Notes God Places on my Heart.

Its been a few years

2022-08-27T04:31:00.000-04:00

Written 4/15/19

It's been a few years since I shared on here.   Where has the time gone?    Anyways....

This entry is nothing more than me venting.    I am tired of dealing with drama.   I am tired of Christians who can't work out their differences Biblically, and resorting to bottling in their hatred and anger to the point it causes shrapnel to hit others they know.   I am tired of picking that shrapnel out of my and my wife's life.   I'm tired of others being jealous of others position, material blessings, or everything else they can be jealous of.   My heart has been and will continue to be one to help wherever God wants me to help, and to serve wherever He wants me to serve.   I share my frustrations today as a way to help me to deal with the inner turmoil I have been dealing with, and the anxiety that comes with it.

The Bible is clear that we are to work out our differences with one another.   Matthew 18 offers insight into this Verses 15-17 say:

¹⁵“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ¹⁷And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

As believers, we are called to go to the one that sinned against us and talk to them directly. Even if it hurts, or is humbling (due to our sins coming out as most of the time it isn't just one sinning), one side needs to be mature enough to go talk to the other.    If they are not recieved, bring a mediator with you. If this does not work, then take it to the church in hopes of reconciliation. If this does not work, cast them out until they repent. Casting someone from church is not done lightly, but it does need to be done from time to time. The problem with this is that with millions of churches in the US, they can just start attending and affecting another with their sin, causing more shrapnel.

Shrapnel hurts. Ask anyone who has been hit by as lying piece of debris they will tell you that it hurts.    Spiritual shrapnel hurts i think worse, especially when it is caused by a professing believer. One should feel "safe" that they will not be bombarded with shrapnel from a fellow brother or sister in Christ. That is why that shrapnel hurts the most. It is from an unexpected source. When you are friends with someone, you don't expect them to be the ones to cause intense division and hurt, to the point you no longer want to serve where God wants you serving.

My (now former) pastor has said to me many times "ministry would be great if we did not have to deal with people". That is one of the truest statements I have ever heard. Ministry is hard, but having to deal with people who claim to be Christians, but don't walk the walk gets weary some. I understand not everyone is at the same plane spiritually, and we all are "supposed" to be growing closer to Christ, when you have people who have been Christians for years continually going for the spiritual sippy cup, you smack your forehead and ask yourself why don't they get it. Why don't they understand that at this point in their walk they need re-taught the basics of Christianity?

This why is because most churches do not teach the Bible. They tach a feel good, cotton candy RAH RAH RAH cheerleader sermon that does not mold and shape someone to walk with the Lord. I am not saying all churches but mine are evil, but if the Bible is not opened, or taught from the pulpit I would recommend finding one that teaches the Bible.

Back to my origianl GRRR. Christians, if you call yourself one, then grow up and deal with your problems. Stop allowing your friends to deal with the shrapnel spewed by your hatred and anger over petty, trivial matters. If it is a major issue, agree to disagree, and walk away knowing you won't be best friends, but at leas understand where the other is coming from.

Let us all work on growing towards the Lord, instead of bickering with one another.

In Christ,

-Kevin

2014-07-23T08:53:00.002-04:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall directyour paths.

2014-02-04T09:55:00.001-05:00

Matthew 7:3-5. Do not be a Speck remover, but a Plank remover

Matthew 7:3-5
New King James Version (NKJV)

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

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2013-08-17T13:30:00.001-04:00

^{Hebrews 3:7-19 Follow God!}

⁷Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

Today, if you hear His voice,
⁸do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
⁹where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
and saw My works ¹⁰for 40 years.
Therefore I was provoked with that generation
and said, “They always go astray in their hearts,
and they have not known My ways.”
¹¹So I swore in My anger,
“They will not enter My rest.”^[b]

2013-04-02T08:35:00.001-04:00

Not Legalism, but Christ.

So many times I struggle with the topic of legalism. I have it in my mind set that I need to read x minutes a day, pray x minutes a day, or I am no longer a Christian. I set so many rules and regulations on my walk with Christ that I limit what God can do through me, because I am more focused on keeping my 'Christian' walk on target. I have seen this mindset in many churches I've attended. The whole 'I" based salvation, where our salvation is based off 'my' strength. Last time I checked my Bible, salvation is a free gift that we can not work to obtain, but we obtain it by accepting Christ as our Savior. There is nothing more needed from us that complete belief in Christ.

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2013-01-29T15:23:00.001-05:00

Today’s Pharisee

(Written on 05.14.2012)

I was going through the computer harddrive today, and I found this note I wrote back in May 2012. I though I would share this with everyone. I have left this one exactly as it was written then. I know that I am convicted myself by reading this. Please enjoy!!

-Kevin

2013-01-29T11:22:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:1-14

1 Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ²and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³They all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.

