[StillStanding]

Another short but sweet message: http://thisisindexed.com/2010/12/sociology/

[StillStanding]

I missed the first part of this series at my church, but here is the audio for the second in the Trust Builders series: "God Provides"
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110123.mp3

The first part is here: "God Owns"
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110116.mp3

[StillStanding]

Worry Simply Doesn't Work
by Rick Warren

“Don’t worry about anything …” Philippians 4:6a (LB)

(Today’s devotional is by Tom Holladay, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and author of ‘The Relationship Principles of Jesus.’)

This is the time of year when reality hits. It’s a month into the New Year and you had all these goals for change in your health, your job, your relationships, and so far things look the same as they did in December.

If this is where you are today, if you have real problems and things aren’t working out the way you would like, you have a choice to make. You can either worry and wonder if it’s all going to fall apart, or you can choose to have faith and trust God.

We all struggle with worry in different ways. Some people sweat, some people yell, some people get really quiet. Do you tend to dwell on problems? Do you feel insecure about the future? Do you feel out of touch with God? Do you have physical symptoms of headaches, backaches, or a nervous stomach? Do you find it hard to accept defeat? Do you feel burned out? Do you find loose ends difficult? Do you constantly rehash events? These are all signs of worry and anxiety.

We like to think that worry works for us. It reminds us what needs to get done or it motivates us to get to the next step. But the truth of the matter is this: worry works on us; it doesn’t work for us. It will steal life and create relational difficulties. Until we get something that works better than worry, we are going to keep worrying.

How do you let go of anxiety? This week I want to look at the story in Matthew 8 where Jesus addresses the issue of anxiety and how to deal with it. And we’ll see how to address reality with faith.

[StillStanding]

A new series of sermons at my local church: "Game Changers"

Part One:
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110206.mp3

Part Two:
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110213.mp3

[StillStanding]

And here is the previous set of sermons, "Trust Builders". (I was out of town for the first two sermons in this series.)

God Owns
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110116.mp3

God Provides
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110123.mp3

God Supplies
http://newbergcc.org/downloads/110130.mp3

[StillStanding]

Some good recent blog posts from Gary Chapman:

"Love Our Enemies"
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/2011/03/love-our-enemies/

"Love is Patient"
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/2011/03/love-is-patient/

[StillStanding]

Another good blog post:

"Integrity Reborn"
http://www.5lovelanguages.com/2011/03/integrity-reborn/

[StillStanding]

Michele Weiner-Davis posts brief relationship advice on Twitter and Facebook. Here's one from today that I particularly liked:

Wise people don't allow negative feelings or the absence of loving feelings to make them question their commitment to their spouses.

[StillStanding]

Uncertain of the Next Step, but Certain of God
by Jon Walker

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

When my oldest son first started playing baseball, he was still relatively young and not used to a life lived around clocks and calendars. So it wasn't uncommon for him to ask, "Is my game today?" "How many days until Saturday?"

Jesus says this childlike nature is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven. My son wasn't questioning if something would happen; in fact, he was confident that it would. But he was dependent upon my wife or me to tell him when it would happen. ?

Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, says, "The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty." He says we can be certain of God, even if we are uncertain of the next step he wants us to take. We can be certain of God's plan for us, even if we are uncertain of the specific details. Even though we're uncertain, we can be confident God will not disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

This also means we can release the things we have no responsibility for and stop worrying about them. For instance, my son could be certain I would get him to the ball game, but he didn't have to be concerned with how much gas it would require or how to get to the baseball field. He could just enjoy being a child and live in each moment, trusting that I was handling the details and that I would let him know when was time to go.

This is the childlike faith Jesus wants us to develop, where we grow confident each day that he will come through at just the right time and in just the right way.

[Mitzpah]

I really needed to hear this message today. Thank you SS. I am having problems with accepting God's timing and I feel so lonely sometimes.
Psalm 71:12 Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.