DATE:  March 14, 2008 - “THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD”

Mt 27:50-54 "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

As Easter approaches quickly we are reminded of the death and resurrection of Christ. However, we often forget that Jesus wasn't the only one resurrected and Matthew reveals another miracle in vs.52-53 on the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD!

Many holy people who had died were brought back to life and as they came out of the tombs they went into town and appeared to many people. WOW - what a miracle. We understand that Jesus alone paid the price for our salvation through the death and resurrection, but he wasn't the only one walking around in the resurrection power. Jesus wasn’t the only one who came forth from the grave.

I'm sure that in that moment every demon in hell quivered and shook along with satan himself as the reality of the torn veil was in their face. At that moment there would be no more condemnation for those who were in Christ Jesus -  death, hell and the grave had instantly been conquered, and just as a reminder of what was yet to come, the Lord brought forth a faith seed of the resurrection of his holy people.

So friends - this Easter season take hope for someday we too shall experience the resurrection power of Christ as the perishible takes on imperishible and we go on to live for eternity with Christ. But until that day - let's continue to die to ourselves, our will, and then go forth in the resurrection power of Christ. Happy Easter!

Sincerely, Pastor Dan Lund
 

DATE:  September 4, 2007 - “MADE TO WORSHIP”

The last ten years have become of revolution in the realm of Christian music to the point where it has become one of the fastest growing industries. More and more bands are cropping up every day and while worship music has always been a powerful instrument in the church, it has in many instances grown to be one of the driving forces in many churches today.

But what I want us to remember is that Worship is more than a song, it is our life. John 4:23-24 “A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” In other words our worship is led by the Spirit but is always guided by the truth of the Word.

This is the same in life. The way we live on a daily basis is our greatest expression of worship because it’s where the rubber truly hits the road. As Christians we must strive to live our lives as an act of worship unto Jesus both in Spirit and in Truth.

1 - IN SPIRIT! - I’m so glad that because of what Jesus did on the cross we are released from the letter of the law and we now live our lives guided by the indwelling and infilling presence of the Holy Spirit. 

* The minute we accept Christ into our life he becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The Spirit works on us from the inside out to lead and direct and convict us of our sin. 
* We just have to work to keep in step with Spirit.

Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

2 - IN TRUTH!  - The other element we can never forget is that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. This is why the Spirit will never lead us into anything that is contrary to the Word of God He only leads us in the truth and the Father’s perfect will for our lives.

Jn 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

I hope and pray that your desire is as mine, to Love and Serve the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind. If that’s the case, then I pray your life becomes a song of worship and that every step you take is like the strum of a ministrel on his strings.  Let’s make a sweet melody through our lives so that when the world sees us it draws them unto Christ. Remember, worship is more than a song - it’s your life. And We Were Made to Worship!

Sincerely, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  March 29, 2007 - “The CROSS”

As we near the time of Easter and around the world believers celebrate the resurrection of Christ – it’s only appropriate that we begin to turn our hearts The Message of the Cross.  Why did Jesus do what he did?  Why did God the Son, who was fully deity, take on the form of man through the virgin birth of Mary and come to offer his life us, his creation? Why would God allow himself to suffer a martyrs death on the cross and endure the mockery of his own creation? What was the Message of the Cross?
 
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  
 
*When most of us think of Easter there is one thing more symbolic than possibly anything else…… There is one thing that stands forefront even in the movie "the passion" and one thing that is symbolically recognizable around the world of the Christian Faith and that is the CROSS.

