also. First, there was a new alternator in our pickup, then I found the battery was defective as well. I guess a ten-year-old battery has outlived expectations.

November 8 is election day. The most important thing we can do that day is to get out and vote. Much of what we see happening in our country won’t be solved politically, but we can vote for the candidates that hold to traditional Christian values. The real problem in our country is not political, it is spiritual. The citizens of America must turn back to God, and obey His commands.

These are God’s words to the prophet Zechariah, “The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. Therefore, tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you’, says the Lord Almighty. Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord….

“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.” (Zechariah 1:2-6).

Therefore, you kings (presidents, governors, mayors, senators, etc.), be wise; be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:10-11).

God bless America,
Pastor Jerry

21 Jun

Seeing, or Just Looking?

Posted by sandhillspastor in Blessings, Change, Christian Living, God's Word, Obedience, Stewardship, Truth, Wisdom.

Dear friends,
Everyone at the lake is preparing for the Fourth of July celebration. Saturday morning, the comment was made that the lake front is looking very nice already. It takes dedicated volunteers to make that happen, and we are grateful for each and every one.

Very often, things need to be examined for possible problems, looking to see if there is something that has been overlooked. Maybe it is knowing that a piece of equipment isn’t working as it is supposed to, then one day a light comes on in your mind, and you see a problem you had not recognized. Here are a couple of examples from my week.

Lesson one: For longer than I should admit, I’ve known one of our outside water hydrants needed attention. The seal around the shutoff was leaking when the water was on. Monday, I decided to make repairs. I discovered it had been leaking under the house, and to delay was no longer an option. After a trip to town, and some time to make the repairs, all was well.

Lesson two: The kitchen cold water volume has been lower than the hot side for a long time. I could not figure it out, until just a few days ago. In an act of desperation, I looked under the sink one more time, and saw that the supply line to the cold side was a quarter inch line, as opposed to a half inch on the hot side. Eureka! How did I not see this before? Another trip to town, problem solved.

It is very much the same with our spiritual walk. Now and then, we need to stop and see if we are missing something that is right in front of us. All of us, if we were being honest, could say yes I need to check my life and see if I’m truly walking as the Lord wants me to. Here are a few verses to help us get started.

Psalm 26:2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.
Lamentations 3:40; Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 13:5; Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
1 Peter 1:15; But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.

Blessings,
Pastor Jerry

4 May

Church in Our Time

Posted by sandhillspastor in Bible, Body of Believers, Faith, Family of God, Fellowship, Stewardship, Worship.

Dear friends,
Another week has gone by. We are still staying home most of the time. There was a trip to the grocery store and the pharmacy last Wednesday, but otherwise we were home doing yard work, etc. There is an advantage to living where we do; it is not hard to practice social distancing.

Our church family will decide this week how we might transition back to corporate worship at the church property. We may begin by meeting outdoors for a few Sundays, weather permitting. Time will tell. The Zoom app has been good, but there is no substitute for being there in person.

The Bible tell us the first century Christians met together in each other’s homes, and I suppose in other small group settings. They had no “church” building, nor did they hold title to any property on which to erect a building. From Acts, chapter two, we read; They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people (verses 42-47).

We may be unable to meet in person due to the pandemic of Covid19, but thanks to the current technology, we can have virtual fellowship in a way that the first Christians could not have imagined. Instead of feeling deprived, perhaps we should count our many blessings.

Even with the inconveniences we are experiencing in our current situation, we should take a lesson from the apostle Paul, who wrote “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7).

Then, this from Paul, “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances… I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, … I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” (verses 11-13).

We may have some inconvenience, but it’s nothing God can’t get us through.

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,
Pastor Jerry

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