admin, Author at Christ Church

Nov '23

What’s Your Plan?

Posted on Nov 10, 2023 by admin in Devotions |

Nov '23

November 10, 2023

If you want a better chapter, have a better plan.

What’s your plan?

• Some of you aren’t happy at your job. What’s your plan! Well, Jeff, my plan is to stay there forever and just keep complaining. You’re not a tree! If you don’t like where you are, move! Some of you listening to this talk today may be starting to think: Maybe I’m going to dust off my resume. Maybe I’m going to go back to school, or learn a trade, or start taking some courses online.

• Some of you might say, “Well, my marriage is struggling right now.” What’s your plan? You say: “We’re going to go to counseling. We haven’t been able to figure this out on our own and so we’re going to go and get some help clarifying things.”

• Financially, what’s your plan? Some of you might be acting like your plan is to spend more than you make. If that’s your plan, it’s not a good one. But you might crunch the numbers and say, “This boat won’t float.” So, you’re going to cut up your credit cards, start paying down your debt, work your plan and get out of trouble.

• What’s your health plan? Eat, sleep, eat some more. I mean, if you want to honor God with your health, create a plan. Here’s what I eat and when I eat. This is the time of day that I go for a walk or do a workout.

• How about friends? If all your friends are stoned 80% of the time, and they’re all broke, and they’re all far from God, maybe you need a different plan when it comes to the people you’re spending your life with. Because you’re going to become like the people you surround yourself with.

It is a Law of Life: The decisions you make today determine the story you tell tomorrow.

The decisions that you are making right now are writing the chapter that will be published tomorrow.

Let’s Pray.

I wonder how many of you would say, just real honestly now, there’s some part of your life that you wish wasn’t in this chapter. You want something different. You want something better. You want something more. It could be something for you; it could be something for someone you love. But you’re asking God for a better chapter.

Father, I pray that even though we can’t see You now, we thank You that You are here – that You’re even with us in the chapters that we don’t understand. So, help us trust You.

And, Father, help us do our part – to create a plan and work hard. But, Father, ultimately, we know that we depend on You. Thank You for Your providence in our life. You’re so good to us. Thank You for the new chapter that You’re writing in our life.

Thank You, Father, especially for your plan to save us and bring us home to heaven. You sent Jesus to die for us. That’s your plan. You sent Jesus to defeat death. That’s Your plan. And I want to thank You for letting me be a part of it. Thank You that there is a chapter of my life that is called “Heaven.” And there is a chapter of my life that is called “Victory.” And there is a chapter of my life that is called “Glory.”

Thank You, Jesus, I pray this in Your Name. Amen.

Oct '23

One Decision

Posted on Oct 13, 2023 by admin in Devotions |

Oct '23

October 13, 2023

What one decision could you make – what one action could you take – that would change the course of your life and legacy? One decision. One action. One choice.

If you need some help, my job is to help you.

• Some of you, you could cut up your credit cards. That one act would change your life.

• Others of you, you could be the first to apologize. “I’m sorry for my part of what went wrong.”

• Some of you, you could block that person who’s bringing you down. You don’t have to engage that person. You don’t have to be drawn into their drama.

• Some of you, you could admit you have an addiction and seek help. One decision. One action.

• Some of you, you could surrender something to God.

• Others of you, you could surrender someone to God.

• And every one of you could surrender yourself to God. You could get down on your knees and make Jesus – Jesus, the King of Kings – your king.

To get to the right place, you have to leave the wrong place.

Would you pray with me?

God, I’m going to leave where I’ve been … to go where I want to go. Because to get to the right place … you have to leave the wrong one.

So, God, I pray that You would show me the next step. Some of you already know what it is. It’s so obvious, you should have done it a year ago. Others of you, you’re just going to pray: “God, show me. What is it? What one choice, one act, one decision can change the course of my life and legacy?”

I don’t know what it is for everybody, but I do know the one thing that is for everybody … and that is Jesus. Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of Life, the Defeater of Death!

Some of you, you’ve played the game. You prayed the prayer. You grew up in the church. But you haven’t made Jesus the King of your life. It’s time to go back to Bethlehem … back to the One born in Bethlehem … Jesus, the Bread of Life.

In His Name we pray, Amen.

Sep '23

More to Our God

Posted on Sep 8, 2023 by admin in Devotions |

Sep '23

September 8, 2023

Believe there is more to our God.

