Front Porch Confessional

There is so much evil in this world...we can change that.  Each person gets to make the decision to look and live like Jesus. Paul is instructing us to change the world by doing this.

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We have a peace problem...and because we have a peace problem, we have a God problem.  Our minds are "stayed" on the wrong things.  We need to recalibrate and reconnect with the Lord.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

This passage is such a gift, but also a challenge.  Let us commit to seeing how Jesus talks about his Father and receive it.

Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

We are autonomous people, but we were never meant to do life alone.  From the beginning of time, to Jesus, and in the present...people together is the plan that God has for us all. 

Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

We have a love perception problem, and it's impacting every part of our lives.  John is refocusing this young church (and us as well) back to the love of the Father through through Jesus the son.

 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

We need to  acknowledge God here on earth, but sadly so many are afraid to vocalize with what they believe because they fear man and not God.

Luke 12:8-9 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Good works from God lead people to God.  Do we believe we are a light in the darkness or are we giving in to the weight of the world.  We are called to be different and make a difference.

Matthew 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We tend to lean towards passive or violence, but Paul helps us see something about who God is and what we are promised.  

Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

We hate the middle, but it's the place where faith in God is truly lived out.  Moses diets the people of God NOT to look at their circumstance, but the Lord...how about you?

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The promise of the Lord is that he is near to those who are suffering, but why is it that we resist.  

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.