Blog: Healing from Disappointment

Have you ever been told by a parent or a close friend that they weren’t mad at you, but they were “just disappointed in you?” Did it seem, at the time, that their disappointment in you felt more piercing than if they were mad at you? Did it feel like shame was brought upon you? Disappointment is a powerful word. It may even become an attack on your self-worth. This could affect you from this present day to the days to come. To sum it up, disappointment provides false expectations of perfection in one’s life and it deters people from developing a healthy self-identity. Here is the reason why: disappointment is one of two primary emotions involved in decision-making. People who take risks may have developed fears due to disappointment. When disappointment becomes a negative impact on your life, then decisions become motivated in pleasing people rather than utilizing a creative process. Now it may seem like everything you do is under scrutiny. This is absolutely unhealthy. This wound can affect your decision making, your identity, and your behavior, which means this can affect your spirit, soul, and body.

How can I get healing from disappointment? God is the one who made us spirit, soul, and body, therefore, He is the One who can heal us spirit, soul, and body. God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from our afflictions. Jesus is the Master Redeemer, so you’re healing starts with Him. “For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds; says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 30:17). I believe that God would want us to deal with these areas one at a time. Everyone has unsubmitted areas of their heart, and when God wants us to be free of these areas, He will begin to poke at them. Why does God poke at them? My experience is that He will “reveal to heal.” If we don’t know we have issues, then God will reveal them to heal them. We must first see that the negative results in our lives may come from wrong decisions. Wrong decisions may come from wrong thinking, and our wrong thinking may come from a lack of knowledge or an identity crisis. God created us to be healthy. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves healthy (spirit, soul, and body). So when God reveals issues in your life, don’t run from it. God will give you strength to face it.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (Message Bible) “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” I love this translation because it shows us that we have the power (authority) to smash and tear down any thoughts or words that come against our identity in Christ. As we read the Word of God, Christ’s identity is formed within us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” In Christ we have authority, identity, and we are a new creation. Old words, thoughts, and behaviors are disappearing and a new transformation arises into Christ’s identity.

Here is how you exercise your new identity in Christ. When disappointment comes, we have a choice to keep it alive by dwelling on it. If we dwell on disappointment, we allow the disappointment to form an identity within us. But, if we choose to smash it and tear it down immediately when we receive any negative impact, we can destroy its power to affect our decision-making. How? Forgiveness. I have learned the power of forgiving people immediately—not because they deserve it, but because I do not want anything between my Savior and me. Unforgiveness builds bitterness, but to destroy it, you must separate the sin from the person. Forgive them and move on and watch healing flow in your life.

This life we live in Christ has many unexpected twists and turns. The Word of God—our instruction manual—will direct us into a straight path of being complete and lacking nothing. God bless you.

– Pastor Pat

Blog: It’s All About Him

There is a huge difference between being a Christian and being a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ. Following Christ isn’t something that can be done half-heartedly or just when we feel like it. Following Jesus must be the center point of everything we do and who we are. Nothing should be more important than our relationship with our Creator. It’s about Him and eternity; everything else is a distant second.

With that being said, being a Christian isn’t measured by church attendance…it’s a way of life. Likewise, we don’t attend church to just hear the Word. The Words of Christ that we hear need to pierce our hearts and make such a profound impact on us that our lives are forever changed, resulting in a life of ministry and reaching people.

The Book of James (2:17) says faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. We may call ourselves Christians, but our actions must say the same thing. God measures our lives by our actions not our words. Our words don’t really mean anything if how we live our everyday lives can’t back them up. True faith is taking action, and having true faith means holding nothing back….it’s living a life that shows people “I’m all in.”

It’s interesting that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26). They did not name themselves; the people called them Christians after watching their lives. I pray that I lead a life where my thoughts, words, and actions show that I am entirely focused on God and that I’m living for eternity. I pray that I lead a life that will cause people who watch me to call me a Christian.

– Pastor Mike

Blog: Making Him the Lord of Our Lives

Today, I would like to share a personal story with you. Having a walk with God is certainly not measured by the number of years we have attended church; it is something that becomes evident in the measure that we allow Him to be the Lord of our lives.

While standing in the Wal-Mart check-out line, I once expressed to a friend that I was a king and royalty in God’s eyes. The comment came up while we were looking at a magazine with a picture of the royal wedding in England. That same night, I headed back home and continued my reading of the book of Daniel, where God showed me how I truly looked.