It says in the Book of Hebrews, “When we come to God, we must believe that He is.” (Hebrews 11:6)

It kind of sounds to me like the writer didn’t really finish the sentence. Believe that He is … what? The passage leaves it open-ended.

But maybe … maybe it’s worded this way intentionally … because God is everything you need Him to be.

• He is strength when you’re weak.

• He is healing when you’re sick.

• He is goodness when you need a good break.

• He is the way maker when you can’t see a way.

He is everything you need Him to be.

You may know God by one name. You know Him as your Savior. And that’s great. That’s the most important way. But you need to open up your Bible and find out what else He is.

Because there is more to our God.

• Do you know Him as the God of the broken-hearted, who can bring a comfort and peace beyond words?

• Do you know Him as a resurrection God, who can bring back parts of your life that you thought were dead?

• Do you know Him as an Ephesians 3:20 God – an Ephesians 3:20 God “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think?”

• Do you know Him as a healer, a helper, a provider, a restorer, a God who gives beauty for ashes?

There is so much more to our God. Don’t keep Him in a box. Discover what else He is.

Aug '23

Facing Your “What Ifs”

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 by admin in Devotions |

Aug '23

August 18, 2023

Facing the “What Ifs”

Acknowledge your fear and choose to trust God.

Whatever it is, acknowledge it honestly and make an intentional choice to trust the God of the universe. I’m not saying: Bury your head in the sand; ignore it; nothing bad will ever happen to you. What I am saying is: Whatever your fear is, do whatever you can do that is within your power to effectively minimize the risk. Then, with every ounce of faith you have inside you, trust God for the things that are outside of your control.

Let me say this clearly: Do what you can do to minimize the risk. Then, trust God for the things that only God can do, the things that are outside of your control. I will give you an example in Scripture …

Remember David who fought Goliath? When David was just a young shepherd boy, he was chosen to be the next king of Israel. It’s not a big shocker that this did not sit well with the current king sitting on the throne, King Saul. Saul felt very threatened by this young up-and-comer, David. Saul gave the order: “I want you to hunt down David and kill him!” So David spent month after month hiding out in the hills, running for his life. How did he overcome the fear?

He said, “When I am afraid … In other words, sometimes it’s just too much for me. And you can say that, too. “When I’m afraid about losing my job or losing my house, when I’m afraid of what the future might hold …” David said, “I will trust in You.” “I choose to trust that You are in control of all the things that are out of my control.

David said, “In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” (Psalm 56:3-4) Just say, “God, here’s what I’m afraid of, but I choose to trust You no matter what. In God I trust; I will not be afraid!”

Jul '23

Champion

Posted on Jul 7, 2023 by admin in Devotions |

Jul '23

July, 7, 2023

To feel like a champion, be confident of victory.

For we are more than conquerors! Dear friends, could the Bible state that any more clearly? For we are more than conquerors! We are champions!

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers hiked up a mountain to assess the damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched like a statue on the ground at the base of a tree. Bending to take a closer look, he touched the bird with a stick. As it rolled over, three tiny babies scurried out from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, aware of the impending disaster, had carried her children to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but she refused to abandon her children. She had been willing to die so that those under the cover of her wings would live.

The Bible says, “He will cover you with His wings and you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4) Maybe you’re feeling the heat right now. But you are more than a conqueror! Jesus died for you. On the cross, He spread out His arms to shield you. No matter what you’re going through, He’s got you covered.

One day I received a call. “Jeff, mom is dying. She is not expected to live through the day. Can you come and give her last rites, a final blessing?”

When I arrived at the nursing home, I found an aged woman, her face lined, her breathing labored. Laura, a member of our church, stood beside her bed, holding her hand.

I said, “Laura, when she entered this world, a priest said these words over her as she was baptized. I say them to her now as she prepares to leave this world and enter the next … In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Receive the Holy Cross both upon the head and upon the heart marking you as one redeemed by Christ the Crucified.” I slowly made the sign of the cross over her, preparing her for heaven.

And then, these words came to me, popping fully formed into mind, these words I bring to you today: “For we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us! For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” A short time later, she breathed her last.

Some of you are thinking, Jeff, she is not a conqueror. She is aged and worn. The cold hands of death are wrapped around her. No, the hands of victory are lifting her. The Risen Christ, bursting with triumph and victory and unquenchable life, is claiming her as his own. She is marked by the cross and registered as a citizen of the Kingdom. She now walks in the golden light of heaven. She is more than a conqueror!

Hear again these words! “If God is for us, how can we lose? …. For we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us!”