Clarksbury Church

 Luke 14.27-33

²⁷Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”³¹Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³²If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. ³³So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Jesus’ message is a message to those who are willing to risk everything to follow him.  He knows that there are many obstacles that will face his followers then and now.  He wants those that choose to follow to understand that they will be asked to give up worldly ideas and possessions to follow him.  Jesus asks that we think carefully what we might have to give up to be committed to him, so that when the cost of discipleship rises, we will be willing to continue to follow him.

When we believe in the mission of Jesus, to free the oppressed, to give life to the outcast and to save those in need of mercy and grace, the mission is worth the cost.  We live in the middle of a broken world.  We live with those that are poor, outcast and broken.  We have a life giving message of hope.  Sharing that message will cost us.  The question is the same for us as it was for the people Jesus was speaking to: Are we willing to risk the cost to be the hands and feet of Christ?  I pray that our hearts are committed to his mission and that our lives will reflect our answer.

God bless,

Pastor Mandy

John 15.1-8

15‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. ²He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Every time I hear this scripture it is a reminder to me to just hang on.  It reminds me that I am to abide in Christ and he will make me fruitful.  I cannot make fruit alone, just as a branch cannot make fruit or even survive without the vine.

Christ is the vine that gives us life and connects us one to another in Christian love.  We are all branches in the kingdom of God.  We are all hanging on for dear life in an attempt to bare good fruit for the glory of God.  When you feel that you have nothing more to give, remember that Christ tells us that we are to hang on tightly to him, for in his strength and his power we will produce good fruit.

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die. ²²None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live.

It is never too late to change.  Change is hard and at times unpleasant.  God tells us that it is never too late to change our ways.

When we are living in a relationship with God sometimes we forget that there are still parts of our hearts and lives that need to change.  We become complacent and satisfied with our spiritual journey.  We begin to think that we are good enough as we are and we become happy with how far we have come.  We forget to seek out God’s wisdom and guidance to see the places that are not where they should be in our lives.  At times, we even make the mistake of comparing ourselves to those around us.

Being sinless is not possible.  There is always room for improvement.  There is always a place to grow and change.  As we journey to the cross during Lent, this is our time to observe the places in life that still need the transforming grace of God.  It is the time to think about how God is continuing to call us to leave behind our sinful ways and to live into the righteousness that God continues to call us to in our spiritual journey.  We are on an incredible journey with God to become something more than what we are in this day.  The journey is filled with difficult roads and time of incredible joy.  The transformation that takes place along our journey is the key to an abundant life, but that transformation takes work and it requires change.  God reminds us that it is never too late to change.

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy

Psalm 59:1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me. 2Deliver me from those who work evil; from the bloodthirsty save me. 3 Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse yourself, come to my help and see! 5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. (Selah) 6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with sharp words on their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 8 But you laugh at them, O Lord; you hold all the nations in derision. 9 O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. 11 Do not kill them, or my people may forget; make them totter by your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield. 12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 consume them in wrath; consume them until they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. (Selah) 14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15 They roam about for food, and growl if they do not get their fill. 16 But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Many times I forget that we have enemies in our world.  In daily life, I never really see “enemies,” yet there is evil in our world.  There are others that want to do harm to us, either as individuals or as a nation.

While in my trip to Israel and Palestine, I saw a clear picture of people who live daily with the “enemy.”  The militarily can be seen in vast numbers, identified from a distance with their uniforms and the profile of their guns on their backs.  Either side that you were on, it was easy to find the enemy.

Whether the enemy is personal or national, God knows our enemies and the evil that we face every day.  The Psalmist pours out their heart about the evil that they face and praised God for being their shield.  A shield is something that you need when we go into battle.  A shield is only helpful for close combat.  If the Lord is our shield, then we will have to face times of battle with evil in our world.  The Psalmist is clear that God does not take away the places of conflict, but God does protect us in those places.

There are many people this day in our world who face enemies.  Pray for their peace and pray that they may feel the fortress of God’s unending love.  The Lord our God is our strength and shield and we shall tell of his mighty acts for generations!

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy

Psalm 119:64  The earth, O Lord, is full of your faithful love; •
instruct me in your statutes.
65  You have dealt graciously with your servant, •
according to your word, O Lord.
66  O teach me true understanding and knowledge, •
for I have trusted in your commandments.
67  Before I was afflicted I went astray, •
but now I keep your word.
68  You are gracious and do good; •
O Lord, teach me your statutes.

Learning is a process.  From early in life we can see that learning takes time and it is a process of building upon things we already know.  We cannot get too far ahead of the process, because we need a foundation for everything that we learn.  This process of learn can last a lifetime if we continue to pursue knowledge.

Learning from God is the same process.  Some lessons have to be learned before we can learn others.  This process is called sanctification.  It is the process of growing in God’s grace as he continues to challenge us.  This process can and should last a lifetime, if we continue to allow God to teach and challenge us.

I believe that the biggest obstacle we face in our learning process with God is dedicating quite time to listening to God.  Our lives are filled with things to do, people to see and daily demands of life.  Without time with God, we miss out on the opportunities to learn and grow.  The Psalmist requests over and over to be taught by God.  This is a wonderful request for all of us, but in order to live into the request, we have to take time to learn lessons and build on the foundation that we already have in God.  It is hard to do that when we fill all our time being busy with life.

