SKIP THE COLE AND GIVE THEM THE ROCK
Do you feel like you know that special someone who you want to give a lump of coal for Christmas? You know that person who has wronged you again and again this year. So I guess what we'll do is get the coal, put a cute little bow on it and place it in a spot that our special someone will be sure to find it. This way he or she will know that they made someones naughty list right? Then maybe they'll straighten up because we were bold enough to be rude to them for the sake of getting them to clean up their act right? Because that's what Jesus would do right? We as Christians know nothing could be further from the truth! "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," (Matthew 5:44) It is so hard to live up to those words in today's world. We should pray for strength and wisdom to remember these words and live them out when we think about giving out that lump of coal. When I thought of the people I'd like to give coal to recently, I was convicted and God put on my heart "skip the coal and give them the rock." What did this mean? Was I really to give out rocks to these people? No, you know God would not ask me to do that. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer" (2 Samuel 22:2) This is what God meant. I need to share the word with my brother and sisters who I feel have wronged me. In this way blessing those who curse me. Maybe they don't know Jesus and that's why they have wronged me and others. Maybe I've been over sensitive and they haven't wronged me at all. Maybe it's someone who God is calling through me. That would be a real blessing to me. Maybe it's a better friendship and someone to walk with in faith just waiting to happen. Whatever the reason, sharing the Lord can never be a bad thing. So here I sit with a pile of coal in the trash and gift of prayer that all have or will receive the Rock (The Lord) and that all have or will build Their life foundation upon it. This year, when you think of the "bad" people in your life, skip the coal and give them the Rock.
Until next time,
The strength of the Lord be with you
Anthony Pineda
I-70 Sermon Guest Blogger
We are Ruth
We all have had times in our lives (while we were believers and before we were believers) that we can remember and wonder, "How did I ever make it through that time in my life?" It turns out that in this we have many ties to Ruth in the old testament. Ruth was a Moabitess; a foreigner in the land of Bethlehem, just as we are foreigners to this world. Our home is in heaven. " but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20) Also, like Ruth we are not deserving of the grace of God in the same manner that Ruth had done nothing to deserve the favor shown by Boaz. All along our lives we have been getting by (believer or not) gleaning on the grain that God has purposely let fall from the bundles. The grain that we glean is not all there is, but all we choose to receive as God always provides more than we need. So when you look back and wonder how did you make it? The answer is you made it by Gods grace, The Grains he provided and left for you to collect so that you may survive. You have never been the first at anything, you have never gone anywhere alone nor have you arrived anywhere first. Our Father has always gone before you to prepare the way. How did you make it? How will you make it? God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He provided for us before and he will provide for us again. So when you have doubt follow the grain. He is right in front of you laying it out for you to collect. You know, I have given this message to a few people who I felt needed to hear it. But as I drove I-70 home from work the other night I found myself upset and worried. Drowning in all the holiday worries that the enemy and my flesh could throw at me. You know all the things like: will I be off work?, Will I have enough money? and so on. Then the Holy Spirit fell upon me and reminded me of something the enemy must have forgotten. The Holy Spirit reminded me that my father in heaven has many names and all of them soar high above anything concerning the issues of this world. Two of the Fathers names came to me. The first was IMMANUEL (God with us). God was with me and had done away with all the worries that my flesh and the enemy had put on me by reminding me of the second name JEHOVAH-JIREH (the Lord will provide). This "We are Ruth" message was again given to me. But this time not for the purpose of passing it along. This time the message was from the Father to me, for me. So that I would remember to follow the trail of grain that was provided for me (JEHOVAH-JIREH) By God who is always with me (IMMANUEL). All this in a 30 minute drive home! As I finished my drive and pulled into my driveway, all I could do was smile. Because it all could have been avoided if I had just remembered Jesus loves me and if that's not enough to smile about I don't know what is.