⁶Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. ⁷Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play. ⁸Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. ⁹Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. ¹⁰Nor should we complain as some of them did,and were killed by the destroyer. ¹¹Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹²So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.
¹⁴Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry

This section of scripture is a good reminder of what not to do. When Israel was wandering through the desert, all were given the same opportunity. All passed through the parted Red Sea. Everyone ate of the manna God provided for them, and they all drank the same drink. No one was special. No one was treated any different because of their earthly status. However, God struck down most of them, because they were not pleasing to God. God was not happy with the decisions they made. One of the things they did was to set up a false god above the Lord God. They placed other things above God. Some of them could not contain their sexual desires, and God killed 23,000 in one day due to their sexual sins they committed in God's eyes. Others tried God's patience, and were killed by snakes. Still others mumbled and complained about their circumstances. They complained that what they had was not good enough. God gave them the desires of their hearts, and destroyed them in the midst of satisfying their desires.

God wants us to know about all of these different events that happened in the wilderness. God does not want us to be trapped in any of these things. The main reason we are reminded of these things, is because God does not want us to fall to any of the same issues that the Israelites fell to. This is why in verse 13 we are told that there is no temptation except what is common to man. We all struggle with the same things as humans. No one is special in what they get tempted in. I do not get tempted any differently than anyone else. I am tempted (and fail at times) with the same things.

The second part of verse 13 and verse 14 is powerful though. God is faithful. God knows what we can handle. God will not give us more than we can handle. Often times it feels like a major battle and that God has given us more than we can handle, because we try to handle the whole situation on our own finite strength. We are not designed to take the brunt of the force however. It is why Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30:
²⁸“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy, and that He will give us rest when we go to Him. Often times we dig our heels in, and say "I can do all things through ME who strengthens me", instead of "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" when we place our focus and our hope in Christ, He will provide a way of escaping the temptation we face, whether it's a physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional temptation we face.

Most Christians can quote I Cor 10:13, but the gloss over verse 14.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. These words are just as powerful as the end of verse 13, saying God will provide the way of escape. Often times this is the way of escape To RUN AWAY from the temptation! If it is physical, get out of the area of temptation, If it is a mental battle, dive into the Word and remove the mental junk with spiritual knowledge. If it is spiritual, cry out to God and ask Him to help. If it is emotional, call someone, for the Bible does say that we are to bear each other's burdens. (Not saying these are the only answers to deal with each attack, do what God says to you to do).

I know for me that I am not above any of this. Many times I find myself in one of these positions. I know God is working on my heart, revealing things to me that I need to do to take care of these things. God is in control of all, and it is OK to ask for help when we are being tempted. God will give us the strength to overcome the temptation, if we choose to overcome.

In Christ,

-Kevin

2012-11-08T08:20:00.002-05:00

Striving to serve Christ while living in a Materialistic world:

How many of us think we are poor here in America? Admit it, we quite often find ourselves thinking we have it bad here. We live in the land of prosperity, yet we still view ourselves as 'poor' compared to those who have fancy cars, houses, and the latest and greatest. We also find ourselves working to obtain 'things' to show that we are better than others. The sad thing is that over 75% of Americans are richer than 95% of the rest of the world. It's OK to admit to wanting to 'be better than the Jones' down the street, we all have done this at one time or another in our lives.

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My first teaching for iCross

2012-10-24T08:27:00.001-04:00

After much prayer between my pastor and myself, we both believed that God called us to start up a youth group. The name iCross was decided because we are called to keep our focus upon Christ, hence Eyes on the Cross, or iCross for short. I am going to try to post the teachings on here for everyone to read (after youth group of course). Currently we are going through the book of John. Go to after the page break to enjoy the first sermon of iCross.

2012-10-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

Challenge issued by our pastor at Calvary Christian Fellowship. To read the book of Jude 2 times a day for the next week, and see how your understanding of the verses change as you re-read the Scripture. I want to extend the challenge to all of you here to try.

I have posted the book after the break for you to read online if you should choose to take this challenge.

2012-09-17T09:26:00.001-04:00

Galatians 5:22-25 Chrisitan Fruit

Galatians 5:22-25: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

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2012-09-10T10:30:00.001-04:00

Psalm 51 1-4 A Cry for forgiveness.

New King James Version (NKJV)

51 Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.  

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.

2012-09-03T23:48:00.001-04:00

Sharing my last (as of this date) teaching from the pulpit:

Going through the archives and I found my last sermon I preached in my journal. I preached this sermon on a Wednesday night right before Thanksgiving in November 2010, when Pastor Rob Mahovich of Calvary Christian Fellowship was in Florida spending Thanksgiving with his family. I wanted to share this for those who were there to hear it live, along with those who may be interested in what I taught then. Please keep in mind there were my notes, and not everything was written down.
Next time I have a chance to preach/teach, I hope to have better notes/copy of the sermon to share, when God opens that door.

