Pastor Don Sharp

March 9th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:25:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 (NIV)
9 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Believers are different and should not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. We may look the same on the outside, but trusting in God alone, tells the true story. We have no need to follow the spiritual practices of unbelievers. Not only that, God detests those practices because deny Him.

So, don’t worry about Nastrodmus, the Mayan Calendar, Horoscopes or even superstitions like breaking a mirror. Trust in the only One who can save your soul. He certainly is able to take care of the rest.

Love, Pastor Don

March 8th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:34:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 15:1-11 (NIV)
1 At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. 3 You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you. 4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

I like God’s plan for us better, not Wall Street or the government’s
Love, Pastor Don

March 7th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (NIV)
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.

Acts 10:9-15 (NIV)
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

As believers, it is very important to rightly divide the Word. Today’s reading is a good illustration. Many Christians eat, pork, rabbit, shrimp, catfish as well as other animals that God called unclean. Acts 10:9-15 is the passage they quote to validate their choice. I am one of them and eat these animals. The point is that God once called these things unclean and later declared them clean. Although I am certain there are some, I cannot remember any time that a Christian said that they did not eat something because it is unclean.

Numbers 14:26 instructs the Israelites to drink fermented drink as part of the tithe, and rejoice in the presence of the Lord. I have heard many believers declare that God requires total abstinence, as if alcohol was unclean. I promise you that I am not encouraging drunkenness, but don’t know of one time that God declared “fermented drink” as unclean.

Love, Pastor Don

March 6th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 10:17 (NIV)
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

God made this statement right after He instructed the Israelites to circumcise their hearts and stop being a stiff-necked people. Israel obeyed the covenant of circumcision, but they often resisted God and resented His leadership. He let them know that their hearts were not right and they needed to change. It is as if they looked at the covenant as being binding to God, but not to them. The Jews of Jesus’ time had the same thinking when John the Baptist warned them:

Luke 3:8 (NIV)
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Is your relationship with God, one sided? Do you hang it over His head that your are saved? Do you make promises that you do not keep? Our God is an awesome God, who cannot be bribed and does not show partiality.

Love, Pastor Don

March 5th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:31:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 8:10-18 (NIV)
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

A couple of songs today:

Satisfied Mind
(By Rhodes & Hayes)(Starrite Music)

How many times have you heard someone say
"If I had his money, I could do things my way?"
Little they know that it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.

Once I was winning in fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for to get a start in life's game
Suddenly it happened, I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely, or a love that's grown cold
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to the man with a satisfied mind

When my life is ended, my time has run out
My trials and my loved ones, I'll leave them no doubt
But one thing's for certain, when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind

Saved
I was blinded by the devil
Born already ruined
Stone-cold dead
As I stepped out of the womb
By His grace I have been touched
By His word I have been healed
By His hand I have been delivered
By His spirit I Have been sealed.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved, By the blood of the lamb
Saved, Saved
And I'm so glad, Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad, So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord.

By his truth I can be upright
By his strength I do endure
By His power I've been lifted
In His love I am secure
He bought me with a price
Freed me from the pit
Full of emptiness and wrath
And the fire that burns in it.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved, By the blood of the lamb
Saved, Saved
And I'm so glad, Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad, So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.
Nobody to rescue me
Nobody would dare
I was going down for the last time
But by His Mercy I've been spared
Not by works
But by faith in Him who called
For so long I've been hindered
For so long I've been stalled.

I've been saved
By the blood of the lamb
Saved, By the blood of the lamb
Saved, Saved
And I'm so glad, Yes, I'm so glad
I'm so glad, So glad
I want to thank you, Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You, Lord.

Love, Pastor Don

March 4th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV)
16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

The Lord commands us to honor our parents, both of them. He also gives a promise to this command, “that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land.” The question I have is, do you honor your mother and father? Does God expect us to honor bad parents, or ones that are failures? Are we commanded to honor parents that have brought hardship to us, through no fault of our own?

