Sunday, January 23, 2011

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

Jesus said, "I am thirsty ."  (John 19:28b NIV)

As I am sitting here today, pondering over various things in life and ministry, these words of Jesus just penetrated my soul - I am thirsty.  These words caused me to reflect and direct my attentions and desires appropriately.   This is the presence of the LORD in my life.  We understand this is the fifth word of the Christ on the cross of Calvary.  In His anguish and despair, He cried out these words.  Physically, He probably was thirsty.  But this text suggests that His cry was to fulfill prophesy.  Psalm 42:1-2 and Psalm 63:1 appropriately explain to us what exactly Jesus was thirsty for. 

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 NIV

This is the prophesy Jesus was fulfilling.  As I reflect, Jesus is on the cross, already abandoned by the Father for our sake.  Alone with no where to go.  Yet in this condition, Jesus reminds me that the what was important in His life is the presence of the Father and completing His work.  Wouldn't you suggest that Jesus was in bad shape at this time.  Alone, in physical pain, about to die.  Yet Jesus was thirsty for God - for His Father's presence.  Maybe in our condition, with all the stuff we are going through right now, this is what we should be focusing on.  He had previously said that if anyone was thirsty, he should come to Him and drink (John 7:37) and yet we see Him backing up what He said, reminding us that even Jesus was thirsty for God's presence.

Today, I am thirsty for God.  I want more of God.  I love being in the presence of God.  This is what should be important to us.  Are you thirsty?

Heavenly Father, as the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you!  We love you today Father and we praise you!  We thank you for another day and as we thirst more and more for you, we ask for you to manifest your presence strong in our lives today, as we seek to share the light of Christ with someone who needs to know you!  We bless you and thank you, in Jesus name, Amen.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Watch what you say....

We must watch what we say. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21, that words are powerful, even to the point of giving life and death.  We can either speak life (encouragement, building up) into someone's life - or we can speak death (discouragement, tearing down) into someone's life.

James 3:3-12 says this:


A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!


It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!


We see from this passage of scripture that it is beyond challenging to control our tongue.  We must ask God to control our tongues, to give us the words to say in each and every situation.  We must pray for God to fill our minds with life giving thoughts so that we will speak life at all times.  The verses above in bold type are so important to carry with us.  We must carefully consider the fact that we can literally kill someones spirit, their self-confidence, their self-worth, all with words that come from our mouth.  


My prayer is that we all build each other up and encourage each other with our words.  Young people, you have a unique opportunity to build your fellow classmates up at school while they are still young.  If you see someone at school that is withdrawn or that other kids talk negatively about...take some time to speak a word of encouragement into their life.  Build that person up.  Tell them that God loves them and you love them too.  You have no idea what your show of love and encouragement will do for that person.


The old adage is true: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"  - choose to remain silent, instead of speaking death and killing someone.  What you say is just that powerful......


Live for Christ....speak life!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."  (Matthew 4:19 NRSV)

Jesus had walked by the Sea of Galilee and he saw two brothers, Simon (Peter) and Andrew, working.  They were fishermen.  Jesus then told them if they follow Him, He'll make them fish for people.  It's amazing that Jesus appears to be saying that He can show us how to take our normal living and use it as a platform for ministry.  These men were fishermen and I see Jesus telling them basically, "I'm going to use what you do and show you how to catch people for the kingdom."  That's my interpretation (one of them).  It makes me wonder how many people that we come in contact with on a daily basis, that we can impact for Christ.  What do you do for a living?  Whatever it is, we can ask the LORD to help us to use our living to impact lives.  If we are truly following Jesus, how can we not have an impact at our work place?  This involves a change of our mindset (referring to yesterday's devotion).  Everywhere we go, is a platform for ministry.  At work, at the gym, at school, enjoying a day out with the family, etc.  Where ever there are people, there's an opportunity for ministry in the kingdom of God.  So let us ask the LORD to show us how to use what we have, to catch people for the kingdom of God.

Father, we thank you and praise you for another day.  Forgive us LORD for wasting so many opportunities to tell people about salvation through Jesus Christ.  Show us what we can do today, to point someone to the Christ.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Make a decision.....

