The Best Is Yet To Come!

Life has a way of bringing you down and even distracting you from reaching your goals. We, as human beings, even find ourselves getting depressed from time to time. Oftentimes you can't even put your finger on why you feel the way you do. The reality is life happens! Good times as well as not so good times come to each of us. Life happens. 

We sing a song from time to time titled, "The Best Is Yet To Come". This song is a good reminder that there are better days ahead. This is especially true for the Christian. You will get through the valley you are going through. You will get through the troubled times you are facing. The best is yet to come!

Do your part. Refuse to live defeated. Refuse to give up. When discouragement comes say "Hallelujah anyhow" and keep on going! Don't the difficulties and troubles you face get you down. Take the initiative to do the things you know you need to do. Determine to make a difference in your life. Make the conscious choices you know you need to make. Trust me, it is well worth it. 

If you are a Christian, God is for you. Let that sink in to your spirit. Then walk in the victory He has provided for you through Jesus. 

Be encouraged...the best is yet to come!

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

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Pastor Appreciation

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. The second Sunday in October is Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Many are unaware of this so I thought I would share some thoughts. 

First of all I do hope you expressed your appreciation to your pastor this month in some way. Being a pastor can be be not only challenging but lonely, as well. Being a pastor is one of the most thankless callings, as well. The expectations are high and the demands are oftentimes unrealistic.

A pastor has greater responsibility. Let's look at what James has to say about it. 

James 3:1 CSB - Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgement.

Pastors are held to a higher standard with God. As leaders, teachers and preachers handling the Word of God correctly is imperative. Living a life pleasing to God is imperative. Setting a proper example is very important. 

 Paul, in writing to Timothy, says that pastors are worthy of double honor. 

1 Timothy 5:17 CSB - The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

The key in this verse are those who are good leaders. There are those pastors who are not good leaders and should be dealt with accordingly. They will ultimately answer to God for how they lead, taught and preached the Word. 

Everyone likes words of encouragement. Honestly, everyone needs words of encouragement from time to time. Solomon had something to say about this. 

Proverbs 25:11 - A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.

 When is  the last time you spoke words of encouragement to your pastor? Trust me, the pastor hears all the complaints. How about speaking some words of encouragement?

The following question was asked to a group of small church pastors today in regards to Pastor Appreciation Month: 

"What actually makes you FEEL the most appreciated?"

Let's look at some of the responses received:

• Honor and recognition for contribution.
• A hand written card in the mail (with or without a gift certificate to my favorite restaurant.
• A call on Tuesday thanking me for the Word delivered on Sunday
• Listening, asking questions, genuinely wanting to obey Christ and serve Him.
• Out of the blue texts saying, "Hey you were on my mind and I'm praying for you".
• Allowing me to become part of their lives instead of just the pastor they greet on Sunday morning. Words and cards of thanks and encouraging through the year.
• A simple invitation to share a meal.
• That I impacted and changed their life! Derailed them from potential disaster.
• A word of affirmation and truly mean it.
• When I see spiritual growth, and desire to serve or take action in the overall process of the church.
• When they call just because they need someone to talk to.
• Them wanting to serve their community beyond what's easy...then I would know they are listening and allowing God to work. That would make my job SO much easier therefore feeling appreciated. 
• When they allow you to become a part of their lives the ground feels more even. Walking their journey with them, side by side. Not being set apart because I am their minister but being a part of them because I am their minister.
• Chocolate.
• When people actually attend or act like they appreciate the sermon the service, etc.
• Volunteers.
• Testimonies of how my ministry is impacting their lives.
• Presents. 
• A vacation.

I think you get the idea. There are so many different ways to encourage pastors today. At the very least speak some words of encouragement to them. We should do this throughout the year not just once a year. 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

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My Foot Is On The Rock!

 A number of years ago there was a popular southern gospel song. While I do not remember who sang it or even the words or tune to the song I do remember a line that I believe was the main thought behind the song. That line is, "My foot's on the Rock and my mind's made up!"

As that line just came to me as I begin writing this blog post a passage of Scripture came to me, as well. It is a psalm of David. It reads like this:

Psalm 40:1-3 CSB - I waited patiently on the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord.

Life is full of twists and turns. Oftentimes things take us by surprise. I'm thankful to know that God is never taken by surprise. We can cry out to God in our despair and He will hear us. Here's the kicker though - we must wait patiently on Him. Quite honestly that is a "p" word we don't like. Patience can be a difficult thing for us to learn. I wonder if we face the things we face and go through some of the things we go through, in part, to learn patience. We know God is faithful to us. We know He is well aware of where we are and what is going on in our lives. He also knows each of us need to learn patience and we all learn in different ways. 

