Tag: transfiguration

By Pastor Andrew Farland

There’s an old song from back in the day, and it’s called “My Way.” The lyrics go on about taking matters into your hands and doing everything yourself. Every chorus ends with the refrain, “I did it my way.”

So often though, “our way” isn’t the better choice. We manage to run into bumps and snags, take on too much, and even run amuck. We end frazzled, exhausted, and under-whelmed.
That’s not God’s plan for you.

If you’ll take the time to acknowledge God and lay out the pieces of your life on His altar, God will see your sacrifice of prayer and smooth out the road in front of you.
He will overshadow you with His presence, and then you’ll burst forth with endless joy; one that permeates to the deepest recesses of your heart.
Proverbs 3:5-06 tells us,
“Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions. Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.”

You don’t have to do it your way do it in God’s way, and you will be blessed with abundance.

2 Samuel 7:28
Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Remember those pop quizzes from school?
The teachers always seemed to know when you hadn’t studied, or when you weren’t paying attention.
Then, BAM! A pop quiz!

There’s nothing like a test to make you sit up and take notice. You may have even figured out that it’s a lot easier to stay focused along the way instead of cramming at the last minute.
God knows that, too.
Some of the things you are going through right now are God’s test!
God wants to see how you will react under pressure so He knows if He can trust you with more.
He wants to see if you’ve matured before He gives you the next assignment because He doesn’t want it to break you. He’s patient, and He can wait until you’re ready to move ahead.

God also wants you to know that if you’re willing to lean on Him, you’ll be ready for anything.
3 KEYS will help you PASS the test you are going through today:
Be patient and watch what you say.
Do what’s most loving for others, even if it sets you back.
Remind yourself of God’s character and track record. Declare in Faith how He won’t let you down!
Stay focused. Pay attention. Be ready.
God is trying to help you grow and mature into the person He knows you can become.

Psalm 139:23
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts.”

Be encouraged today because God is with you.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

Most of us have experienced some awful stuff, like getting bullied.
We feel shame and embarrassment. Sometimes we mess up, and that makes us afraid to try again. Or we’re going through a rough patch, and it’s not pleasant.
Those kinds of situations can make anyone feeling like giving up. Quitting.
Because we’re afraid.
We’re letting the enemy get the best of us. In fact, many of us unknowingly bless the enemies’ plans by agreeing with fear. The tangled-up emotions of fear prevent us from discovering the truth. We shut down, too afraid to look for the truth. Let’s make an agreement to trust the truth instead . . . enduring and believing ‘til the end!
Humans experience six distinctly different emotions. Some researchers say there could be as many as 27 emotions. One thing the researchers do agree on is that our feelings are always in a state of flux.

Emotions are always in motion. That means no feeling is permanent.
No matter how sad, how embarrassed, hurt, overwhelmed, or depressed you may be feeling in this moment, your feelings will change. This too will pass! Best, of all you don’t have to wait it out alone. Hang in there. Trust God’s love for you.

Isaiah 41:10
“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.

By Pastor Andrew Farland

How often have you set lofty goals, only to fall short?
Plan big, they say, so you do exactly that. Before you know it, you have an end goal, but no way to get there. It’s hard to take even the first step because you are thinking about how difficult the future will be.

Then you remember “Inch by inch is a cinch, but yard by yard is hard, and mile by mile is a trial.”

When you want to make a change in your life, take small steps first! By taking the first small step you are committing yourself to action. Your drive and stamina won’t change overnight. Stay consistent, and keep working on the small action steps.
Want to get healthy? Go on a 10-minute walk.
Want to get closer to God? Read a short devotional right when you get up.
Want to clean your house? Start with one room.
Small steps are the catalysts that can move you forward. The key to a breakthrough in any area of your life is ACTION. But the reason we procrastinate and avoid taking any action at all is that we’re overwhelmed!
We think we’re responsible for everything, but that’s unrealistic!
Thank God the future only comes one day at a time.
You don’t have to do everything, not at once and not by yourself. The most important thing for you to do today is to make the decision to do SOMETHING.
Take the first steps. Make them small but consistent, and you will reach your target.

“Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me.” (Psalm 119:133)