What Can You Do For God?

President John F. Kennedy coined the phrase, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. I remember learning this in school as a young man. What could “I” do for my nation. As I have grown older, I recognize that I should to be a contributor as well. Sitting in my office this morning reflecting on all that God has done for me and His incredible faithfulness, a similar phrase comes out of my heart like the one President Kennedy said. “Ask not what God can do for you, but what you can do for God”. Today, we officially begin a 5 week holiday season. The temptation will be to focus only on celebrating and holidays. Yet, God needs us more than ever. The needs of people are only growing stronger. Ask yourself, “What is just one thing that I can do for God this holiday season?” Perhaps, help a family in the church? Make a phone call to someone who has no family? Inconvenience yourself and invite someone over for dinner? Work at a homeless shelter? Spend extra time in prayer for someone? As you do, remember that Hebrews 6:10 says, God will not forget your work and labor of love. The Lord sees what you are doing for him--even if no one else seems to notice. Remember, He will reward you!

Have an amazing holiday season doing something great for God!

Give God Thanks Today!

One of our family’s favorite spots for Thanksgiving Holidays is the Smokey Mountains, right outside of Gatlinburg, TN. It is a time for us to get away from all the demands of life and just enjoy family and reflect on the goodness of God in our life. There is a favorite restaurant of mine up there built on an apple orchard that serves good ole country food from another era. Often, people longingly look back at the time period when this country was settled by pioneers. We have visions of “life on the farm” when Moms were baking fresh apple pies and all the cooking was done from scratch. Where schedules did not have the demands on them like ours do today. But, is that what life was really like back then? In reality, there was no running water and no electricity! None of the modern conveniences we enjoy. I think that the pioneers that founded this country would love to live today--to experience the prosperity and all the modern conveniences that this nation currently enjoys.

This Thanksgiving, let’s not look back or ahead but just take a moment to thank God for what we have today and how He is working in our life now. Take the time to sit quietly and mediate on God’s goodness. As you begin to thank Him from your heart, you will become empowered just by spending time with him! You may find yourself in a challenging situation right now. You might wonder, what do I have to be thankful for? Well, there is always something to be thankful for. For example, God is a patient and merciful God. Hasn’t He forgiven you of past mistakes? He promises to give you new opportunities every day. Psalm 84:4 says, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will still be praising thee”. You can also thank God for a great church family at ECBC and a place where you can hear the Word of God, enjoy the presence of God, and build strong relationships. If we take the time to think about it, even in the midst of difficult times we have much to be thankful for.

Thanking God isn’t an empty religious gesture. It is a powerful principle that releases even more of God’s power and blessing in our life! Thanking God in the midst of victory or difficult times shows that you trust him no matter what. Giving thanks is one of the best ways to stay in the blessing of God or to escape challenges in your life. One of the greatest observations I have made as a pastor is that the people who are thankful receive from God on a continual basis.

This holiday season, let’s not just be “thankful people”, but let’s actually exercise thanksgiving. Take the time and make the effort right now to THANK GOD for His blessing in your life. Let’s not just look back at what was or look ahead at what will be, but thank God for what he is doing NOW for you. During the next few weeks make the effort to exercise thanksgiving to God for His hand in your life. Dina and I are so thankful that you are in our lives. God has been good to our family at ECBC!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

How to Choose a Good Local Church

One of the most significant decisions that we will make as a follower of Christ is what local church we will be part of. It is so important, that the bible instructs us in Hebrews 10:25(AMP), “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching”. Why would we be so strongly admonished to have our lives so firmly planted in a local body of believers? God is pouring out His power in these last days largely through local churches. You have a supply of the Spirit available to you in the Orlando/Casselberry area at East Coast Believers Church. ECBC was designed by God as a Non-denominational, Spirit-filled church to be a place the believer can be strengthened and encouraged in their walk with God.

Now that you realize how important being a part of a local church is, what church should you plant yourself in? Should you attend the church your parents attended? One where the praise and worship suits your musical taste? Nicest facilities? Friends attend? The bible answers this question for us in I Corinthians 12:28, “But now God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him”. There is a local church where it has pleased God to place you and as you are planted there the Bible says in Psalm 92 that you will have many positive results in your walk with God.

How do you identify where God has placed you?

The right way is to:

1) Ask the Lord. If you pray, the Holy Spirit will lead you. You might have a preference to attend a contemporary or Charismatic church but ask the Holy Spirit will he wants you planted.

2) Whatever church you attend, the preaching of the Word in the church must be a priority. You should actually enjoy the delivery of the Word from the Pastor.

3) You have the answer this question for yourself--can I walk in agreement with the vision of the church? According to Amos 3:3, for two to walk together they must be in agreement. It is important for you to align your life with the vision of the church.

Now that you have identified and planted yourself in a local church, what do you do now? Just attend? Keep a seat filled? The next step is as important as finding a church to attend. That is, once you call a church home, to make sure you are giving what the bible calls “your supply”. Ephesians 4:15&16 says, “…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head – Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by which every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Now, this passage is referring to the universal body but it is also applicable to the local church. Every member of a local church has something that the body of Christ needs.

Your “supply” consists of three things: your time, your talent and your finances. As you bring your supply, this local body is able to fulfill its mission and vision to reach the community where God has called us--which include the Orlando and surrounding areas. As you give your supply, you will have the greatest impact for the kingdom of God. Bringing your supply is not reserved for only the most radically committed Christians, but for all who are planted in a local church. As you bring your supply, you will as a result experience a great level of blessing and increase in your life.

As you make yourself available for building God’s kingdom, you position yourself to receive the supply you need in your life. A committed believer joined to a good strong local church cannot be defeated! This is something that I have experienced in my own life. As you live this out, you’re going to experience God’s blessing in your life far beyond whatever you could have ever dreamed of.