Have you ever had one of those days?  A day when everything that could go wrong did?  First, you overslept.  Then the car wouldn’t start.  Your dog ran away.  Then your computer crashed.  Your credit card company called asking if you have made any large purchases recently in Indonesia.  And a letter from the IRS awaited you at home with some vague but ominous language.  Did they say “audit”?  Just what you needed to assure a good night’s rest!

Did I over-do it?  Ok, maybe a little.  But sometimes it really does seem like everything that can go wrong does.  So how do you respond?  The word perspective comes to mind.

Listen to what the psalm writer did in Psalm 121:1-2, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

Lifting up your eyes to the mountains is to focus on something massive, enduring, and truly great.  And God made them!  Just think – the God who shaped and formed the mountains holds you in the palm of His hand!

Go outside and look up at the moon and stars.  The God who spoke the heavens into existence and calls the stars by name is the One who watches over you every moment of every day. 

Look in the mirror and consider the hairs of your head.  God knows their exact number.  Run a brush or comb through your hair a few times.  The data bank of heaven does an instant recalculation.  This is the God who knows all the personal details of your life.

Perspective reminds us that God is BIGGER than all the things that can go wrong.  When you are having “one of those days,” just lift up your eyes to the God who made heaven and earth.  He sees, He knows, and He cares!  

Pastor Todd Weston

Here is a number for you to consider - 6,889.  No, it’s not the total of ceiling tiles in our building or my cumulative golf score from 2011.  It’s the number of unreached people groups in the world.  Think of it!  Nearly seven-thousand people groups have yet to receive an adequate presentation of the gospel.

Wow.  That seems kind of overwhelming.  There ought to be a plan on how to reach all of those people.  There is.  It’s called the Great Commission.  It appears first in Matthew’s gospel, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Great Commission appears in one form or another in each of the four gospels.  And just in case we still don’t get it, it appears again in Acts, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

The Great Commission is the greatest undertaking, “Go into all the world,” to deliver the greatest message, “and preach the gospel,” to the greatest audience, “to every creature” (Mark 16:15). 

Our response to this call is echoed in our mission’s convention theme – COMMIT, to PRAY, to GIVE, to GO! 

·        Pray – for our missionaries, and for God to give you a heart for missions.
·        Give – make a faith promise on Feb. 26th and give faithfully to missions.
·        Go – make yourself available to God and start others about Jesus.

God has determined that the gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations (Matthew 24:14), and we are the ones He intends to us.  So let’s do it!  And here is what we will find:

A great commitment
To the Great Commission
Will build a great church!

 
Pastor Todd Weston

Sheri and I are so proud of the young people of River of Life!  Last night the youth group led the Sunday night prayer meeting, and they did a fantastic job.  I was especially impressed by the IMPACT worship band (12 strong).  They were musically tight and spiritually anointed.  Our young people truly led us into the presence of God!

Isn’t it amazing how God can use young people?  Joseph was just a teenager when his great adventure began.  David was still in the youth group when he killed the giant Goliath and led Israel to a great victory against the Philistines.  It’s believed that Daniel and his three friends were still in their teenage years when they were taken into captivity and chosen to serve in Nebuchadnezzer’s court.  And then there was a young girl named Mary who was singled out for an extraordinary purpose.  And John was just a teenager when he and his brother James were called to be fishers of men.

To another young man named Timothy Paul gave this word of advice, “Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, Amp.)  God is no respecter of age – young or old.  The same God who called Moses at the age of eighty used a young boy in one of the great miracles of the New Testament – the feeding of the five thousand.  No matter your age, God can and will use you if you make yourself available.

So a word of thanks is in order to Nicholas and his dedicated leadership team for doing such a great discipling the youth of RLA.  And thanks to all of our young people who ministered Sunday night.  You truly were an example to the believers.

Pastor Todd

Tuesday, January 31, is a big day in Florida.  That’s the date of the Presidential Primary election.  For months we have watched the process, listened to debates, read articles, and now its decision time.  Who will it be?  Mitt, Newt, Rick, or Ron?  Have you made up your mind?

Life is full of decisions.  Some big; some small.  Small easy; some difficult.  When it comes to seafood, it’s an easy choice for me. Grilled Grouper sandwich every time!  But standing in line at Royal Scoop Ice Cream with their innumerable tantalizing flavors sends me into a conundrum of indecision.  I usually get vanilla!

It’s true that the decisions we make today shape our tomorrows.  So what kind of decisions are you making?  Hopefully, they are wise decisions based on biblical convictions and Christian standards. 

In the Assemblies of God we consider the Bible to be our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.  The Bible speaks to the matters of faith and every day life.  So when faced with a decision, find out what the Bible says.  As you prayerfully search the Scriptures, you will find the guidance you need.  You will hear the voice of the Spirit say, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

Have a blessed week.  I need to sign off now.  I think I hear Royal Scoop calling!

