Setting Personal Goals

Setting Personal Goals

“According to your faith let it be to you” Matthew 9:29

Your goals are about your future potential.  If you don’t have goals for your life, you will just coast through life and others will make you apart of their goals  

1.  Goal setting is both spiritual and practical. All successful people set goals. 

Jesus had goals: “My goal is to do what the One Who sent Me wants Me to do. My goal is to finish the work that He gave Me to do.  Paul had goals: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind me and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”  (Philippians 3:13)

There is only one you and you were created for a purpose.  You have unique fingerprints, DNA, and gifts and abilities.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  Find your purpose and set goals to reach it.

2.  Goals are statements of Faith.  Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  Setting goals does not cost anything.  The main difference between a dream and a goal is that a goal has a dead line in which you set to accomplish it.

3.  Goals focus your energy.  I Corinthians 9:26 “I do not fight as one who beats the air”.  Goals keep you from wasting your time.  The world is full of distractions and time wasters.

4.  Goals keep you going when you don’t feel like it.  Psalms 146:5  “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God.”  Long term goals keep you from staying discouraged with short term setbacks.  Everyone fails.  Learn to fail fast.

5.  Goals build character.  God is more interested in who you become than what you accomplish.  You will never become the person you want to be until you intend to be that person.

6.  Good goals will be rewarded.  When you reach your goal you are going to be rewarded on Earth and in Heaven by God if they are accomplished with the right methods and motives.  Revelation 22:12  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

When you get ready to set a goal - ask these questions:

1. Will this goal honor God?

2.  Is this goal motivated by love?  God is not going to bless a goal motivated by greed, guilt, competition, ego, or pride. John 14:10, 12  “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love… This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

3.  Will this goal require depending on God to accomplish?  Proverbs 16:9   “A man’s heart plans his way,  But the Lord directs his steps.”

If you want God’s help to reach your goal you will need these three things:

You will need God’s Holy Spirit.  Zechariah 4:6  “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

You will need God’s Word to guide you: Joshua 1:8  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”.

You will need God’s People to support you.   Ecclesiastes 4:12  “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Making Excuses

Making Excuses - If it were not for this and that, and the other.

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“And They all with one consent began to make excuses”  

( Luke 14:18)

The purpose of this message is not to condemn you or make you feel guilty of things you have not done in your life.  It is to motivate you to see the daily opportunities our Heavenly Father has given you and to act on them.  Many have made excuses for why they did not do something.  The doctor has told us we need to start exercising, lose weight, stop unhealthy habits, and start eating better.  Maybe you have had an excuse for why you have not begin to work on these important needs in your life.  Possibly it is a result of having put off getting additional education or just improving the gifts and abilities the God has given you.

But praise the Lord for those of you who have ask for God’s help and have set goals and accomplished the.  At one point you quit making excuses and stepped out on faith and allowed God to bless you.  Today’s message is about a man who represents God offering an opportunity to his friends, and the excuses they gave to Him.  

In Luke 14:16-24 our Lord tells us of a story that He is using to compare to the Kingdom of God.  We see an invitation from a very good, kind and generous man to all of his closest friends.  Instead of being grateful for this invitation to come to a great supper”, they all rejected His offer by giving excuses.

While this is a message to all those who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, it is also an invitation to those who call Him their Friend.  This rich and generous man sent His servants  to deliver the invitation to specific people who He knew well.  You an I are the people of this message.

The message for you and I is to “come, for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:17).  The Lord Jesus has done everything necessary to provide you the opportunity to come and fellowship with Him and use your gifts and abilities to serve Him.  The Lord wants you to come and have some great fellowship with Him.  But, Many are saying “If it were not for this, and that, and the other, I would come”.  I would read my Bible more, pray more,  or help others more, but not now.  God is ready to bless you now, but you are making excuses.

As you listen to the excuses in this story, you see that they are very weak.  The Lord is also giving you an invitation to receive His blessings by living a life that would be pleasing to Him and a blessing to others.  “Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace, and pursue it.  The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are upon their cry.  The face of the Lord is against them that do evil…” (Psalm 34:14-16).

We have a choice.  We can accept His invitation and live a life of purpose and blessing to others, or we can keep making excuses.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”  (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

You are invited to produce good works through the power that the eLord has put into your life.  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.  Every brach in me that does not produce fruit, He takes it away.  Every branch that produces fruit, He purges it (Makes it better) so that it may bring forth more fruit…I am the vine you are the branches.  He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing.”  (John 15:1-5).