Consider the Israelites that are receiving this command. As a result of their parent’s disobedience, they had to wonder in the dessert for forty years, and their parents died without getting to enter the promised land. Their parents constantly complained, worshiped idols and brought plagues upon the people. Their parents did not live long, and did not even get into the land. And why? Because they did not honor their Father. And with all the failures of their parents, God commanded them to “Honor their father and mother.”

Honor your father and mother.

Love, Pastor Don

March 3rd Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:21:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 4:15-19 (NIV)
15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 8 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars--all the heavenly array--do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

As Israel was preparing to cross the Jordan, God warned them about idol worship. The people that they would conquer, were idol worshipers, and there was a danger that Israel would embrace the idols of the very people they were to destroy.

When God had given them the law, there was nothing but His voice. There was nothing that could be made into an image of any kind. In essence, Israel was to worship the “Voice of God”. Hebrews says:

Hebrews 3:7-8 (NIV)
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit like this:

John 3:5-8 (NIV)
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

As Christians, we live by faith, and faith does not require sight.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Take a look around yourself. Do you see all the stuff. None of it can save your soul. None of it is God.

Love, Pastor Don

March 2nd Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:42:00 +0000

Mark 16:15 (NIV)
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

He did this for me and you. I had know idea. I recently wrote this poem.

Hope

Dark and cold
A soul alone
Hope is not gone
Hope was never here

Faithful son of a godless man
Never knew You
Never even knew of You

The grave and worms
My destiny
As the world turned

And yet, known by You
Enemy true
Me against You

There is no God
My battle cry
First you live
Then you die

You are so good to me
An old woman sent
To show to me
Heaven’s gift

You are so good to me
Your Spirit spoke
My spirit broke
And then, hope

You are so good to me
You gave to me,
This worthless son
Eternity

You are so good
You alone are good
I love you

Love, Pastor Don

March 1st

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:36:00 +0000

Deuteronomy 1:6-8 (NIV)
6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers--to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--and to their descendants after them."

“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” God made it clear that He expected Israel to be on the move. He told them to go and take possession of what He had given them. Even when they failed to do that, he kept them moving. It took them forty years to complete a 2 week journey. An entire generation wasted away because they would not follow God. The next generation learned to follow God during that wandering. For forty years, they had a simple task; follow the Lord by day or by night. For some reason, I am reminded of this passage in Hebrews:

Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Which generation do you belong to?

Love, Pastor Don

February 28th

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:05:00 +0000

Numbers 31:7-8 (NIV)
7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba--the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

Several chapters ago, we met Balaam son of Beor. The Moabites had tried to get him to curse the Israeli army, but God spoke to him and would not allow it. Now, we find out that he was killed along with the Midianite army. How could God use him against the Moabites and have him killed with the Midianites? The answer is in verses 15 & 16. While Balaam told the Moabites and since they were allies, the Midianites, that they could not defeat Israel in an outright war, they could defeat them by enticement.

Numbers 31:15-16 (NIV)
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.

Here is what strikes me the most. And, I think we should all take note of this. While Balaam certainly did hear from God, and repeat what he was told, for profit he taught people how to take advantage of weaknesses in God’s people.

1 John 4:1 (NIV)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Love, Pastor Don

February 27th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:33:00 +0000

Mark 14:72 (NIV)
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

This may well have been the sorriest moment in Peter’s life. During the seder on the evening before, Jesus said that all of his disciple’s would betray him, and Peter swore that even if all the rest betray Jesus, Peter would not. We all know the story. Before sunrise, the very next morning, Peter had denied Jesus three times, just a Jesus said he would.

Jesus did not talk about being betrayed to embarrass or shame his disciples. He was simply telling the truth. It certainly wasn’t Jesus’ fault that Peter spoke to brashly. And, Jesus did not hold it against Peter. In fact, he put Peter in charge of the early church.

John 21:15-17 (NIV)
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

After Paul’s conversion, he went to see Peter.

