Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “So Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Self-control can result it determination and perseverance.”

 

As has already been stated, self-control is a two-sided coin. On the one side is restraint and on the other side is action. Sometimes self-control means restraining ourselves from doing things we’re not supposed to do. But other times it means forcing ourselves to do things we should be doing.

 

So far we’ve been considering only the action side of self-control. Tomorrow we will move-on to restraint but before we do, I want to offer you a very impressive Biblical example of self-control in action. We read about it in Genesis Chapter six. It’s the story of Noah.

 

Noah was told by God that there was a great flood coming that was going to destroy all the people and animals, as well as the land. Because of their faithfulness in the midst of an exceedingly sinful culture, Noah and his family had been selected by God to survive the flood and to preserve the human race, as well as the animal kingdom. He was to build a huge ark and fill it with his family members, and then two of every kind of animal.

 

The biggest problem Noah faced was that up to this point in human history there had never been a flood, or even any rain. The Bible tells us that at that time the earth was watered by underground springs that bubbled up to the surface. So the entire concept of the skies opening up and pouring down so much water that it would result in a great flood, was beyond the experience of anyone who had ever lived, including Noah. And, there had never been an “ark”. Noah really had no idea what an “ark” was.

 

But, God said it and so Noah did it. Not just for a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, or a decade, but for 100 years! That’s how long it took him to build that thing. And don’t forget that there had never been anything like it because there had never been a need for anything like it. Therefore the people around Noah must have been amused, and then eventually mocking, as this went on and on and on for 100 years.

 

But Noah persisted in his obedience. And the end result? All the other people died but Noah survived. Their names are lost to history but everybody knows Noah’s story. While all the other people were clinging to driftwood and trying to stay afloat in the rising flood, Noah and his family were riding high in God’s loving protection and playing fetch with the Zebra’s and Giraffes.

 

Taking the action necessary to be obedient to God is sometimes not easy and often doesn’t make sense by human standards – especially if it requires persistence over an extended period of time. But that action is always the right thing to do, regardless of how it appears and regardless of what others might think or say.

 

I don’t know about you but I’d rather find myself riding high in God’s loving protection than clinging to driftwood in a rising flood. I encourage you to resolve to be obedient to God, even when doing so isn’t easy, and even when the results are a long time in coming.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

 

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he answered. ‘Take your son,’ He said, ‘your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.’ So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for the burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.” Genesis 22:1-3 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Self-control is demonstrated in obedience.”

 

Obeying God when it’s easy is nice but not overly impressive. Obeying God when it’s hard is meaningful and this is where self-control comes in. You have to make yourself do it.

 

Abraham had waited more than half a lifetime to be blessed with a son. Now he had one. Isaac was clearly a miraculous gift from God, born in a season of life when it was physically impossible for Sarah to bear children. Abraham loved the boy, cherished him. But in Genesis Chapter 22 we read of how God instructed Abraham to take his cherished son to Mount Moriah, place him on the stone altar, and kill him as a living sacrifice.

 

From a human perspective that was insane. What father would do such a thing? What kind of a God would require it? And yet, the command from God was clear. So without hesitation Abraham prepared to do what God was requiring of him, but it must have been with a deep sense of dread and with a grieving heart, not to mention confusion. But Abraham trusted God and therefore proceeded to do the thing he knew God was requiring of him.

 

We have to wonder why God would require Abraham to do this, but we already know the answer, it’s stated for us in verse one – God was testing him. This was a test of Abraham’s faith. Remember, Abraham loved Isaac. He cherished that boy. Was it possible that his son had become more important to him than his God? Probably not, but let’s see. Let’s see how he handles the test.

 

As the story unfolds we find Abraham proceeding to follow through with his act of obedience, but we also read that he fully trusted God for the outcome. In verse 5 he told the servants that were with them, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we will come back to you.” He said, “We” will come back to you.” And in verse 8 he told Isaac, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

 

And that is what happened. Read the story for yourself. God tested Abraham’s faith, and stretched it – a lot! But then God intervened and preserved that which was so special and cherished by Abraham.

