The Journey FBC Lavonia - Podcast : Recent Episodes
The Journey FBC Lavonia
Our hearts, ever prone to wander, ever prone to leave the God we say we
love. But it’s not just our hearts that wander for we have an Enemy that seeks to deceive us, tempt us,
and draw us away for the true source of life. But Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd. He calls us by name.
He offers Himself to us, laying His life down to rescue us from sin’s penalty and lies. He is the end our
hearts were made for.
What voice will get my ear? Will it be the voice of the world, promising that if I just
had ____, life would fall into place? Or, will it be the voice of Jesus, inviting me to come to Him? Don’t
go horizontal, expecting things, people, $$, etc. will fill the gap of eternity. Look up and live.
Our hearts, ever prone to wander, ever prone to leave the God we say we
love. But it’s not just our hearts that wander for we have an Enemy that seeks to deceive us, tempt us,
and draw us away for the true source of life. But Jesus. He is our Good Shepherd. He calls us by name.
He offers Himself to us, laying His life down to rescue us from sin’s penalty and lies. He is the end our
hearts were made for.
What voice will get my ear? Will it be the voice of the world, promising that if I just
had ____, life would fall into place? Or, will it be the voice of Jesus, inviting me to come to Him? Don’t
go horizontal, expecting things, people, $$, etc. will fill the gap of eternity. Look up and live.
The Wise Men’s desire to find and worship the King should cause each of us to
consider our own personal worship of the King.
Worship that costs you nothing may mean that what you worship means
little. The birth of Jesus Christ should reorient our priorities and what we deem true
treasure.
We must learn to align our lives to God’s plan as He leads. Joseph took time to
“consider” all that was happening – and did as God directed.
Joseph didn’t get all his questions answered, but he did get what he
needed most: a word from God. Our part is to trust God and do the next thing He tells
us to do.
We must learn to align our lives to God’s plan as He leads. Joseph took time to
“consider” all that was happening – and did as God directed.
Joseph didn’t get all his questions answered, but he did get what he
needed most: a word from God. Our part is to trust God and do the next thing He tells
us to do.
When God’s will is made clear in life and we obey, nothing is impossible. Mary
sees the possibilities over the impossibilities.
Our point of view is not “if” God can do it, but trusting “how” He will do it.
Mary looks beyond the announcement to see a God who is able to do above and beyond
all we could ask or imagine.
When God’s will is made clear in life and we obey, nothing is impossible. Mary
sees the possibilities over the impossibilities.
Our point of view is not “if” God can do it, but trusting “how” He will do it.
Mary looks beyond the announcement to see a God who is able to do above and beyond
all we could ask or imagine.
God has the power to work through us despite what we believe is a problem
that we can’t foresee a solution. Zechariah sees the impossibility.
Our point of view should not be focused on what seems possible to us, but
in view of the One who is in the business of making the impossible possible.
God has the power to work through us despite what we believe is a problem
that we can’t foresee a solution. Zechariah sees the impossibility.
Our point of view should not be focused on what seems possible to us, but
in view of the One who is in the business of making the impossible possible.
A person is only truly strong when they submit their power to One who knows
how best to direct it.
Samson lived a life driven by his desires, not his God-given design. He was a slave to his
lust, his sense of entitlement, and to his pride.
True Strength: A hunger for God – Gratitude over entitlement – Humility over Pride.
A person is only truly strong when they submit their power to One who knows
how best to direct it.
Samson lived a life driven by his desires, not his God-given design. He was a slave to his
lust, his sense of entitlement, and to his pride.
True Strength: A hunger for God – Gratitude over entitlement – Humility over Pride.
When God chooses to use us, He often weakens us. That method grows our faith and gives Him all the glory.
Your place of perceived weakness might be the very place that God is planning to do His greatest work.
What appeared on the outside to be weakness, the cross was the stage for the most powerful display of God’s grace and power.
