The Pastor's Pocket

  Psalm 42 and Job 1: Get a hold on this principle; if you couldn’t handle it, God wouldn’t allow it. Read that again. One more time. Now think it through.  God knows everything, every detail of our life.  He knows what we’re capable of and He knows the things that would destroy us.  Whatever we encounter, whatever we go through, God knows about it and He knows we can handle it or He wouldn’t allow it in the first place. Job went through a lot, but God knew the character of this man.  He knew Job could survive the test, after all, it was God who said to Satan, “have you considered my servant Job?” (chapter 1 verse 8).  Let’s face it, life can seem hopeless at times!  Lots of things can bring on that sense of hopelessness. Financial hardship, family problems, problems at work, extended illness, the unexpected loss of a loved one, relationship issues, addictions and so forth.   Satan is the master of robbing people of hope; hope of improvement, hope for change, hope for a better day, hop

  Have you ever surrendered your mouth to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?  Has anyone ever asked you this question before? Most believers understand the concept of Lordship – meaning we are to be totally surrendered to Jesus. But few think of Lordship in regards to their mouth. If we examine the scriptures we find many verses that admonish us to use wisdom and discipline with regards to what we say.  Here are a few: (1) Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…” (2) Ephesians 5:4, “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting” (coarse or harsh jabs at people). (3) Matthew 5:37, “…let your communication be, yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (4) Colossians 3:9, “Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” (5) I Corinthians 10:10, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” (6) I Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this

Romans 6:46 says, “…even so, we should walk in the newness of life.”  It’s springtime!  Look around you and you’ll see new life everywhere*.  New buds on the trees, new blades of grass, new flowers, even new weeds!  Birds have “little ones” to feed.  There are new calves, new little rabbits and new little skunks. Spring season reminds us all of the “new life” we have in Christ.  In Romans 6 Paul mentions, “that as Christ was raised up from the dead…” Because Jesus sprung forth from the grave, we have a Savior!  All of us, any of us, can break forth from the tomb of spiritual death and be raised up to enjoy the “newness of life”.  I think back to John chapter 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus from death.  A man, four days in the tomb, and yet Jesus called him out!  “Lazarus come forth”, Jesus said. And Lazarus “came forth…” What a picture of our salvation.  You see, we were once in the tomb of spiritual death.  Then Jesus called our name!  Some of us He called more than one time.  I’m so gla

 We could all use some courage in these trying times we live in.  Joshua was given the assignment of leading the Israelites across the Jordan River and into the land of promise after Moses had been their leader all those years in the wilderness. In Joshua 1:6, God said to him, “Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6). In verse 7, “only be thou strong and very courageous”, verse 9, “Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” Knowing that Joshua would need some COURAGE after serving under Moses in the wilderness, the Lord commanded him to be strong and full of COURAGE. In chapter three of Joshua, we read of how this bold and fearless leader, full of COURAGE, lead the people across the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan, the land full of milk and honey, yet filled with many unknowns and many challenges. We too have big challenges ahead as we prepare for the coming o

  Let’s turn back to God – now! (Hosea 6:1-3)  The story of Hosea and Gomer is one of the most interesting stories in the Bible. God spoke to Hosea, His prophet, and told him to marry a loose woman, a prostitute, and so he did.  But she was unfaithful and gave herself to other men and sinned against her husband. The sins of Gomer, the unfaithful wife, depicted the sins of God’s people, who just like her, turned  their back on the Lord.  I see a parallel in this story to our own nation.  In Hosea’s day God’s people were not only experiencing material prosperity, but also moral bankruptcy.  Their sins are listed in various places in this book.  They included cursing and swearing, deception and lying, murder, stealing, adultery, fornication, drunkenness, rebellion and idolatry, chasing after other gods and wrong-doing in general.  America today may be materially prosperous, but we are as a nation sinking in moral decay.  Each does what is right “in his own eyes” and just like Hosea’s wife

  Lamentations 3:25 / Psalm 16:11 / Isaiah 40:28-31  We will only linger around something we love.  Think about it. If we love the Lord, lingering in His presence should be our delight, our joy.  Waiting upon the Lord has tremendous benefits if we’re patient enough to linger in His presence.  Waiting is hurry’s enemy.  Satan wants us to rush, rush and hurry through life, bypassing the joy that comes from enjoying the present moment we have with the Lord.  Patience brings power, vision, motivation, and perseverance.  True change occurs in the presence of God!  If we learn to linger long enough and wait upon the Lord, anger will subside, confusion will disappear, and the fear of man will die.  While we are waiting, we can hear His voice, hope can be birthed, our countenance will change, wounds can be healed, true joy will return, mistakes can be exposed, instruction and direction are given, a fresh anointing is imparted, love is reignited and God gives renewed strength for tomorrow’s cha

  I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks…”  At first glance this seems impossible.  How can we possibly give thanks to God in everything, at all times, and in every situation?  The truth is there is a huge benefit for any of us who learn, by faith, to be grateful.  It’s an attitude that we must develop if we are ever to become grounded believers.  Being thankful helps us focus on God rather than our circumstances.  It is no test of faith to rejoice and shout when the sun is shining and when all is well.  We must learn to be thankful when all is not so well.  That’s faith!  It’s the example of Paul and Silas in Acts 16.  They were in prison!  They were uncertain of what the next day might bring, and yet the scriptures tell us “…at midnight, they prayed and sang praises to God”.  They were giving thanks to the Lord who held them in His care.    So here is my challenge for you today: when your world turns upside down, thank God; when sickness visits your house, thank God; w