 

On the action side of the self-control coin we find obedience to God. Often obedience isn’t easy and it isn’t the thing that you want to do. But God will often require of us things we would not choose for ourselves. During those times we have to do what Abraham did in this scene. We have to stay focused on what we know to be true about God. We remember that He is good, and He is merciful, and He loves us deeply, and that He has our best interest in mind. Then we trust Him and we obey Him.

 

Self-control must be demonstrated in obedience. You can trust God for the outcome.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Make a decision and move forward.”

 

As was noted yesterday, the spiritual discipline of self-control is a two-sided coin. On the one side is restraint, but on the other side is action. We have to control ourselves from doing things we shouldn’t, but we must also move ourselves to do the things we should. We are currently spending a few days considering the action side of the coin.

 

Have you heard of the common malady known as “paralysis of analysis”? This is the syndrome where a person spends so much time analyzing a situation that they never actually do anything about it. They become so consumed with looking at it from every angle, and considering every possible outcome, and they are so afraid of making a mistake, that they become paralyzed in a state of indecision and inaction. It is the “paralysis of analysis”.

 

But worse still is when such a person finally does come to a decision, and does actually begin to do something, but then they second guess themselves endlessly and keep changing their mind and their actions, before their original decision had time to bear fruit. The Apostle James labels such a person as being “indecisive” and “unstable”. Clearly this is not what God wants for us.

 

I encourage you to open your Bible and read the entire passage in James 1:1-8. There you will find that James tells us if we are unsure of what to do, if we lack wisdom with respect to a particular situation, we should pray about it and ask God to help us make the decision. Then trust that God will in fact provide the insight and guidance we need in order to conform to His will. Don’t keep doubting and second guessing. Pray about it, make a decision, and move on.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 assures us that this is what God wants us to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (NIV)

 

In the book “The Traveler’s Gift” David Ponder’s fourth encounter with a historical figure is with the great explorer and adventurer Christopher Columbus. Columbus was a man of vision and courage. He had a vision, he set his heart on achieving it, and then he pursued it with dogged determination. The lesson he had to share with David, which became the fourth of the seven decisions which can change the course of a person’s life, is “Have a determined heart”. Ask God for a vision, set it in your heart, and then go after it.

 

On the action side of self-control we must learn to make decisions and then act on them without doubting and second guessing. Don’t be the double-minded, doubting, indecisive, unstable person James described. Make a decision and move forward.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Be a person of action.”

 

There are two sides to self-control – doing what you’re supposed to do, and then not doing what you shouldn’t do. That means that you take action when action is needed, and you restrain yourself when it is restraint that’s called for. Yesterday we began exploring the action side of self-control and I want to continue doing so today and again tomorrow.

 

In his wonderful little book, “The Traveler’s Gift” author Andy Andrews offers us seven decisions which, if you accept and act upon them, can change the course of your life and lead you to success you would not have experienced otherwise. I love this book for multiple reasons. First, it is Biblically based. All seven of the principles are solidly Biblical. Second, it’s a fun book. It’s a quick and easy read that’s interesting and entertaining. And the third reason I like it so much is that it’s an inspiring story.

 

In the book David Ponder is a middle-aged man whose life is a train wreck and he needs help badly. So God takes him on a little journey through time which involves David making seven stops in history. At each stop he has a one-on-one encounter with a historical figure who offers him a piece of advice which has the potential to be life-changing. Each of these pieces of advice is one of the “seven decisions” that can change your life.

 

At stop number three David encounters the real Civil War hero Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Colonel Chamberlain is remembered for being a courageous man of action throughout his entire life. Consistently he evaluated the situation before him, made the best decision he could, and then took bold and decisive action. He was a man of action, and that was his advice to David – “Be a person of action”.

 

Here are two affirmations David ended up making for himself as a result of the advice and inspiration he received from Colonel Chamberlain:

 

“Beginning today, I will create a new future by creating a new me. No longer will I dwell in a pit of despair, moaning over squandered time and lost opportunity. I can do nothing about the past. My future is immediate. I will grasp it with both hands and carry it with running feet. When I am faced with a choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act! I seize the moment. I choose now.”

 

“When faced with a decision, many people say they are waiting for God. But I understand, in most cases, God is waiting for me! He has given me a healthy mind to gather and sort information and the courage to come to a conclusion … Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly.”

