Pleasant Grove Baptist Church October 29, 2018 at 03:04AM

from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2O7cbbr
via IFTTT What do you see? What your eyes see will make or break you! Peter was walking on water. He had already stepped out of the boat. He had already made his way mostly to Jesus. What a fascinating miracle! Peter was walking on the water that he had fished in all his life! As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. But at some point, his eyes drifted from Jesus to the world. He saw the wind and waves. He saw the event is on of the Savior. And he started sinking. Interesting that it was not the fact that he was standing in water that scared him. It was the storm. Consider that for a moment. It was the storm. Often in life we are called to do seemingly impossible things. Miracles happen only when there is no way, no possibilities. Peter's miracle was walking on water as if it were sand. Yet it wasn't fear of the miracle failing that got to him, it was the storm... The regular stuff off life that existed before the miracle. The way to overcome the stuff off life that beats against us, is simple but hard. Keep our eyes on Jesus. Faith abounds when our eyes see only Him. When we start to contemplate the danger, the battle itself, the storm... Our eyes no longer see Jesus but danger. And that breeds fear, and fear destroys faith. Has Jesus called you to walk on water? If so, keep your eyes on him. Forget the storm. Focus on Him, the scriptures, prayer, the still small voice inside. The storm rages, yells, screams at you but a faithful servant listens past the loud storm into the stillness. Quiet solitude with Jesus. Do not focus on the things, focus on the person. Do not focus on the work, but the reason. Do not focus on the outcome, but the path. See Jesus in your daily walk, even hourly! Don't let Satan tempt you to see those waves or wind. Resist! Ask God to grant you blinders to only see Jesus. The storm will be there whether you are in the boat or walking in the water. Forget the storm. It means nothing. Just focus on coming to Jesus.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church October 26, 2018 at 03:33AM

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via IFTTT They don't need to go elsewhere... You feed them. Wow! That is truly an earthshattering command and revelation! Think for a sec, what Jesus is saying! You can feed them. You! Our day is overwhelmed with the notion that we must seek educated professional experts for everything. We have experts all around us to guide is in every aspect of life. People we rely on to guide us in truth. Doctors, phsychologists, professors, nutritionists, preachers, teachers, ... The list goes on and on. For any aspect of life we are told to turn to someone else to seek help. But Jesus says "you feed them". If you are walking in the daily light of Christ, hearing from heaven, seeking His will over our own, keeping ourselves from the world as saints of a holy God, filled always with His goodness and glory, then.. and only then... YOU can feed them! You have the answer. Inside you is the wisdom and knowledge of the universe. Why would you need to turn to an expert, educated in the ways of man? What does he know that God doesn't? You see, the Christian Life is not a life filled with phone numbers of experts, running here or there to find our way. No! Jesus empowers us to know and to serve anyone, anywhere, anytime... As long as we are walking with HIM daily! Now, please understand. Be very careful. The disciples were WITH Jesus when he told them to feed the crowd. Are you WITH Jesus right now? That is a prerequisite! If your walking in your own desires and plans, trusting in your own wisdom and talents, then DO NOT DO THIS! You will fail. It's not you, it's HIM. You must be with Jesus to walk in His power. To know His wisdom and knowledge. But when you stay with Jesus, pray without ceasing, fast and seek His will, die to selfish ambitions, then you can feed God's sheep ! You can give a word of advice, healing, solution. You don't have to send a troubled friend to a doctor or a counselor, you have the answer. Where does wisdom come from? Why oh why is God's church using the ways of man to walk as God? Will education and training bring God's wisdom? How can we even think that man can replace God?!? Because... It started in the garden. Knowledge of good and evil, make your own choices, find your own way. Serve yourself. Be like God. No. A powerful church must reject the ways and reliance on man. A powerful free church must walk by the Spirit in humility and holiness. A powerful church can feed the sheep, as long as they stay with Jesus. Once again, it's all Him, and none of us. You can be used of God to do what the greatest expert on Earth can not do. If and only if, you walk with Jesus daily. Seek him, and all these things shall be added into you.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church October 25, 2018 at 03:58AM

from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2JjBfLG
via IFTTT It is ok to mourne, to be sad over the things that happen in this life. Life is full of hard things. They hurt. Even Jesus experienced this reality. We should not be surprised to find periods of darkness in our lives. Jesus felt pain over the passing of John. They were kindred spirits, partners in a sense. They were close. Jesus felt the pain of loss, emptiness, sorrow. And what did He do? What should we do? Get alone with God the Father. There is no love like the love of a caring Father, no greater comfort. Jesus turned to this loving comfort in His time of grief. Alone, secluded, with God. Crowds of friends and family are a blessing, but they cannot touch the soul like hearing from heaven. Words of a friend are sweet cool water, but pale in comparison to words from our Creator. Time alone with God. That is where Jesus turned. And He is our example. When life hurts, run to Him. Pour your heart out, let Him fill the air we breathe with peace. Let Him comfort our heart. There is something special about the quiet of solitude. There is where our souls are fed. Distractions of this world hinder the full surrender of our hearts. Quiet solitude is the key. Are you hurting? Has life dealt you a crippling blow? Get alone in a quiet place and give God the opportunity to touch your heart. Trust Him. Turn to Him. He alone is the answer.