Pastor's Ponderings, March 29, 2025

Stand Strong in Faith

 

Donnie McClurkin’s song “Stand” asks a powerful question: What do you do when you've done all you can, but it still feels like it's not enough? The answer? You just stand.

 

Life can feel overwhelming. Every day, we’re hit with bad news—natural disasters, political chaos, economic struggles, and heartbreaking tragedies. It’s easy to feel helpless, wondering if anything we do really makes a difference. But when we’ve done all we can, God calls us to stand firm in faith and do everything in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).

 

Standing for God doesn’t mean pretending life is easy or ignoring challenges. It means holding on to His promises, even when things feel uncertain. Our faith isn’t just about believing—it’s about trusting that God is still in control. Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), so when we stand in love, we stand in strength.

 

The enemy wants to shake our confidence, fill us with doubt, and distract us from God’s truth. But the Bible tells us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand strong in difficult times (Ephesians 6:13). God has always been faithful—just as He rescued the Israelites from Egypt and told them to stand still and watch Him work (Exodus 14:13), He is still working today.

 

So, no matter what comes our way, let’s stand for God—fully, consistently, and with unwavering faith. When we stand for Him, He stands with us.

 

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

New International Version

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 

14 Do everything in love.

 

Galatians 5:6

New International Version

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

 

Ephesians 6:13

New International Version

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

 

Exodus 14:13

New International Version

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

 

  

Pastor's Ponderings, March 18, 2025

Put God First

 

In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey talks about the importance of "putting first things first." It means making time for what truly matters in life. For those who love God, that means living in a way that honors Him. The Bible reminds us, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

But the world often tells us something different. In a 2023 article, Jo Nash, Ph.D., wrote Philosophical Perspective. This described the mindset of hedonism — the idea that life is about chasing pleasure and avoiding pain. The message is, “If it feels good, do it. You only live once.” That’s the kind of thinking that encourages people to put themselves first. 

The Bible, though, gives us a different perspective. Our time on earth is short — maybe 70 or 80 years (Psalm 90:10) — so what really matters? The Bible makes it clear: the most important thing is to honor God and follow His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We were created in His image, and He loves us so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for us (John 3:16). That kind of love is deeper than any pleasure or success the world can offer.

 

It’s easy to get caught up in chasing success, wealth, or recognition — but Christ offers us something greater. He wants to live within us (1 John 4:4), and He’s bigger than anything this world can give — more valuable than money, fame, or power.

 

God promises to provide for us (Philippians 4:19). He promises to heal, comfort, and give us eternal life (Psalm 37:4). So why not put Him first? When we make God our priority, He blesses us beyond what we could ever imagine. Let’s decide today to put God first — and trust Him to take care of the rest.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31
New International Version

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

Psalm 34:3

New King James Version

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

 

Psalm 90:9-10

New International Version

9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.

10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13

New International Version

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

 

John 3:16

New International Version

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

1 John 4:4

New International Version

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 

Philippians 4:19

New International Version

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 

Psalm 37:4

New International Version

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

Pastor's Ponderings, March 7, 2025

We Are Free in Christ

 

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood wrote, “A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.” That’s a powerful image—one that reflects how many people feel today. The world tries to box us in with fear, bad habits, and false beliefs. The enemy wants to keep us trapped, convincing us that we’ll never truly be free.

 

But here’s the good news: We are not rats in a maze. We are created in God’s image, and through Christ, we have real freedom. “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed” (John 8:36).

 

God didn’t create us to live limited lives—He wants us to experience the abundant life He promised. When Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, He declared, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). And through Him, we have been given purpose, strength, and everything we need to live a life that honors God (2 Peter 1:3, Philippians 4:13).

 

But the world will always try to define us, confine us, and mold us into its image. It pressures us to conform, often for the benefit of others rather than for our own good. That’s why we must hold onto this truth: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). God calls us higher—to sit with Him in heavenly places, not to be stuck in earthly traps.

 

So let’s walk in the freedom we’ve been given. Let’s step out of anything holding us back and boldly live out our faith. We are not prisoners to our past, our mistakes, or our circumstances. We belong to God, and He has already delivered us from darkness into His glorious light (Colossians 1:12).

 

You are free. Now go and live like it.

 

John 8:36

New International Version

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

 

Matthew 28:18-19

New International Version

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

2 Peter 1:3

New International Version

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness

 

Philippians 4:13

New International Version

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

Romans 8:31

New International Version

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

Colossians 1:12

New International Version

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.