 

In 1 Peter 1:13 the Apostle Peter urged us to do this same thing. He instructed us to use our minds to think things through and then to take action.

 

I encourage you to be a person of action. On this side of the self-control issue, we have to actually do something. More on this tomorrow.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: ‘Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!” Proverbs 31:28-29 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Self-control leads to a successful life.”

 

As I write this Mother’s Day has just passed. Proverbs 31:10-31 is probably one of the most oft quoted Mother’s Day passages because “the Proverbs 31 woman”, as she is known, is commonly held up as the Biblical gold standard of how a successful and godly woman conducts herself. It also shows us what the end result of such conduct is.

 

As we read through the passage we discover that she is a woman of sterling character. Her husband trusts and praises her. Her sons respect and honor her. She is industrious, frugal, organized, smart, wise, and successful. This is a picture of a woman who is committed to living well. She has a clear vision of the kind of life she wants for herself and for her family, and she has the discipline (self-control) to do the things necessary, on a day-by-day and moment-by-moment basis, to achieve that life.

 

One definition of self-control is: “That quality that enables a person to do what needs to be done even when (especially when), he or she doesn’t feel like doing it.”

 

Much of success in life is simply a matter of having a goal and then walking it out. The primary difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people know what needs to be done and they actually do it – even if they don’t feel like doing it. Unsuccessful people usually also know what needs to be done, but then they don’t do it. They make excuses instead.

 

Yes, much of success in life comes from simply doing the things other people aren’t willing to do. Successful people make a decision and then tough it out, they walk it out, and they refuse to quit. And that makes them different from the average person. In life most people know what to do, but many are just too lazy or afraid or apathetic to actually do it.

 

This is where self-control comes in. And remember, self-control is a spiritual discipline – it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Self-control is an attribute God wants to develop in us. That’s why the Bible is filled with exhortations for us to exercise self-control in all areas of life. Also remember that God does not command us to do anything which He doesn’t also enable us to do.

 

So yes, you can control yourself. You can capture a vision, set goals, make plans, and then stick to it as you walk it out moment-by-moment and day-by-day. We will talk more about this tomorrow.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Self-control”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “You can control yourself.”

 

Today is June 1^st and summer is upon us. So how’s your beach body coming along? Have you lost the weight you promised yourself you were going to lose? Have you toned-up those abs? Are your biceps bulging?

 

I hope you realize I’m writing this with tongue firmly placed in cheek. I’m sixty-two this year and despite my best efforts at diet and exercise, everything seems to be expanding, sagging, wrinkling, and becoming increasingly unsightly. Therefore I tend to stay fairly covered-up these days – including at the beach.  At this age a “beach body” is no longer in the cards for me and therefore I’m not inclined to put it on public display. It’s really a kind of public service. And you’re welcome.

 

But still, despite advancing age, when it comes to health and physical fitness I do have a stewardship responsibility placed upon me by God to do my best to stay as healthy and fit as I can for as long as I can. God expects me to take good care of this body He has given me.

 

Doing so is a matter of self-control. Everyday I make choices about the things I will eat and drink and the activities I will participate in. I can choose to eat junk food, or I can consumer good nutritious foods. I can choose to plant my fanny on the sofa in front of the television, or I can go out for a two-mile after-dinner walk. I’m in control of those things, and God expects me to control them.

 

But that’s just one example. Self-control is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit. It’s a character trait that increases as we mature spiritually. That being the case, the more spiritually mature and the more like Christ we become, the more self-control we should exhibit in all areas of our lives.

 

Self-control is a big issue in the Bible. God created us with free will and therefore we have the ability to evaluate choices, make decisions, and take actions. God has also created a big beautiful world filled with wonderful things for us to enjoy. But then He placed limits and boundaries upon the exercise of our free will and tells us to control ourselves in a manner that honors Him. We’re to exercise self-control and live within the limits He has set for us.

 

All this month we will explore this subject of self-control. We’ll consider it from many angles including spiritual disciplines, sexual morality, finances, healthy living, relationships, personal conduct, and much more.

