Jesus told His disciples (that includes us) to “GO….. into all the world. ..” We can ALL share the love of Jesus throughout our day. And as far as I can tell, HE has not told any of us to STOP. Keep moving forward and love others like Jesus did, and still does.
In Him,
Pastor Kevin Kinchen
It’s Wednesday evening… the middle of your work week, and I have a question for YOU. How are you doing with the “A”- word? Come on, you know what I’m talking about… AUTHORITY, how are you doing with the people who have authority over you? People like your supervisor, your boss, or even your wife. (Did I just say that?) Anyway, I have the answer that will solve 99.9% of your problems with authority. Here it is: “DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD TO DO.” (Preferably without an attitude, murmuring, griping or gossiping.)
Just like you, I’ve had tons of times when I did not want to do something I was told to do. However, when I swallowed my pride, and I swallowed what the Bible says about, authority, I changed. And after 30+ years, I still live by that principle. The Bible tells us to, accept the authority of our masters (leaders) with all respect. Do what they tell us – not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. That means, do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment… What??? Now, now, rest assured, the blessings I’ve experienced, by-far outweighs any unfair treatment. Read this last verse and follow THE Example.
“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. HE is YOUR example, and YOU must follow in HIS steps.”
(1 Peter 2:18-21 NLT)
HOW STRONG IS YOUR SPIRIT?
Read this carefully: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2) That’s good news, right? Of course it is. However, there is one thing that’s required on our side of this verse. In this verse John prayed, “that you (me, we) may prosper in all things and be in health…” But, the next words say, “… JUST AS your soul (in this verse “soul” is defined “spirit”) prospers.” That means the prosperity and health comes AS our spirit prospers and grows. And who’s in charge of our spirit? We are.
God is all about relationships. He wants us to love and know Him, just like He loves and knows us. The more we dive in to this relationship, by seeking Him instead of seeking only His blessings, then everything else seems to fall into place. We pamper, exercise, bathe, dress and feed the fleshly-side of our being, but, what about our spirit? We are a three-part being… a spirit, a soul and a physical body. The spirit is the REAL LIFE inside of us. God, who is Spirit, intentionally created us with a spirit so we could communicate with Him. If we take care of our physical body so diligently, don’t you think it’s time for us to do the same with the spiritual-side of our being. I think so. Through God’s Word (Bible), prayer, worship and time alone with Him… is a good start towards a strong spirit. Just remember, when the created gets alone with the Creator, anything is possible!
In Him, Pastor Kevin Kinchen
TONGUE-TIED
When the doctors diagnosed ALS in 2008, one of the last tests they did was, “Kevin, stick your tongue out while looking in the mirror, please.” So, I did… I was shocked! My tongue was moving around like it was stuffed with live worms. “What is that???” It was the muscles in my tongue, firing without my permission. I couldn’t feel it moving, but I also couldn’t control it. That means it was working those muscles 24/7, which has drastically impeded my speech… and there is nothing “I” can do to stop it. Needless to say, I now see the tongue in a different way. And….. so does God.
In James, Chapter 3, it says, “A careless or wrongly placed WORD out of your mouth can do that (start a raging fire with one spark). By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.” Then it says, “You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue — it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women “He made in His image.”
Listen, every one of us have hurt others with our words. Plus, we’ve hurt ourselves by the negative words we have spoken like, “I’m so stupid!” or, “We don’t ever have enough money!” It’s time for ALL of us to THINK before we unleash our tongues and SPEAK. We have to understand that we are “created in the image” (and likeness) of God. And how did God create the world and everything in it? He spoke it into being with His WORDS. We also create the world around us by the words we speak.
But, how can we tame our tongue when the Bible says, “you can’t tame a tongue — it’s never been done.” Remember when I said my tongue has, “drastically impeded my speech… and there is nothing “I” can do to stop it.” Well, that’s true, I can’t do it. But I “know” the One who CAN stop those muscles from mis-firing and even restore them. HE IS the only One who HAS tamed the tongue,.. JESUS. The only One who can tame the tongue, which will end up changing our vocabulary, is Jesus. When we surrender our life to Jesus, including the words we speak, He will lead us down a path that glorifies God and blesses us.
That’s serious “truth” we all need to think about.
Pastor Kevin Kinchen
You know all those petty little things that gradually try to invade, interrupt and interfere with your day or your night? Well, it’s the Russians. (Just kidding!) It’s the “they-sayers!” They’re like satan’s ninjas, that run around inside our head; taunting us with threats and accusations, lies, and a side-dish of fearful fake news. And if that doesn’t drive us crazy, the devil will attempt to use our neighbors, relatives, coworkers and even church people… to unknowingly show their “they-sayer” skills. Sooo, how do we STOP these they-sayers? Well, first we read these Scriptures…
A leader, Jairus, had traveled to find Jesus because his daughter was at death’s door. As Jesus and Jairus made their way to pray for the daughter…. some people came from the leader’s house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?” Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust Me.” (Mark 5:35-36 MSG)
If you noticed, the second Jairus was told that his daughter was dead, Jesus IMMEDIATELY jumped in and said, “Don’t listen to them; just trust Me.” And THAT is why we should do the same thing. Listen, we ALL get bombarded by negative thoughts from the enemy, from people and from ourselves. But, just like Jesus said, “We don’t have to listen to them.” And when He tells us to do something He will also provide everything that’s needed for us to overcome. Finally, we should TRUST Jesus. Over the last 10 years I have learned that when I trust Him… completely, I experience total peace and freedom.
Jairus obeyed Jesus when He said, “Don’t listen to them; just trust Me.” Miraculously, Jairus saw his daughter raised from the dead. If Jesus did it for him, I’m confident that He will do it for me and for you.
In Him, Pastor Kevin Kinchen