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2012-08-29T10:40:00.000-04:00

Getting back what the locust ate.

Joel 2:25 So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,

The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,^[e]
My great army which I sent among you.

2012-08-19T14:32:00.000-04:00

What happens to you when you Die?

Many of us have questions about death, where we are going when we die, and what becomes of our body, and spirit. My hope is to be able to answer those questions Biblically, using the Bible to show what happens to us when we die. I also want to address why we have to die. Other than Elijah and Enoch, 10 out of 10 people will experience death. I just want everyone to be prepared, and be prepared for life after death for those who trust Jesus completely, and those who do not accept the free gift of salvation from Christ.

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2012-08-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

Romans 3:23 - Do not expect perfection from anyone but Jesus.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Many times we read this verse, but forget that this does not apply to everyone we meet. We have a tendency to place people who are more 'spiritual' than us upon a pedestal of perfection, where they can never do anything wrong, and whatever they say has to be God's will, whether we seek God about what they suggest or not. I have seen disastrous results because of this however. No matter how close someone is walking with God, they are not perfect. Sooner or later, you will see them make a mistake, commit a sin, or do something that you do not think is right. Then the 'bubble' of perfection gets popped, and you are left questioning your own faith in Christ.

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2012-08-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

Difference between Heaven and Hell in the book of Revelation.

Heaven:

Rev 21:10 NASB And he carried me away ^[g] in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, ¹¹having the glory of God. Her ^[h]brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. ¹²^[i]It had a great and high wall, ^[j] with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. ¹³There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. ¹⁴And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
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2012-08-15T18:12:00.000-04:00

Life is just a Vapor (Updated 8.14.12)

Editor's Note: I wrote this note a few years ago, but felt like i should update it and re-share it.

Jesus said our life is just a vapor here today, and gone tomorrow. Recently, I've been able to see this truth in many ways. Between my family's health scares (my wife's and mine) to people around me being called home to be with Jesus (Charlotte's grandmother),

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2012-08-14T12:50:00.000-04:00

Matthew 24 - Signs of the end of the world

Matthew 24:3-14 NKJV
³Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
⁴And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all^[a] these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,^[b] and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of sorrows.
⁹“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹²And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Compare what is written in the Bible to what is going on today. Do you see any of the things listed going on in the world today?

2012-08-14T09:54:00.002-04:00

Men are designed to work and provide

Genesis 3:17-19

¹⁷Then to Adam He (God) said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
¹⁸Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
¹⁹In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”

2012-08-11T12:06:00.001-04:00

John 3:36 - Proof of Salavation

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

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2012-08-10T09:31:00.001-04:00

John 3:16 - The reason for the Cross

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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2012-08-10T09:26:00.002-04:00

It's not the outside that counts to God, but the inside.

I know it's been a long time since I posted a note, and Sermon ideas on here, but I feel led to share what's on my heart tonight.

Scripture is Jeremiah 17:9-10.

Many of us know Jeremiah 17:9, but how many of us focus on verse 10? God searches our hearts, and he also tests our minds, and God gives according to those things, according to the fruit that He sees. Sometimes we can wonder why things are not changing in a situation, we can focus on other aspects of the picture, instead of taking an honest look inside ourselves and taking captive those thoughts in our heads that are dishonoring to God, or not allow yourself to dwell on the things that your heart wants us to dwell on.

2012-08-10T09:25:00.003-04:00

Oct 2 2011 .... The story of the Good Samaritan for today

Sitting here up again in the middle of the night cant sleep again. Been dwelling on the story of the good Samaritan. From the way i understand the story, the person he helped was laying on the side of the road, dying. the religious leaders of the time walked by him on the other side, and would not reach out to him, because the Samaritans were consider 'half-breeds' by the church of that time, because they were only partially Jewish, not fully Jews. The person who came by to help 'the good Samaritan' did not care about where the person came from, nor what he had. He offered to help the person unconditionally, picked the person up, took him to get help to heal from his wounds, and even paid for his stay at an inn to recover from his wounds. The good Samaritan even told the inn-keeper to let him know if he owed extra on his next travel in the area, and he would gladly pay the difference.

2012-08-10T09:25:00.000-04:00

Note from June 2011:

Tonight I have been spending time reflecting. Reflecting on the notes I have published on here, on books I am re reading once again, and listening to some of my all time favorite music. Been thinking of what God has done in me and through me since He called me out here to Cumberland. Being able to look back and see how I've been refined through the refiners fire. Seeing how God has given me patience through many trials I have faced pursuing Him, how He has provided for myself and my family, and how He has opened doors to minister to others.
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