Let's take a look at Paul in Acts where he was imprisoned (really, when was the dude NOT in jail for being a Christian?) and was about to stand trial for defiling the sanctity of the temple. What they really arrested Paul for was his profession of Jesus Christ.

Paul is due to stand before the King to plead his case.  The King at the time was King Agrippa.  He was accompanied by his evil sister, Bernice and the prosecutor at the time, Festus.  Although Paul was facing further imprisonment and possibly death, he used the opportunity to talk about Christ before and audience of these people who did not believe.  Paul's motive was to bring the Gospel of Christ to them, to persuade them to believe.  Paul does this by talking about his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian himself - this is what he said to them:


“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, andfrom the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”


He goes on to tell the King that because he tried to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, the Jews arrested him.  No other reason.  This is what he said:  


“For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come; that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”


What a testimony Paul had given before the King.  What an amazing transformation God had made in Paul's life.  After Paul pleads his case, after he has told them about his conversion and how God had changed him.  After he had carried the message of Jesus Christ to them Festus tells Paul that he is crazy, that he has gone mad for believing such a thing.  King Agrippa, after listening to Paul's testimony, then tells Paul that he ALMOST persuaded him to become a Christian.  ALMOST?  Maybe King Agrippa was reluctant to believe and to become a Christian because he was afraid of what people might think.  He may lose the respect of the people that follow him and apparently that was more important than following Jesus Christ.  Maybe he was afraid that Festus would think that he was crazy too if he became a Christian.  


I believe that some of us are just like King Agrippa.  We hear the message of Jesus Christ week after week at Church or in Bible Study or at a Youth Meeting/Fellowship but we just are not quite persuaded to accept Jesus and live as an unashamed Christian.  What is hindering your decision? What is stopping you from fully embracing Jesus Christ and living your life as an "out of the closet" Christian? Are you afraid of what your friends might think? Do you value the opinion of others and your popularity more that a relationship with Jesus Christ?  My prayer for you is that you ALL decide to live for Christ in the open, not ashamed to tell people that you are a Christian, and more importantly not ashamed to live like one.  Do not allow yourself to be like King Agrippa.  Having heard the Gospel and heard of the marvelous and miraculous work of Jesus and then reject Jesus because of fear or not wanting to change.


Make a decision to live for Christ.........


Scripture reference:
Acts 26 - read it all...


As always, if you have any questions/comments hit me up on email: Myers0608@gmail.com or Twitter @Marshajoi - For those of you I see on a regular basis, you know where I am...get at me...


Love you all!



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

You are my friends if you do what I command.  (John 15:14 NIV)

I remember when I was younger I thought I had a lot of friends.  Whenever I would refer to someone I knew from school or from around the way to my mom and dad as my "friend", my mom would always say "Is that really your friend?  What do you have in common with that person?  Just because you know someone doesn't make them your friend (she still does this too)!"  She was right too - a true friend is one who has common and shared interests which draws you to each other.  Anyone who does not have common interests with you is just someone you know (acquaintance).  Many times we hold to the fact that Jesus calls us His friend.  The song by Israel Houghton "I am a friend of God" comes to my mind when we think of this fact.  But look at the truth of what is required to be a friend of Christ.  Jesus said, you are my friend "if" you do what I command.  The word "if" is a conditional word which means basically that there is something required of you to maintain the friendship status with God through Jesus Christ.  You must do what He commands!  The text continues in verses 15-16 to say that Jesus revealed and everything that He learned from the Father and taught them to us.  This is taught to us by Jesus so we can now go and bear fruit (this is the command) - fruit that will last.  Interesting that Jesus is suggesting that we make lasting impact in peoples lives to the point that they will come to know Christ or for those we know who are already in Christ, we would want to help in strengthening that relationship.  Not just quote a scripture and push on, but attach ourselves to their lives so that there will be an permanent impact. This is fruit that lasts.  No, we can't impact everyone's lives, but what about the lives we can impact?  What are we doing about that?  Perhaps, we could listen to another command of Jesus (v. 17).  Love each other.