C = Creation
R = Redemption or Reconciliation
O = Only…the only Son or the Only Way 
S = Story
S = Salvation

*First of all,
C stands for Creation = For God so Loved the World… Friends, he loved his creation!
1. You know a lot of people wrestle to find the balance in this. 
a) Some people look at God's love as an excuse to live the way they want satisfying their own fleshly desires.
* There's the universalistic view where whatever you believe is truth for you. So whether you find God in nature, or in yourself, or in Christianity, or in Islam or in science it doesn't really matter because God is love. 
 b) Then there are those who can't fathom the love of God.
* If God is love why is there sickness and disease?
* If God is love why is there fighting and war?
* If God is love why is there so much chaos in the world?
* How could God love us?
* Why would God love us?
2. And yet the Bible says "For God so loved the world" 
3. What does that mean? Well if you look at:
* Genesis 2:31 we find God has just completed his "Creation" and it says "God saw all that he had made and it was very good." 
* I think when God looked at his creation he saw the potential in it.
* When he looked at his creation he saw the possibility for greatness within each of us. Now granted "he saw all that he had made and it was very good" but there was one thing that stood out - there was one thing that was at the top of the food chain and that he loved enough to create in his own image - there was one thing that would be worth dying for – and that was mankind. 
4. So we need to understand that God doesn't love worldliness but he loves the world. Let’s be careful to maintain that same distinction.
* Matthew 16:26 says "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
* In Titus 2:12 "it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions…"
* James 4:4 even goes so far as to say "Friendship with the world is hatred toward God. Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes and enemy of God."
* 1 John 2:15 says "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not him."
* So if we can't love the world or anything in the world then why did God love the world so much? Friends he loved his creation in it's purest most innocent form - not what it became! 
* Part of his loving nature is seen in creation and new life.
* Every time a new born baby takes a breath we see a little picture of the love of God and it was that love that would cause him to sacrifice his own life only to rise again.

*Secondly,
R stands for Restoration, Redemption or Reconciliation = it says….that he gave…..
1. You see God loved his creation so much that he gave in order to restore us, he gave in order to redeem us from our sins, he gave in order to reconcile us back unto himself, so R stands RESTORATION!
* You know what? God gave his son 2000 years ago and He continues to give & give & give.
* It's the gift that continues to be extended to everyone who will believe in his name and all because of this passionate desire to restore a fallen mankind.
* And maybe you'd say fallen from what?  I'm a good person. 
* Well hear me friend, none of us are good enough.
* Romans 3:23 says that all have fallen short of God's glory"
2. That's what the cross is about church - it's about the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
* John 1:10-13 says "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, (remember it was his creation) but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  (as a matter of fact it says in Isaiah 53 "He was despised and rejected by men - that he was oppressed and afflicted) 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--(Church he was restoring or reconciling us back to himself.) so that we would be 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." It would be a new birth!
* That’s why Jesus declared in John 3:3, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
3. You see the CROSS not only stands for creation but it stands for Restoration - it stands for Reconciliation, it stands for Redemption it stands for Renewal….
* And in the same way - God doesn't just rub out the rust and fill us with bondo - he takes us, cleanses us from the rust and corrosion of the world - he makes us better than new, and then gives us a new pearly white paint job as we're robed in the righteousness of Jesus. And the best part is that it's a gift we receive instead of something we have to earn because Jesus already did the work.   

* But there was only one way to extend that redemption - there was only one way to restore what had fallen, and that leads us thirdly to:
O which stands for Only = ….his only begotten son…..The Word teaches us he is the only son - the only way and we know that because, Acts 4:12 says "Salvation is found is found in no one else for there is no other name given under heaven to men by which we must be saved."
1. Budah didn't die on the cross for your sins and then come back from the grave.
* You can look to all the religions you want but religion won't save anybody.
* The ONLY thing that can save a man's soul is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
3. Many men and women search for the answers their whole life like Charles Darwin trying to find the missing link but there is no missing link. 
* The only link to God the father has already been revealed and that's Jesus.
* John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
 * So how can the world hear about Jesus?
Romans 10:13-15 says "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one       of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
* In other words Jesus is the only way but how will they know unless someone tells them?

