Tag: sacrifice

By Pastor Andrew Farland

The longer you go without dealing with conflict, the harder it’s going to be to repair your relationship.

This is why Jesus instructs us in Matthew 18 to go to someone right away when that person sins against us.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

The Bible says don’t let the sun go down on your anger.

What does that mean?

It means that you must take care of anger right away; don’t let your anger fester. God wants us to address problems right away to help us to save and preserve our relationships with each other.

I know firsthand how hard that request can be.

There was a time that I had a falling out with someone. We had a miscommunication, and as a result, I didn’t say anything for three months. During that time I started to build a case against the other person. This case was based on imagination and fabrication; never was it founded on truth.

The other person was fine and thought nothing was wrong between us.

But I allowed the lie I believed to continue for three months.

The anger you don’t deal with right away festers, and the enemy works on your mind, using that venom against you. He uses your rage to poison you!

That enemy wanted me to preserve the lie I had been telling myself. He is an accuser and an instigator of lies. He will plant seeds in our minds that God doesn’t love us or we are not good enough for God.

Soon the seed he plants will grow like a weed with long and far-reaching roots, The weed blossoms quickly, and it soon blocks out everything else from your mind. You’ll begin to think the other person wronged you and deserve punishment. Maybe you begin to think you should pull your affection from them.

God tells us to go to the person and clear up the miscommunication as soon as you realize there is an offense. Communicate in person, not in a text message or What’s App post that can be easily misconstrued. You must see their body language, and they must see yours.

If you can’t be there, call them. As a last resort, text.

The truth is far better than the stories with which we try to satisfy ourselves. The sooner we address our anger, the better because it is the truth that shall set us free.

John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Clear communication is one of the most important things we can use when working with each other. Yet when we’re frustrated, discussion and understanding often fall to the wayside.

It’s super easy to become lax with our communication. We bottle things in, hold things back, and say things we shouldn’t. Sometimes we mutter under our breath.

That frustration can surface as a quick backhanded comment that rides a wave of discontent. One snappy remark can poison an ocean. If left unchecked, more waves of bitter words swell under the surface of civility, until finally, they crash upon the other person, drowning them in anger.

One of the things God showed me is that it’s important to maintain clear communication especially when we’re frustrated.

Instead of bottling up your feelings, communicate clearly with these tips:

Tell the truth by beginning with facts.

. Keep your tone even and face/gestures as neutral as possible.
. State how you feel, but understand what it’s like to be in the other person’s shoes.
. Avoid using accusatory and inflammatory words.
. Give the other person a chance to do the same; communication is as much about listening as it is about talking.

These steps can help us see how unrealistic our expectations of the other person might have been. We come to understand where we’re too hasty with our comments.

Finally, process your comments as well as those you’ve heard.

Move forward with clarity and with love.

Proverbs 15:1-2 (NIV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

If you’re like many other people, you like receiving gifts.

Getting a present is fun!

The anticipation of finding out what’s under the wrapping paper is just the beginning. We can’t wait to see what’s inside. There is such pleasure in knowing that someone took the time to find just the right gift.

God has picked out a special gift for us, too. In fact, He’s given us three everlasting gifts. In Ephesians Chapter 1, verses 7 and 8, we learn that:

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

God has blessed us and made us His own. He purposefully chose us to be in Him. God picked us out before the foundations of the world existed, and He used Jesus Christ to adopt us.

Why would God do these things? He wanted to show His grace as he developed a relationship with us. And He has given us three incredible gifts:

Forgiveness
Redemption
Understanding

Forgiveness wipes away all offenses from memory and stops resentment. God says, “I know all that you’ve done, even the bad things in secret and out of bad motive, but I’m willing to let those deeds be bygones. They never happened.”

Our first gift from God, the gift of forgiveness, is really the gift of forgetting. Many of us can start the process of forgiveness, but no human can forget. We remember not just actions, but also words for a long time. We can’t take back our hurtful words. Only God can take away the sting and the hurt when we’ve been wronged.

Redemption, which is the release of bondage through a payment, is the second gift. Imagine a sheep at the bottom of a well. A shepherd comes along and pays to have the sheep released from its confinement so it can join the other sheep. This sheep has been redeemed.

We are all stuck in bondage – physical, financial, or relational ties that hold us back. We are especially bound to material things like alcohol, drugs, co-dependency, the Internet, and smartphones. They become an addiction that hamstrings us and prevents us from moving.

God gives us redemption and removes our bondage. We are redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.

The most important gift from God is understanding. God makes known the mystery of His will according to his purpose, which is set forth in Christ.

So often we wonder what purpose God has for us. These three gifts help us know and understand God’s will. If, however, we don’t take time to read our Bibles, we remain ignorant, and the gifts God has for us sit there, wrapped and ready, but unopened. They are waiting for us to claim them.

The gifts are yours for the asking. To receive them, you must:

Hear the good news – read and listen to the Word of God
Believe the Gospel – accept it as the truth
Receive God’s seal – allow Him to claim you for his own.

Most importantly, radically start to believe what the Bible tells you.

Remember these three gifts.

You never have to walk around with guilt and shame. You have been fully forgiven and freed from bondage. You never have to wonder what God’s plan for you is.

God’s plan is for you to grow strong in His word with these three gifts.

Ephesians 1:13 (NIV)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

When I went through my battle with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, no one told me that there were ways to combat, and sometimes even prevent, attacks from starting.

I would just try to breathe faster and faster, keeping up with the pace of my heart rate, until I found out it’s counterproductive. One day, I decided to research techniques to lower my heart rate, ease my anxiety, and calm my breathing.

I discovered two amazing ways to deal with panic attacks. Today, I want to share these tools with you in the hopes that they help you take steps forward in your journey toward healing.

Progressive Relaxation. This relaxation technique is one that would help me in the middle of a panic attack. Was it a cure? Not exactly, but it gave me the ability to take control of my own mind and body. Here’s how it works. First, make yourself comfortable by wearing loose-fitting clothes and taking off your shoes. Then, begin the exercise by tensing the muscles in your right foot, holding for ten seconds. Move to your left foot, then your legs, your abdomen, arms, neck, and face. Move from your feet to your head, flexing your muscles for ten seconds at a time. You’ll find that the relaxation of your mind is closely related to the relaxation of your muscles.

Box Breathing. I found that this technique was helpful during an attack and was beneficial to do each day. To do box breathing, find a chair in a room where you won’t be interrupted. Put your feet on the floor and begin taking slow, deep breaths through your nose, counting to four seconds. Then, exhale for four seconds through your mouth. As the air enters your lungs, focus your attention on the way your stomach and chest go up and down with every breath. The point of this exercise is to calm down your respiratory system. What’s great about this is you can do it anywhere.
If you’ve never attempted anything like these relaxation techniques, start today. The biggest reason is that it will give you control over your mind and body again. Depression, anxiety, subsequent panic attacks make you feel helpless, but utilizing these tools can give you confidence in the power that God has put inside of you.

Isaiah41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.