Obedience is the condition of friendship with Christ.  So I guess we should ask the question, are we friends or acquaintances?

Father in Heaven, we thank you for this day and another opportunity to praise you and serve you!  There is no one like you!  As we reflect on our relationship with you, help us with your Holy Spirit to be obedient to what you have commanded us to do.  Show us what we can do today to either introduce others to you or to encourage and strengthen someone's relationship with you.  This is our prayer, in Jesus name, Amen.

Pastor Bsett's E-Devotion

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.  (2 Corinthians 5:11 NRSV)

Yesterday, I asked for everyone in the congregation to think of one person in their life that they know who does not know Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I asked for us to be in prayer and to reach out to that person this week to see where they are in their life and look for an opening to share your relationship with Jesus with the intention of offering Jesus to come into their life so they may be saved.  As servants of the Most High God, this is our duty and obligation.  This is our ministry.  This text by Paul suggest that because we as Christians should understand that in fear of the LORD, we should try to persuade others.   The definition of persuade is to prevail on (a person) to do something, as by advising or urging; to induce to believe by appealing to reason or understanding; to convince (Dictionary.com).  We should try to persuade others.  When was the last time you've done this?  We all have brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, neighbors, co-workers, childhood friends, etc., that we still talk to who do not know Jesus.  Have we made efforts to persuade them?  As we discuss various things with the people we engage with every day, our attempts should be to persuade them to be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). Let us try to do this today.

Word of caution.  It's difficult to persuade others to know Christ if our lives are not completely sold out to Christ.  Part of our strategy to persuade others is to have a faithful, consistent and growing relationship with Christ that is an example to others.

Final note, read John 4 for insight and reflection on persuading others.

Heavenly Father, we rejoice in this day you have given to us.  You are worthy of our praise!  We love you today!  We thank you for new mercies you have provided for us.  Father, what would you have us do today?  Show us how we can persuade others to be reconciled to you!  We pray for our friend/family member who does not know you.  Give us an opportunity this week to try to persuade them to know you.   We thank you for being our Father!  In Jesus name, Amen.

Are You Ashamed of Jesus?

I have been working with young people for many years now and often wonder why I don't often observe them talking about Jesus with their friends.  There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, Jesus never comes up.  It is not just young people it is adults as well.  We just don't seem to work Jesus into the conversation. Why is that? Is it because we are ashamed to be identified as a Christian?  Because to be a Christian is to be different.  It is to conduct yourself in such a way that those who do not know Jesus would want to know him.  If you claim to be a Christian then rep it!  If we are fans of certain sports team we Rep it to the utmost.  We rock the Laker hat, (ok, yes, I AM a Laker Fan for life), favorite player's jersey, etc...why would we do any less for Jesus who died to save us.

 It has become clear to me over the years that young people relate to singers, sports stars, actors, etc.  They follow their favorite people and television shows on Twitter to see what they are up to and what they are saying.  Many of the young people in my church love Drake.  I mean they listen to his music, the girls have his picture on their screen savers, they quote his lyrics on Facebook, etc. But what is Drake really saying?  I am not hating on Drake or on the young folk that listen to his music.  I'm just sayin'.  Let's take a quick look at a Drake lyric: "Don't like my women single, I like my chicks in twos...And these days all the girls is down to roll.  I hit the strip club and all them bitches find a pole" - Right Above it  Again, not hating on Drake...in fact in reality he is talking about what he knows, what he values and what he believes to be true. And the lyric is actually a sad but true commentary on the actions of some young women.   Not everyone is a Christian and therefore does not roll with the same values and mindset of that of a Christian.  But if you ARE a Christian, and you profess to be a Christian then you must think about looking elsewhere for examples of who to listen to and pattern your thinking after.

