Tag: god’s forgiveness

By Pastor Andrew Farland

As believers, we are called to serve others with the ability, heart, and instruction we have received from God. When something good happens in our lives, we want to tell everyone about it. In the same way, as we walk with God, our hearts get to the point where our thankfulness pours over, and we want others to experience the same love we have been given!

So when we feel this desire, what do we do?
How do we do minister in a way that honors God and serves others the most?
And where do we start?
Let me help you unpack it:
Ministry is taking what you’ve been given from God (your abilities, talents, gifts, love, and direction) to meet the needs of others for God’s glory alone.

The first step is to identify what God has given you!

What are you naturally good at?
What has God communicated to your heart to do?
What challenges have you gone through that you could now help others to overcome?
What is that you encourage every other believer to do? (that’s usually what you are called to do)
What need or cause do you like supporting?
What is it that others talk about that interests you?

Once you’ve identified these, pray and ask God if is there is anything else He would like to tell you about how you could minister and wait on Him to receive.

The second step is to pray and ask God how you can use these things to help others and to get started!

This is where you wait on God to show you how to move forward. We have to remember that God’s timing isn’t our timing, but His timing is always perfect. The bible says “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”

The best way to learn is to begin.
Once we have taken the first steps, we can trust the Lord to continually guide us. He loves seeing His children move forward in faith trusting that He will provide.

The third step is to give ALL the glory to God.
The Bible tells us that we are to “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name” and to “Ascribe to Lord Glory and Strength.” [1 Chronicles 16:28-29]

None of us are in control. Only God is. After all, which one of us chose to be born?
It would be wrong to minister to others so that we could receive Glory for our own sake. True Godly ministry doesn’t seek money power or fame; it seeks to help others so that God would be glorified.

Our hearts must ONLY seek that others would go to God and praise Him. When you begin to minister for the right reasons your heart will be at peace! You will experience God’s joy.

So start asking yourself these questions and allow God to show you, in whichever way He desires, what you are called to. Then, begin. Get started. You will see God provide for you the opportunities to help others.

When others are helped, remind yourself and the other person that you are only able to do this because God gave you the ability to.

Ascribe to Him the Glory due to His name!

1 Chronicles 16:28
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

We hear this concept many times: people can “hear” God’s voice. Sometimes that’s difficult to believe — that God can speak to us, just as another person would. But I also think that if God is big enough to the make the universe and to create us, He is surely able to find a way to communicate with us.

The truth is that very rarely does God speak audibly to people today. But the Bible also says,
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

I want to tell you today that there are many ways to “hear” God’s voice. They aren’t all auditory, either. God can speak to you visually as you read His Word. He can give you a strong impression or feeling in your heart. He can even use someone else to share a message with you!

We get in trouble when we limit God with our own understanding.

A limitless God is able to communicate with us in limitless ways. So, if you don’t hear God’s voice audibly, you’re in good company. Ask God to speak to your heart. Read your Bible and listen for an impression.

Ask Him to show you how He communicates with you! As you do this, you will realize how often God does actually communicate with you! 🙂

Have a great day today, knowing that God is with you, and that I love you and am praying for you!

John 10:27
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

[ss_social_share networks=”whatsapp” align=”left” shape=”rounded” size=”small” labels=”none” spacing=”1″ hide_on_mobile=”0″ total=”1″ all_networks=”1″]By Pastor Andrew Farland

What if I told you I had $1,440 in my pocket right now, and that I wanted to give you all of it?
In fact, what if I wanted to give you $1,440 every day for the rest of your life, what would you say?
You’d take it, right?
Well, what if I said I’d do it under one condition?
All you have to do is take $20 and spend it on me. Would you still do it? You could have all $1,440, but you had to spend $20 on me.

So say one day you buy me a sweater, and you’re thinking, “Cool! I can get used to this!” Maybe another day you are feeling generous, and you want to spend $25! Or $50! Or Once in a while, $400!
You’d do it because you were given so much more. Well, what about If God gave you everything you had?

Every day God gives us 1,440 minutes. He gives us the air we breathe, the ability to laugh, the ability to enjoy his creation – for 1,440 minutes per day. How many of those minutes do you give back to God spending time in his word?

Think about it. Doesn’t the Almighty God who made you deserve at least 20 minutes of your day? Can you give him just 20 out of the 1,440 he gives you?

Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

“I won’t advance in stress, I will only advance in rest.”

Years ago, God showed me that in His grace, He gave to His kids what everyone else has had to work so hard for.
By our own strength, we think that we have to work harder to move forward. We insist that we must earn our progress and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. God instructs us to trust by resting in Him and His abilities.

When the Egyptians were chasing the Israelites to the Red Sea and there was no way out, God told Moses, all you need to do is standstill.

Sure, there are times when God will ask us to do certain things and we should obey, but there are also times God asks us to stop stressing and start resting.

In God’s rest, you will move forward.

Zechariah 4:6
“So He said to me….Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Be encouraged today because God is with you.