The sad news of this story is that those who were invited and made excuses would no longer have an opportunity to enter the house of this loving and generous man.  The excuses they gave kept them from receiving many blessings.  “For I say unto you, that none of those who were asked to come shall taste of My supper.” (Luke 14:24)

The good news is the invitation became open to others.  If you reject the offer of eternal life and blessings in this life from God, you will lose the opportunity and others will receive it.   The invitation has been extended to “whosoever will”.   “Then the Master of the house said to His servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, and  the crippled, and the disabled, and the blind.  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet there is still room.  And the Lord said unto the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in that My house may be filled.”  (Luke 14:21-23)

Today your Heavenly Father is giving you an invitation to accept Him and follow Him, and to Love Him.  Will you say YES?  or will you say, “I would, if it were not for this, an that, and the other?”.

How I Can Be Free From Self-Destructive Behaviors

How I Can Be Free From Self-Destructive Behaviors

Pastor Mark Taylor

(Notes From A Sermon By Pastor Rick Warren)

Seven Self-Destructive Behaviors

1. Shame - You cannot be happy and ashamed and guilty at the same time.
2. Uncontrolled Thoughts -  You have a choice about what you think about
3. Compulsions - inner drives - I just had to do it - no you did not.
4. Fear - Fear of not having enough or being enough.
5. Hopelessness -  Long term thinking about the future.
6. Bitterness - life is unfair and you get envious and hurt yourself. 
7. Insecurity - God will never stop loving you.

How can I be Free From Me?  

1. I must remind myself daily what Jesus did for me.  Romans 8:1-4.  Jesus paid for your sins if you belong to Him.  No condemnation.  You have new power instead of just will-power..  Laws do work on outside behavior no inside change.  Self help programs do not change your nature.  You can’t act like a believer until you are one.  Your desire will change when the Holy Spirit come into your life.  You start with your mind.  You cannot change your actions or your feelings until you change your thinking.  
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts.  Romans 5-6.  You have to choose your mind set from a life of self-destruction or of a mind of life and peace.  Principle of Replacement.  When you want to change something in your mind you don’t just resist it, but you replace it.  Whatever you focus your attention on will get your attention.  If you want to break any bad habit in your life it is more than just resisting it, it is refocusing.  When you replace it, it does not have power over you.  You choose what you focus on.  If you are a believer you have the help of the Holy Spirit.
3. I realize I have a new ability to say “no”.  Will power is not enough.  Romans 8:9, 12.   Galatians 5:16.  You will have the same desires and temptations, but you won’t fulfill them.  Not everything that is natural is good for you.  Anger is natural.   Having an affair is a natural desire.  Moments of compulsion.   What you feel like doing is not always best for you or others.

4. Turn my thoughts to God whenever I’m afraid. Romans 8:14-16. Antidotes to fear:  remember you are a child of God, and you have family protection.  Ask God to take care of your fear.  Second you call out to your Father.  The number one fear people have is being out of control.  Crazy people are not afraid of being crazy.  “I may be broken, but I am not crazy.”  2 Timothy 1:7 - God has not given us a spirit of Fear but of power, love, and self-control.  The more you are controlled by the Holy Spirit the more control you will have over our self.
5. Focus on the long-term, not the short term!  Romans 8: 17-18. The longer term your thinking is the more successful you will be, the shorter term will keep you from being successful.  Eternity is long-term thinking.  You are able to handle short term problems when you have long-term thinking.  You will be rewarded when you get to Heaven for thinking and doing right.  You will be sharing with Christ His glory forever.  Our short-term suffering will only last for awhile or rewards will last for ever.  
6. Remind myself that God is good and in control.  Romans 8:19-25.  Everything in the world is broken and frustrated because of sin.  The result is pain.   The result of pain is bitterness.    Four things to get over bitterness:  1.  The Holy Spirit is praying for me (v. 26-27).  2.  God is using everything for good in my life (v. 28).  God is greater than my problems.  3.  God wants you to succeed (v. 31).  If God is for us, who can be against you.   4.  God will give you what you need.  (v. 32).
7. Trust that God will never stop loving me .  Romans 8:38-39  Insecurity - feeling rejected - nothing can separate us from the love of God.  

