Be in the Middle of God's Will

Look at a simple yet seemingly complex verse in Eph. 5:17: "So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

God's will is God's desire for us.  As we live by Christian values each day, we will naturally obey God's will for our lives (doing good to others, forgiving, being patient, showing tough love, witnessing, etc).

The special assignment to serve as a missionary overseas, changing jobs, dating and marriage, which neighborhood to live in, who to disciple, what action to take when wronged, what church to attend and where to serve, etc. require extra effort to discern (prayer time, godly advice, biblical support, signs from God, etc.).

Discerning and doing God's will is a responsibility that God commands Christian's to pursue.  We cannot stick our head in the sand and claim ignorance regarding the things of God.  We must understand the will of the Lord.

Christian's take time to understand and then obey God's will for you each day.  Guess where you will be in the future?  Right in the middle of God's will.  

FYI: A daily pursuit will remove much stress for those who struggle with God's will for their lives.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Check your Schedule

It is Saturday afternoon.

You have more you want to do this weekend.

Is attending church to fellowship, worship God, and get answers to life's challenges a top priority on your things to do list.

Is being in fellowship so deeply ingrained in your regular practices you do not need to put church on your to do list?

What will you do with church this weekend (not next week, but this week)?

Just as we owe the IRS taxes, our jobs and family time, etc., we also owe God our time in worship, we owe Him our reverence, our talents and treasures, therefore as Jesus said: give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God (Matt. 22:21).

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Enjoy the Emotional Connection in Prayer

When prayer is an intellectual exercise, and a robot like mechanical activity, and we pray because it is the right thing to do and because others are doing it, then our  prayer is not personal.

God gave us Ps. 116:1-2, so that we can get a glimpse of how He is personal.

Meditate for a moment on Ps. 116:1-2.

I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications.

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.

The Psalm writer described more than an intellectual and mechanical connection exercise.  He loved the LORD because of his personal experience in their relationship.

The Psalm Writer's testimony is that God leans forward and listens to the voice, and the petitions of His children.   

How did the Psalm writer respond to God's personal interaction?  

I will continue to engage the LORD.  I will call on Him for the rest of my life.

Christians, throughout your life, be personal with the Eternal and personal God of all the universe in your prayer time.  Recognize God as all powerful, and all knowing, and as the One Who can and will do something about your circumstances.

Take promises found in Gods Word and incorporate them into your prayers to God.

Believe God for things beyond your imagination (Eph. 3:20-21).  

Yield yourself to God's plan for your life 

(I John 5:14-15).

Refuse to doubt God anytime you pray (Heb. 11:6, cf. James 1:6-8).

Enjoy your time in prayer with God, and engage God such that He enjoys you.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

The Power of Scripture Memory

What makes scripture memory so powerful.  Look at Ps. 119:11: "Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You."

Memorizing the Word of God and and keeping God's Word in our hearts will protect us from sinning against God.

Getting the Word of God into our hearts as a protection against sinning against God,  we must meditate (turn it over and over in our minds so that it will come to mind when we need it).

Psalm 1:2-3: 

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers."

Christians, take time to memorize scriptures that stand out to you (one or a few at a time).  Then prayerfully think about these scriptures so that you understand what God is saying to you and you can apply them to your life.

Having the Word in your heart will protect you from temptations designed to destroy you.  You will experience The Holy Spirit bringing the Word to your mind in the right situation.  Nothing like it.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy

Rejoice and Be Glad

We have an old praise song in the church based on Ps118:24.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Each day is filled with new opportunities to thrive and not just survive.  Pursuing the opportunities to serve our Lord among our families, at church, at work, at school, in the community, and beyond at the highest level will give us maximum fulfillment.

Although self-centered pursuits can produce some temporary happiness, self-centered pursuits will give us minimum fulfillment.

What opportunities do you have before you today that will produce maximum fulfillment?

Pursue them with rejoicing and gladness because God gave you this day and the opportunities before you.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Do your Job

Christians, our job is not to fix our families and the people around us.

Our job is to demonstrate the love of Jesus inside of us such that our family and others are attracted to God (Matt. 5:16).

Our job is to speak biblical principles about the power of Christ to change lives, and how getting to Jesus is the first step to healing the hurts, pains, and emptiness in life, and live the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10).

Helping family and others find a bible based and loving church family is another part of our job.

A loving bible based church will show family and others how the body of Christ is connected.  Once they get connected they will grow in their walk with Jesus, and eventually help someone else get connected and grow.  Our job is to walk with people and help them become loyal followers of Jesus (Matt. 28:18-20).

Christians, let us do our job and keep our eyes on Jesus.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Good Things

"...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11c).

Getting right with God and staying right with God sets us up for the outpouring of good things from God.

The Optimist

The only things you will truly have great success at are the things you are totally confident about.

Doubt that crosses your mind is a set up for failure.  

The optimist has total confidence in what God will do in their life.

In the verses below, David was in the wilderness hiding in caves while running from King Saul and the armies of Israel, and was an optimist.  David was on the run because Saul was jealous of David.

Christian's, we cannot say optimistic words that sound good on the outside, but we are full of fear, disappointment, lack of faith, angry with God, and confused on the inside.

The optimistic words must flow naturally from an optimistic mind set.  You must have the optimistic mind set in everything you do (in school, in practice, in games, in interviews, at work, when things go wrong, when things go right, etc.). 

In verse 29 below, David said he could run upon a troop (he could attack a group of soldiers and win).

David said that he was unstoppable with God on his side Psalm 18:29).

Church, our struggle is not our physical ability or physical appearance.  Our struggle is what is happening in our heart.  When we are driven by past mistakes and disappointments, or fear, or a lack of confidence, we introduce the negative into our thought process, and kill the optimist mindset.

Church, be like David when he was on track with God. 

Be the optimist!

Psalm 18:29-39:

29 For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

31 For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God,

32 The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless?

33 He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me upon my high places.

34 He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.

36 You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.

37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them, And I did not turn back until they were consumed.

38 I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet.

39 For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy