Jan 4, 2022 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By: Tim Irving – Evangelism Team 
This is not a typical Motivation Monday, but because this my 246th consecutive MotMons, I didn’t want to break the flow. Last Sunday night Patty came down with Fluvid – the next strain. (she likes to rename things and it’s very apropos) and by Wednesday she shared it with me and by new year’s day we were both half dead! I have never had such an all encompassing virus. Vicious headache, neck ache, back aches, eye aches, muscle aches, bones ache, chest pains, dry cough, sore throat, fevers, chills, sweats, and the worst complete exhaustion. If you stand up for a minute you have to lie down for an hour. It’s killing me sitting here typing this. I would not wish this on anyone. So this is meant to give you motivation to pray. Pray for protection for family and friends. Pray for any you know with medical conditions that they don’t get it Pray for those who have it. Pray for the Lord to give wisdom to the researchers that they may totally find a cure for this thing, but as in everything pray Thy will be done. We both have been vaccinated which is a good thing. Your have to do what you feel is right, but trust me, you don’t want this! Take precautions, be safe, and have a happy new year.
Dec 27, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
December is an exhausting month. So many functions, dinners, church dinners, cantatas, singing Christmas trees, boat parades, golf cart parades, parade parades, white elephants, children’s programs, Taste of Christmas, Winter Wonderland family night, light rides, candlelight services, service services, and on and on! Phew! All lots of fun, many very worshipful, all a part of the season. So, what do we do now? We live the life the Lord called us to live! Celebrating His birth for a month is definitely called for, but so is eleven months of showing His love. Let me challenge you with something an old hippie high school friend put on FB. She didn’t write this but could have. “I’m so sick of people walking around with a mouthful of Scripture and a heart full of hate!” That stung me when I read it, not because it casts a shadow on me, but it definitely shades what some people will think of the Lord! Everything we do or say must be done in love, His love. If you don’t have His words in your heart, they don’t belong in your mouth! Starting today, check the mirror daily to make sure there aren’t any logs in your eye. Think before you speak, think about what you’re saying. You are Christ’s ambassador. He’s counting on you to build bridges, not burn them down! Make sure your words and actions match His and let your light shine so bright that it drives any shadows away!
Dec 20, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
I don’t know about you, but even after studying the Bible for over 40 years, I still struggle with the minor prophets. Not all that hot on a lot of the major prophets either, but amazingly, there are few people that don’t understand the meaning of Isaiah 9:6. “For unto us a Child is born. Unto us a Son is given.” Much of the world may choose to ignore or not believe those words, but their truth has not stopped ringing down the halls of the ages! That glorious night when Christ was born and the world was changed forever! “And they shall call His name Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Exalted names for such a humble beginning. In humility we should exalt Him! The Prince of Peace truly brought peace, and His peace should reign in our hearts! He came to bring peace between God and man. To give us His peace, not as the world gives, but an everlasting peace we can embrace daily! Enjoy this special time of the year, rejoicing, as the angels did, in your hearts, and don’t let the calendar dictate the end of the season because there is no end to His peace and joy! Merry Christmas!
Dec 13, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By: Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s still “tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la lah!” Yet sometime we get so caught up in doing for the season, we can’t tell our fa’s from our la’s! I know the economy needs the revenue the season produces, but commercialism is taking over more every year, and the season isn’t about the economy or commercialism. It’s about the birth of the Savior for all mankind, the beginning of the end of the rift between God and man, it’s about God reaching down to us, giving us the ultimate gift, not about us giving each other presents. God chose for Him to be born to a simple family of a carpenter and his young wife. He was born in a simple stable. He was worshipped by simple shepherds. Notice a pattern here? Christmas shouldn’t be complex or frustrating or frazzling. It should simply be a time to rejoice with loved ones over the greatest gift ever given. Slow down, pace yourself, both in what you do in and out of the church, reflect on simpler times, share and if you are able, be generous with those in need. Give each other gifts, but don’t make that the overwhelming priority. This is the most special time of the year! Enjoy it, enjoy each other, and thank God, that because of His gracious gift, His Son, you are able to have the Spirit of Christmas in your heart all year long!
Dec 6, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Tis the season is upon us and if there is any doubt, you obviously weren’t at the cantata yesterday. Pastor Steve and the celebration choir nailed it again to two packed houses. Beautiful music and choral singing, two talented solos, songs and a short message all honoring the Lord, made for an inspiring opening for the Christmas season. It seems Christmas comes earlier and faster every year and the events keep rolling in. Just this week is Pastor Curt’s bean soup supper and white elephant exchange on Thursday, the kids Community Christmas celebration on Friday, and the Taste of Christmas and concert on Sunday night! Enjoy the events, the parties, the dinners with family and friends, the shopping, the excitement, but don’t miss the awe! God sent His Son to become one of us that He may atone for all of us! He is the gift above all gifts! Don’t knock yourself out trying to find the perfect gift, it’s already been given. Instead, share that awesome gift whenever and with whomever you can. Every time you see a manger scene, let the awe of what it represents overwhelm you! As fast as these next twenty days will fly by, slow yourself down, look at the beauty of the decorations with innocent child like eyes, as for the first time, and humbly thank our Heavenly Father for that awe filled night when the angels proclaimed our Savior’s birth!
