My heart’s desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

Jesus asks a question we will all have to answer— ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Matthew 16:15)

Where are you?

Spiritually uninterested? Curious? New Believer?

I think once you’ve found a relationship with Jesus— real, forgiven, free— you’re going to long for the people you love to find what you’ve found.

I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor!

Rusty

Following Jesus means we have to acknowledge the sin in our lives, the things that make us feel unclean… but what do you do when you keep getting tripped up by the same stuff again and again?

We all follow someone or something. People on social media, TV personalities, news channels, sports talk radio.   We’re influenced by what grabs our attention.   

Over the next 8 weeks, we’re going to be looking at Jesus’ followers and how their lives were impacted by what he said and did.   We invite you to read through the Gospels with us in a 40 day plan beginning on February 22 (Ash Wednesday) through Easter Sunday.  

Turn your attention to the way, the truth, the life and see what God will do in you (John 14:6).

Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory— Forever and ever! Amen 

The Kingdom of God is real. And it’s coming. And, it’s good. 

You want life to make sense. You want your life to matter and make a difference. You want to build something that will outlive you. 

The common denominator in all that is YOU. And you’re not big enough to bear that. So you get tired, weary, maybe even despair sometimes. 

Let’s refocus on the Big-picture. The Kingdom, power, and glory are His. My life matters because I matter to God (The nearness of God is my GOOD —Psalm 73:28). 

Let’s build the muscle memory that looks to the Father first— His Kingdom, His will, and His leading.   

I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor! 

Rusty

Lead us—not into temptation, but in the leading, deliver us from the evil one. —Matthew 6:13

You’ve felt the pull, right? You know how life should be (even if you can’t put it into words), and you know the disconnect with how life is. You know how you should be living, but it feels like there is some pull in the other direction. When Jesus taught us to pray, He acknowledged an evil one who would pull us away, if he could. And he told us to ask for help. Let’s build the muscle memory that looks to the Father first— His Kingdom, His will, and His leading.   

I love you, and I LOVE Being Your Pastor! 

Rusty

Forgiveness:

It’s a relief to receive it, but often hard to extend it to someone else. 

We’re talking about the forgiveness we’ve received through Jesus and how that plays out in our lives with others, too.

Do you trust God? Every day?

Jesus says that God knows what we need (Matthew 6:8; 25-26), so is it necessary to ask God for our everyday needs?

What are you trying to prove? Who are you trying to impress?      

The Prayer of Surrender is about giving up the posturing. Surrendering the need to be the "smartest one in the room." No more protectionism or marking of territory.     

Here’s a related question, what are you running from?     

Jesus modeled the Prayer of Surrender the last night of his life. After laying out his request, Jesus finished by saying ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’ (Luke 22:42)     

That’s why we say “In Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers. it’s a way to bow before the sovereignty of God. It acknowledges that God is God, and I am not. To say, "even if I don’t get my way, God is still in control, and I trust God."     

Let’s repent of our proving and protecting, and surrender to the God who came to save us in the first place.      

I LOVE Being Your Pastor!     

Rusty

Remain in me and I in you. You will bear much fruit; Apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Have you ever wondered who you’re praying to in the first place?

Do you ever wonder if anyone is listening when you pray?

Or what is praying doing to you?

When Jesus taught us to pray, he started by spelling out exactly who is listening, who you’re praying to in the first place. He is the Great I Am, the God who gives you peace, who provides. The God who wraps the banner of His love around you. Allow God to remind you how BIG He is. Rest in His peace, and ask God to do what only He can do.

I LOVE Being Your Pastor!

Rusty

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray…”

He said, “When you pray, pray like this…” (Luke 11:1-2)

Two things to become the person God has in mind; you’ve got to hear from God (Bible), and let God hear from you (prayer).

For the last year we’ve been reading through the Bible, start to finish. As we start 2023, I want to turn up the heat on prayer.

‘Teach us to pray’ is a great request. It doesn’t come naturally. Doesn’t just happen. You develop and grow in ‘conversational intimacy’ with God as you simply DO IT.

For the next several weeks we are going to worship, practice and grow in prayer.

I LOVE Being Your Pastor!

Rusty