Galatians 1:18 (NIV)
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. If you have failed God, take heart. He loves you and will forgive and restore you.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

God loves you, and this is love:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love, Pastor Don

February 26th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:10:00 +0000

Mark 13:32-37 (NIV)
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

I read a Bible study recently, where a man claimed that he was one of the Watchers”. Those are the believers who are on their guard and watching for the Lord’s return. That certainly left an impression. It sounded strange, and yet we are all told to watch and be on alert.

I have been anxiously awaiting His return since 1981. One of the things I have learned is watching has caused me to love people more. I realize that I might not
have the time later. Time is after all, running out. We all have family, friends and loved ones, that we wish we had time for. We better have time for them. How sad would it be if they were lost when the Lord returns, because we ran out of time to witness to them?

Be on guard. Be alert and watch. Here He comes.

Love, Pastor Don

February 25th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Numbers 25:1-3 (NIV)
1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them.

Sin is at work continuously, and is always enticing. Sin does not take the cost into account. The cost of these sins was 24,000 Israelites. In this case, Israeli men became sexually involve with Moabite women, which then led to Baal worship. Whose fault was this? The women? No, they were not accountable to God. The men of Israel had no excuse. They were enticed away by their own evil desires, and that never has a happy ending.

James 1:13-15 (NIV)
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

What should these men have done?

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

We live in a world of sexual temptation. Here is our defense. Flee, don’t dwell on it. Flee, you have been bought with a price.

Love, Pastor Don

February 24th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:05:00 +0000

Numbers 21:4-5 (NIV)
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

This incident caused great trouble and tragedy for the children of Israel. Because Israel would not be satisfied with the Lord, he sent snakes into their camp and many people died. Jesus points to this story to illustrated his death on the cross.

John 3:14-15 (NIV)
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

It is a sad note that the invasion of snake came right after God deliver an enemy into the hands of the Israelites. They had plead for his help, and swore an oath to completely destroy their enemy.

Numbers 21:1-3 (NIV)
1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

What strikes me the most though, is what the Israelites said that cause God to send the snakes. They call Manna, miserable food. Can you imagine calling the “bread of life” miserable food.

Do you love the “Manna” from heaven? Or, do you only seek God in times of trouble or great need? The only thing that saved the Israelites was the bronze snake lifted up on a pole. What a reminder of the snake in the garden, and Jesus’ great sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:26-28 (NIV)
26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Love, Pastor Don

February 23rd Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:51:00 +0000

Mark 11:25 (NIV)
25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Matthew 6:9-15 (NIV)
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Have you prayed today? Have you forgiven today?

Love, Pastor Don

February 22nd Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:04:00 +0000

Numbers 16:7 (NIV)
7 and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the LORD. The man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!"

Relying on the fact that they were Levites, Korah and a group of Levites confront Moses and Aaron saying, “why have you set yourselves above us. We are all holy.’ As a result, over 14,000 rebellious men died.

It is easy to find yourself opposing God when you take Him for granted or think more highly of yourself than you ought. The earth and everything in it, belongs to God, to use as He deems best. Meditate on this passage today.

Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love, Pastor Don

February 21st Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Numbers 13:28-31 (NIV)
28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are."

From the very beginning of the conquest of Canaan, the Israelites were terribly afraid of the Anakim. After all, the Anakim were descendants of the fabled Nephilim.

Numbers 13:33 (NIV)
33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

God told Israel to completely drive out the inhabitants of Canaan or else.

Numbers 33:50-56 (NIV)
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 "'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.'"

Unfortunately, Israel did not completely drive the enemies of God away.

Joshua 11:21-22 (NIV)
21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.

Failure to remove all the Canaanites came back to haunt Israel. A giant name Goliath blasphemed the very name of God and paralyzed the entire army of Israel.

1 Samuel 17:4 (NIV)
4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.

Since Goliath was from Gath, he may well have been a Nephilim. Either way, he held a nation at bay until David confronted him on behalf of God.

Sometimes believers elevate people or things to a status that makes them seem unbeatable. Things that we don’t believe can ever change or be overcome. We may consider them too strong, and never completely drive them out of our lives. When this happens, they will trouble us wherever we live and whatever we do.