 

In many ways the overall quality of our lives often ends up being determined by how well we do or don’t control ourselves. The good news is that we can learn to exercise self-control in all areas of our lives. It’s a spiritual discipline and therefore the Holy Spirit will help us do it.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Anger”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Uncontrolled anger makes you look foolish.”

 

I remember the summer I turned 12 years old. It was pretty much a regular summer in a “Leave it to Beaver” kind of suburban New Jersey neighborhood. We were out of school for the summer and life was good.

 

Right around the corner from our house was Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church and School. The property included large grassy fields with baseball diamonds, and a shady grove of trees with picnic tables and playgrounds. It was nice.

 

On this particular day my friends and I were on the baseball field having ourselves a friendly neighborhood game. I was playing left field. A friend of mine was at bat. The pitcher pitched the ball, my friend swung with all his might, he made great contact, and the bat shattered in two.

 

As I watched this from left field I thought it was my own brand new bat that he had just shattered and I flew into a rage. I threw down my glove, I started shouting curses at the top of my lungs, I called his mother names that I’ll probably have to answer for in eternity, and I’m sure that in homes all around our neighborhood mothers were covering the ears of young children and slamming their windows shut.

 

And then I discovered that it wasn’t my bat he had broken after all – and boy did I look foolish. And, sadly, that was not uncommon. I did that sort of thing all the time. I had a real problem with my temper in those days and I frequently flew into rages about all sorts of things. The uncontrolled temper of Jim Mersereau was legendary in our little town and I’m sure the people who knew me then would be somewhat astonished to learn I ended up being a mild-mannered Baptist Preacher! But then again, God did part the Red Sea and Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead. So miracles do happen.

 

The point is that when we lose our temper we appear foolish and we embarrass ourselves. We also sin against God. In Proverbs 29, shortly after reminding me of what a fool I sometimes still am, Solomon also said that people like that are sinners in the eyes of God: “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” 29:23

 

Yes, he stirs up dissension. My “friend” who shattered “my” bat didn’t appreciate my characterizations of his mother and so as I stood there in left field, I watched him coming towards me on a long slow walk with a piece of the broken bat in his hand. I could only imagine what he was intending to do with it. Fortunately for me, other friends stopped him by reminding him that Jim Mersereau was a loud mouthed jerk who had problems controlling his temper. Fortunately a fight was avoided, but I still looked like a fool.

 

I hope you’ve found this month of devotionals on the subject of anger to be helpful. I want to remind you that the subject of anger is much broader and more complex than just what we’ve been able to address in these few short devotional messages. Therefore I encourage you to get a copy of the excellent resource “The Anger Workbook” by Les Carter and Frank Minirth. You’ll find your study of it to be time well spent.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Anger”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

 

I have a confession to make. All this month I’ve been writing devotional messages designed to help all of us better control our anger, but the other day I got angry. Really angry. And I’m not talking about some kind of holy and righteous anger either. I’m talking about anger with the potential for violence. In my mind’s eye I was seeing myself grabbing a person by the throat and squeezing with all my strength until their head popped like a pimple. I was really mad.

 

The occasion for my anger was a report on the television news about a demonstration that took place in a city I used to live in many years ago. The demonstration was a large protest against one of the current Presidential candidates – but that’s not what made me mad. What fueled my anger was the sight of multiple protestors, on U.S. soil, at a U.S. political event, waving the flag of another nation while they were burning the flag of my nation. That made me mad.

 

I love America. I love God and His kingdom more, but I’m deeply grateful that God has allowed me to live in this wonderful country. I’m grateful for the freedoms we have and I’m grateful for those men and women who have given their lives in defense of our nation. Our flag is a symbol of all that is great about this wonderful country of ours and desecrating the flag is one of the few things that will move me to want to wring a person’s neck.

 

As I write this I have on my desk in front of me a commemorative handmade ceramic coaster emblazoned with the medals I earned for my service in Vietnam. It was made by a fellow Vietnam Vet and given to me as a gift. For me it also symbolizes all those who fought and served in Vietnam but never made it home. They are representative of countless millions of others who, since the Revolutionary War, have fought and died in defense of our freedoms.