* And so that leads us to our next point which is,
S which stands for Story = it says…so that whosoever believeth in him…
* Believe in what? (Rom. 10:9-13) in his death and resurrection which are the greatest story ever told.  It's the good news of the gospel….It's the truth that shall set you free.
* So "S" stands for the story in which we believe - it's the story in which we put our faith and our hope - It's the story which is the truth to set us free.
* It's the story that has been told by fathers and mothers and spread to children and grandchildren for the past 2000 years….
*  Friends, let me tell you something. It doesn't matter if we know God is real,  unless we also accept the power and reality of his sons' death and resurrection. We can’t confuse the message – we can’t confuse the good news of the gospel because Easter isn’t just about his death – even trees and plants die – Easter is about the reality of his resurrection and new life! 
* There are 4 important elements to this story that we call the Gospel…1. Jesus Came 2. He Was Crucified  3. He Has Risen 4. He Will Return!
* And when we look at the cross and we think of the story we need to remember not only that he came - died and was resurrected but we'd also better let the cross be a reminder that he is coming back again and when he does you need to have already made that decision because he will come like lighting flashes from the East to the West. 
* The Bible says he'll come like a thief in the night. In some households there will be one by faith who is taken and another left behind.
* Church - you may not understand it all and if somebody tells you they do they're a liar because there too much that's debatable - There's to much to question - But make no mistake about this - Jesus is coming back - He will return - And if you're not,  you’d better be ready!  

*So S is for Story but finally,
S also stands for Salvation = whosoever believeth in him ….should not perish but have everlasting life….

* Salvation isn’t earned by good works – it is received by faith. 
* All we have to do is trust in the work that was done upon the CROSS.

CONCLUSION:
So remember that the CROSS represents:
C =  Creation 
R =  Redemption or Reconciliation or Restoration
O = Only…the only Son or the Only Way 
S =  Story
S =  Salvation
 

Let’s make sure that we never forget: THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS!

Sincerely, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  December 15, 2006         “GIVING GOOD GIFTS”

Mt 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Christmas is a time of giving and receiving but the truth is that it’s become so commercialized I wonder if the gift hasn’t superceded the giver in many aspects. In other words; I wonder if the gift has become more important that the person who gave it?  I wonder if in many ways the gift has become more valuable than our relationship to the person doing the giving or receiving?

But this Christmas we all need to be reminded that although Christmas has become a multi-billion dollar industry of consumerism, the real reason for the season isn’t the giving of Gifts but it is relationships. This is why Christ came to the earth to begin with. Man had fallen to sin, and struggled under the weight of the old testament law, so God (our father in heaven who gives good gifts) gave his only begotten son Jesus to come and bring reconciliation and restoration through his life, his death and his resurrection. So you see,  the significance of this wonderful gift from God was centered in the aspect of relationship. God gave his son, not only that we would receive him, but that we would abide in him as our personal Savior, our Lord, and our very best friend.

So we find then in Matthew 7:11 this simple reminder that as we desire to give good gifts to our children, because of our relationship to them, how much more does God desire to give good gifts to us. And all we have to do is ask. What will you ask God for this Christmas?  Will it be just a new Nintendo or Playstation sytem?  Will it be just a new i-pod or some other electrical gizmo?  Or will you reach further for the Lord and ask for the gifts that truly matter? Toys are fine and fun is great - but I challenge you to ask the Lord for more than just stuff this Christmas. Ask him for the good gifts. Ask him for the things that rust can never destroy and that thieves could never break in and steal. Ask him for the things that will change your life and your relationship with not only him but with others. 

Let me leave you with two very important reminders:

#1 - God’s gifts are all about relationship. God didn’t just forgive us, but he sent his son that we might once again come to know Him.

#2 - Remember, the giver is always more important than the gift!

Have a Merry Christmas, and cherish your relationships!

Sincerely, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  November 20, 2006 - “A WORD OF THANKS”

Ps 107:21 “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year, and not just because of the great food, or the time to relax with family, but it’s also because it’s always a time that causes me to reflect and give thanks for the hand of God in my life.

