Encouragement Archives - Page 463 of 487

Do You Worship, Part 1

January 29, 2020 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What type of worshipper are you? Jesus said, God, the Father, is seeking for “true” worshippers to worship Him in spirit and truth. Are you a “true” worshipper? True worship is not about having a talented voice. It’s not about singing contemporary or traditional songs. It’s not about raising your hands, standing, or dancing. So what are the marks of a true worshipper? What is God looking for in a true worshipper?

Jesus said the greatest commandment is this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”‭‭ (Matthew‬ ‭22:37‬) A true worshipper is one who praises God, in good times and bad, one who rejoices from their heart with gladness and joy, and knows that God is deserving of all honor; heart, soul, and mind. That means true worship is more than a church service and more than a concert. Don’t take me the wrong way, we do worship God in church services, through gospel singings, and in Christian concerts. But there is more to true worship than what we do on Sunday.

True worshippers worship God through their jobs. They serve others with their talents and gifts. True worshippers are found in the operating rooms, in restaurants, on construction sites, on the sales floor, in the back office, answering phones, delivering products, and cleaning toilets. They worship in court rooms, classrooms, in offices, at home, on the highways, behind closed doors, and out in the field. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you do it, as long as you glorify God through it.

We can worship through serving others, giving of our talents and time, and loving those around us. God is seeking true worshippers. Do you wake up with a song on your lips? Do you praise God when things go wrong? Is honoring God with all that you have a priority? True worshippers get God’s attention.

Lord, I lift my voice to the Heavens to praise your holy name. I honor you with all that you have blessed me with. May you receive the glory in all that I do.

Living Large

January 2, 2020 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Apostle Paul lived his life to the fullest. He had a passion and purpose that was out of this world. His passion was strengthened with love and his purpose was unyielded with determination. He lived for Christ.

If we were to live everyday like Paul we would be living large. Everyday would be to glorify God in all that we do. As a Christian, we should be motivated and excited about the things that pleases Jesus.

However, we have a worldly problem that keeps us grounded from living large. Sometimes we live for ourselves or for other people. We tend to please ourselves and others more than we please the Lord. We can all admit we have been there.

Let me ask you, are you living large for Christ? Are you pleasing Jesus in all that you do? Are you living life to the fullest like Paul?

I want to encourage you through today’s scripture verse to live large for Christ. Start today being excited and motivated to serve and love others like Christ does. I pray you receive in return the joy of the Lord.

Happy New Year

January 1, 2020 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God has done great and wonderful things in 2019 but we anticipate even greater things for 2020. When we stop to think about the last year or even the last decade we can’t help but think of His wonderful attributes. Only God can do such wonderful things.

Are you anticipating great things for this new year? Are you hoping for wonderful opportunities to present themselves to you? We hope for the best to come and as a child of God we can rest assured the best is yet to come. Jesus is coming!

God wants us to experience His goodness. If we are not diving into His Word and devoting ourselves to His majesty we are living less than what we should. Strive to see how you can experience Him more now than ever before. The Scriptures tell us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…”‭‭ (Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11-14‬)

I hope you have a wonderful and happy new year and I pray that you find joy and peace that fills your heart and soul.