This World Is Not My Home

“THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME”

By Pastor Mark Taylor 

There are many things we do not know about what heaven will be like, because it is beyond our ability to comprehend. But one thing we can be sure of is that it will fulfill our greatest longings, it will dazzle us with its beauty, it will obliterate our greatest problems with its power and splendor, it will be greater than anything we could imagine or dream, it will be a place where love and joy will reign unspoiled. God is busy preparing all of this for us. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Hm” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

It will be where God will reward His Children for everything they have done for Him: every tear they shed in prayers for others, every person they helped, and every act of kindness done in His Name.  Think about what is really important.  “Only one life, it will soon be past, Only what is done for Christ will last”.  

If we make preparations for our grandchildren’s visit or guests coming to our home for a meal, how much more does a God of love prepare for the time His children will come to His eternal home. The Bible says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11). Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).  If this fallen world in all of its brokenness can be so wonderful, what must heaven be like? 

Heaven is the residence of God. The greatest reward of heaven will be God Himself. Nothing we see or experience will be greater than the fact that we are with God and see him face to face. We sing “O how I love Jesus”, “Amazing Grace”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.  When we get to Heaven, we will see that Friend and enjoy His company forever.  “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). 

How wonderful it will be to be in the presence of God where we will perfectly know him and know that we are perfectly known and loved. John writes in the book of Revelation: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:3). We will have no greater reward or relationship than being with our wonderful God and seeing Him face to face. 

No matter what you are going through today - it is only temporary.  No one escapes difficulty and disappointment in this world.  Don’t let it drive you away from the God who loves you and wants to help you.  We are headed to a great place where God lives and where we will find true love and acceptance.  

Christians can be certain of their future in Heaven because Jesus prays for us. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (John 17: 9-11).

Christians can be certain of their future in heaven because God is for us and not against us.   “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 31-32).  In other words, how can we lose if God is on our side? How can we be kept from future glory if God is for us? Obviously we can’t.  We can be certain that He will bring His work to a fulfillment. God is not investing in a losing cause!  He proved His love for us on Calvary so we can be certain that nothing, absolutely nothing will keep him from completing His loving plans. Even when you struggle and fail, God still loves you and is still for you.

Christians can be certain of their future in Heaven because there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.  “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39). 

There is nothing in this world worth missing Heaven for.  There are temptations from Satan to be selfish, to mistreat others, to be actively involved in worldly pleasures that we know go against God’s principles. But I would ask everyone to consider if this wonderful place God has prepared for them that love Him, is worth missing.  Our time on Earth is brief and we can do many valuable and good things for the Lord Jesus while we are here.  He wants to bless us while we are here and then for Eternity.  At the end of your life you cannot take your wealth, your popularity, or your accomplishments with you.  Heaven is all about new things for those who love God and will serve Him in this life time. “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelations 21:5).

There are many things we do not know about Heaven because it is so much better than  Earth, that there are no human words to explain how great it is.  We will be reunited with our loved ones who loved God and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.  We will be rewarded for all of our service and sacrifices in our service for God to meet the needs of others.  Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

I would encourage all of those who have not decided to accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior to make that decision, and give their lives to Him so that they might receive the gift of eternal life.  “Jesus said to him:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  (John 14:6).  Heaven is a real place that has been prepared for those that Love God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14: 1-3).

Leaving the City of Regret

As we enter 2019 this is a good reminder of 2018

Leaving the City of Regret - Larry Harp

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip." 

I got tickets to fly there on "Wish I Had airlines". It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town. 

As I checked into the "Last Resort Hotel", I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there. 

First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the wish I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterday's. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share. 

Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It. 

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be depressed. 

One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them. 

So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it -- it's in your own heart -- please look me up. I live on "I Can Do It street."

Your Christmas Gift of Peace - The Absence of Fear

Your Christmas Gift of Peace. The Absence Of Fear

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward everyone.”  Luke 2: 13-14

How wonderful our homes could be, how wonderful our lives could be, how wonderful our world could be, if we really did put into practice the blessing of "peace on earth, good will toward men." We cannot control what happens outside of our lives, but we can have peace in this world. 

Today, I am going to tell you how that can be possible - at least in your world.  Peace is a gift that cannot be bought or made.  It is something God wants to give to His children.  It comes from Heaven and from our love for Our Lord Jesus Christ. He said: "My peace I give unto you." (John 14:27).

(illustration). When I counsel  young couples who are thinking about divorce, I often ask them "What is it you want to happen in your marriage?"  They will usually respond that they want to have a home where there is peace and love.