Pastor Todd

The other night while reading I came across this statement from the Latin, vive ut vivas, which means, “Live so that you may live.”  The young poet, Everett Ruess, said it this way, “While I am alive, I intend to live.”

We all realize there is a marked difference between living and existing.  How exciting to see people who are full of life.  They face the future with enthusiasm and hope.  How sad it is to see people who are still breathing, moving, and going through the motions of life, and yet they stopped living a long time ago.

On the plains of Moab Moses issued a great challenge to the Children of Israel.  Behind them was the wilderness.  For forty years they had walked in circles waiting for the unbelieving generation to die.  Ahead of them was the land God promised to their fathers.  It was a land full of dreams and potential.  Camped between the wilderness and the Promised Land, Moses issued this challenge, “I have set before you life and death…therefore choose life” (Deut. 30:19).

Maybe you look back today only to see wasted time.  Years spent walking in circles.  Ahead of you there is yet promise and potential to make a difference.  There is yet the opportunity to do something significant for God; to make your mark for the kingdom.  The Bible says, choose life!

I don’t care how old you are.  When it comes to life, it’s not over until it’s over.  And if you are a Christian, when it’s over it still isn’t over!  We have eternity in heaven to look forward to! 

Concerning life on earth Paul said, “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21).  If you are still alive on planet earth (if you are reading this article I assume you are!) then God still has something for you to do.  Maybe you can’t do some of the things you used to do when you were younger.  That’s OK.  Do what you can do.

Interesting thing about Everett Ruess.  He died at the age of twenty.  And yet in those twenty years he accomplished a lifetime of achievements.  While he lived, he lived. 

Any way you look at it, life is short.  So make every moment count.  Don’t run the race of life only to slow down and meander across the finish line.  Run the race with everything you’ve got, and finish strong.

Pastor Todd

As I write this article, we are in the middle of our second Jesus Sensitive Conference.  The conference got off to a strong start Sunday.  The church was packed Sunday morning, and the altars were packed Sunday night with seekers receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  And now, over fifty people are here Monday morning out of a desire to draw near to God.  We are starting our day with God, and it really feels good!

Earlier this morning I read this verse in my devotional time, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Psalm 5:3).  Does God hear your voice in the morning?  Is spending time with God part of your morning schedule?  Do you start your day, every day, with God?

I know.  Mornings can be so busy, especially when you have children at home.  So what can you do?  May I offer a few suggestions?  First, set the alarm a few minutes earlier to allow some time to spend in the Word and prayer.  If you need your regular eight hours of sleep, just go to bed 30 minutes earlier so you can get up 30 minutes earlier. 

You can also free up extra minutes in the morning by preparing for the next day the night before.  For example, if lunches need to be prepared, do it the evening before.  If ironing needs to be done, do it the evening before.  If you spend several minutes each morning trying to decide what to wear, lay out your clothes the evening before.  As much as is possible, move household chores normally done in the morning (like taking out the trash) to the evening.  If you are a coffee drinker like I am, prepare everything the night before so all you have to do in the morning is turn on the coffee maker. You get the idea.

One more suggestion.  Use your morning commute as an opportunity for prayer.  Driving in Southwest Florida can make a prayer warrior out of any one!  Follow the biblical command to watch and pray and your morning drive time will be transformed into God-time.

Notice that the end of Psalm 5:3 says, “And I will look up.”  We can start our mornings looking around at all of our problems.  We can start our mornings with a downcast look of sadness and despair.  Or we can start our mornings lifting our eyes above and beyond these things, and looking into the face of Jesus.

So start every morning with Jesus.  Tell the Lord, “My voice You shall hear in the morning.”  Make the appointment.  Keep the appointment.  Start your morning looking up and continue that upward look throughout the day. 

Pastor Todd

So how did you start your week?  I started mine in the dentist’s chair having a broken crown replaced.  In an attempt to make it as pleasant an experience as possible, they decided to administer nitrous oxide.  This chemical compound meant to produce a euphoric sensation may work for other people, but it sure didn’t work for me.  As a matter of fact, it had the reverse effect.  This stuff commonly known as laughing gas made me feel like doing just about anything but laugh.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love my dentist.  And the new crown is great.  But no more nitrous oxide for me!

The experience made the think of how often the world promises one thing but delivers another.  The Hebrew writer called it, “the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).  It started with Eve in the garden when Satan encouraged her to eat the forbidden fruit.  He told her that her eyes would be opened and she would have a greater knowledge of good and evil.  Eve believed the lie and ate.  And sure enough, her eyes were opened.  But not in the way she expected.  They were opened to all the guilt, shame, and ugliness of sin.