So, I have a Kat (am I dating myself? LOL) who you can follow and learn from.  His name is Peter.  He was a Fisherman and a disciple of Jesus.  You can find his lyrics in the Bible, in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) and later in Acts.  So Peter walked with Jesus and saw him in the flesh.  Peter was one of the first disciples to be called. He and his brother, Andrew.  Jesus travelled to Peter's house and healed Peter's mother-in-law.  Peter even walked on water at the command of Jesus.  In a moment of weakness he lost faith and began to sink, but Jesus reached out and caught him. Even after all that he witnessed while spending time with Jesus, after all that Jesus had done for him and been to him, when the spot got hot, Peter denied knowing Jesus.  In fact, he denied knowing Jesus 3 times:

69 tNow Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your uspeech betrays you.”
74 Then vhe began to 6curse and 7swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, w“Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.   (Matthew 26:69-75)


Even when Peter was traveling with Jesus, the Bible tells us that he walked behind Jesus at a distance.  Perhaps he didn't want to be fully identified with knowing and following Jesus.  I suspect many of us do the same thing.  We go to church but then when in school, at a party, at the mall, etc..we follow at a distance, never even working Jesus into our conversation or our lives.

Peter was remorseful about having denied knowing Jesus and was forgiven.  He then began to do the work of the Lord, fully claiming Him as savior.  He began to heal the sick in the name of Jesus and many began praising God.  Peter was imprisoned for healing but continued to fully claim Jesus Christ.

So I ask the question...Are you ashamed of Jesus?  Do you fully claim Him as your savior and give Him the credit and honor for the things in your life? Or are you like Peter USED to be before he fully realized the error of his ways?  The Bible tells us that if we are ashamed of God before man, HE (Jesus) will be ashamed of us before His father in Heaven.  I am not suggesting that you walk around preaching full sermons in the Mall when you are with your friends.  I am simply suggesting that by your actions, and by your words, that you represent the Lord Jesus Christ.  When your friends tell you that they are having problems at home and they have no hope, tell them about Jesus.  Tell them that God created them in His image and that nothing can separate us from His love.  Tell them that there is always hope when Jesus is with us.  But her is the tricky part.  They will not believe you if you don't believe it yourself.  And you cannot share with others what you don't know.  Young folk and old folk alike, We can no longer walk around ashamed to utter the name Jesus.  Rep Christ even more than you Rep your favorite singer, sports star, actor, etc.....You would be nothing without Him.

If you have any questions/comments or just have no idea what in the world I am talking about but want to know more please hit me up on Twitter or Inbox me on Facebook (Marsha Myers) or email me at Myers0608@gmail.com.  I will take the time to break it down and invite you to learn more about the man I claim as Lord, Savior and friend....

Here are some scriptural references for this post:
Peter being called as a disciple: Matthew 4:17-19
Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law: Matthew 8:14-15
Peter's encounter with Jesus on the water:  Matthew 14:22-33
Peter healing and ministering found throughout Acts
(if you need more hit me up)







Monday, January 10, 2011

The Soil of our Hearts.........


How's the Soil of Your Heart?

Scriptures:
Matthew 13: 1-23                                    Matthew 13:37-43
Matthew 13:23-30                                    Matthew 12:33-37
Colossians 2:6-7                                    Jeremiah 17:9

Seeds, Roots & Plants

Seeds are planted into the soil.  As the seed is watered roots begin to grow down and take hold of the soil and a plant begins to grow upward above the soil.  In order for the roots to take hold, the seeds
must be planted deep enough in the soil.  The roots are what transport the nutrients from the soil to
the plant.  If the plant cannot get the nutrients it needs, it will die.

The Heart
According to the medical dictionary:
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood to all parts of the body.
 It is positioned in the chest behind the sternum (breastplate).
The normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs about 10.5 ounces.
When our heart stops beating, we die.

According to the Bible,:
The heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations
of human life. (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33),  

The heart is the "home of the personal life," we are designated, according to our heart,s.
 wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8,), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72) pious and good (Luke 8:15),  

The heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom. 2:15). It is naturally wicked (Gen. 8:21), and hence it contaminates the whole life and character (Matt. 12:34; 15:18; comp. Eccl. 8:11; Ps. 73:7).

The heart must be changed, regenerated (Ezek. 36:26; 11:19; Ps. 51:10-14), before a man can willingly
obey God.

Salvation begins in the heart by the believing reception of the testimony of God, while
the rejection of that testimony hardens the heart (Ps. 95:8; Prov. 28:14; 2 Chr. 36:13).