The only remedy is to stand on the word of God and drive them completely out. Otherwise, because of our failure to do so, they may blaspheme the very name of God.

Love, Pastor Don

February 20th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Mark 9:33-35 (NIV)
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The disciples were arguing about which of them was the greatest. It kind of reminds me of today. So many ministers make claims of special gifts from God that make them great. People follow from one great preacher to the next. Some pastors have pastors under them that meet with members of the congregation, and are not available to their church members. Doesn’t that seem contrary to what Jesus told his disciples?

Church leaders should be servants to the church. The Greek words for Bishop, Elder, Pastor or Deacon, translates “as if servants waiting tables.”

Should church leaders be treated differently than Jesus? Here is what He said about Himself.

Mark 10:41-45 (NIV)
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Love, Pastor Don

February 19th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:26:00 +0000

Mark 8:27-29 (NIV)
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 28 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

In Peter’s confession, he is putting his hope in Jesus. Peter is saying that Jesus is not Elijah or another prophet, but the one sent to save Israel. Matthew’s account gives more details. He tells Peter that this knowledge was revealed by God.

Matthew 16:13-17 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

It is very important to understand that people who hear from God, can also listen to Satan. We have to be diligent and careful to make certain we don’t believe anything that is contradictory to scripture. Believers in Christ can still believe a lie from Satan.

After this confession of faith, Jesus taught about his death. Look at this conversation.

Mark 8:30-33 (NIV)
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

Peter completely missed the mark, and Jesus rebuked him, calling him Satan and saying that Peter had the mind of men. Brothers and Sisters, we need to be on guard, because our enemy never gets tired of attacking us. Who better to warn us than Peter himself.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Love, Pastor Don

February 28th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
24 "' "The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'

The priests were instructed to say this blessing to the children of Israel, on behalf of God. Would it not be wonderful if we did indeed pray this blessing upon one another.

So, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'

Love, Pastor Don

February 17th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Numbers 3:11-13 (NIV)
11 The LORD also said to Moses, 12 "I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD."

When God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, He claimed the firstborn sons of the Levites to be His priests. He declared them to be His.

When he saved us out of sin, he made the same claim.

Revelation 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

One of the functions of the priest is to intercede on behalf of the people. God has chosen us to represent Him to the people, and the people to Him.

God, help us to see the lost as people who need us the intercede for them. Were it not for You, we too would be lost. Even as they are Your enemies, we were once Your enemies too. Help us pray for their salvation and redemption, no matter who they are. Amen

Love, Pastor Don

February 16th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:42:00 +0000

Mark 6:25-27 (NIV)
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

Herod was not the first or the last person to have an oath come back to haunt them. After all, God is really the only one who has control over every situation. More than once, I have told my children, “This is going to cost you more than you are willing to pay, you just don’t know it yet.”

Jesus went so far as to warn us against swearing an oath.

Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Love, Pastor Don

February 15th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:57:00 +0000

Leviticus 25:35-38 (NIV)
35 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

Am I my brother’s keeper?

Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (NIV)
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Yes, yes, yes. Thank you Jesus

Love, Pastor Don

February 14th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Mark 5:21-24 (NIV)
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him.

You need to copy and paste this you tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYwNwTqI-y4

Love, Pastor Don

February 13th Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Don) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:21:00 +0000

Leviticus 20:10 (NIV)
10 "'If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

At one time, I was a proponent of capital punishment for murders, because of the scriptural instruction.

Numbers 35:16-21 (NIV)
16 "'If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 17 Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies 21 or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
My daughter pointed out that there were several other sins that called for death, that our society does not adhere to. Adultery is one.
Many Christians are guilty of adultery, and yet none are subjected to the death penalty. Consider what Jesus said about adultery.

Matthew 5:32 (NIV)
32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

I found myself in a very difficult position. I don’t know about you, but here is what Jesus said.

John 8:1-11 (NIV)
1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Love, Pastor Don