We are in the season of Lent; a time that we reflect on the teachings of God and evaluate where we are in our personal walk with Christ.  It is a time for us to be still, to hear God’s teachings, and to grow in his grace.  May you find time in this day to stop and listen to the still, small voice of God and attend to his teaching in your life.

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy

Matthew 6.7-15

7 ‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 ‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
¹⁰   Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹   Give us this day our daily bread.
¹²   And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³   And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
¹⁴For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; ¹⁵but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This has always been a very powerful scripture for me.  Particularly the last verse, “¹⁵but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  I want forgiveness for all the wrong things that I have done and all the things that God has asked of me that I have left undone.  I know that I do not deserve forgiveness, but I desire it.

This verse tells us that God expects for us to forgive.  True forgiveness may be the hardest things that God ever asks of us.  When we are hurt, it does not feel natural to forgive.  It is not the human way.  We can look around at people in our lives and see that many people don’t forgive, but we are called to be different, holy.  God commands us to forgive those that hurt us.

Forgiveness does not mean that we have to forget any part of our lives.  In fact, all of our experiences make us who we are and God can use all of our experiences to his glory if we allow him.  Forgiveness does not me that we are to put ourselves in a situation that is harmful to us.  Forgiveness means that we let go of the harmful emotions that we harbor in our hearts.  We stop reminding ourselves of the pain that someone has caused us.  We let go of the idea that we need to punish or alienate them.  We see the other person for what they are, a child of God in need of grace.  We acknowledge that we too are a child of God in need of grace.  How can we desire mercy without being willing to grant it to others?

If there is someone in your life that you have not forgiven, take the time to heal your heart.  Allow God’s grace to make you whole and extend that grace to them.  Forgiveness is much more about your heart than the other person.  Unforgiving feelings stand in the way of having your best relationship with God.  God wants the very best for us and that is why he commands us to forgive other.  In this day, may you find healing and forgiveness.

God bless,

Pastor Mandy

Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18

19The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. ¹²And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.

13 You shall not defraud your neighbour; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a labourer until morning. ¹⁴You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

15 You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour. ¹⁶You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbour: I am the Lord.

17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. ¹⁸You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

God calls us to be holy.  Sometimes that sounds scary.  How can we be holy?

Holy means set apart, or different.  God wants us to be different than other people.  God wants us to live to in a way that reflects his love.  God calls us to live righteously.  Through his word, God teaches us how to live a life that is holy.  When we live our lives reflecting God’s love, we live with joy in our hearts and lives.  Joy overflows into our relationships and others can see that our relationship with God changes who we are.

When we live holy lives, we live not only at peace with God, but at peace with others.  We become living witnesses to the power of our God and we are people set apart, holy.  May you live holy this day.

God bless,

Pastor Mandy

Deuteronomy 26.1-11

26When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, ²you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.³You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ ⁴When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, ⁵you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. ⁶When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us,⁷we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. ⁸The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; ⁹and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. ¹¹Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

For the Hebrew people, remembering the mighty deeds of God was important.  They passed the stories down from generation to generation, so that their people would not forget the importance of God and the importance of worship.  This scripture describes an act of worship and remembrance.  They acknowledged the blessings of God in the land that they had been brought into and they remembered the actions of God in the past.

We can learn quite a bit from this kind of worship.  We need acknowledge who God is and how God has been active in our lives.  We need to tell and retell the stories of Jesus and our personal stories of faith.  Those stories strengthen others and remind us of the hope that we have in Christ.

We also need to bring our very best to God.  The “first fruits” are the very best of the land.  When we give to God we should give the very best of our time, talents, gifts and resources.  God deserves our very best each day.

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy

Psalm 51.1-5, 17-18

1  Have mercy on me, O God, in your great goodness; •
according to the abundance of your compassion
blot out my offences.
2  Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness •
and cleanse me from my sin.
3  For I acknowledge my faults •
and my sin is ever before me.
4  Against you only have I sinned •
and done what is evil in your sight,
5  So that you are justified in your sentence •
and righteous in your judgement.
17  For you desire no sacrifice, else I would give it; •
you take no delight in burnt offerings.
18  The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; •
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

We strive to be the very best person that we can.  We try to put our very best foot forward.  In the process we try to hide the places that are not perfect.  We want others to respect us and to see the best in us.

There was a time in my life when I tried to hide the hurt and pain that my heart felt from all the people around me.  I did not want people to know that I was struggling.  I wanted to be seen as a strong person that did not need the help of others.  I tried to hide the places in my life that were not perfect.  After months of hiding my hurt and pain, I could not hide it anyone.  I had to be real with myself, God and the people around me that loved me.

The dangers of hiding the places in life that are not perfect are at least two fold.  First, when we hide those places we begin to retreat into ourselves.  We forget that we are not alone.  We forget that God wants to journey to the hard places with us.  We close ourselves off not only from the world, but from God.  Second, we lose the support of others.  When we refuse to be vulnerable, we cut off people that can love and support us.

Verse 3 says, “For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me.”  The Psalmist makes a very important point.  When we acknowledge our faults, we can make changes in our life.  We no longer have to hide them from ourselves, God and others.  We can admit that we are not perfect and allow God to work through our faults to help us grow.  We will never grow out of our faults as long as we hide them from ourselves and from God.  God can only work in the parts of our lives that we allow Him access.

There are no perfect people.  The only perfect one came to the earth to teach us how to live, show us love and to give us life eternal.  We are all in need of God’s perfecting grace.  Will you acknowledge where you need that grace and allow God to lead you to perfection in Him?

Blessings,

Pastor Mandy