Nov 22, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
It’s almost Thanksgiving! How can that be? Didn’t we just celebrate Easter a few weeks ago? The world seems to be spinning faster as the mind spins slower. Anyway, it’s that time of year to give thanks, or for some, to make a big show of it, but every day of the year is a time to give thanks. Every time you open your eyes to a new day, in the land of the free, in a safe home, with food in the fridge, is a time to give thanks. Every day you’re able to sit, stand, walk, drive a car, is a time to give thanks. Every meal you are fortunate to eat, is a time to give thanks. I’ve had people question me for saying grace at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, I’ m just as thankful for breakfast as I am for lunch as I am for dinner. Can we ever truly thank God enough for all He has done for us? What did Paul say in 1 Thessalonians 5:18? ” … In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks keeps us humble and humility is in short order these days. Give thanks, realizing and admitting all of God’s blessings in your life. I can’t imagine not having His hand upon my life. Don’t make Thanksgiving just a yearly holiday. Okay, maybe you can only take all your relatives a whole day once a year, but every day should be a day of thanksgiving. Maybe every day isn’t perfect, maybe there are health issues, financial issues, but if your heart is in His hands, He will see you through them. Enjoy the holiday with Aunt Mabel and cousin Itt, sharing love and large quantities of food, and then for the next 364 days, with a grateful heart, give thanks!
Nov 15, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Do you worship idols or worship idly? Now, we’re not necessarily talking about dancing around a golden calf naked in the moonlight, but we could be. What about coming to church every Sunday, half asleep, thinking about the woes of the week or the big game later on in the day? While Israel followed their evil kings and continually left the worship of God for demonic idols, all idols don’t have to be so obviously demonic. Whatever you give the most time, honor, or esteem more than God is an idol. Is that golf game or fishing trip Sunday morning more important then coming to worship? Is that promotion that causes you to work non-stop all weekend the top priority in your life? God loves us but often warns that He is a jealous God. He wants to be our first priority not a promotion. There is nothing wrong with the pursuit of happiness and providing well for your family, only keep your priority list straight; God, family, church, everything else. Show Him He is most important to you. In all you do, do it unto Him. Whatever you do, do for His glory. Plan, the night before, to be rested to come to church alert and on time, eager to sing His praises. Treat your family with the love and understanding that He shows you. Do your work without grumbling, to your best ability, as unto Him. Don’t worship idols! Don’t idly worship! Worship God!
Nov 8, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Do you worry? Why? Okay, looking at the country’s leaders and the mess of world woes, one can get a little angsty, but why worry? What did Jesus ask us in the Sermon on the Mount? “Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his span of life?” Do you worry about food and clothing? He feeds the birds of the air and royally clothes the lilies of the field, don’t you know of how much more value you are than birds and flowers? He knows our needs and doesn’t want us to fret unduly over them. Why? So that our priority would be to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these will be added unto you.” Did you catch that? Not seek all my needs first and then in my spare time seek His kingdom. God wants our faith first in Him, our first priority in Him. He knows us intimately. He knows our needs and desires, and while we may not always receive our desires, that’s generally because our desires aren’t what we really need. Don’t worry about what you don’t have, be thankful for what you do. Don’t worry about what you can’t change, work on what you can. Remember, He is in control, He knows right where you are, you don’t have to worry. Seek Him first each day and then go around confidently singing, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me!”
Nov 1, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Who is your enemy? Is it someone with contrasting political views or someone of a different faith? Is it someone of a different nationality or race? Is it your neighbor who blasts his tv all hours of the night and won’t take care of his lawn? As Christians, we have only one legitimate enemy, the devil, and everyone else is someone we need to love, and if necessary, forgive. Jesus made it very clear how we are to treat our enemies (the devil excluded). “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, pray for those who spitefully use you” Not always easy to do, not always the first thing that comes to mind, or the first thing we want to do. I like the phrase Pastor Curt used yesterday, “cross over the void of anger.” People, the world and its vastly opposing views, gets us angry, at least it does me, but we need to cross over that void of anger and even of hatred. Think of Stephen as he was being killed, his body being broken by hatred thrown stones, still praying, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” That is something we need to keep in the forefront of our minds, hate the sin, not the sinner. Everyone needs to be loved. Only love can change a heart. As He loves us, so we must love, and forgive, others. We may get angry, we may be used and abused, and then we may get over it! When Jesus said love your enemies, while it may not have been listed with the ten commandments, it was not meant to be a suggestion!
