Our sermon last night was so good I have to blog about it. It woke me up this morning so I know it is the right thing to do.
Key verses: Isaiah 43:10-21 (See comments for the text)
God is bigger than our past. He doesn't dwell on it, why should we? He is interested in our future, because that is where we will be spending the rest of our lives, not in the past.
Have you ever wanted a "Do Over"? Well we can't go back and have a do over, but God can give you a fresh start if we allow Him to by doing the following:
1. Stop making excuses for failures.
~stop blaming others
~stop being a victim
~be honest and accept responsibility for your part of the problem
If you give up when trouble comes you are weak -Proverbs
People good @ making excuses are rarely good at anything else.
2. Act in faith
~act on what YOU know, not what others know, or what you don't know but what you KNOW to be true.
~act on as little knowledge that you have. eg: a new Christian may have very little knowledge about what
Jesus can do in their lives, but they know that he died on the cross and rose from the dead. act on that.
You know that to be true
~acting in faith ensures that you won't make the same mistake
~Quit feeling sorry for yourself
~Stop regretting the past and look to the future
~Learn from the past but don't dwell on it
3. Focus your life on things of God
~Focus your thoughts on God
~Our LIFE is shaped by our thoughts
~Renew your mind=Renew your life
Get around God's people as much as possible. Get around other believers who are focused on God and you
will gain strength from it.
4. Trust God in all this
~When is the last time you REALLY trusted Him? The world teaches us to believe in ourselves and what
man can do for himself. God wants us to just look to Him, trust Him and let Him prove Himself mighty!
Brother Monty also reminded us to take "Baby Steps" and grow.
10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
ReplyDelete"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?"
God's Mercy and Israel's Unfaithfulness
14 This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, [a]
in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One,
Israel's Creator, your King."
16 This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the desert
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
This sermon made me want to shout "BINGO!" It is just amazing to me how God uses our Pastors to confirm what He tells us in our quiet time.
ReplyDeleteI am the Queen of Excuses. I have had that title for some time now and I am ready to put that crown down. I have been convicted about this for a long time in every part of my life from home to work. I am glad that my husband isn't afraid to tell me the truth sometimes. He can call me down on some of the stupid things I do. If I just own up to them I can change them. (Thanks Joe)
It is hard to believe that the little bit of knowledge that I have is enough to help me make a change, but is. God will take my knowledge and add to it and help me take baby steps to changing my life. I tend to have pity parties quite frequently, feeling sorry for myself for this or that silly thing. I have to remind myself that those thoughts are not productive. We can't change the past, only change our future so learn from my mistakes and move on!
I resolve in 2006 to decrease when possible the secular music that I listen to. I have found it to be true that when I listen to secular music a lot my attitudes change. I have known this about myself for quite some time so I keep Christian music at work to help me get through the day. It helps me stay focused on positive things and makes me happy!
I also resolve to encourage our family to attend church and church functions as much as possible in 2006. We go to all services now, but will let little things get in the way. I want to stop that. I know that is just Satan distracting me and usually when I have those urges not to go, those are the best sermons and God has a specific message for me.
I will trust God that He will take care of me and my family. I will use what He gave me to make my home better.
~God thank you SO much for this lesson. It was just what I needed to hear. I hope someone else can learn from it too. Please honor our committments to take baby steps to change our lives.
AYYYYYYYYYYMEN.
ReplyDeletethat was a great sermon. what a gem you must have for a pastor. i'll probably copy and past that, or re read it a few times so it soaks in because let me tell you sister, i've been on one solid pity party for months now!
Me too. It is hard to stay focused on the positive sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not blogging has helped alot. I have met lots of great, funny people, and I know it has helped Joe too.
Yes out pastor is a hoot. He is trying to get me to join the chior. I don't know if I will or not. I do however want to sing a special with Joe this year. I don't think I could do it by myself and not have to go to the emergency room when I was done. :o)
ReplyDeleteYou never know what is going to come out of Bro. Monty's mouth sometimes. He is cwaaaazzzyy!! We enjoy him but wish we knew him better on a personal level.
Preeaaachhh it Sister!!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Great post and great comments! It's easy to get off our path sometimes. It's great to have reminders and you have brought up some great points. Thanks!!
ReplyDelete