Pastor Brad’s Notebook

19 Mar

Posted at 12:15h in Devotionals
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"While I was musing, the fire burned..." Psalm 39:3 Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that if you would spend more time musing, or meditating, the fire of your soul would burn brighter and hotter? You see, it is because we spend so little time in meditation and reflection that we often have so little exhilaration and enthusiasm in our walk with the Lord. Why then, don't you withdraw from the world to spend time with the Lord more often? If you were to do so you would soon discover that you would be better equipped to face the world because you would, in fact, be less worldly.

12 Mar

Posted at 12:07h in Devotionals
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"Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused." 1st Samuel 11:6 This seems to be a rather strange response of the Spirit. In fact, I would have expected any other effect than this. I have always understood that the presence of the Spirit means love. Yet here I am told that its purpose was to create anger in King Saul. Does that mean that there is a love that is compatible with anger? I believe that the answer is "yes." In the book of Revelation I read about "the wrath of the Lamb." Isn't that an odd statement? Does that mean that the Lamb lost the presence of the Spirit and suddenly burst into anger? Absolutely not. In fact, I believe that it is the Spirit's presence that gives Him His wrath.

09 Mar

Posted at 13:40h in Fridays Are For Family
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It's one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your children - how to properly handle money. You see, we live in a world where more lives - and even nations - are falling apart at the seams because of financial irresponsibility. It seems that almost every day I hear where some nation is in chaos over an oncoming collapse in their economy or some family is facing foreclosure (or even divorce) because they never learned the first rule of finances - you can't spend more than you take in. One of the first lessons I have determined to teach my children is how to properly view and use the money that the Lord gives to them. I want them to see themselves as stewards of God's money, not spenders of their money. I want them to see money for what it is - a way to be blessed and a means to be a blessing. I don't want them to fall into the financial traps that so many people fall into today. I don't want their self-worth to be tied to their net-worth. I don't want them to hold onto to their money, yet lose their family. I don't want them to get into so much debt that they can't obey and follow the Lord. In short, I want them to have a Biblical view of money.

07 Mar

Posted at 13:52h in Devotionals
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"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:14 The fullness of grace and truth in the person of Jesus was indeed glorious. It was the coming together of two things that are so often opposites in the hearts of men. Some souls very easily display grace. There is a natural and easy forgiveness that they give to others, but they have a low view of the Divine truth that has been violated. Then there are those who have a very clear understanding of the majesty of Divine truth and an overwhelming sense of repulsion towards the sin that rebels against it, but so often these are unable to forgive the trespasser. There is more truth than grace. John tells us that in the person of Jesus, however, we find something altogether unexpected. We find in Him the perfect blending of two opposites. In Christ, we see the fullness of grace perfectly united with absolute truth.