God will bring us up out of the pit of sin and set our feet on the Rock! Folks, you can't get any more secure than that. Of course, we know that Rock is Jesus!

After learning the lesson of patience, after having been pulled from the pit and set on the solid Rock you can't help but have a song of praise in your heart. David said God would put a new song in our mouth. 

Another benefit of all these things is that others will see and trust in God. Think about that the next time you are going through something. Others may be watching to see how you respond to what you are going through. Our responses are important. If they see us respond with our focus on Jesus and see how God brings you through it they are going to want what you have. What a great opportunity to share your faith with them. 

If, on the other hand, you have a "woe is me" attitude and you gripe and grumble...well, who is going to want that? More than likely that is how they would respond anyway. 

We need to make sure our foot is on the Rock and our mind is made up that no matter what we face we are going to serve God. No matter how long you are going through the problems you are facing you have a made up mind that you are going to serve God. Even if God doesn't respond to you the way you think He should...you have a made up mind that you are going to serve Him no matter what. That is what we need today.

No matter where you are - no matter what you are facing - no matter what you are going through stay determined. Stand and say, "My foot's on the Rock and my mind's made up!" 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

 There are 62 points in the U.S. where three states meet. If you are not careful you can get confused and make a wrong turn. You may end up in a state you don't intend to be in. 

So it is in our spiritual journey. We can find ourselves on the cusp of going different directions. There is God's way, our way and satan's way. We must make a choice and determine which direction we will to go. 

Joshua stated, "But if it doesn't please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourself today which you will worship...as for me and my family, we will worship the Lord." (Joshua 24:15). Joshua made a determination - he made a choice - he and his family were going to serve and worship the Lord. 

Elijah challenged Israel and the prophets of Baal. "Then  Elijah approached all the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.' But the people didn't answer him a word" (1 Kings 18:21)  Elijah threw down the gauntlet and challenged them. Read 1 Kings 18. Its an exciting passage of Scripture. Elijah prayed down fire from heaven! God proved Himself and many turned to Him and followed the one true God. They came to a crossroads and made a decision to follow God. 

Jesus, Himself, addressed the issue we are talking about. He said, "No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24). Again, a decision must be made. We cannot choose more than one. Here it is a matter of priorities. If we choose to serve God we know He will meet our needs. 

We all must make decisions as to what we will do in regards to serving God. We must decide which way we will go. Will God be central in our lives or will we go another direction. This is the most important choice you will ever make. This decision has eternal consequences. 

Don't let the waters get muddied. Don't get confused regarding which way to go. God is not in confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Some say they have difficulty choosing the right road. Pray about it. Seek God. If you are a believer the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you to the path you should follow (John 16:13). 

As a Jesus follower we need not be timid. Seek God's direction. Make up your mind that you are going to choose Jesus. In doing so you choose life - abundant life here and eternal life in heaven (John 10:10). 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

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Having It All

 People today want it all. This includes kids, teens as well as adults. It seems the more we have the more we want. People want to have their cake and eat it too, as the old adage goes. 

Let's face it, most of us want nice things. Sometimes we want things that we really can't afford and are beyond out ability to pay. Sometimes we want things we don't really need but just want. I heard somebody say one time when asked why they purchased a particular item, "I bought it because I don't have one".

At one time I had 7 or 8 bass guitars. I enjoyed the variety. They were all different and some were uniquely different. Now I have 3. The acoustic bass I have hasn't been played for months. So, perhaps, its time for it to go. 

We have different sound systems for different purposes. One small system we leave set up for our live stream events we do from our living room. One system is a bigger system we only use in larger venues or outside. The one we use most is a small wireless system. This has become my favorite one. We have yet another portable system sitting on a shelf. I gave another small system with mics to another ministry. 

We had done a good job of downsizing in preparation for the move to where we live now. We moved from a larger apartment to a smaller apartment. Yet now we have more. Go figure. 

I think many of us are this way. We want bigger, better and newer things. We want the latest technology we can get our hands on. We want the best tools we can afford to get the job done. We just want it all. 

Let me say right here that there is nothing wrong, in and of itself, with having nice things. The problem is when the things -  the possessions have us. When we become obsessed with things we no longer have them - they have us!

Mark 8:36 poses an interesting question. Jesus asked, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" It doesn't matter the things we have. It's all about priorities. What is most important to you - things or your relationship with Jesus?

Let's work at keeping the Main Thing the main thing! In the end it will be worth it. 

Until next time...enjoy the journey!

Ray

Thanks for taking your time to read and share this blog. If you know of someone who would be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to forward  a link or use the icons below to repost or forward this blog.

Check out my website at www.rayspellbrink.com