Experiencing God’s Heaven

 Looking over a mountain ridge and seeing the incredible, creative and masterful architectural landscape God so perfectly laid out for us, is a reminder that God can be experienced anywhere.

God can be experienced in the stillness of a night or through the beauty of the night skies as billions of galaxies are brightly shining or through the sounds of voices or musical instruments or through the touch of a loving hand or the first glimpse of the newborn baby that is held for the first time. 

 

God sees us. Hears us. Understands us. Desires us. Loves us. 

 

When we pray for God’s intervention, we experience a Father who responds to us with the best solutions and answers to our requests. King David said about God, “I patiently waited, LORD, for you to hear my prayer. You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm….” Psalm 40:1-2

 

When addictive behaviors are no longer our desire and we want something better, God perfectly set into motion a way for a better life to be experienced. “…While we were still sinners Christ sacrificed his life for us.” Romans 5:8 

 

All the materialistic things in life will never give us the eternal experience that God’s heaven will give us. God’s heaven is our eternal home. Jesus said, “There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together.”  John 14:2-3 

 

And, in God’s heaven, we will experience a life free from the world’s burdens. John said, “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

 

God’s love runs deep and his desire is for us to experience a life with him. You can experience a better life and an eternal life with him when you choose to live a life that is God controlled!

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

 

Brian 

Love Matters

Love is a powerful word! Actually, it is the most powerful of all words. Love must never be jerked around as if it has no value or emotion or substance to it. Rather, love must be respected and taken seriously whenever it is felt or said.

Without love, there would be an emptiness in every relationship and a void that could never be filled by anything else. 

 

Love matters! It matters because it guides us in our disagreements, hurts, pain and relational troubles. Love matters because it helps us look at every angle of a situation in which we struggle to compromise. Love matters because it opens the door to conversations with people who are hurtful, mean and bullies. Love matters because it is constant, unwavering and never compromises its effectiveness for any other alternative. Love matters because it breaks down barriers, brings people to the table for conversations and stops hate in its tracks. 

 

Love is not a hoarder of past mistakes; rather, its shreds them and moves on. Love doesn't get all excited when someone fails; but rather, finds solutions to help pick the person up. Love does not bad mouth anyone; rather, it encourages everyone and demonstrates kindness, tenderness and goodness. 

 

We know how to love because God loved us first - 1st John 4:19. God showcased amazing love through demonstrations (Romans 5:8) and by gifting us with his one and only Son (John 3:16). We can learn a lot by the way God loved. He never stops loving us even when we are horribly difficult to deal with. 

 

Love will never allow anyone to hate, disrespect or demean anyone at anytime no matter what. When we love people more than anything else, we will live in a world of peace! Love Matters!

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

 

Brian

How to STOP Anxiety in its Tracks

 

Matthew 5 records that Jesus nestled himself on the side of a mountain and began to teach the large crowd who had diseases, pain, demon-possession, seizures, and those who were paralyzed.

In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus is giving spiritual guidance to the thousands with the problem of a worried and stressed out life. 

 

Anxiousness is gripping and it keeps us in a whirlwind of uncertainty. The Greek word translated as "anxious" is "to be pulled in different directions." Our fearfulness pulls us in one direction and our hope pulls us in the other direction; thus, we are pulled apart!

 

Jesus lays out a stress reducer that will free anyone from the grip of anxiousness in Matthew 6:25-34

 

1. Don't fuss over food and clothes (Matthew 6:25) - While food, clothing, and water are important, the real substance in life is feasting upon the Word's of God. Matthew 4:1-11, "...not live by bread alone, but on every Word...." Life was not meant to primarily please ourselves, but rather, to bring glory and honor to God – Matthew 5:16.

 

2. Don’t forget who provides for you (Matthew 6:26) - If you ever watch birds, you will notice that they are not lazy. They are digging for worms and bugs and building nests out of scraps of tree leaves or other materials. Birds do not hoard a load of worms in their nest, nor are they concern if there will be any food tomorrow. They live as hard working creatures with no worries about the next meal.

Philippians 4:19 sums is up well, "You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus."

 

3. Don’t fight what you cannot change (Matthew 6:27) - Worry sabotages our joy, zaps our energy, and displaces our courage.  Proverbs 12:25, "A worried heart weighs a man down...." and Jesus give the ultimate remedy to a stressed out life when he said, “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

Trusting Jesus will loosen the grip of anxiety and open the door to calmness and peace. 

 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

 

Brian