Father's Day

By Jessica Finney

Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Have you ever thought about how much impact our earthly fathers are to show us what our Heavenly Father is like? I have thought about this often. Some come to know the Lord to find the Father they never had and some completely turn their back because how could a heavenly Father love and care for them if their earthly father didn't. 

Our Fathers can be a hindrance to come to know the Lord or they can be our pathway to the Lord.  If you think about it, a father that has compassion on his children will want to lead them to know the Lord. They will protect their children and you can't help but know that they love their children. They love us unconditionally. They put themselves last to make sure their children are fed and feel loved.

A father that doesn't seem to care can hinder us coming to know the Lord.  If our earthly father didn't show love, then how can our heavenly Father love us?  We are apparently not worthy of love.  At least that is what the devil wants us to believe. I cannot imagine how a father can't love their child.  It just doesn't make sense to me.  I have heard about fathers that are afraid to get hurt by their child because of a divorce. To me this is selfish.  A father should put their self aside to show their love to their child.  

Our heavenly Father has done all He can do to show us His love. He gave us His Son to die on the cross for our sins. I hope, if you are reading this and do not have a earthly father that has seemed to care that you will be open to know the love of our Heavenly Father.

I have a "step" dad that has always been there for me. I put step in parenthesis because he has always been a dad to me. He has shown me how my Heavenly Father loves me. My "step" dad didn't go to church until my junior or senior year but he loved me and always put himself aside to make sure I had everything I need, when really he didn't have too. He didn't have to marry my mom knowing she had a child but he did. He didn't have to take time in the evenings after working all day to play with me but he did.

 This is the same with our Heavenly Father, He didn't have to create us but He did. He didn't have to send His Son to die for our sins but He did.

All of you fathers out there, please take heart the blessing God has given you and cherish the moment with your child. It maybe the only thing that brings them to the Lord. They need your love and your time.  Money can't buy happiness so don't just go out and buy them something. Go outside and play ball with them or a board game. (even if it isn't something you enjoy) Your time means more to them then anything on this earth.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for all the people that don't have earthly fathers for whatever reason, that they may come to know you and know the love You have for them. I pray that they can get the strength and courage to be the father they need to be. I thank you for bringing my "step" dad in my life because he has shown me the time and love that I needed.  In Jesus precious name, Amen

Be Humble

by: Jessica Finney

1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace tot the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I think we have had all been to a church where there is one or two that want to control everything.  Maybe you are one that has trouble wanting to control everything and everybody around you. There are people who will try to manipulate you and everything else just to get their way.  You expect it from the world but you don't always expect it from people that call themselves Christians. But you know what, we are all human and there will be problems among each other as long as Satan is in the world.  There are some that don't even realize how controlling they are and there are some that know exactly what they are doing.

I know anytime I have tried to take control of my life it didn't go well. We need to stay humble and realize God will take care of us. When we put ourselves in the controlling position then we are taking God out of it.  We are saying God; we can take care of it. You know what happens when we do? We are destined for a fall.  God knows best for our lives. When we try to control other people, we just make people not want to be around us and we are hindering God from doing powerful things in our churches.  When non-Christians see us mad or aggravated at one another, it prevents them to come to Christ so then we become a stumbling block.  I have also seen new Christian's get hurt in a church and never want to step foot in church again.  That isn't the right thing to do but I sure can understand it. 

This week lets take a long look at ourselves and see if we are the controlling ones.  Lets humble ourselves and see how God wants us to handle the ones that are trying to control us.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for taking care of us.  We pray that you show us your way and help us to be humble and let you lead.  Help us to be mindful of those around us and not be controlling over them so we can work together for Your good.  Help us to know how to handle the ones that are controlling around us so people can see You in us. We want to bring others to You and not be a hindrance to the world. In Jesus, precious name, Amen

Ripe for Harvest

by: Jessica Finney

John 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way in the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?

I have read this verses several times but you know how God will show you sometimes different things each time.

What I have heard she went to the well at a different time then everyone else, probably because she was living with someone that wasn't her husband. (Believe it or not, there was a time that not everything went in society, people had morals.) But when she came to believe in Jesus she didn't hesitate.

She went and told the people in the city. She didn't worry about her past and what people might think. She couldn't hold on to the exciting news that she just found in Jesus. What would have happened if she would have kept it to herself?

