Tag: christ

By Pastor Andrew Farland

If we want to plug into God, we’ll need to learn to unplug from our busy schedules.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Are you tired, worn out, and on the brink of exhaustion? Is your battery running at less than 10%? Maybe it’s time to unplug from the world and plug into the Word! Nothing tells God He’s important like setting aside intentional time to be still and communicate with Him.

See as a guy, I mistakenly think if I work harder, and do more things for my friends, I’ll naturally build stronger relationships. While helping people is great, without this other key element, it just won’t be as fulfilling! And that element is spending intentional TIME with them! This is the best way to deepen a relationship.

In Luke 10:38-42, a young sister named Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His words while her older sister Martha fussed in the kitchen, preparing a meal for everyone. Martha even asked her Lord to send her little sister into the kitchen to help. Jesus didn’t send anyone into the kitchen. Instead, He praised Mary for focusing her undivided attention on Him!

Undivided attention is the key! When I pay attention to you, that means you are important to me! And the same is true with God: time = relationship!

Psalm 91:1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the highest, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty!

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

I don’t know about you, but for me, I can get overwhelmed trying to figure out the right thing to do in any given situation. How do I know I’m doing the right thing? With unlimited life circumstances and an unlimited amount of responses, it helps me to simplify my faith by choosing the right focus.

Having heard so many of His teachings, an expert on the law once asked Jesus what was necessary to inherit eternal life. This was a man that knew the law forwards and backward; he spent most of his time studying the law! But still, he wanted to hear from Jesus . . . what should I focus on?

The way that I would have asked this question was more like this:
“Jesus, we’ve heard so many different things that we are to do and not do, and it can get confusing and overwhelming at times.

What is the main thing we should be focused on? How can we make sure to do all that you’ve asked of us so that we end up with you in heaven?
Jesus already responded with this concise statement: “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul strength, and mind, and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we learn to focus on Loving God, we are less likely to sin against Him. If we are focused on loving others like ourselves, we are less likely to commit adultery, murder, steal or covet. And thus Loving God and others is the proper and ultimate fulfillment of God’s moral law! Today, if you are getting overwhelmed and not sure where to put your focus, put it on the Love God has for yes you do that it will make it much easier to Love God and those around you.

Here’s a question to ask yourself the next time you come up against a difficult situation: “What’s the most loving thing I can do here?”

Mark 12:30-31
“’ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

We all love attending weddings. There is something so special about two people making a life-long commitment to each other! This beautiful moment points us to the commitment God makes with us. To be with us in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer.

The bible tells us that when two people marry “The two become one”. And that’s the same thing that happens to us when we give our lives to Christ. God makes a forever commitment to be faithful to us. What a wonderful thing! And because God is inside of you, that means you are one with Christ. It also means that Jesus can’t let you down because in order to do that He would also have to let Himself down and that’s not His character.

God is invested in you and your wellbeing. If something hurts you, it also hurts Him. So today, take courage! God won’t and can’t let you down! He’s committed to be faithful to you for eternity. How great the love of God is!

2 Timothy 2:13
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

I was recently in Pakistan.
While we were there, we had 2 bodyguards that were given the task of protecting us against anyone who would want to hurt or harm us. These bodyguards were always by our side. Sometimes they were in front of us, other times they were by our side and other times behind us. No matter what, these two armed guards made sure we were never alone in Pakistan. And this is how God’s goodness and unfailing love are with us!

In fact, the Bible says God himself gives us 2 bodyguards: “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life”! I want you to know this today when you place your faith in Jesus Christ, He makes sure to always be with you and never leave you.

As you go through your day, you will catch glimpses of God being good to you! You will feel the loving presence of God carrying you when things get hard! Maybe today you are going through something that seems bigger than you, but I would propose that God would say to you, “Be at peace! I am bigger than your problems, and I am sending my bodyguards to protect you!”

May God’s goodness and unfailing love pursue you all the days of your life.

Deuteronomy 31:6
“The Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.