Blog

By Pastor Andrew Farland

About 20 minutes from my home, a group of people meets once a week with the goal of spending time in fellowship and helping those in need.

I never knew anything about the organization until recently, when a friend of mine decided to join. The group is called the “Elk’s Lodge.”

These people meet in old buildings, but that doesn’t bother them. They don’t have much, either. They are what you would call normal, ordinary people – much like you and me. But when these people get together, the love in their hearts grows, and they are able to accomplish great things!

They honor God, their country and live to do good works in their communities. Here is their motto, and it’s one that can be our new motto as well:

“We respond to anyone who needs help”.

Let’s be like the members of the Elk’s Lodge and do good to those around us who need help. We don’t have to have a lot; we just have to have a lot of love!

Let’s never let charity be a rarity.

Galatians 6:10
“Therefore, wherever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone…”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

If you are fighting with God, you are fighting a losing battle. Even if you win . . . you lose.

Many people will say, “I don’t need God to prosper, all I need is:

. . . more money.”
. . . more fame.”
. . . more self-will and determination.”
But scripture is clear: you are waging a losing battle. You will have no true and lasting prosperity without God.

Sure, money, fame, and determination will give you a quick high, but it won’t stay. It’s like producing counterfeit joy with a hangover.

So today, if you find yourself tired of trying to find joy and peace without God, humble yourself and soften your heart. Stop using up all your strength in a battle of wills that you won’t win.

He is able and willing to lift you up and love you back to full strength!

Job 9:4b
“Who has hardened himself against God and prospered?”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Many people preach that if you give your life to God, things will become easy for you. You won’t have any problems, and you’ll never get sick. Your life will be a bed of beautiful red roses.

This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Why?
Because we live in a broken world.

The Bible says, God:
“…sends rains on the just and unjust alike.” [Matthew 5:45]

God doesn’t ever promise that you will be without problems, in fact, this is what the Bible says:
“…don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you.” [1 Peter 4:12]

Knowing that there will be problems helps us not to be as surprised when they happen. And even though God never promises we will be without struggles, He promises to be with us and to see us through those troubles.

“Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.” [Psalm 23:4]

We aren’t immune from trouble, but with God, we have a helper in times of trouble.

Nothing happens to you unless God allows it. And if God allows something to happen to you, it means there is a reason or a purpose behind it, so it’s actually happening for you.

We must learn to place our complete trust in God and be fully committed to Him. Right now in your life, it might not make sense why you are going through such a difficult time, but you can learn to commit it back to Him and trust Him for the strength to get through today!

God is at work in your life. He loves you and has a great plan for you!

Proverbs 3: 5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.