Walk on the Water: How Jesus Increases Your Faith

Matthew 14:26] And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 28] And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29] So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30] But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 31] And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33]Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
The Lecture: An explanation.The Lab: An observation. The Learning: A demonstration. The Lesson: An application.

My God is a Big God!

My God is a Big God
Psalm 145:5, "I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works."
In life, we have a tendency to see everything through the light of our experience. That’s not necessarily a bad thing but it is always something is limiting to our perspective.
One of the main challenges life is how circumstances and especially trouble work against our minds, outlook and faith. Everything around you does not encourage you. Having encouragement and faith are essential.
On a regular basis, you should expose yourself to realities that expand your mind and your faith. This is part of the appeal that our society has for celebrities in big leagues sports. All of these people seem bigger than us and so we feel inspired by them. People can are certainly a source of inspiration, but we should reach much higher to God himself and His creation.
Our natural lives and circumstances can force small thinking when we need to be thinking bigger.
God is a big God and we are a big people with him. We don’t think small or accept small, simplistic statements on matters of big consequence.
Proverbs 1:22, How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
David put in mind on big things. That’s how he got through difficult situations
David said: Psalm 145:5, "I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works."
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 8 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! 2  Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. 3  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4  What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5  For You have made him a little  ower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7  All sheep and oxen Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. 9  O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
Some Ways to Expand Your Thinking
Read an entire book (A Good one!)
Take a walk and pay attention to nature
Do something you have not done before)
Think about what God has brought you through
Reflect on the birth of a child
Reflect on how God has kept you in times of difficulty
Pray and worship God for an extended time
What can you think of?
 
Isaiah 54;1-6 (MSG)
 
“Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.
    Fill the air with song, you who’ve never experienced childbirth!
You’re ending up with far more children
    than all those childbearing women.” God says so!
“Clear lots of ground for your tents!
    Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big!
Use plenty of rope,
    drive the tent pegs deep.
You’re going to need lots of elbow room
    for your growing family.
You’re going to take over whole nations;
    you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.
Don’t be afraid—you’re not going to be embarrassed.
    Don’t hold back—you’re not going to come up short.
You’ll forget all about the humiliations of your youth,
    and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory.
For your Maker is your bridegroom,
    his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel,
    known as God of the whole earth.
 

Trailblazers, Not Just Travelers

Trailblazers, Not Just Travelersby Bryan Hudson
Psalm 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca [tears], They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion
This is a very encouraging text. David is providing a framework for handling and overcoming adversity. This is something that David understood very well both from the perspective of attacks he endured from his enemies, as well as suffering from consequences of his own bad decisions and actions.
David approaching everything from the perspective of a worshipper and a victor, not just as a victim. He looked to the Lord for help.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,God is your source. Your strength is in Him as your source, not in your resources.
5 Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.A pilgrim is someone moving on a specific mission for God. We can use the word “trailblazer.” A traveller may only be someone moving for pleasure. In context, the jewish people were often on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate days of feats or “appointed times” in the presence of the Lord.
I. The Feast of PASSOVER (Leviticus 23:5)II. The feast of UNLEAVENED BREAD (Leviticus 23:6)III. The feast of FIRST FRUITS (Leviticus 23:10,11)IV. The feast of PENTECOST (Leviticus 23:17)V. The feast of TRUMPETS (Leviticus 23:24)VI. The feast of ATONEMENT (Leviticus 23:27)VII. The feast of TABERNACLES (Leviticus 23:34)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca [tears]
The journey was sometimes difficult because the of the desert environment and hardships such as drought along the way. This is the point at which travelers become “unhappy”, lose their will to continue, and drop off. A traveler is all about having a good time. A pilgrim or trailblazer is all about purpose and God’s purposes in particular.
This “Valley of Baca” is oftentimes a “Valley of tears” because of the anguish and hardship.
6 They make it a spring;Some translations render this verse, “They make a well or wells.” The idea is that they didn’t just suffer through it. The did something about it. They dug wells or made cisterns to collect rain water and heavy dew. You might think, “how could that help them if they were in need of water?” Here is where the trailblazer part comes in: They did not make the well for themselves. They made for others who would follow them!
A lot of us pilgrims don’t get the opportunity to benefit from their own labors. A true trailblazer is building paths and opportunities for those who follow. This is what people in the generation of Dr. Martin Luther King did, and people in every generation have done. This is what I do.
One commentator wrote: “This trouble they willingly undertook, rather than to neglect the opportunity of going up to Jerusalem at their solemn times. And possibly they did this, not only for themselves, but for the benefit of other travellers who came after them; whereby they showed both their piety and charity.”
6 The rain also covers it with pools.God (Our Source) fills the wells and cisterns with water to create a resources for those who follow.
7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in ZionThis is the highest hope of every pilgrim and trailblazer: That those who follow will experience strength for their journey, and become a trailblazer for others; “Strength to strength”
These are things that mere travelers cannot do. A traveler is focused on more on himself than on others.
The prophetic words of Isaiah 61 describe the mission of the ultimate Pilgrim and Trailblazer, Our Lord Jesus Christ. One a day when He was in the synagogue, he stood up to read and he was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He found this place and read the following:
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed MeTo preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,3  To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified
Jesus blazed the trail of our salvation, blessing, and purpose! He brought Good News:
Gold tidings to the poor: You don’t have to be poor anymore!Heal the brokenheartedLiberty to captivesOpening of the the prisonYear of Jubilee, release from debtConsole those who mournBeauty from ashes: Something good from nothingOil of joy for heavinessTrees of righteousness: Planting of the Lord
 