We always like to reflect on the blessings of life and there are so many I can hardly count. There’s of course my wife Christa and my four girls: Elizabeth, Kayla, Hannah and Marissa who are all called to ministry, as well as a wonderful extended family. Then there are the wonderful people in our church and the lives that are being touched and changed. And beyond all the wonderful relationships I am grateful for the provision of God in the home we live in, the cars, we drive, the food we eat and clothes we wear. Any of us could write a big list of things to be grateful for and in American even the poor are blessed in comparison to many of the third world nations. So in many ways, it’s easy to give thanks because of the many good things.

However, I want to challenge us to dig a little deeper this Thanksgiving. You see, anyone can give thanks for the good, but what about thanking him in the midst of the hardships?

Since I last wrote a lot has happened in our lives. In late August my wife began having severe headaches and in my last blog archive from September 11, I mentioned that some of these issues which led to multiple TIA’(mini-strokes) as well as nearly 3 weeks in the hospital. We later discovered that she needed a very serious surgery and on November 7th we went to Michigan University where she was to have a vetebral by-pass. The surgery was not a total success and I must say that it has been a journey I would not wish on anyone.  However, as she continues to heal, we have chosen to continue to give thanks.

You see the one thing that has carried us through has been his “unfailing love” for us and although we may face trials and testing in life, one thing will never change: OUR GOD IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED! I find it interesting that in v.22 it says “Let them sacrifice thank offerings” because the truth is, sometimes it will be a sacrifice of thanks. But when we continue to praise him through the storm He will always deliver a rainbow on the other side. So no matter what you are facing or dealing with, continue to give thanks to Lord. Psalms 118:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

  Sincerely for the Harvest, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  September 11, 2006 - “ADVERSITY & OPPORTUNITY”

I think (911) September 11, will ring in the hearts of most Americans for the rest of our lives. It was a time when our great nation faced one of the greatest adversities to ever beset us as the jumbo jets toppled the twin towers and collided into the Pentagon taking thousands of innocent lives.  It seemed so senseless and many were asking the question why?  Families members, friends, and for many even parents, spouses, children and siblings were left behind to grieve the loss.

This Sept. 11, five years after that tragedy, our family has been dealing with our own tragedy. Nine days after admission, my wife and co-pastor, is still in the hospital recovering from a series of mini-strokes, a blood clot at the base of the brain, and the diagnosis of a rare disease attacking her cerebral arteries called Fibromuscular Dysplasia.  It’s a disease with no definitive cause and no known cure and yet in the midst of our personal adversity, the word that keeps ringing in my heart is opportunity.

You see in the face of trial, temptation, tragedy and adversity we must make the decision to be crushed under it or to rise above it. In the midst of the storm we must decide whether we will sink or swim, whether we will become bitter or better. It’s the decision to look at it as a disaster or an opportunity. However, I believe this decision becomes easier to make when we lean upon the Word.  

Romans 8:28 states “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This passage doesn’t say that in all the things we ask for, or all the things we like, but “in all things.” If we love him, then He is able to work the good in everything we face in this life, even Fibromuscular Dysplasia.  He is able to take the things we see as the greatest obstacles and the tallest mountains and turn them into opportunities for his glory. We have to be very careful that we guard our hearts and minds when difficulties come into our lives because if we walk in faith and wisdom it becomes and opportunity to grow and show how good our God is. But if we face it foolishly, we will lose the blessing, lose the peace, and miss the opportunity to display that in our weakness he is strong.

Eph 5:15 ‘Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
Eph 5:16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Many times we only view an opportunity as a chance to advance or to be blessed financially etc. but some of the best opportunties come in the midst of the hardest trials and testings because remember,  a faith which cannot be tried is a faith which cannot be trusted. People don’t care how we react when everything is turning to gold around us, but they will certainly turn an ear when everything is going wrong and yet we are still at peace and our countenance is aglow with the anointing of the Lord.

