FIRST THINGS FIRST

FIRST THINGS FIRST

“First things first” growing up that phrase became a mantra that was drilled into my young psyche.   My very organized parents taught us from a young age that there are definite priorities to our activities.

Even as small children we were trained to pick up and put our toys away before we moved to a different activity.   Before we left the house in the morning our rooms had to be clean and our beds made.   Right after dinner my two sisters and I did the dishes.   When someone would ask my dad why we didn’t have a dishwasher he would say, “I have three”.

On Saturdays it was our cleaning day, and before we could go play with our friends we had to do our chores.    It was really annoying doing house work on those beautiful days knowing our friends were waiting for us outside.  When we tried to change or circumvent the system we were quickly reminded that complaining and procrastinating were not tolerated at all.

The older I get the more appreciation I have for the pattern and benefits of first things first.  The Bible is filled with the importance of putting God first.   Early in Israel’s history they were reminded to put God first by loving Him with all their heart mind soul and strength, and not to worship any other gods.   When they harvested their crops they were to give first fruits.   The tithe was instituted to honor God with the first ten percent of their harvest and livestock.

When Israel entered the promised land He told them that He was giving them the land with houses they did not build, wells they did not dig, vineyards they did not plant.   But when they got ready to go into Jericho, the first city, God let them know that all of Jericho belonged to Him.  They were able to keep the spoils of the other cities but all of Jericho’s riches were dedicated to the Lord.   Jericho was one of God’s ways of teaching them to honor Him with first things.

Is God first in your life?  Do your daily activities reflect that God is number one on a consistent basis? We live in a world that moves fast with many things that compete for our time, attention, energy and our resources.   God still wants first place in our lives, but what does that look like?

Put God first in your day.   It’s wise to put God first in your day by honoring him with a time of devotion.  King David a man after God’s own heart said in Psalm 5:3,  “Lord, each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Put God first in your week by coming to church on Sunday.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Put God first in your finances by tithing and giving offerings. Proverbs 3:9 says, “Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first fruits of all your increase;”

Put God first in all your relationships by loving people.   I John 4:7 says,  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

Put God first in everything!   Jesus gave us this powerful formula for keeping God first as we live this life in Matthew 6:33,  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

God’s blessings will be abundant in your life as you keep FIRST THINGS FIRST!

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE, LOVE LIFE,

Pastor

ROOTED AND GROUNDED

Spring time in Juneau is here!   It is so refreshing to see the leaves appearing on the deciduous trees once again…   Yesterday, Deenie and I were cleaning out the flower beds while enjoying conversation and the warmth of the sun.   There seems to be something therapeutic about digging around in the soil on a beautiful day.   I noticed, as usual, our two Japanese Maples in front of our house are slow in growing their leaves.   However when they fully blossom they are remarkably beautiful.

Do you ever find yourself getting frustrated feeling like you are slow to blossom?   Where is that glorious fruitful season you have been promised by the Word of the Lord?    Have you found yourself impatiently wondering, Lord, how long do I have to wait to see the promises fulfilled?

I encourage you today to stay on track and refuse to give up, because you are probably very close to your fruitful season.   Remember the bigger the tree, the greater the need for that tree to send its roots down deep into the earth to get a firm footing and to draw sufficient nourishment.   It takes time for the tree to be rooted and grounded in order to withstand the wind, weather and all the other challenges that come with our seasons.

Paul gives a horticultural analogy in Col. 2:7 where he states:  “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”   Note the words, “…then your faith will grow strong in the truth…”   Let’s face it, growing strong seems to take too long.  
Stay thankful even when it appears not much is happening; we are not able to view what is transpiring underground undetectable to our line of sight.   In truth we should be thanking God that things have not happened faster in our lives.   We have abundant testimonies in our society of people who have achieved great success only to find out  they did not have the foundation of character to maintain that success.   You might have heard the saying:  “Charisma without character is catastrophe.”
Take this time to come into greater alignment with God’s Word in your personal life, your thinking, your behavior, your relationships and your finances.   Trust God and stay thankful and even the slow time will prove to be a very productive season.
Heb. 6:12 “that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

A TIME TO REMEMBER

85 days ago I lost an awesome best friend. This loss is difficult for me to wrap my mind around. Perhaps it's so incomprehensible because he has always been there: my first tooth, my first word, my first step, my first time ad infinitum.

