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THREE THINGS WILL LAST FOREVER—FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE—AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Moderation

7/24/2013

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In our world today we seem to be obsessed with our health.  We want to know anything we can do to make us feel better, look at least 25 years younger, and probably better than we originally started.  I love the words “in moderation”? For example, only have red meat, salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol in moderation.  Honestly, I believe it is a word we conjured up so we could still enjoy whatever it is, but feel better about it because we are doing it in moderation.  In case we wanted that piece of chocolate, drink of wine, or maybe a mountain dew.  My favorite is when they say dark chocolate has health benefits in moderation, so that is a green light for some to eat all they want, because after all who controls moderation?  I mean moderation for some could be one piece of chocolate, to another the whole candy bar, and yet to another several candy bars.  God did not make me a “in moderation” kind of girl.  A prime example is when I gave up all drinks except for water for lent.  For those of you not familiar with lent, that means I gave up all drinks except water for forty days.  So I thought if I have endured this long I would not go back to any type of caffeine; so I rocked on for a few more weeks’ caffeine free.  Then enters VBS; I had a thought that surely caffeine “in moderation” would not be a bad idea at this time.  The first day one mountain dew lasted three days, the next bottle lasted a day, by the weeks end, who goes without caffeine anyway?  So I have decided that I just do not operate well in moderation.  I guess you could say my personality is all or none.  Chad usually uses words like stubborn, hard headed, strong willed, but I think those are a little too harsh, so I like to call it being precise :).   I guess you could say I do not operate well in the grey area. So this week I have entered back into my no caffeine world.  I guess I probably should have warned my co-workers about this decision. 

Moderation definitely has its downfalls when it is applied to church life. I know you are probably thinking to yourself, “when do we ever use the word moderation and church in the same sentence?” We don’t say the word; we demonstrate it.  We have a mediocre attitude about God at times.   We want to go to church when we feel like it, serve when it’s convenient, minister to people if it doesn’t put us out, give if we feel we have enough, and use our spiritual gifts when we choose.  Basically we have brought our attitude of moderation to the church, and God.  The Bible speaks very clearly, and harshly about this very subject.

Revelation 3:15-16 ESV

15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

We have all drank water that is considered lukewarm.  When you put it in your mouth it is neither refreshing like a cold drink, or soothing like a hot cup of tea, it is just somewhere in the middle.  Many people, if they were being honest, would find themselves in this area.  We find ourselves on the fence wanting to go to church and serve God, but not wanting people to think we are too radical in our beliefs. So I wonder today if God visited our home, our church, our place of work, would he spit us out of His mouth?  In some versions of the Bible it uses the word vomit.  This visual makes me want to be sick myself.  I mean imagine that God would be so disappointed, disgusted, ashamed, whatever word you choose to use, that he would vomit us out of His mouth. If we answered yes; the next question is how did we get to this point?  In verse 17 it talks of being rich and prosperous, and the attitude that we are in need of nothing. The problem is that although money can be helpful, it is not the cure all. Hollywood is a perfect example that money does not always lead to happiness.  God is sending a warning that just because we may think we have everything we need materially; we are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  So as churches boast of their numbers rising, build bigger buildings, and invest in more stuff, where are we spiritually? Stanley High said these words:
           
            The church has failed to tell me that I am a sinner.  The church has failed to deal with me as

a lost individual.  The church has failed to offer me salvation in Jesus Christ alone.  The church has failed to tell me of the horrible consequences of sin, the certainty of hell, and the fact that Jesus Christ alone can save.  We need more the last judgment and less of the Golden Rule, more of a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  The church must bring me not a message of cultivation but of rebirth.  I might fail that kind of church, but that kind of church will not fail me.

How sad if his words were about us, or our church.

In His Word, the Lord is telling us that although we may have material wealth, we have missed Him.  He is offering us all we will ever need to be rich, to be clothed, and to have eyes to see the truth.  The irony of this passage is Laodicean, to whom the letter was written; was known for their medical school, and eye anointment.  Although they had the best salves in the world, they were still blind to the truth.  Sometimes as Christians we find ourselves in this boat.  We have the Word of God all around us, in every possible language and translation, but still are not seeing God for who he really is.

I ask you today.  Does God drink you in as a refreshing drink, or does he want to vomit your actions and deeds out of his mouth?  God has called us to serve Him with all our heart, mind, and soul---not moderation.  

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FREEDOM

7/4/2013

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I love the Fourth of July Holiday; watermelon, cookouts, ice cream and fireworks.  As we enter into the Fourth of July weekend, the word Freedom comes to our mind.   As we reflect on our freedom, we remember those who have died for our freedom, and who continue to protect us.  I am extremely grateful for those who serve in our military, and on our police force that protect us daily.  I am also extremely thankful I have a Savior who died to give me a freedom that conquers all things, even death.

We are at the campgrounds getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July.  Yesterday I was riding my bike when a small dog caught my eye.   The dog was obviously interested in some type of animal, so he charged after it, only to be yanked back by his leash.  The dog had a certain amount of freedom, but was limited by the stake that held the rope.  As I watched this scenario play out, I thought about how we as Christians live our lives as though we are staked to an invisible rope. There are times in our life when God is calling us to do something, but when we are almost there or ready to take the leap, we allow fear or doubt to jerk us back into our safety zone.  However, our safety zone we create for ourselves is a façade.  The only real danger is not leaving the safety zone we have created, and jumping into God’s will.  Jesus died on the cross so we could live without restriction in His name. We say this famous Bible verse all the time “We can do all things in Him that strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13), but do we live it?  Do people look at our life and know we are willing to do anything God ask of us because we have confidence in the verse we just quoted, or did it just sound good to say?

Our camp Pastor told a story this week about him and three friends on the high dive.  They all agreed to do whatever the first person did no matter what.  The first friend did a half twist beautifully, with a tiny splash in the water.  The second friend tried, but did a back buster with his whole backside.  He said you could hear the loud smack of flesh on the water.  The third friend appeared to be a little nervous.  He stalled, and then finally moved down the board, leaps up in the air, only to do a pencil into the water.  For those of you not familiar with the pencil, you simply jump straight up and then enter the water straight as a pencil.  The point was the first friend was living in total freedom, the second friend was trying his best and leaving fear behind, even if the first attempt was not a success, the third friend chose not to even try because it might cost too much.

Galations 5:1 says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Has God called you to do something that is going to cost you something?  Maybe He has called you to give up a job for a greater calling, witness to a friend that might cost you a friendship, spend your money for the Kingdom instead of yourself, leave your home to be a missionary, give up things in your life that are not pleasing to him, the list could go on and on.

I will leave you with David Rhodes comment, ““The world tries to tell you that you can have all the taste for half the price, but God’s word says it might cost us everything, yet its worth it all.”

I hope you will find Him worth it all !!

Happy Fourth of July- Let Freedom Ring

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    Author 

    My name is Bridgette Guest. I am a wife, mom, children's minister, as well as women's conference speaker.  I love the Lord, and want to share his word with as many people as I can.






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