Instead of giving excuses, trust God’s promises. Like Paul in 2 Cor. 12:9-10, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”
Strength is found in weakness, for it produces a dependency upon God. While Gideon was waiting on another, a Moses-like figure to deliver Israel, God was preparing Gideon to be His appointed tool of deliverance.
True courage comes from the promises and presence of God. Gideon’s fleece was his way of making sure who God really was, the true deliverer.
Instead of a fleece, we can boldly ask God to show us more of who He is and what He is already doing in our lives and world. Ultimately, we look to the Cross to see that God uses what the world would call weakness or defeat to achieve His glorious purposes.
Strength is found in weakness, for it produces a dependency upon God. While Gideon was waiting on another, a Moses-like figure to deliver Israel, God was preparing Gideon to be His appointed tool of deliverance.
True courage comes from the promises and presence of God. Gideon’s fleece was his way of making sure who God really was, the true deliverer.
Instead of a fleece, we can boldly ask God to show us more of who He is and what He is already doing in our lives and world. Ultimately, we look to the Cross to see that God uses what the world would call weakness or defeat to achieve His glorious purposes.
Failure to do what God commands leads to compromise which results in a failure to experience what God has for His people
The Cycle: Israel follows God - Israel compromises and falls into sin - Israel experiences God’s
discipline - Israel cries out for deliverance - God raises up a judge to bring relief -(repeat)
Result of this cycle: Judges 2:10 - a generation that did not know the Lord or the work
that he had done for Israel. We must remain faithful to God in our generation for the sake of the next.
Failure to do what God commands leads to compromise which results in a failure to experience what God has for His people
The Cycle: Israel follows God - Israel compromises and falls into sin - Israel experiences God’s
discipline - Israel cries out for deliverance - God raises up a judge to bring relief -(repeat)
Result of this cycle: Judges 2:10 - a generation that did not know the Lord or the work
that he had done for Israel. We must remain faithful to God in our generation for the sake of the next.
Forgiving others is directly tied to our grasp of how much God
has done to forgive us.
I will choose to relinquish my right to even the score.
Forgiving others is directly tied to our grasp of how much God
has done to forgive us.
I will choose to relinquish my right to even the score.
Real repentance is not feeling sorry you got caught, but being grieved that you have distanced yourself from God.
“All of life is repentance.” Martin Luther
Everyone struggles, but not everyone seeks the best solution.
This psalm invites us to get honest with ourselves and with God about our struggles.
Stop listening to yourself and start preaching to yourself.
Divine Power + Divine Compassion = Everything you need! How would you answer Jesus' question to Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Divine Power + Divine Compassion = Everything you need! How would you answer Jesus' question to Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?"
More stuff will only make your more of what you already are. Jesus loved this young and successful man enough to show him what his heart loved the most. You can lay it all down when you have Christ as your treasure.
More stuff will only make your more of what you already are. Jesus loved this young and successful man enough to show him what his heart loved the most. You can lay it all down when you have Christ as your treasure.
Jesus can raise the dead, even the walking, living dead. The demoniac was dead spiritually, socially, physically, relationally. But Jesus. Apart from Christ, we too are the walking dead. The healed man had a mission field Jesus called him to. So do we.
Jesus can raise the dead, even the walking, living dead. The demoniac was dead spiritually, socially, physically, relationally. But Jesus. Apart from Christ, we too are the walking dead. The healed man had a mission field Jesus called him to. So do we.
Jesus sees beyond the exterior of each person. He doesn't see only their place of sin or brokenness; He sees a person, and He sees possibilities. He moves toward "those people." Do we put people in to categories? In? Out? Why not open your table to someone who is on the outside?
Jesus sees beyond the exterior of each person. He doesn't see only their place of sin or brokennesss; He sees a person, and He sees possibilities. He moves toward "those people." Do we put people into categories? In? Out? Why not open your table to someone who is on the outside?