I’m so blessed to say that in the midst of her greatest storm, Pastor Christa has shown forth the glory of the Lord and her ministry has touched many lives even while she lay in a hospitial bed. I am trusting the Lord with her for a complete healing but in the mean-time, I already know that God is working the good in this situation and it’s been another wonderful opportunity to let people see Jesus with skin on.

Tuesday morning while waiting to consult with the neurologist, the Lord gave me these lyrics and I hope they bless your life as well. Remember - Adversity is just another Opportunity.

It’s Just Another Opportunity:

One day, everything seems to go your way.
Life is good, and you’d rather always have it that way.
But then the rain comes, and the winds begin to howl. 
It’s not just one thing, and you start to wonder how;
How could all that seemed so good, and all that seemed so fair,
suddenly drift away, it’s no longer there, but…..

Oh, it’s another opportunity to grow,
it’s another opportunity to show,
that God is still alive and well,
that God is still alive and well.
Oh, it’s another opportunity to pray,
it’s another opportunity to say,
that I will trust you through and through.
Jesus, I am still in love with you.   

  Sincerely for the Harvest, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  August 29, 2006 - “PURITY”

As I write to you again the word that keeps ringing in my ear is “Purity”. Websters defines it as; “the quality of being pure, free from adulterating matter, evil or sin. Freedom from mixture.”   What a challenging concept in a world that is so watered down. And speaking of watered down, it’s interesting how we want our water pure and yet we excuse so many other contaminating factors in our life. In America we are bothered by the mildest contaminate driving the prices of bottled water to extremes beyond the gas crisis with Evian and multitudes of others cashing in on the market for spring water, drinking water, distilled water, flavored water, clorinated water and more.  We want our water pure  and free from adulterating matter and yet many times we allow our souls (our spirit man) to be drowned in the iron and rust that corrodes our faith and corrupts our souls.

Paul understood the importance of holiness and purity when he wrote in: 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

There are a few things I want to quickly point out from this passage: 

1 - We Have to Work at Purity! “Let us purify ourselves...” Now in no way am I saying that we can achieve salvation by works or holiness and purity by ourselves. But what I am saying is that we are a (work in progress) and we have to work at it with the Lord. Too many people expect God to do the work of holiness for them but God’s plan is to work with us through the Holy Spirit. He gave us a free-will and if he did all the work for us it would be a violation of our will. God is always there to strengthen us and guide us but we must then choose to work with him to become what he desires us to be.

2 - We Have to Purify our Body and Spirit! “..from everything that contaminates body and spirit...”  God  wants to do a work of wholeness in our lives which includes our body and our spirit. Some people are very health conscience by drinking the bottled waters and watching their cholesterol and getting plenty exercise and yet they do nothing for their spirit man. Others feed their spirit through devotional times in the Word and involvement in ministry and they guard what they take into the mind and spirit and yet their bodies are being used and abused and they are a heart-attack waiting to happen. We must remember that while our bodies will one day return to the earth, for now they are gift from God, (temples for the Holy Spirit) and we need to regard them as such. The healthier we are physically the more able we are to spiritually be the people we’re called to be.

3 - We Have to do it of Reverence for God! “..perfecting holiness out of reverence for God...”  Remember that this work of purity and holiness isn’t about making ourselves look good or gaining favor with God. Ultimately we do everything we do out of reverence for God. We strive for purity because of our respect for God. We strive for holiness because of our respect for who He is. As we reflect on the nature of God and the character of Christ it’s hard not to want to please him through our lives.

So ask yourself - are there things that you are allowing to contaminate your body and spirit? Are there things you are ignoring in your life which are potential risks to your health just because it makes you happy because if so, your only gratifying the desires of your flesh which is a form of adultery and remember that purity is “freedom from adulterating matter.” Are there things you’re allowing into your spirit man which are evil and sinful and yet you’ve continued to water them down and try to justify them in your eyes? Let’s revere our God and continuosly strive for purity in every area of lives.

