Did you know that we become what we idolize? Do you also know that our Lord is greater than all our problems?

^{Psalm 115:2-8}

² Why do the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in heaven;
   he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
   feet, but cannot walk,
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

PUT GOD FIRST AND HE WILL PRIORATIZE OUR LIFE! 

Most of us are thinking, "Yeah, right...easier said than done". 

Every person on the face of this earth is experiencing adversity - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

• Relationship problems with our -
• Spouse
• Children / teens / young & old
• Parents
• Friends
• Enemies
• Financial problems
• Health problems
• Career problems
• Bullying problems
• Identity problems
• Anger problems
• Deceptive problems
• Gambling problems
• Addiction to drug problems
• Addiction to alcohol problems
• Addiction to food problems
• Addiction to pornography problems
• Stealing problems
• Unforgiveness problems

PICK ONE OF THE ABOVE - THAT'S YOUR IDOL & THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING YOUR TIME & THOUGHTS & ENERGY INTO.  

YOU HAVE BECOME EVERYTHING AFFILIATED WITH THAT PROBLEM! OMG!

THE SOLUTION & YOUR CHOICE: READY

BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS 

Matthew 6:33

How is it possible to co-exist and have sorrow and joy at the same time?

Seriously, you wonder, how can this be possible to experience sorrow and joy at the same time?

After contemplating this question, I realized that through death of some people did I actually experience both emotions at the same time. 

Before accepting Jesus as my Savior, death was so sorrowful.  There is a feeling of dullness, emptiness, and eventually resentment.  Many unanswered questions.  No person, no event, no words of comfort, no friends, absolutely nothing can take away the tiny seed of resentment that was growing inside me.  Death was an event that frightened me and more so when I had my own children.  We think we can do everything possible to prevent death, but we understand that upon birth death awaits us...so I thought.

Learning there is eternal life and choosing to believe, no longer made death as frightening. 

The loss of someone so dear is sorrowful. Believing and knowing that eternal life awaits our loss is so endearing and that is joy.  Here, is where I've experienced sorrow and joy at the same time.

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything (2 Corinthians 6:10 NIV)

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details.

People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;

when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. 
(2 Corinthians 6:10 Message)

Thank you Pastor Mel & Tim of The Bridge Church

ME ... YOU ... A PENCIL? HUH?

MOTHER TERESA once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."  Once we understand that, we might actually become useful to God.

A CALLING VERSUS A CAREER WHAT'S THE DIFF?

Pastor John Ortberg said, "American society does not talk much about calling anymore. It is more likely to think in terms of career. Yet, for many people a career becomes the altar on which they sacrifice their lives.

A calling, which is something I do for God, is replaced by a career, which threatens to become my god. A career is something I choose for myself; a calling is something I receive. A career is something I do for myself; a calling is something I do for God. A career promises status, money or power; a calling generally promises difficulty and even some suffering-and the opportunity to be used by God. A career is about upward mobility; a calling generally leads to downward mobility.

WHEN CONVENIENCE CREEPS INTO OUR LIVES

Definition of Convenience: anything that saves or simplifies work, adds to one's ease or comfort, etc.,

Pastor Gordon taught that when we allow CONVENIENCE to creep into our lives, there will be a high price to pay and we will suffer the consequences. 

The question is how does CONVENIENCE affect our relationships?  What's the effects? 

Pastor Gordon gave a wonderful analogy of driving to the convenient store.  You get to park right in front of the door.  Simply walk in and pick up your water bottle, back to register & in no time you've paid $1.10 or more, but you got your water.  Then he went to a larger store, had to walk all the way in the back to grab a case of bottled water, walk all the way to the register where there is a line.  Waiting patiently, he pays $3.99 + tax & had to walk all the way back to his car.  Definitely not very convenient.  But, each bottled water came out to .23 cents for inconvenience. 

So what's the big deal?

You meet a wonderful person & fall in love.  You get married and in no time there is a lack of communication, someone or both starts to do their own thing. 

Get the picture?

RELATIONSHIPS WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE CONVENIENT!

As weird as this may sound, the more inconvenient our relationships are the better our relationship will be.  Think about this...PAUSE....

AHA MOMENT?  DID THE LIGHT BULB GO ON?

Just like our relationship with the Lord:

• We need to have a daily presence with God
• Requires great commitment (willingness to grow)
• Changing our culture of our Spiritual life

Visualize this: There's a Bible on the table & you balance the bible on your thumb.  That's like most Christians that go to church & simply hears the word of God, which is easily snatch able.  Try holding the bible with your finger & thumb and this would be like us hearing and reading the word of God.  Still, someone can come & snatch the bible right out from us.  Third, imagine holding your bible with your thumb, finger & middle finger. That would be like the believers in Christ that go to church to hear the word, and opens up the bible to read and study the word of God.  Still, easily snatch able.  Forth, holding the bible with your thumb, finger, middle, & now with your ring finger.  Now we are memorizing the word of God but still snatch able.  Finally, we will hold the bible & including the pinkie finger.  Harder for anyone to snatch Gods Word from us.  Pinkie finger is applying the word of God. 

1. the Thumb is HEARING the word of God
2. the Finger is Reading the word of God
3. the Middle finger is studying the word of God
4. the Ring finger is memorizing the word of God
5. the Pinkie finger is applying the word of God

Thank you Pastor Gordon Wong of The Bridge Church!

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (taught by Mel & Tim of The Bridge Church)

Thanks giving is to be as much a part of the believers life as breathing. 

2 Thessalonians 5:18 - "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Psalm 100:4 - "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless His name." 

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH begins with a thankful attitude of heart.  Proverbs 15:13 / 17:22 - "A merry heart does good like medicine...He that has a merry heart has a continual feast."

DEPRESSION is the inability to see the goodness of God around you.  David frequently expressed his depression, "I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of God in the land of the living."
Psalm 27:13-The eyes of faith SEE the goodness of God even in the midst of adversity.  Gods purposes, plan, and provisions are always good! Romans 8:28 & Jeremiah 29:11

James 1:17 - "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, with who is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

What's holding you back?

There's a movie on Netflix, 'PEACEFUL WARRIOR' based on a true story.  The fellow that went through adversity has written inspirational books.

You ever wonder why we have that dream or passion for something, but reaching & accomplishing that journey simply came to a halt.  We would have every possible valid excuse for quitting.  Quitting is super easy; after all, who likes working hard and pressing through.  We've heard this saying many times, 'get addicted to the process and not the results'.  In this movie, he was told to not look at your destiny but work hard and enjoy the journey getting there. 

Go figure, "how are we going to see and do tomorrow"?  

A WARRIOR RESPONDS BUT A FOOL REACTS.