When The Inevitable Strikes.
Humankind has spent ages trying to answer the question, why do we suffer? Some ask: why do the good suffer with the bad? Others: if God is a loving God, why does He allow evil, tragedy and suffering? Inherent in these questions is our personal experience with pain and suffering.
Amidst the plethora of discussion regarding this age old issue, including free agency, and our “fallen” condition, I offer a word of hope from James 1:1-8.
1. Apply joy to your time of tragedy because God shows up in your difficulty to build your character (vs. 2-3).
2. Allow God the space to work in your difficulty. He will matures you (v. 4).
3. Ask God for His perspective regarding your circumstances, and how you should respond to Him and others (vs. 5-8).
Christians, when the inevitable becomes your reality, you can visit the age old questions, but don’t get stuck there. Pursue experiencing how the fiery furnace of life circumstances deepens your love relationship with God.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Unmasking the Pain?
Unmasking the Pain?
Watching a loved one deal with sickness, and even death is painful.
The pain is real. Masking the pain with drug (legal or illegal) & alcohol abuse only leads to addiction and possibly legal and family problems. Activity that gives temporary relief only acts as a pain reliever. Once the activity is over, you still have pain.
God said it like this in Prov. 14:13: “Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.”
Take time to review the life of your loved one, or your loss. Express the exciting times and the challenging times. End your reflection time with the words of comfort found in God’s eternal Word. I will see her again (I Thess. 4:13-18).
Christians take time to share each others burdens by sharing and listening and so fulfill the law of love (Gal. 6:2; John 13:34-35).
Christians, make your way to God’s house this weekend and enjoy worshipping God and being in fellowship.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Watching a loved one deal with sickness, and even death is painful.
The pain is real. Masking the pain with drug (legal or illegal) & alcohol abuse only leads to addiction and possibly legal and family problems. Activity that gives temporary relief only acts as a pain reliever. Once the activity is over, you still have pain.
God said it like this in Prov. 14:13: “Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.”
Take time to review the life of your loved one, or your loss. Express the exciting times and the challenging times. End your reflection time with the words of comfort found in God’s eternal Word. I will see her again (I Thess. 4:13-18).
Christians take time to share each others burdens by sharing and listening and so fulfill the law of love (Gal. 6:2; John 13:34-35).
Christians, make your way to God’s house this weekend and enjoy worshipping God and being in fellowship.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Death?
Death?
Death is a reality we must all face one day. Death is painful, yet it is not the end. After death we do not disappear into nothingness. God created us with a soul, and one day our soul we be separated from our body in what we call death. The soul goes back to God, and the body is left here on earth, until the resurrection.
The comfort Christians have in death is, because we believe Jesus died and rose again, we will be resurrected with a resurrected like that of Jesus, we will live with God eternally, and we will see each other again (I Thess. 4:13-18).
Christians, when our loved ones transition from life, let us grieve with hope and comfort each other with our mutual hope.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Death is a reality we must all face one day. Death is painful, yet it is not the end. After death we do not disappear into nothingness. God created us with a soul, and one day our soul we be separated from our body in what we call death. The soul goes back to God, and the body is left here on earth, until the resurrection.
The comfort Christians have in death is, because we believe Jesus died and rose again, we will be resurrected with a resurrected like that of Jesus, we will live with God eternally, and we will see each other again (I Thess. 4:13-18).
Christians, when our loved ones transition from life, let us grieve with hope and comfort each other with our mutual hope.
God Bless,
Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Can you live righteously before God?
Can you live righteously before God?
The average Christian wants to live righteously before God. But temptations and compromise constantly beat on the door of our hearts determined to drive us into defeat (James 1:13-15).
A great way to live righteously before God is practice spiritual disciplines, which train us in righteousness.
For Instance in II Timothy 2:22, Timothy is told to live out godly characteristics with like-minded people (wholesome fellowship).
Christians, pick one or two spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, bible reading, simplicity, worship, service, etc.), and intentionally practice them throughout the day. You will find yourself closer to Jesus and enjoying abundant living (II Timothy3:16-17).
God Bless
The average Christian wants to live righteously before God. But temptations and compromise constantly beat on the door of our hearts determined to drive us into defeat (James 1:13-15).
A great way to live righteously before God is practice spiritual disciplines, which train us in righteousness.
For Instance in II Timothy 2:22, Timothy is told to live out godly characteristics with like-minded people (wholesome fellowship).
Christians, pick one or two spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, bible reading, simplicity, worship, service, etc.), and intentionally practice them throughout the day. You will find yourself closer to Jesus and enjoying abundant living (II Timothy3:16-17).
God Bless
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