Skip to main content

returning by trusting


We are continuing to explore what returning to God is about with our 2016 theme of RETURN at The Community Fellowship.  Often to return means there has to be a change.  It could be a change of heart, a change of thinking or a change in action.  Our current series called LIES is focusing on the changes we must make to align ourselves with truth.

This is our theme verse:

Joel 2:13 NLT
“Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”

Repent and return to God.  Don’t stay where you are or as you are.  God is full of mercy.  His compassion is new every day, and our God is ready to show us His love.  His love is based not on what we do but on what Jesus has done for us.  Therefore, to return means to line ourselves up with what we see as God’s character.  He is truth.

What lies are we holding on to that keep us from fully experiencing and understanding God?  What truth are we not holding to that will give us freedom and joy and abundant life.  Remember!

John 14:6 NASB
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Our God is truth.  He sent His son to open the way to life.  Don’t miss this.

John 10:10  NASB
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The lies we believe and act upon come from our enemy.  By choosing lies we leave the best of life, God’s abundant life in a place we cannot reach it.  By acting upon God’s truth we embrace God’s best, His abundant life for us.  That is what I believe God has in store for all of us.  Is that what you want?

Have you ever been through struggles that seemed extra large or extra tough to handle?  In Genesis 12 Abraham was in the middle of a struggle inside him as there is for each of us with good and evil, right and wrong.  There was the struggle to protect himself which was detrimental to others.  There was the struggle to think of himself rather than others.

Philippians 2:4  NASB
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

We will find our purpose when we quit covering for ourselves and start serving others.  Life gets bright and better as we allow our focus to be on other people rather than on us.

To let go of self and serve others means we lean more on God than ourselves.  This is another part of self-discipline and total opposite of self-preservation.

How does our self-preservation defeat the promised of God?  Think about it.  Our actions ought to line up with our belief.  And when they don’t line up, it is time to get honest and return to God.

Isaiah 26:4  NASB
“Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

1 Corinthians 1:9  NASB
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our God really is faithful.  He guards us better than we can guard ourselves.  Returning to God happens on a daily basis as we trust God.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!
10 comments
Read more

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....
Post a Comment
Read more

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...
Post a Comment
Read more