Army of One

“The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.  A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.  Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine. ” — Psalm 33:16-19 (NASB)

Kings and governments alike amass major armies of troops in order to save themselves from their enemies.  Warriors train for years to become stronger and more equipped to succeed in battle.  Tools like horses or tanks are acquired for a strategic advantage.

Ironically, however, the most important weapon of choice is not any of these–it’s fear.  No level of planning without a fear of the Lord will achieve victory.  No technological advantage will out-do the awesome power of the God in heaven.  There is no troop build-up, regardless of size, that will have better success than the army of One.

What about you?  What do you surround yourself with?  You may not be a king, you may not be a warrior, but you do have something to protect.  Do not lay your hope on the odds of effortless victory, but lay it on His lovingkindness.  Do not look to man to fight the spiritual famine, but look to God.  Fear Him and He will strengthen you.  Fear Him and He will keep His eye on you. Fear Him, and He will deliver your soul from death.  What do you rely on?

-Jason Budd

“With Thanksgiving”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ” – Philippians 4:6 (NASB)

How privileged we are as a people that we have prayer. God is this great and powerful being. He formed the heavens and the earth and sustains them to this day. Our God exists outside the bounds of time and can create or destroy at will. But despite the great throne upon which He sits, through righteousness we have His ear.

In this passage, we are encouraged by Paul to make our requests known to God. Why? Because our God is a loving God and He loves to hear our prayers. Like any father, He loves when our faith and trust in Him culminate in us asking Him for things; it means we see Him for who He is–our greatest provider.

But the writer here adds two very important words, “with thanksgiving”. While our loving Father loves to hear our requests, He also appreciates a thankful heart. What honor do we show Him if all we ever do is ask Him for things? What respect do we have if we never take the time to glorify Him for the kindness He has shown us?

Remember when in prayer to thank your God for all the wonderful blessings he’s given you; especially the hope of life eternal through the gift of His own Son.

- Jason Budd

How Much Do You Do In That Direction?

An old preacher once visited a wealthy West Texas rancher and had dinner in his huge ranch home.  After dinner, the rancher took the preacher up to a veranda on top of his house.  The sun was setting, and if you’ve ever been to West Texas , you know you can see a long way out there.  The man pointed to the south toward some oil rigs and said, “I own everything in that direction, as far as you can see.”  He pointed east toward some cotton fields and said, “And I own everything in that direction, too.”  He pointed north toward a huge herd of cattle and bragged, “And preacher, I own everything as far as you can see in that direction.”  He turned west, and said, “And I own everything you can see in that direction, except the sun, of course.”  The old preacher turned to the man and pointed straight up in the sky and said, “And how much do you own in that direction?”

A good and sobering question for all of us.  We are surrounded constantly by the “stuff” of this world, and it is so easy to convince ourselves that these “things” are the things that matter most—a nice car, a nice house, nice clothes, nice gadgets and devices to fill up our house.  If we are not careful, we may seek to accumulate more and more, without regard for our relationship with God.  As the rich fool discovered in Luke 12, we will all one day be forced to recognize that the material things we have accumulated have no real, eternal value.

Jesus has told His followers, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ” (Matthew 6:19-21).

How much do YOU own in THAT direction?

-Jason Hardin

Take a Look Around

Good morning.  Thanks for being here today.  Everyone here knows that there are a million different things that you could be doing right now.  But the important thing is that you’re doing the one thing that matters most: paying attention to spiritual things.

Do me a favor and take a look around you.  What you’ll likely see is a big group of people.  Some of the people are young, others middle-aged, and even others older than that.  If you keep looking, you’ll notice that we’re comprised of different racial groups too.  After talking to many of us, you’ll probably pick up on the fact that we have different kinds of jobs, make different amounts of money, and come from different parts of the country.

Now, if you ask the right questions or listen long enough, you’ll notice something really important–we’re all sinners.  In fact, that is what brings us together.  All of those other details, yeah, they make a difference in who we are, but that last detail is important because it means we’re all the same.  What that means for you, is that you fit in here just fine.

Sometimes it may not seem like you have a lot in common with the person sitting next to you or across the room, but you have the same purpose in life, the same responsibility to your God, and best of all, you have the same Savior.

So, please, take a moment and take a look around.  You’ll see a group of people interested in spiritual things, and believe it or not, a group of people interested in you.  So get to know them!  That’s a big part of why we’re here!

-Jason Budd

No Such Thing As Luck

Have you ever known someone who just seems to be lucky?  Such a person just has things going for them, and they always seem to be at the right place at the right time.  Or it might be that all signs are pointing to disaster, disappointment, or heartbreak, but somehow they pull through.

On the other hand, you might know an unlucky person.  Maybe this is someone who, despite their best efforts, are at the wrong place at the wrong time.  For this person, all signs can be pointing toward success and accomplishment, but somehow everything falls through!

While it might be okay to attribute a roll of six in a board game or finding a $10 bill on the ground to luck, it most certainly is not to do the same with one’s spiritual condition.  You can’t be lucky enough to be righteous or unlucky enough to have fallen short when challenges come.