The Biblical definition of peace is not only the absence of war or conflict with others, but peace within our hearts.  Jesus said:  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).  Paul speaks of Peace: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).  This is the kind of Peace we need on earth and in our lives during this Christmas season.

Give  Peace to. others.

Paul wrote in Romans 12:18? There he says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

 In Jesus Christ, God gave us the opportunity for the forgiveness of our sins.

You see, we’ll never have peace with our fellow man until first we’re at peace with ourselves. And we can never really be at peace with ourselves until we’re at peace with God. And we can never be at peace with God until our sins have been forgiven.

Another thing that can rob you of this wonderful gift of peace is letting things that others have done to you cause you anger and hurt.  Ask God to give you enough trust in Him that He will take care of the wrong that others have done to you.

At Christmas time we seem to be more sensitive to one another, don’t we? We give presents to people we don't know and maybe even to some we don't like, or reaching into our pockets for money to help some one in need, or delivering food to someone who is hungry, because Christmas reminds us that God has reached down to help us. And now we want to help one another.

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHERS.  Look at those around you…that part of the world God has given you to minister.

There are people that are hurting all around us.

They are suffering from depression.  The bottom line is that people around us need us.

They need a touch that can serve as a conduit of the healing grace of God.

When you bring peace to others, God will bring peace to you.  

Luke 6:38

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

 You want Peace, Give Peace.  How do you define peace?  Is it the absence of conflict and fear, then make that happen for someone else.  When people are around you Be a sanctuary, a place of safety, a place of joy, a place of joy and laughter, a place of love.  Be that person whose conversation is uplifting and others enjoy being around and you will be giving peace.

Peace with ourselves

But our life doesn’t always go as expected. Chances are your perfect Christmas plans will have some unexpected interruptions. Realize that your plans may not be God’s plans, and God is working His plan when He interrupts your plan.

The messages of the angels to the shepherds, to Joseph, and to Mary was to “Fear Not”.  Their first Christmas was full of unexpected interruptions.

Joseph probably would have liked the angel to explain his situation to the rest of the family.  Imagine the hassle Mary endured as an unwed mother, the hassle of a wedding, the whispers and guessing: why Joseph would do such a thing, or who would of thought such a thing of a nice girl like Mary? But the angels only said “Fear Not”.  

Joseph was planning on marrying his sweetheart.  Mary was probably planning on an elaborate wedding and a normal family. Things did not work out like they wanted them to.  God changed their plans.   Because Joseph listened to God and resisted the urge to give into his fear, he did marry his sweetheart and was honored to have been chosen to raise God’s only Begotten Son.

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary as your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:20).

The absence of fear is an important part of having “Peace on Earth” and having peace in your life this Christmas and every day of the year.  

"Do not say to yourselves: Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-14).

After the angel told Mary about her opportunity to let God work in her life by carry the Lord Jesus: The angel told her to “fear not”.

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy Child which shall be born from you shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, your cousin Elisabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”  For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Your word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:34-38.  

We don’t need an angel to appear unto us and speak with us today.  We have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to give us peace in difficult times.

Whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, whoever we are, we need peace that God is with us. And God has promised that when the Christ child enters our hearts and lives, then we will receive His help. And when we are helped by the Holy Spirit of God, then we are to develop a more sympathetic feeling towards one another.

[ (Psalm 46:1)

God wants to give to you this Christmas the gift of Peace.  Peace is an assurance that He is in control of your life if you have given your life to Him.  This is called “Providence” - nothing can happen to you without God knowing about it.

A. Finally, Paul mentions peace with God. Vs’s 8-9 are verses we need to read often. They’re so special. Here is what Paul says.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Paul is saying, "Here are 8 filters. Everything you hear & everything you see needs to pass through them. And if it doesn’t make it through these 8 filters then it shouldn’t be in your mind & in your heart.

There is so much garbage in this world. And the old saying "garbage in, garbage out" is true. So think about it. Can the movies you see, & the TV programs you watch, & the music you listen to pass through these 8 filters? 

Paul says, "Put everything through these 8 filters. If it’s not true, then don’t welcome it. If it’s not noble, if it’s not right, or pure or lovely or admirable or excellent or praiseworthy, don’t let it find a home in your heart. And if you’ll use these filters you’ll have peace with God." 