Satan makes sin look so attractive and appealing.  Just remember: you can have what you want, but you won’t want what you get.  Just ask Samson as he grinds grain in the prison house of the Philistines.  Or David as he kneels beside the grave of his infant son.  Or Judas as he fastens the hanging rope to the tree.  Sin always over-promises and under-delivers. 

So be wise.  Fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word.  God’s Word hidden in your heart will help you stand strong in the hour of temptation (Psalm 119:105).  And the next time Satan comes along with some line about how fun and exciting sin can be, listen close for the hissing sound.  It’s the sound of a serpent!

Pastor Todd

I am something of a pack rat.  I have a hard time throwing anything away.  I actually have a pair of shoes in my closet I purchased when I was eighteen!  While I will probably never wear them again, I just cannot bear the thought of throwing them in the trash.  I mean, after thirty-two years they still look pretty good.

But my wife’s motto is, “Out with the old; in with the new.”  There have been several occasions where I went to get something (like an old favorite shirt) only to find it missing.  Caught up in a cleaning frenzy, Sheri had relegated the item to the expendable category and tossed it.   

There’s a custom in Italy that all the old furniture and unwanted items are emptied from the house on the first day of the New Year.  I hope Sheri doesn’t read this article!  I have a desk in our bedroom that my parents bought for me when I was fourteen.  I would hate to see it go!

But for all my pack rat tendencies, I have to admit there is something good in getting rid of the old and making room for the new.  I think this is what the Hebrew writer was getting at in Hebrews 12:2 when he talked about laying aside the weights and the sin which so easily ensnares so we can run with endurance the race set before us.

As we enter 2012, are there some things in your life that need to go on the trash heap; things you don’t want to carry into the New Year?  Things like old habits, old thought patterns, old attitudes, and old ways?  If so, now would be a good time to do some spiritual house cleaning.  Get rid of the old and replace it with the new God wants to bring into your life.

While there are many old things that are good and should be valued (like my 1977 Fender Precision bass guitar I bought at the age of sixteen), there are other things we would be better off without.  So here is to serving God in 2012 with a spirit of newness!

Happy New Year –

Pastor Todd

I just finished playing a round of golf with my Dad at  Colbert Hills in Manhattan, Kansas, in the snow!  I live in Florida and my parents live in Missouri.  Today was our last day together while visiting for  the holidays and we were determined to play.  So what's a little snow and ice on  the course?

My Dad bought me my first set of clubs when I was seven.  I grew up  spending time on the course with Dad.  It's what we did together.  It's what we still do together.  I am now fifty and my Dad is seventy-three.  Sometimes, when  I'm missing Dad I go out to the course and hit some balls on the range or some  putts on the practice green. It's not so much the game; it's the memories.  It's  like they say about fishing - some people fish for a lifetime without realizing it's not really the fish they are after.

It's been very special to spend time with family over the holidays.  There's been a lot of fun, a lot of laughter, and a lot of food!  There's also  the evidence of the passing of the years.  None of us are getting any younger.  So we must make the most of our opportunities and treasure the moments we have  to spend together.

In a few days we fly back to Florida, and the suitcases will be stuffed  with the many Christmas gifts we received. But one of the greatest gifts for me  cannot be packed in a suitcase.  Instead, it's carefully tucked away in the  memory book of my mind.  It was the gift of a day spent with Dad on the golf  course...in the snow.

Pastor Todd

The Christmas story presents some interesting questions.  Questions like these  –
     - How could a virgin conceive and give birth?
     - Did angels really appear to shepherds to announce the birth of Christ?
     - And where did that star come from?
     - How could the Babe in the manger be 100% God and 100% man?
 
The answer to these questions was given by the angel Gabriel, “For with God nothing shall be impossible”
(Luke 2:37).
 
The Christmas story is nothing less than miraculous. It’s the story of God knocking down one impossibility after another in His determination to provide a Savior for the whole world.  Through the prophets of old God declared He would do it, and He did!  For unto us was born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!
 
Are you faced with an impossible situation this Christmas season?  Like a disease beyond the reach of medicine.  Or a financial dilemma that would stump a Wall Street genius.  Maybe it’s a bad marriage that only gets worse, not better.  Or a monumental task that appears about as doable as an entire herd of camels going through the eye of a needle all at the same time.
 
If that’s your story, listen to the angel.  Fear not.  There’s good news from heaven. With God nothing is impossible!
 
There’s one more question that comes to mind when I think of Christmas. Why?  Why did God send His Son?  The answer to that question is not found in the manger but in the cross.  Why Christmas?  Look at the cross.  That’s why.
 
Pastor Todd Weston