Jan 9, 2023 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
You have been working hard all day, your body is tired, borderline exhausted, all you want is to go home and lay down, and then the boss comes along and says he has one more thing for you to do. Do you jump right up and say yes sir whatever you want? Yeah, thought so. Yet that is what Jesus did to His disciples, twice! Once after He had taught a multitude by Lake Gennesaret and again after His resurrection. Both times the disciples had been fishing all night, caught nothing, and were tired. Real fishing, manually casting and hauling in heavy nets for hours is back breaking work, they were beat, but at Jesus’ request to cast their nets one more time, they responded in obedience and were rewarded with more fish than they could handle! They didn’t whine or complain they simply obeyed. How do you respond to what Jesus requests of you? Whether extremely tired or fresh as a daisy, do say yes Lord or make excuses? Paul encouraged the churches in his letters to never grow weary of doing good works and doing good works is seldom that tiring but always rewarding. Seek and listen for what the Lord wants you to do, to go where He wants you to go. Don’t question it, He knows what He’s doing and of what you are capable. Heed the Psalmists words, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” You will find that is a very rewarding thing to do!
Jan 2, 2023 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” isn’t just a proverb but a theme that runs through the Scriptures. Too often we get so caught up in how much God loves us and has done for us, that we allow our personal relationship with Him to become too familial.
Yes He loves us, yes He gave His Son for us, yes He forgives us time and again, but He is the great I AM, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and we still need to fear and revere Him! Our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite. How Someone who can masterfully design universes and multitudes of life forms want a personal relationship with each one of us is well beyond our grasp, but that Someone deserves all the reverence we can give Him! People love to make new year resolutions (not that Jan 1 is the only time you can do that) so let’s do some resolving! Make it a point to become wiser; fear and revere the Lord more every day. Show Him your love by doing as Jesus said. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” It’s a new year yet He hasn’t changed. He still “is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” but we can continue to change and grow and become wiser. Let us resolve to do just that!
Dec 27, 2022 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
December is a great month; celebrations, parties, decorations, parades, almost everybody is happy, smiling, kind to one another, and then, it’s over! For some cynical people, December 26th is their happiest day of the year because Christmas is over. For many people, December 26th is their saddest day of the year because Christmas is over. But … it isn’t! Jesus came to be our Lord and Savior every day, for all our lives, for eternity! The world accepts the babe in the manger but not the man on the cross and that’s where the celebration really is! While it’s not realistic to do the outward December celebration all year long, inwardly that celebration should be going on every day. If you accepted God’s grace and given your heart to Jesus, it’s not over. The celebration is never over! You’ve got a loving Heavenly Father, a personal Lord and Savior, a 24/7 on call Councilor, and a Heavenly home waiting for you! The lights may come down, the parties may end, but it’s not over, it barely has begun!
Dec 19, 2022 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s your 50th birthday. Family and friends plan a big fete. They book a fancy hall, hire an exclusive caterer, buy expensive presents. The big day comes and the band they hired rocks as everyone dances the night away and has a great time … except for you … because you weren’t invited! Sounds ridiculous, ask Jesus. That’s what the world is doing to Him more and more every year. It has this big December bash but doesn’t invite the guest of honor! Sadly too many people in the world echo this statement a co-worker once made to me. “Christmas would be really great if it wasn’t for all the Christianity!” We can’t control the world’s mindset but we can control how we respond to it. We can say Merry Christmas as often and to whomever we want. We can give to those in need rather than indulge those who have more than enough. While commercialism may use Christmas to fuel the economy, we have all year to give each other gifts. Focus on the gift God gave us, help others to focus on Jesus too. Don’t be obnoxious about it, but don’t be afraid of hurting someone’s feelings because you are honoring the Lord. Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year, as it should be. Have your celebrations, exchange your gifts, but make sure you save the best seat for the invited guest of honor!
Dec 12, 2022 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Some people say way too much, some people say too little, some people say what needs to be said. Sometimes when we look at the Gospels we wish more had been said about the miracles Jesus performed, the words He spoke, the lessons He taught. The one time saying too much would have been okay, but the Gospel writers said what was needed to be said. We have all we need to understand and obey. We have all we need to know how to be saved. God knows we get confused easy so He kept it simple. Have faith and believe in His Son, repent and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, get baptized as soon as you’re able, and then start living the life to which He called you. Pretty simple really, a logical order of steps to follow. Sadly though, no matter how much, how little, or how just right we tell people about Jesus, some people will not believe. John the Baptist made a chillingly clear statement to his disciples. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, but he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Jesus did His part and now patiently waits for any who seek Him. His salvation is available to all who choose it! His amazing creation bares witness to His awesomeness daily. His Word speaks to whoever chooses to hear. He has said enough, now it’s up to you to respond!
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team