We are responsible for our spiritual condition.  We can choose to rely on our ways or allow God to be a light unto our paths.  All of us will face judgment, and we won’t be able to say to our Father, “things just didn’t work out”.  And if He calls you a good and faithful servant, it won’t be because things just fell into place for you.  Take the time to pre-determine the life you are going to live, rely on His word, and if anything, consider yourself lucky that God loved you enough to send His Son so that you may live.

Today I Will Make A Difference

Today.  Today I will make a difference.

I will begin by controlling my thoughts.  A person is the product of his thoughts.  I refuse to be victimized by my outward circumstances.  I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines and traffic jams be my master.  I will avoid negativism and gossip.  Optimism will be my companion and victory will be my hallmark.  Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me.  Time is a precious commodity.  When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever.  While it is here, I will use it for the things that are most important.  Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me.  Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures.  I will admit them.  I will correct them.  I will press on.  Victoriously.  It’s OK to stumble.  I will get up.  It’s OK to fail.  I will rise again.  Today I will make a difference.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained ” (Philippians 3:12-16).

-Jason Hardin

Healthy Relationships

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed; The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. ” – James 5:16

Confession is often one of the hardest things to do.  Why?  Because you have to admit that you’ve done something wrong!  When you decided to become a Christian, you made a commitment to righteousness.  For you to confess your sins would mean admitting defeat and failure.

Well, keep in mind that when you decided to become a Christian, you also made a commitment to a healthy relationship with God and your brethren.  Such a relationship requires that there be nothing standing between you and Him.  Is your sin standing in the way?

Confessing your sins to another person is a powerful thing.  (1) It humbles you and allows your spirit to feel a Godly remorse.  (2) It gives you accountability – that person can help you repent.  (3) It helps your forgiveness because the prayers of the righteous person are extremely effective.

If you feel that your relationship with a trusted brother or sister will be different if you confess your sins to them – you’re right.  It will be better, more Godly, and a newly fashioned tool to help your toward salvation.

-Jason Budd

A Diligent Faith

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. ” – Hebrews 3:12-14

The Hebrew writer here is giving us one really important message: Don’t be careless with your faith!

Beware .  We’re being taught that there is danger involved, that we might not know about.  The world is a fast-paced place, and it’s very possible that there could be a threat that we don’t even know is there!

Lest .  He then tells of the consequence – that some may with an evil heart depart from the faith.

Exhort .  Prevention is explained here: exhort one another daily.  Have you exhorted someone today?  Have you taken a few moments out of your day to encourage someone to continue in Christ?  If not, why not?

If .  That is a huge 2-letter word.  We’ll be partakers in Christ only if we don’t let that happen to us and others.  If we continue steadfast.

How have you done?  How are you doing? Remember, today can be different.  Today will be different, but only if you make the decision that it will be.  Will you?

-Jason Budd

Who Are My Friends?

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’ ” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

Are they people that go out on the weekends and wake up Saturday or Sunday morning having no memory of the night before? Are they the kind of people that tell white lies? Are they the kind of people that think the ends justify the means? Are they religious? Are they Christians?

This is easily in the top 10 of the most important questions you will ask yourself. Our friends should be people that "spiritually sharpen" us. Do your friends do that? Are they an encouragement to your spiritual life, or are they a hindrance?

Young people especially underestimate how much of an effect your friends have on you. Even in the early stages of a friendship, they will have an enormous effect on you. If that is the case, how much more so will they affect you if you two become better friends?

I would not even begin to guess how many people have fallen away or have been weakened by the people they spend time with Monday through Saturday. Just going to church Sundays and some times Wednesday is not nearly enough time with Christians to affect the amount of time you spend with non-Christians. Of course we cannot withdraw from the world, but we must be very careful whom we choose to become friends with. As Jason did a few weeks back, I encourage you to spend time with a friend who will spiritually sharpen you. If you are not good friends yet, become better ones. You will probably reap many benefits from that friendship.

-Alex Bestoso

Stand Up!

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle ” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Some years ago, I was sitting in a pew, much like you are today.  It was a Sunday morning and in the midst of our worship service, we were singing the popular hymn titled “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus ”.  The reason that this particular instance has stayed with me all this time is because as we sang that hymn, everyone, including myself, was sitting.  I remember thinking to myself, “I should be standing!”  After all, we know that as we sing songs to God, we aren’t to focus so much on hitting all the right notes or making sure our voices are of the highest quality.  Rather, we are to focus on singing from the heart.  In other words, we are to focus on the words that we are speaking (Colossians 3:16).  I never did stand up as we sang that day, and I’ve always regretted it.

This rather “simple” event, for me, has carried great significance because I believe it speaks to a much greater truth.  While many people today claim to be standing for Christ, their claims are not supported by the way in which they are living their lives.  While their words speak of great faith and courage, their actions illustrate someone who is merely sitting in a pew.

Today, be honest with yourself in regards to your stand for Jesus Christ.  Are you truly taking a stand for the truth or are you only “pretending” to do so?  Are you studying and praying each day and striving to grasp at each and every opportunity to reach those lost in the world (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Corinthians 5:18) or are those things you only talk about doing but never seem to get around to.  Determine today to take a stand for your Savior and live each and every moment to His glory (Colossians 3:17)!

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong .

-Devin Roush

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