I'm writing these words from my mom's house in my home town, Boise, Idaho. So many memories of dad are flooding my mind. I have spent a great deal of time thinking of what dad would do or say in various situations. As mom and I spend time talking with each other dad is frequently in our conversations. He is just so unforgettable with his loving smile, his playful teasing, his affirming words, and frequent hugs.

How do you describe this kind of loss? I would have to say I feel stunned by the magnitude of this bereavement. And yet I can't begin to imagine how deep the pain and anguish is for my precious mother. She has lost the love of her life, her best friend, her soul mate, and her prayer and Bible reading partner. Dad and mom were constant companions who loved and cherished each other in a manner many couples never experience.

I have been so impressed with my Mom's response to this life altering ordeal. She has followed the words of the Psalmist who said, “When I'm overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” She has made the commitment to go deeper into His love and grace, to seek Him more intently, to surrender even more fully to His purpose.

Several times my mom has said, “Mike, I don't know what people do in a time like this who don't know the Lord.” While all the pain doesn't suddenly disappear, we have a comforter, the Holy Spirit who abides within us, and offers us His amazing comfort and strength.

Difficult times are great times to remember that God is the source of our life!

A MIGHTY WIND

Here it comes again, the mighty Taku winds whip over the mountains and across the channel crashing into our house on Douglas with astonishing velocity.   Deenie repeats her mantra:   “I hate the wind!”, as we watch our windows flex and feel the force of 60 mile an hour wind gusts buffeting our walls.   The thick salt spray residue from the channel on our windows testify of the power of these winds.

I have had ample time to reflect on the Taku’s because they have been our constant companion several days this week.   A couple of weeks ago when the winds (clocked at 88 miles an hour) hit our house, Deenie and I braced ourselves waiting to hear sounds of damage.  We Thank God for His protection knowing that hurricane force winds can wreak havoc on homes.

How amazing that on the Day of Pentecost the Spirit’s entrance came with the sound of a roaring mighty wind.   It should be no surprise because wind has been a type of the Holy Spirit throughout scripture.   When the believers in the upper room braced themselves from the sound of the wind, they had a marvelous surprise.

Acts 2:2,4 state:

Suddenly, there was a sound from Heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.   And everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

How awesome, when God flexes his powerful force He brings blessings not curses, provision not destruction, life not death, hope not despair and He gives mercy not judgment.

Even more awesome, this same power from Almighty God is available for us today!

BRACE YOURSELF FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS AND FAVOR.
THE WIND OF GOD IS BLOWING!

212 degrees

By raising the temperature of water by just one degree; from 211 degrees to 212 degrees makes the difference between water being merely very hot to something that generates enough force to power huge machines.

It can serve as a reminder that seemingly small things can make tremendous differences.   Our culture has been steadily moving away from a strong work ethic that embraces excellence in every part of your life.

 

Have you noticed how many commercials on television promote methods of achieving your goals with little or no effort?   You have probably heard them encouraging you to lose weight without exercise or dieting.   Just sit in your favorite easy chair eating ice cream while watching television with your special vibrating waist belt on and pounds of belly fat will melt away.   What a way to lose weight!

The Bible teaches us to give full effort, hard work and excellence in order to achieve our God given goals. 

The following phrases appear in II. Peter 1:5-11:

-Make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

-Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence,

- The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord  Jesus Christ

-Work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.

-But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
-Do these things, and you will never fall away.

I am not presenting a works verses grace teaching.  Giving our best is part of moving forward in faith as we respond to the amazing grace that we have received.

 We don’t work hard to be more productive to be accepted by God.   Rather, we are already loved and accepted by God, and this revelation compels us to be more productive for God.

How many opportunities have we missed because we were not aware of the possibilities that would occur if we applied a small amount of effort beyond what we normally do?

Many times we are only one degree away from a powerful breakthrough!      (211 to 212)

Blessing,

Mike Rose