"The Attitude of a Victor" by Patricia Hudson

"The Attitude of a Victor" by Patricia Hudson
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My God Shall Supply All Your Need - Part 2, "More With You Than With Them"

Psalm 33:16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength...18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
2 Kings 6:14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” 
When your eyes are open, you see your Source more than your limited resources.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

My God Shall Supply All Your Need

Phil 4:9, The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
 
Psalm 33:16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength...18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
 
1 Chronicles 29:14, But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
 
I’ve been reflecting on the concept and reality of resources and sources. I’ve thinking about how things get done and how God helps us live and get things done.
 
“God’s economy” is based on receiving, giving, and receiving.
 
1. WE RECEIVE everything from God, including seed to sow
 
2. WE GIVE ourselves to God’s purposes, including the seed designed for sowing. Seed can be eaten, but, a) It’s not a good meal. b) That part (our seed) designed by God for investment is wasted. c) Someone else becomes responsible to do what we should have done.
 
3. WE RECEIVE increase in for God’s kingdom and we also increase
 
There is something called a “worldview,” which is how we see the world and our part in it. We live a world where the predominant view is “Get all you can, can all you get, and sit on the can” or “My name is Jimmy, I’ll take all you can gimme.” The feeling of both need and greed drive this worldview. It can be called a consumption mentality.
 
Resource: A supply of money, materials, staff, and other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively.
 
Source: A point of origin or procurement; any thing or place from which something comes, arises, or is obtained

Good Stewards: God's Most Blessed People

Good Stewards: God’s Most Blessed People
1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 
“...He that waters shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:15) 
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17) 
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) 
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). 
Independence in the spiritual context: The USA declaration of Independence was an expression of the founders to be free from the oppression of the King of England. It was also a statement of responsibility to one another and to a new nation.
Let’s talk about Financial Freedom because free indeed must also include freedom from debt. The Bible says the “borrower is servant to the lender.” People who are free indeed should also be free from debt. 
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 
We are stewards, not owners.
Everything we have is a gift from God. We have a tendency to act like we “earned” things, but that’s not the truth. Without the time, talents and providence of God, we wouldn’t have anything! 
1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 
Everything belongs to God. He simply allows us the great privilege of caring for it. And one of the best ways we can do that is to not be wasteful. 
In John 6:12, after Jesus fed the multitude, He told the people, “Gather up now the fragments (the broken pieces left over) so that nothing may be lost or wasted.” 
(Joyce Meyer) Jesus could have simply done another miracle to provide for the cleanup after his miraculous meal, but instead he taught people about the importance of making the most out of what God has provided. 
We have freedom to give and let God multiply what we give. 
Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you

Doing Good. Helping & Healing. Looking Forward.

Doing Good: Helping & Healing
Looking Forward...Not Looking Back
Pastor Bryan Hudson | www.BryanHudson.com
Luke 9:59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 
Luke 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Many times the Lord deals with me in words and phrases: Last week those words were “Doing Good,” “Innovate,” “Look forward,” and  “Don’t look back.”
innovate defined: Make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products. Synonyms: Cutting-edge, leading-edge, progressive, radical, state-of-the-art
Exodus 14:14, “The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”
 

Mail Men: Men That Deliver.

Mail Men: Men That Deliver.
God has designed and destined men to serve, bless, empower, and get things done through His grace.  
A long time ago God said in the book of Ezekiel 22:30,  “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land ….”  
I believe He is saying the same thing until this day. Today we have the advantage of Jesus Christ empowering us with the Gospel! We are also blessed to provide a positive example for all people: 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV), Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Delight in the Lord: Receive the Desires of Your Heart

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
“He shall bring IT to pass..” What is “it.” It is whatever you need or want.
Delight is a simple word with profound significance. This word is profound because delight reflects our desire, disposition, and direction. The word is a verb as an action word. It is a noun as a thing. It is an adjective when used as delightful.
Delight definition: Take pleasure in, desire, incline to; to bend; favor, be (well) pleased, have pleasure,
To “delight” is to incline or bend ourselves towards the objects of our desire and sources of our pleasure. Most of our pain or satisfaction in life comes from what we desire and how we are bent. Most importantly, the direction of our bent or delight determines our success in achieving the desires of our hearts.
A lot of people live in frustration for misunderstanding this principle. The Word of God provides guidance in how to delight in life.
Look again at the text:
Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
Look at the action words:
Trust (in the Lord), Do (good), Dwell (in the land), Feed (on His faithfulness), Delight (yourself in the Lord), Commit (Your way to the Lord), Trust (in Him)
The key promise in that text is, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”