True North

Just look around and you’ll see that we could all use a little more patience. Even in your own life, there are times when it doesn’t take much to frustrate you. Well, in this edition of True North, Pastor Gary invites you to take a deeper look at what the Bible says love is. You’ll discover that patience is one aspect of biblical love. You’ll learn that love puts up with a lot. As hard as it is sometimes, God wants you to be patient with others, just as He is patient with you. You can grow in patient love as you walk with Him.

You don’t have to look very far to see people complaining. It seems like everywhere you turn someone is upset about something. Well, in today’s edition of True North, Pastor Gary explains that, while it’s easy to notice and complain, as a follower of God, you’re called to do something different. You’ll be challenged to stop merely talking about the wrongs you see in the world and start doing something about them. Please be aware- some of today’s content might not be suitable for children.

Some medical procedures require you to be put to sleep with anesthesia. When you’re under the influence of those drugs, you’re totally unaware of what’s going on around you. In today’s teaching, Pastor Gary shares that something similar can happen in your spiritual walk. You can be spiritually asleep, oblivious to what’s happening. He urges you to wake up and take notice of where you are in your walk with the Lord and what is happening in the world. You’ll learn that you should take a stand for God and His way.

In a world filled with distractions, it’s becoming easier and easier to only partially engage with people. Instead of personal, eye-to-eye conversations there are surface-level texts and photoshopped posts. But, as Pastor Gary shares today, that’s not how God wants you to talk to Him. He wants you to share your heart, to open up about what’s going on when you pray. These fervent prayers will welcome God’s presence into your life in new ways and will ripple out into the lives of the people around you.

Children notice everything. They see when your words and actions don’t match up. In today’s edition of True North, Pastor Gary shares that hypocrisy turns people off to following God and killing churches in the process. He shares that parents need to have integrity in their words and actions. You want everyone, including your children, to see how to live connected with God and the difference that makes in your life. When you guard yourself against hypocrisy, God will use you to draw people to himself.

There are times when you cannot control your environment. Driving down the road, you might see an unfavorable billboard. Or maybe you can't change the channel fast enough and catch something you'd rather not hear. But in Pastor Gary's message today, there are certainly times you can choose what you hear or see. You've been called to not conform to the ways of the world, and choosing not to view or listen to ungodly material is part of that calling. Fill your mind with worthy and God-pleasing things.

A brief 10-minute newscast can fill you with feelings of sadness, anger, and fear. In Pastor Gary's message today, he suggests turning off the news. As a way to guard your heart against the evils of the world, just don't participate. It's easy to let your imagination run wild and assume the worst after catching the news. But you've been called to bring every thought captive to the Lord. Instead, choose to fill your mind with God's word. Correct your fearful thinking with God's promises to never forsake you.

Are you actively serving the Lord? Or is your service only happening with your mouth? In Pastor Gary's message today, he cautions those who only pay lip service to the Lord. Don't equate church and your Christian life with the activities that happen in a physical building. The Lord desires for your to live your walk with Christ outside of the church building. Don't let other commitments get in your way of doing the Lord's work in tangible ways. Ask yourself, “when was the last time you did something for the Lord?”

Is your church hungry for the Lord? Do you seek the Lord in everyday activities? Pastor Gary's message today shares how when people reject the Lord, God changes His reach. If one group of people denies God, He will move on to a more receptive group. Take caution not to ignore the Lord. Be thankful for the blessings in your life. Acknowledge from where your hope comes. If you do not want the Lord, He will not force Himself on you. Take hold of what the Lord is offering, and accept Him.

Who are you listening to? Is it Satan, your selfish desires, or the Lord? In today's message with Pastor Gary, you'll learn of the importance of being under the instruction of the Lord. All too often, churches are filled with individuals who think they know best. However, when you listen to the Lord and receive His instructions, you're guaranteed to carry out His work, not what you think is best. If you claim to follow the Lord, you must be under His direction.