Sincerely for the Harvest, Pastor Dan Lund

DATE:  July 21, 2006 - “The Great Commission”

Jesus said “GO.” What and interesting word, go. We go to work, we go to school, we go to bed, we go out for dinner, we go to the movies, we go and we go and we go.... But with all our coming and going, the question we must ask ourselves is wether or not we’re going where God has told us to go. Upon Christ’s death and resurrection, he made several appearances before his ascension to heaven and we find during one of these times he left what has come to be known as the “Great Commission.” We find it in: Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Here we find not only the command or commission, but we also find that Jesus brings clarity to it.

#1 - First we need to understand that the commission is to go and make disciples. This is a process of replication. It’s the process of taking what we’ve become in Christ, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and then reproducing that work in others.  Paul had a firm grip on the concept when he said in: 1Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”  Our commission is not just to make new converts or to see how many people we can lead in a shallow prayer of salvation. Our commission is to “GO” and lead people into a deep personal walk with Christ. Our command is to make disciples of Christ who are then equiped to reproduce themselves.  

#2 - Secondly we understand from this passage that we are commissioned to all nations. Many times we look at Christianity like a fish bowl. We have such a small, self-centered view of what the church is all about. Too often we come to get instead of give. We only see the needs immediately around us instead of the pain in the world. We’re only concerned with keeping the fish in our little bowl swimming and we begin to turn inward and our water grows stail. But Jesus has called us to the nations. On another occasion before his ascension he said in: Acts 1:8 “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth.” We have to realize that if we want blessed we have to be a blessing. Our JerUSAlem is the USA. Right now America is the 3rd largest mission field of non-believers in the world. But we can’t focus only on ourselves. We must also “GO” to the nations across the earth through missions and giving.

#3 - Then finally, we must understand that the commission involves obedience.  Jesus said “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” I think that many times we are afraid to teach people truth and hold them accountable to it for the fear they’ll run away. We wind up more concerned about numbers and keeping peace than with truth. But never forget that the only thing which brings ultimate lasting peace is the truth.  It actually says in: 1 John 2:5-6 “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” So if obedience to the Word exemplifies our love for Christ, then how can we not “Go into all the world and make disciples?” Where have your feet been leading you lately? Are you going where God desires you to go? Are you making disciples? Are you obeying the great commission to “GO?”

DATE:  July 10, 2006 - “Light in the Darkness”

It’s is my privelege to begin this new blog. I hope that it will minister to each of you as we continue to move forward in the things of the Lord. Christianity is meant to be an adventure, an exploration if you will, into the deep things of God. So let’s dive into together and discover what Christ wants to speak into each of our lives.

Today I wanted to share a few thoughts on a scripture the Lord laid on my heart and it’s found in: Genesis 1:3-5 “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” As I read this passage I was reminded that from the beginning of creation there was a separation of light and darkness. Furthermore, God saw the light was good. 

The problem is that we live everyday surrounded by a world that loves darkness. We’re living in a world that loves compromise, it loves sin, and yet we are called not only to walk in the light but to be the light. And anytime you have a light in the darkness it’s going to be noticed whether it’s a bonfire or a single candle. So because of this we find Jesus speaking to the issue in Matthew 5 and it says in  vs.14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

First we must recognize that God created light and it was good. But secondly, we must realize that we’re now called to be his light to the world. Too many Christians want to live in the shadows and enjoy the benefits of the light without shedding their own, but that’s simply not the way it works. Either we’re going to be the light or we’re not and it’s time to step out of the shadows and live our lives in way that there is no mistaking that we are children of the Lord. We can’t hide the love of Christ and we can’t put our faith under a bowl.  We have to let our lives shine bright so that the world will turn to God.  Let your life be a living Bible and do it proudly because God is worthy.

* So here’s the question of the day; Does God see His light in you and when He looks down,  does He see your life and say, “it is good?” 

Till Next Time, Pastor Dan