Put the interruptions in your life in perspective.  Sometimes they look a lot worse than they really are and many times they are only temporary.  We spend $100 worth of worry on a $5 problem.  This will rob you of the wonderful gift of peace the Lord wants to give to you.

Another thing that can rob you of this wonderful gift of peace is letting things that others have done to you cause you anger and hurt.  Ask God to give you enough trust in Him that He will take care of the wrong that others have done to you.

“Peace on (Your hearts and minds on) Earth” and may you show good will toward all people.  You can do it if you have God’s Peace in control of your life.  It is a gift, all you have to do is ask for it and accept it as a part of your free Christmas gift of salvation.

And 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

But Peace does not come alone or without some pre-conditions.  Righteousness and Peace are married and they come as a pair.  

“Righteousness and Peace Have Kissed Each Other” Psalm 85:10

You cannot have one without the other.  You cannot live a unrighteous life and expect to have Peace.  On the other hand if you live a Righteous life, Peace will automatically come. When you live a life pleasing to God, which is a righteous life, you will have peace.

“And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”

(James 3:18).   “But God has called us to peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15).

You have to receive the gift of Peace as an act of your Will.

 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

(Colossians 3:15-16)

A Prayer of Peace For You.

"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26).

God Will Show You The Way

“GOD WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY”

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).

The God we serve is not someone who has left us to guess about important decisions in our lives.  All through the Bible He has given us examples of how he led the children of Israel in specific directions. 

At times others will ask you to help them and you do not have the resources.  When you cannot help them ask God to supply their needs.   "When God's work is done in God's way, God will provide what is needed." Dr. Bob Tyson

“Truly I see that God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).  When obstacles seem to prevent their movement, He moved the obstacles.  “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt” (Joshua 2:10).

“For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you until you had passed over, even as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea which He dried up from before us until we had gone over” (Joshua 4:23).  He will remove obstacles that keep you from serving Him and being happy and successful.

In the New Testament Jesus reminded His disciples that He could make a way for them also: “Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You go, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:5-6).

You and I face many important decisions in our lives.  Sometimes we are not sure which way to turn.  Sometimes we face roadblocks to our dreams and goals.  

I would like to encourage you today to trust the Lord in helping you make a way to accomplish God’s will in your life.

I usually pray this prayer when I am trying to “find the way”:  “Lord if this (thing, goal, desire) is your will for me, open the door and allowed me to go through it.  Give me the wisdom and confidence from the Holy Spirit to know that my desires are in line with your will for my life.  Lord, if this desire is not your will, please lock the door so that I cannot go through it.  Keep me from making a wrong decision that will cause me problems.”  

Sometimes we find ourselves in difficulty and we don't like It.  God allows us to go through these situations to make us a stronger person and increase our faith.  

I don't believe God causes bad things to happen to His children.  They happen for many reasons.  Sometimes because of wrong decisions we make, sometimes because of the free will and sin nature of others, and sometimes it is an spiritual attack from Satan.  Regardless, God uses those things to build us into better people and draw us closer to Him.

Then I pray as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did: “If you would be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).  

Sometimes the Lord removes it from me, and sometimes He reminds me of what He told Paul when he prayed for healing: “For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me” 

(2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

As one song put it: “Sometimes He calms the storm, and sometimes He calms me.”

One thing we can count on is that God is with us and wants to lead us and make a way for us to become victorious even in difficult times.  Even if you are suffering from bad relationships, poor financial decisions, or health problems remember His words of encouragement to us: 

“No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Go to God in prayer.  Ask Him to give you the faith to endure your hardship until He makes the way.

Jesus said this about our life on earth: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  

And we are reminded by God’s Word that even when things are going bad for us God will make a way for it to become good: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

God has not only made a way for us to make it through this lifetime, but has made a way for us to go to Heaven. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  

If you will give your life to Christ, He will make a way for you to go to a real place, with real people, and experience the real presence of God: “But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

God also wants to use you to make a way for others.  You have been given gifts and abilities you can use in service for God.  “Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).  

Every time you do something for someone else they receive a blessing and so do you.  There are people today that need you today.  It may be something as simple as a kind word or an act of kindness. It may be something that requires your time, money, and talents.  If God lays something on your heart, He is expecting you to do it.  And in many cases, if you don’t do it, it want get done.  

God is going to make a way for you today.  “He gives power to the weary; and to him with no vigor; He increases strength. Even the young shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).