Stand Firm In Our Faith

Stand Firm In Our Faith

By Steve Crowley 

“Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts.” Jeremiah 2:19 (NASB)

I have always believed history repeats itself. Therefore knowing history we are better prepared so we do not to make the same mistakes. When we read our Bibles and in particular the Old Testament we read story after story of how the Israelites became complacent in their faith and did what was right in their own eyes. They pursued the desires of their flesh and even began to worship idols and false gods. 

As we look at our nation today, the similarities of apostasy of a nation founded by the blessing from God are strikingly similar to what we read in the Old Testament. God has given us His Word, the Bible, to instruct us and to warn us of the pit falls in turning away from God. I truly believe we are in a spiritual battle between good verses evil. Satan and his demons are hell bent on turning the hearts and minds of our nation away from God.

“Remember that if Satan can deceive you into believing a lie, he can control your life.” – Neil Anderson

“If you listen to something long enough, your heart will begin to embrace it as truth. This is what happened to Israel. They believed the words of their enemy and forgot God’s Words. In essence, they exchanged the truth of God’s Word for a lie.” – Pam Jenkins

We, believers of Jesus Christ are in a battle. A battle of deceit and lies verses the truth. Our enemy may have gained a foothold in America but we have something they can never take away, our faith in Jesus Christ. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)

God has given us His Holy Word to prepare us for battle. 

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Ephesians 6:13 (ESV)

Let us stand firm in our faith and let us stand for the truth. 

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

O merciful Father, by Your hand You cast the heavens into being and by Your breath You gave life. Blessed be Your name. Father, Your faithfulness is new every morning and Your loving kindness for those who humble themselves before You knows no bounds. Father, our hearts are broken by the deceitful lies and the darkness that has engulfed this nation. Lord, too many have wondered from Your Word and have succumbed to the pursuit of lies. Lord, we humbly admit the sins of this nation and ask for forgiveness.

Lord God, we as a nation look to be strengthened by the truth, the truth of Your Word, that You would direct us and guide to be the light of Christ Jesus so the light shines upon the truth. Father, strengthen the faithful and unit us to stand firm in the faith. 

Father, we love You and seek You in all that we do. Lord, we claim the promises of Your Word and nothing will stand against Your sovereign will. Father, it is in the name of Jesus and the indwelling power of Your Holy Spirit that we pray.

Amen

A Thanksgiving Like No Other

Thanksgiving 

By Steve Crowley

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

Psalm 100:4-5 (ESV)

Thanksgiving Day is one of my favorite holidays because it is one of the few holidays where we celebrate giving thanks to God for His blessings He has bestowed upon us. We actually pause from our hectic lives and give thanks for the blessings that we have received. In fact Thanksgiving is almost like the last rest area for us to pull into before the stress of the holiday shopping kicks into high gear. About the only stressful thing that occurs during Thanksgiving is the pressure of my waistline from enjoying God’s 

bountiful harvest.

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Psalm 106:2 (ESV)

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection, a time to pause and take stock of the blessings that surround us. Far too often in the busyness of our lives we fall into complacency of taking for granted the beauty of God’s creations as well as His grace. We go through our lives at 

such a hectic pace that we rarely stop to ponder the majesty of a crisp fall sunrise or the beauty of the colorful landscapes of Fall. Life has gotten too busy for anyone to stop and take in the splendor of God’s creations.Therefore Thanksgiving comes at a prefect time of year. It comes at a time of year when the year is winding down. It comes at a time when the sun begins to set earlier. It comes 

at a time of the year when we experience a significant change in the climate. God seems to culminate the changes of season to remind us of His majesty.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. Psalm 30:4 (ESV)

This Thanksgiving let us pause before the bountiful harvest before us and give thanks to The Lord for His many blessing. Let us thank Him that while we were still sinners He sent His only Son to be sin and die upon the cross so we might become the righteousness 

of God. Let us thank Him for the air we breathe, the people whom He has placed in our lives. Let us thank Him for the ability to live in the nation and be free to worship His name. 

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV)

2020 will be a Thanksgiving Day unlike any other for many. So many things we have taken for granted are now seen as blessings. 2020 has opened our eyes to realize what is really important, God’s love and grace. Therefore let’s give thanks to God for showing us the importance of family, friends and most importantly God Himself.

