Proverbs 3:1-8. Nobody likes a know it all. That isn’t because we don’t like knowledge. It is because a ‘know it all’ doesn’t allow room for anyone else to know…
Look! God is doing a new thing. So many times God surprises us with what God is doing in the world and in the lives of others. So many times we are amazed at who God is. What would you say if I told you that God might surprise you with what God is doing in your life? Could God be doing a new thing in you? Are you being changed by the Spirit?
Joseph was a man who made plans. Faceing the personal tragedy of a pregnant fiancé he planned to ‘put her away quietly’. But this was not God’s plan. God’s plan didn’t protect Joseph or Mary’s honor or adhere to their plans. God’s plan was for the redemption of all creation. How do we learn to give up our plans for God’s marvelous mission in the world?
December 8th, 2nd Sunday in Advent (Peace) “Transformations: Zechariah, From Incredulous to Submissive”, Luke 1:5-25 Mary wasn’t the only one with questions. But sometimes we ask incredulous questions. We aren’t…
December 1st, 1st Sunday in Advent (Hope), Saint Andrew’s Day “Transformations: Mary, from Questioning to Trust”, Luke1:26-37 So any of us have questions. Much of the world is not the…
November 24th, Christ the King Sunday “Spiritual Recovery: Spiritual Wakeup”, Pastor Robbie Carnes, Isaiah 61:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:3-6; Much of the 12 steps toward spiritual recovery are acts of self-work.…
November 17th, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost “Spiritual Recovery: Praying for Knowledge and Power”, Pastor Issac Chung, Psalm 65:1-4; Isaiah 61:1-2; As we reap the benefits of Spiritual Recovery we must…
“Spiritual Recovery: Making Direct Amends”, Pastor Robbie Carnes, Matthew 5:23-24; Genesis 33:1-4; Luke 19-8-9, It is this ninth step in which the rubber of our spiritual recovery hits the road. After we have done so much interior work it is now that we should make amends with those we have wronged so long as we don’t injure them. This is a challenging step and it is important that we do all of the prior work before we try to make amends. With this step we become givers rather than takers, with eyes to see one another as people rather than means to get what we want.
We all know the need to make amends. If we borrow something and break it, we need to replace it. Not only are we repairing the loss, we are repairing the relationship. The destruction that bad behavior and addictions produce need to be amended for. However this is a difficult task. Making amends means we are trying to undo the work of addiction and bad habits in our lives. But this does not guarantee that those we make amends to will accept us. However we know that Christ has made amends for us on the cross, and we are accepted by God because of that. This gives us courage to extend grace to each other and make amends for the ways we have injured others.
October 20th, 19th Sunday after Pentecost
“Spiritual Recovery, Humbly Ask”, Jeremiah 18:1-6; Luke 18:10-14
When we humbly ask God to change us we need to be willing to let God do what God thinks is best for us. Asking God to change us and then telling God how we should be changed is not a humble request. It is helpful to remember that we are humbly asking God to remove our shortcomings and not enhance our good qualities. However, God lovingly desires to give us life and we can trust that God will treat us kindly if we humbly ask.