 

Today is Memorial Day. Please don’t confuse it with Veteran’s Day. On Veteran’s Day we honor all those who have ever served in the Armed Forces. But Memorial Day is specifically intended to remember and honor those who not only served, but who also died in the service to their country. Today is their day.

 

Please take some time today to honor those who have served and died so that you and I and all of our loved ones can enjoy the great freedoms we have. If you love your freedom, thank a veteran – especially those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Anger”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “If you’re looking for the cause of your anger, look into your own heart.”

 

In order to manage anger we have to identify the source of it. Unfortunately when most people try to determine the reasons for their anger they point to other people and to external pressures. If the other person hadn’t said this or done that; if I only had a bigger paycheck; if I was younger, healthier, prettier; if I lived somewhere else; etc; then I wouldn’t be angry all the time.

 

Most people are experts at rationalizing their anger and convincing themselves that it really is the fault of other people or eternal circumstances. Such thinking might be convenient but it certainly isn’t true. With the exception of righteous anger properly expressed, your anger is yours. It comes from within your heart and you have choices you can make about how to deal with it.

 

The Bible writer James addressed this in James 4:1-2: “What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.”

 

In other words, the conflicts are driven by selfish desires and sinful motives. It’s a problem of the heart. Yes it’s true that other people might be mean to you or treat you unfairly, and yes external circumstances certainly can create great pressures in our lives, but we are still responsible for how we choose to respond to those people and circumstances. Anger, improperly expressed, comes from the heart and therefore it must be dealt with on that level.

 

This is important because anger is a quality of life issue. The less angry we are the better life is for us, and for everyone around us. So it’s imperative to identify the source of the anger and to deal with it at its source, and that means looking deeply into your own heart. The Holy Spirit will be more than happy to assist you with that.

 

That’s exactly the point made in Psalm 139:23. Anger is a natural human emotion that originates in the heart and we have to find ways to deal with it in a healthy way. The Holy Spirit helps us to do that.

 

I encourage you to spend some extra time today just sitting quietly before the Lord. Invite the Spirit to search your heart and to bring to your conscious mind any anger issues that need special attention in your life. Then ask Him to help you find healing and resolution so the anger (in whatever form it is taking), will be dealt with.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

 

 

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Anger”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.” Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Righteous anger should result in action.”

 

As we near the end of our month of devotional thinking about the subject of anger, I want to circle back and address again the issue of righteous anger. There are some things that should make us mad and those things should move us to action.

 

In Zechariah chapter seven the prophet was teaching the people a lesson about faith that makes a difference. Empty religious ritual is meaningless to God. Actions taken to correct injustice or to show mercy are very meaningful to God. The people Zechariah was writing to were good at their religious rituals – they faithfully went to church, gave their offerings, and burned their incense, but they were much less attentive to social justice and to caring for those in need. Zechariah made it clear that God was uninterested in their religion if it didn’t include meaningful action in matters that were important to Him.

 

The same is true for us. Prayer, Bible study, faithful attendance at church, and making the coffee for your Sunday school class are actions that are helpful and meaningful. But if you then ignore hungry children, lonely widows, and homeless families, your religion makes little difference in the real world. God wants us to be the kind of Christians who will speak out against abortion and vote out of office politicians who support it. He expects us to be righteously angry about human trafficking to the point that we support ministries that help to stop it. We are to take steps to protect children from schoolyard bullying and women from domestic violence.

 

When a Christian is righteously angry it means that we find ways to apply power and influence to oppose sin and to correct injustice. Most times the application of power will take the form of pressure, persuasion, and influence; but sometimes it may have to be physical power, such as in the case of a nation waging a “just war”, or an individual intervening physically to stop an abuser from hurting a woman or a child.

 

The point is that we have to care enough to do something. We have to be angry about the situation because the Bible teaches us that these are the things that make God angry. And then we have to actually do something about it. Huffing and puffing, fuming and sputtering about a situation, is meaningless if we don’t actually take action to correct it.

 

Religious observances are of little value if individual Christians and churches and entire Christian communities have no observable concern for social justice, and for defending the defenseless, and for helping the hurting.

 

Some things should make us mad – to the point that we do something about it.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim