Your Work Counts

God said hard work counts.  When we are focused on our work, we will reap the benefits from our labor.  Our work must be focused on things that produce benefits for more that just ourselves.

  

Tilling the land and planting seeds, and caring for the crops including harvesting and safely delivering the crops to the market, produces benefits for others.  Namely, food to survive and enjoy.

Some people work diligently on scams that cheat and hurt others.  This is an example of what God calls empty pursuits.  Scam artist get caught and often go to jail.  They hurt others and eventually lose.

Look at what God says in Prov. 28:19:

19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

Christians, we are constantly under scrutiny by the world.  Focus on and be diligent in the work God has called you to  for the benefit of others. Even if your current work is not your dream job, follow God's principles for diligence and watch Him work on your behalf.

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Your Words Count

What you say to people, about people, and about things really counts.

As a Christian, people are listening to hear a biblical perspective on matters.  People who are setting at the next table and even across the room are listening to what you say.

Reflect on Proverbs 15:23, as you speak to people, about people and about things today:

Prov.15:23: "Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time."  NLT

Prov. 25:8-15, is another great passage to reflect on for various senerios when we find ourselves talking.

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

A refreshing reminder

Jesus really knows how to reassure us and encourage us along the way. In Matt. 18, the disciples were concerned about greatness or their status in the kingdom. Jesus, Who was trusted with children (see Matt. 19:13-15), and loved children called a child, and with unquestioning obedience that child came Jesus. Look at the lesson Jesus gave with the child standing there: Matt. 18:2-4:

2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,

3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. A child has unquestioning obedience. A child had total trust. A child has daily dependence. A child has a meaningful connection with their parent. Try to keep things simple and trust, obey, depend, and love God as a child. Let you guard down and realize that God knows all about your situation and exercise childlike faith in God. God Bless, Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Now that Valentines Day is Over

On Valentine's Day people express their love in tangible ways.  Look at some of the numbers from a 2/14/13, CNN report:

224 million -- The estimated number of roses grown for Valentine's Day.

51% -- The percentage of people who buy red roses for this holiday.

6 million -- The number of people who expect or are planning a marriage proposal.

$18.6 billion -- The total spending that will be reached by Valentine's Day.

Now that Valentines Day is over, will you continue to demonstrate your love for your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend, or others you care about?

Now that you have proposed, what is next?

Christians, in I John 4:19, we learn that we love because God first loved us.  Christians, we really know how to express unconditional love that demands nothing in return (AGAPE) because this is the love we receive from God.

Now that "the big love day" is over, we still have the command from Jesus to show the love (AGAPE) that requires more than money:

At John 13:34-35:

34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Christian's our love is timeless and has no limitations.  When we follow our Lord's example of love, even the non-Christian world recognizes the difference in our love. God Bless, Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

Christians Make a Differance

With at the chaos, violence, and moral corruption in the world around us, Christians must pray for those who need the gospel message.

We must also be salt and light in a world full of moral corruption and spiritual darkness, which is at the root of our problems (Matt. 5:13-16).

Christians, instead of going along with decisions that God says are sinful, we must speak truth in love.  We need not pick up guns and bullets, but pray and speak the truth in love, and be positive examples of the love of Christ.

When we go along with the worlds destructive system, we are silenced and lose our influence upon those who are really trying to get truth and live a full and meaningful life.

If our work never produced results, Jesus would have never told us that we are salt and light.

Christians, be encouraged, we bring positive change in the world (Gal. 6:9).

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

The Battle Plan for Stress Reduction

The birds do not have jobs and they do not have any type of revenue stream.  Yet God provides them food everyday, and they have have plenty to drink.

Look at what Jesus said about this in Matt. 6:26:

26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

When we look at the beauty of flowers in the fields and valleys, we notice their beauty.  They are unattended flowers, yet God sees that they are watered and in good soul.  They are absolutely beautiful.

Look at what Jesus said in Matt. 6:28-30:  28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!"

God uses birds, grass, and flowers to remind us of His commitment to provide for us.  Stressing out behind what we are going to eat, what we are going to wear, or what we are going to drink, only hurts us spiritually (loss of joy and peace), and physically (heart disease , strokes, high blood pressure). Stress does not help us.  Stressing out shows God that we do not trust Him to provide.

We all have expertise in stressing out.  But how good are we at battling stress and getting the victory?

Jesus gave us the battle plan to defeat stress in Matt. 6:33-34: 

33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Pastor Kennedy, I have to do something to eliminate my stress!   Read the battle plan again and see the actions Jesus prescribes for stress reduction. God Bless, Pastor Kennedy (MZO)

How to Get Caught Up in Your Bible Reading

Peter, one of the outspoken disciples of Jesus and who preached the first sermon in the church, was deeply concerned about Christians growing spiritually through God's Word.  Look at two famous scriptures from Peter:

I Peter 2:2:  "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,"

II Peter 3:18: "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

At Mt Zion, we are pushing everyone to read through the Bible this year.  Christians, we need to increase our knowledge of the Bible by reading the Bible.  We need to stop depending on others to tell us what is in the Bible and read for ourselves (if you cannot read, listen to the Bible via your electronic device or by CD).

A great way to read the Bible is by using a systematic approach.  Start from the beginning of each Testament and read three chapters in the Old Testament and one chapter in the New Testment each day (go to Mtzionontario.com, wait for the read the Bible in a year note at top of page, and download a Bible reading plan, or pick up a written plan at the church, or call in and we will mail one to you).

What happens when you get behind in such an aggressive reading plan?  Use a movie night or some other free time to get caught up.  If you are busy in other parts of the Bible as I often am, then set aside a catch up day..

Oh yes, we are not reading just to read.  Pray and ask God to show you at least one principle to apply to your life each day.

Christians, make reading through the Bible each year a priority and grow spiritually!

God Bless,

Pastor Kennedy (MZO)