Heavenly Father, creator of the heavens and the earth, Lord of Lords and the King of Kings Holy be your name. Father we come to you this Thanksgiving Day thanking you for what you have given us. Your grace is beyond our understanding and the blessing that you have bestowed upon us are overwhelming, we thank you from the depth of our hearts.

Father, thank you for the bountiful harvest that you provide us each day. Father thank you for the friends and family we have and for all the blessing you have graced us with. Father, may we partake of your blessings with a grateful heart and cheerful spirit as we rejoice and give thanks to you O Lord.

For it is in Your Holy Loving Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that we pray.

Amen

Finding Joy in a Dark World

Finding Joy in a Dark World

By Steve Crowley 

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

Finding joy these days has become as difficult as buying the winning lottery ticket. It’s out there but our chances or odds of selecting it is millions to one. When we combine the stress factors of living in what we are being told is the new normal, finding joy in daily living has become tough. Believe me, I’d love to go to my favorite restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal without looking around fearing this or that table of patrons are too close. In addition with the daily bombardment of riots, looting and civil disobedience personally I  can no longer watch the news. Joy, it seems like are few and far between these days.

“…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT)

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 (NLT)

Rather than allowing the negative static of life which surrounds us and robs us of our joy, look to Jesus and allow the incredible blessing of His grace to brighten your day. 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 15:5, 11 (ESV)

The joy of Jesus Christ is available to us each and everyday. All we have to do is to seek Him and spend time reading our Bibles and the fullness of joy will fill us with pleasures today and forevermore!

O gracious and loving Father, You know the tribulations of this world and the darkness they bring upon Your people. Father, just as Moses Your servant prayed, deliver us from darkness and may Your glory fill us with everlasting joy.

Father, may our hearts seek You and may we rest in Your presence finding joy in the grace of Jesus Christ. Father, we pray this prayer in the name above all names, Jesus Christ “the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

Amen

Let Your Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine

By Steve Crowley

“Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.” Exodus 34:30 (ESV)

Can you let your imagination picture the scene where Moses comes down the mountain after standing in the presence of God and seeing his face? The light, the glow surrounding his face was not of this world. What would your reaction be? I often think about the song by MercyMe, “I can only Imagine”, where it says:

“I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!

I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?”

 “The people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” Exodus 34:35 (ESV)

Fast forward to today. Have you ever met a person who’s face radiated the glory of God? Those who walk with the Lord and allow the light of Christ to shine. When they encounter others something about their presence leaves such an impact, people know they’ve encountered a person of faith

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

Today allow the light of Christ to shine not only in you but through you so those you encounter may be encouraged by the hope that is within you. Be the light of Christ and trust the Lord to place others in your path that you may share His love. You never know what a smile or kind word means to those you encounter. Let His glory shine through you in all you do.

Loving and gracious Father, thank You for giving us Your Son Jesus Christ in whom we have eternal life. Father, thank You for giving us Your Holy Word which is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path that we may bring hope to those You place in our path. Lord, may Your life shine in and through us this day and forevermore.

For it is in the name of Jesus who light shines upon us that we pray.

Amen

Firm in Our Faith

Firm in our Faith

By Steve Crowley

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

Pilars of faith, those whom we have read about and those whom we have encountered give us hope that we too may stand strong in the mist of temptation and the allure of this world. I don’t know about you but there are days when the weakness of my fleshly desires rise up and I momentarily loose my focus, my primary commitment to my faith. I’m human and like all of us we can be lead astray by the things of this world.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV)

The sad reality of succumbing to the desires of the flesh is buyers remorse. In my late thirties I wanted a boat. Growing up my family always had a boat so I too desired to have a boat. So I bought a brand new shiny one and was excited to take the family out on the lake. My children screamed, cried and begged to get out of the boat because the waves frightened them. Needless to say I sold the boat and realized fulfilling desires don’t always satisfy.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

There will always be something tugging upon our desires but when we set our sights on Jesus and come to understand in Jesus we have all we need.

Gracious Father, forgive us of our sins of desire and give us a clean heart, when You and only You become the desires of our hearts. Father, this world is full of temptations that seek to allure us away from You. Therefore we pray as Jesus prayed, that We are protected from the evil one that we may be one as You and Jesus are one.

Father, we pray You would use our weakness in this world to strengthen us so Your glory shines. For it is in the name of Jesus that we pray.

Amen