Until next time,
The Grace of Jesus be with you
Anthony Pineda
We all have had times in our lives (while we were believers and before we were believers) that we can remember and wonder, "How did I ever make it through that time in my life?" It turns out that in this we have many ties to Ruth in the old testament. Ruth was a Moabitess; a foreigner in the land of Bethlehem, just as we are foreigners to this world. Our home is in heaven. " but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20) Also, like Ruth we are not deserving of the grace of God in the same manner that Ruth had done nothing to deserve the favor shown by Boaz. All along our lives we have been getting by (believer or not) gleaning on the grain that God has purposely let fall from the bundles. The grain that we glean is not all there is, but all we choose to receive as God always provides more than we need. So when you look back and wonder how did you make it? The answer is you made it by Gods grace, The Grains he provided and left for you to collect so that you may survive. You have never been the first at anything, you have never gone anywhere alone nor have you arrived anywhere first. Our Father has always gone before you to prepare the way. How did you make it? How will you make it? God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He provided for us before and he will provide for us again. So when you have doubt follow the grain. He is right in front of you laying it out for you to collect. You know, I have given this message to a few people who I felt needed to hear it. But as I drove I-70 home from work the other night I found myself upset and worried. Drowning in all the holiday worries that the enemy and my flesh could throw at me. You know all the things like: will I be off work?, Will I have enough money? and so on. Then the Holy Spirit fell upon me and reminded me of something the enemy must have forgotten. The Holy Spirit reminded me that my father in heaven has many names and all of them soar high above anything concerning the issues of this world. Two of the Fathers names came to me. The first was IMMANUEL (God with us). God was with me and had done away with all the worries that my flesh and the enemy had put on me by reminding me of the second name JEHOVAH-JIREH (the Lord will provide). This "We are Ruth" message was again given to me. But this time not for the purpose of passing it along. This time the message was from the Father to me, for me. So that I would remember to follow the trail of grain that was provided for me (JEHOVAH-JIREH) By God who is always with me (IMMANUEL). All this in a 30 minute drive home! As I finished my drive and pulled into my driveway, all I could do was smile. Because it all could have been avoided if I had just remembered Jesus loves me and if that's not enough to smile about I don't know what is.
Until next time,
The Grace of Jesus be with you
Anthony Pineda
I-70 Sermon Guest Blogger
How do you love your brothers and sisters?
Do you love them like your dog or your favorite pet? Do you love them like your car or favorite possession?
Not all love is good. For even the devil loves. He loves sin, he loves to see you stumble in your walk with Jesus and he loves to see you fall from grace and so on. Do you love with worldly love? Jesus said, " This is my commandment. That you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) Not love one another as I have loved my donkey or loved my clothes, but as I (Jesus) have loved you! Many times we say I love you but how or in what manner? Is it conditional like, I love you and can help you as far as the world allows me to? If so, this is not the love of Jesus. Gods love is unconditional, never ending and very personal. If you cannot love this way then maybe you have not received the love of Jesus. Because Jesus loves you does not mean that you have received his love and because you have not received his love you can only give worldly love. You cannot give what you don't have. " And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Brothers and sisters we all fall short of the kingdom. But never allow anything to hinder your pursuit of Gods love. Wise men still seek him! The more of Gods love you receive the greater you will be able to love your brothers and sisters with the love of the Father, the love of the Savior, the love of our King. If you love any other way then I say to you repent and I will pray that you receive Gods love. If you already give and receive Gods love then I say to you Amen and for you I say hallelujah. You are blessed and a blessing to others.
Until next time,
The love of Jesus be with you.
Anthony Pineda
Do you love them like your dog or your favorite pet? Do you love them like your car or favorite possession?
Not all love is good. For even the devil loves. He loves sin, he loves to see you stumble in your walk with Jesus and he loves to see you fall from grace and so on. Do you love with worldly love? Jesus said, " This is my commandment. That you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) Not love one another as I have loved my donkey or loved my clothes, but as I (Jesus) have loved you! Many times we say I love you but how or in what manner? Is it conditional like, I love you and can help you as far as the world allows me to? If so, this is not the love of Jesus. Gods love is unconditional, never ending and very personal. If you cannot love this way then maybe you have not received the love of Jesus. Because Jesus loves you does not mean that you have received his love and because you have not received his love you can only give worldly love. You cannot give what you don't have. " And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3) "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him." (1 John 2:15) Brothers and sisters we all fall short of the kingdom. But never allow anything to hinder your pursuit of Gods love. Wise men still seek him! The more of Gods love you receive the greater you will be able to love your brothers and sisters with the love of the Father, the love of the Savior, the love of our King. If you love any other way then I say to you repent and I will pray that you receive Gods love. If you already give and receive Gods love then I say to you Amen and for you I say hallelujah. You are blessed and a blessing to others.
Until next time,
The love of Jesus be with you.
Anthony Pineda
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