Oct 25, 2021 | #MotivationMondayatCapri, Devotion, General, Post
When we do things we know we shouldn’t do, it’s amazing how easy it is to come up with a reason to justify our actions or excuses that clear our consciences. The devil made me do it! Nine times out of ten, the tenth being the devil probably did make you do it, it’s nobody’s fault but our own and we alone are responsible for our choices and actions. So what motivates you to do things you should? Hopefully it is to follow the example of Jesus. He came in humility to serve, not to be served, and without any expectations from people. He came to show God’s love and open the gates of Heaven to everyone. Do we share His love to any and all? Do we share the good news of His grace? Do we serve without expectations? Many people have trouble with that or as the world says, what’s in it for me? That’s the thing about Christianity, we’re not in it for us, we’re in it for Him! We can love, because He first loved us. We can serve others, because He came as a servant. We can serve without expectations because we already have the ultimate eternal prize! What more do we need? So, how are you serving the Lord? No excuses! I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m retired, I’m too busy. Remember, He justified us, don’t even try to justify any of your excuses!
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s still “tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la lah!” Yet sometime we get so caught up in doing for the season, we can’t tell our fa’s from our la’s! I know the economy needs the revenue the season produces, but commercialism is taking over more every year, and the season isn’t about the economy or commercialism. It’s about the birth of the Savior for all mankind, the beginning of the end of the rift between God and man, it’s about God reaching down to us, giving us the ultimate gift, not about us giving each other presents. God chose for Him to be born to a simple family of a carpenter and his young wife. He was born in a simple stable. He was worshipped by simple shepherds. Notice a pattern here? Christmas shouldn’t be complex or frustrating or frazzling. It should simply be a time to rejoice with loved ones over the greatest gift ever given. Slow down, pace yourself, both in what you do in and out of the church, reflect on simpler times, share and if you are able, be generous with those in need. Give each other gifts, but don’t make that the overwhelming priority. This is the most special time of the year! Enjoy it, enjoy each other, and thank God, that because of His gracious gift, His Son, you are able to have the Spirit of Christmas in your heart all year long!
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
It’s almost Thanksgiving! How can that be? Didn’t we just celebrate Easter a few weeks ago? The world seems to be spinning faster as the mind spins slower. Anyway, it’s that time of year to give thanks, or for some, to make a big show of it, but every day of the year is a time to give thanks. Every time you open your eyes to a new day, in the land of the free, in a safe home, with food in the fridge, is a time to give thanks. Every day you’re able to sit, stand, walk, drive a car, is a time to give thanks. Every meal you are fortunate to eat, is a time to give thanks. I’ve had people question me for saying grace at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Well, I’ m just as thankful for breakfast as I am for lunch as I am for dinner. Can we ever truly thank God enough for all He has done for us? What did Paul say in 1 Thessalonians 5:18? ” … In EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks keeps us humble and humility is in short order these days. Give thanks, realizing and admitting all of God’s blessings in your life. I can’t imagine not having His hand upon my life. Don’t make Thanksgiving just a yearly holiday. Okay, maybe you can only take all your relatives a whole day once a year, but every day should be a day of thanksgiving. Maybe every day isn’t perfect, maybe there are health issues, financial issues, but if your heart is in His hands, He will see you through them. Enjoy the holiday with Aunt Mabel and cousin Itt, sharing love and large quantities of food, and then for the next 364 days, with a grateful heart, give thanks!
By Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
When we do things we know we shouldn’t do, it’s amazing how easy it is to come up with a reason to justify our actions or excuses that clear our consciences. The devil made me do it! Nine times out of ten, the tenth being the devil probably did make you do it, it’s nobody’s fault but our own and we alone are responsible for our choices and actions. So what motivates you to do things you should? Hopefully it is to follow the example of Jesus. He came in humility to serve, not to be served, and without any expectations from people. He came to show God’s love and open the gates of Heaven to everyone. Do we share His love to any and all? Do we share the good news of His grace? Do we serve without expectations? Many people have trouble with that or as the world says, what’s in it for me? That’s the thing about Christianity, we’re not in it for us, we’re in it for Him! We can love, because He first loved us. We can serve others, because He came as a servant. We can serve without expectations because we already have the ultimate eternal prize! What more do we need? So, how are you serving the Lord? No excuses! I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m retired, I’m too busy. Remember, He justified us, don’t even try to justify any of your excuses!