In my personal reading, I always look for ways to learn from those who God used for His glory, but that night, He spoke to me from a different angle of Daniel’s story. Making notes on how Daniel lived in Babylon and how he became someone great, I couldn’t help but notice an interesting point about King Nebuchadnezzar. When he had the dream about the statue made of different elements, there was not anyone that could interpret his dream, so he ordered that they all be killed. But, Daniel asked for some time to ask his friends to join him in prayer for the interpretation. After they heard from God, Daniel went back to the king and told him everything that was going to happen with his kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that “Daniel’s God” had given them a divine word and gave testimony that his words were trustworthy. Later on in the story, King Nebuchadnezzar was a witness to the miracle of Daniel’s friends not being burned after he had them thrown into the fiery furnace. He was so amazed that he declared a royal decree that whoever said anything against THEIR God would be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, “for no other god can save this way” Daniel 3:29.

A second dream came to King Nebuchadnezzar in which he saw a big tree in a prosperous land. Birds made their nests in it, animals found refuge in it, and the whole world could see it. Daniel was again called to interpret the dream, and he was so alarmed that he gave the king advice to repent from his sins and to acknowledge it was the Most High who gave kingdoms and took them away.

This whole story was a wake-up call I could not ignore. God was telling me that I was like this king who had dreams, had seen their fulfillment, had experienced miracles, and had still not yet acknowledged God as HIS God/Lord. He gave me an opportunity to understand that I needed to accept His Lordship and to let Him lead my life. He also wanted me to know that all the things I had accomplished had nothing to do with any of my talents or capabilities; He is the Most High who gives and takes away. Just as Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge this fact, I would like to invite you to reflect today about how you see God. Do you look up to Him as for what He has done or for who He is in your life?

The point in this story is that we can see His hand upon our lives, His mercy and favor in all we do, but still miss the point of not letting Him be the Lord of our lives.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”  – Matthew 7:21

 Life is not only about knowing His hand is upon us but also in taking ACTION by obeying ALL He has asked us to do (Lordship).

 “…and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” – 1 Cor. 12:3

His Spirit already dwells within you, now let Him come upon you and be the Lord of your life!

Blog: Believe in Yourself

Have you ever been asked this question before, “If you could do anything without restrictions, what would you do for Christ?” I think the key word in this question is restrictions. Sometimes, it’s difficult for us to see life without restrictions. As a matter of fact, I think we look for them. If we are asked to do something we aren’t confident in doing, we bring up all kinds of negative things that would deter us from doing it. “I’m too shy,” “I can’t afford it,” “It’s too heavy,” “So-and-so is good at that,” and my favorites are “Let me pray about it” and “I don’t feel led.”

I understand life has limitations but I also feel we miss a lot of great experiences because we don’t believe in ourselves. Henry Ford is quoted saying this: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” I believe limitations and restrictions will kill visions and dreams! I believe that limitations are in our mind more than our ability. I believe a lack of confidence has been programed in our minds at an early age. Before we even have a chance to prove or disprove the task, we were told we can’t do it.

I know there is a huge difference between being unwilling to do something and being unable to do something. But being unwilling may come from a lack of confidence.

I love this from William James, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.”

I think it’s time to challenge ourselves to go beyond what we think about ourselves and look deep down inside, and take a challenge to do something we have never done before. God does not disqualify us, but He has equipped us to qualify us. Hebrews 4:12 “His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church).” (AMP)

So if you don’t think you can do certain things in your own strength, then lift up your eyes and ask God to empower you with His strength. Then, watch his power move through you. As a pastor, there have been lots of opportunities to do things that I did not have any confidence to do. Like Peter—who stepped out of the boat and walked on water so he could reach Jesus—Peter did the impossible. I believe there will be opportunities in your near future that will feel as if Jesus is calling you out of your boat to do His will.

Remember the question earlier: If you could do anything without restrictions what would you do for Christ? Restrictions are obstacles that you see in your path, so keep your eyes on Christ and those obstacles won’t even matter. Like anything in our lives, the first mountain is tough, but it helps grow your confidence and that confidence prepares you for the next mountain.

If God believes in you, why don’t YOU believe in you?

One last inspiring quote by A.B. Simpson: “God is preparing His heroes; and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from.”

You are God’s hero, and He is preparing you for something big.

- Pastor Pat