John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

She wouldn't have brought others to the saving knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Why don't we share the good news, more often?  We may not have had several husbands or maybe we haven't lived with someone before we were married to them but we have all sinned. We all have a story about how Jesus turned our life around so why don't we share it?  This week lets try to shine Jesus to those around us and not hold it back.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for saving me.  Help me to remember what you have  done for me and help me to learn how to share Your love with others that they may come to know You. Give us the words to speak and the courage to speak up when we need to. In Jesus name, Amen

A Growing Church

by: Jessica Finney

Acts 2:46-47 "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

As I sit and write this blog, I couldn't help but think about the part in these verses that says one accord.  Do you see how much could happen if we all went in one accord. We could be helping the kingdom bringing others to Christ. Too often people in the church are too busy arguing about what color they should paint a classroom, which makes them forget what church is really about.  With us arguing and bickering of the stupidest things, this makes people wonder why they even want to go to church.  This is the devils playground because it gets us off the focus of bringing others to Christ. Too often people get so caught up in their denomination, that they can't work together with other churches because they don't believe the same way. Don't get me wrong, you don't want to stray from the Bible but some of the different denominations beliefs are similar, as long as they believe in God you have to ask Jesus into your heart and to know that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, and know that Jesus died for those sins, then what does it matter.  I don't believe until we get to heaven we will know on some of the things who was right and who was wrong but all I need to know is that I am a born again believer going to heaven. It is time that we unite together to bring this country back to Him.

Life can get in the way and take away our gladness but if we keep our focus on God, then we can be glad in him.  God isn't wanting a big dramatic account from us, He wants us to have the simplicity to see His works. I never thought I would see the day that I would like to watch the birds. Everyone that knows me knows that I never have cared for them and what seems like they don't care for me. People at work keep their windows down, the couple times I did it a bird flew in and pooped in my car so you can see why I haven't been fond of them.  But this year, we have a nest of Cardinals and House Finches in our little trees. I have been fascinated with just sitting, watching and listening to them.  If we just stop and smell the roses it can really help put our life in prospective and see what God wants us to do. In everything I do, I need to keep remembering to praise God no matter what.

 I need others to see Christ in me or how else will they come to know Him? Too often people in churches are just wanting their way all of the time and you have those few that are backstabbers. I am sure we have all been hurt by people in the church. It is time we try to unite together to bring others to Christ, instead of trying to figure out how we can run the church. It is time God runs the church. As I say church, I am not talking about a building, I am talking about His people.

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to unite as Christians to bring more people to you. Help us to forget our differences and be united. Help us to forgive the ones that have back-stabbed us.  Get us back to more simple life that we can focus more on You. Help us to remember to praise You no matter what is going on in our lives. Thank you so much for all You do for us. In Jesus name, Amen 

Son Shine

by Jessica Finney

Have you noticed how much better you feel when it is the first part of spring?  The sun is shining and you can go outside with a lighter coat on.  Doesn't this bring an extra spring to your step?  It does mine. I don't know about you but I get a little depressed in the winter time.  I miss the sun shining on me. I miss the green grass and the pretty flowers.

Although, you are probably thinking why would she put Son shine when all I am talking about is sunshine.  It is simple.  If we go any length of time away from the Son (Jesus), we will get down because we are trying to rely on our own abilities.  Which will eventually wear us out. If we stop reading the Bible or praying on regular basis, we miss that closeness. We sometimes can feel there is something wrong but do not want to admit it is because we walked away farther.  God doesn't move from us but we move from Him once we stop that interaction time.

It is very important to keep building our relationship with God because like people in our lives if we do not interact with them, we don't have a relationship with them. How can we get to know them, without talking to them and get this "listen to them"?  Have you had those few people that talk so much that they don't listen? Some people are so consumed with themselves that they couldn't care less what you are saying all they want to talk about is themselves. Well, it is time that we start listening to God and that requires reading our Bible and praying to Him on a regular basis.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:18

Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today to help us grow closer to You and to always have the Son Shine.  Help us to listen to what you want us to do so we can bring others to you. We want a close relationship with you. Help us to not miss the many blessings You want in our lives. We can do nothing without you. In Jesus name, amen