Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Happy New Year!

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"You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” (Psalm 65:11)

Crowning the Year, Old & New – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for December 28, 2022

“You crown the year with Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance.” (Psalm 65:11)In the Hebrew, the word crown means to surround. During 2022, God surrounded you with Himself and good things. In 2023 He wants to do the same and more...crown or surround the year and you with His goodness. He wants your paths to drip with the abundance of provision.This does not mean you did not face challenges in 2022 or avoid challenges and difficulties in 2023. The key is: He said that He will surround you.In the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6, the servant awoke to see that the two of them were surrounded by the armies of the enemy. But Elisha said, "There are more with us than with them." The servant thought Elisha had lost his mind until He prayed that the Lord would open his eyes that he may see.When his spiritual eyes were open, his natural eyes could see that God had crowned them or surrounded them with armies of Angels, who were more numerous and vastly more powerful than the armies of men.The biggest part of 2023 will be your perspective. What will you see? Will you believe that God has crowned the new year and surrounds you, or will you only stare at the problems, look for the negatives, and allow people and circumstances to sap your energy?Say this out loud: God has crowned my year with His goodness. My paths drip with abundance!Below, you'll find a video link to highlights from our Community Christmas Jesus Celebration and Outreach held at two churches December 10 & 17. You will notice that God helped us to crown or surround people with joy and gifts! Let us carry that generous and serving spirit into the new year.
LINK TO HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO
 
I trust you have been blessed by Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute this year! 
If you have, consider sowing a seed. God Bless!
 
Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy
Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
 
 

Jesus, Born to Leave & Empower

John 16:7, Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you
Did you know that Jesus was born to leave? 
During the Christmas season we focus on and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For those of us who are Christ followers, we are sensitive to the neglect of Christ during Christmas in our culture. 
After the birth of Jesus in the manger, which was an animal feeding place, the scene shifts to an angel announcing the birth of Jesus to shepherds tending sheep in a field. While Jesus was born in a noisy place, the announcement of his birth was made in a quiet place. God still wants to speak to you and quiet places.
Luke 2:10 forward to the words of the angel, "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"
Verse 13 reads, "Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying  Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
In all of the joy of Jesus' birth, we keep our focus on the reason for His birth. He came to bring great joy to all people. He came to glorify God and bring peace on earth, dwell in the hearts of people, and goodwill towards all.
We know that joy, peace, and goodwill are achieved only with a change of heart. These are virtues we are not born with and that we cannot produce on our own. Not even the productive and holy life that Jesus lived was enough to change the hearts of people. Jesus had to die, be buried, leave the earth, and send back the Holy Spirit to bring His promises to pass.
This is why Jesus said it was to our advantage that he would go away. As a man, even a Divine Man, Jesus was limited to being at one place at one time. Through the Holy Spirit, God causes the Spirit of Christ to dwell within those who have received him as Lord, and do works that bring joy, peace, and goodwill to all.
So during this Christmas, celebrate Christ birth, but don't forget to live in the reality of why Jesus came, lived, died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. 
He was born to leave, but for the greater purpose of sending God's power into your life.

JESUS: Our Helper

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John 16:7, Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Jesus was born to help and save. 
He came to depart for a greater purpose. 
He sent The Great Helper. The Holy Spirit.
The Helper that Jesus promised is not like most help that is limited and fails to empower. 
People tend to overrate their ability to help us.
People also tend to underrate what God can do.
Whatever fails to empower people too often enables them
Don’t Get HELPING and ENABLING Twisted
An enabler is a person who, by their actions, makes it easier for another person to continue their non-productive or self-destructive behavior.
Jesus refused to be an enabler. 
After feeding the multitudes. Look at what Jesus said to the people the next day…
John 6:24, When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Jesus does not come to ENABLE people.
Jesus came to EMPOWER people.
The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS people!

What is Christmas? – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for December14, 2022

2 Corinthians 1:3,  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
The Christmas holiday is a wonderful time of the year.
It is also a time of challenge for many. We remember loved ones who are not with us this year. We may have experienced changes in our family such as children growing up and moving away. Some may spend Christmas day alone. Some may be concerned about how they going to pay for Christmas gifts or not be on the receiving end of gifts.
All of this is a matter of perspective. The old cliché is still true, "Jesus is the reason for the season."
In our text, the Apostle Paul wrote about our Heavenly Father is a God of compassion and comfort. The word comfort is mentioned four times in these two verses. The idea is not about being comfortable as sitting in an easy chair or on a sofa.
The word comfort here is best defined as: A calling to one’s side, encouragement, consolation, that which affords refreshment.
What the Lord wants to do for you is come to your side, encourage, console, and refresh you. Then Paul wrote: "So that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
Christmas is first a time of receiving, not only gifts from people, but compassion and comfort, or help, from the Lord. This is why Jesus came. He is God's gift to humanity.
Christmas is also a time of giving, not of just material things, but of the things that money cannot buy. As the angels said to the shepherds in the field on the night Jesus was born, 
The Gospel of Luke 11:10 reads,  “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem...13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
That is the perspective we want to have.
God bless, have a great day, and be encouraged!
 

Baptize Your Thinking -– Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for December 7, 2022

Isaiah 8:11  (NLT)The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. 12  “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.14 He will keep you safe.
How do you think affects how you feel, how you act, and your outlook on life. Through the prophet Isaiah, God told His people back then (and us today), "Not to think like everyone else does."
The key to good thinking, is being intentional about how, where, and when to focus your mind. Rather than being worried about what NOT to think, focus your heart and mind upon the "Lord of Heaven's armies" or upon God's resources. When one's mind is not submitted to God, conspiracies become attractive and fear drives out hope and faith.
When I studied Spanish, we reached a level where we mostly only spoke Spanish during the class. Immersion is the very best way to master a new language, or any skilled task. Immersing (or baptizing) your mind with God's presence and becoming renewed in your mind through His word, will make the biggest difference in your life!
God bless, have a great day, and be encouraged!

The Courage of Compassion

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Isaiah 8:11  (NLT), The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. 12  “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.13 Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.14 He will keep you safe.
ADVENT
In light of Jesus coming into this world, we should change our thinking. 
Think less as the present world would have you to think.
Shape your thinking around the promise and power of Christ our Savior and Redeemer.
What is Compassion?
Compassion is Love and Empathy in Action
2 Corinthians 1:3,  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion [mercies] and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
What is Comfort?
Definition: παράκλησις
paraklēsis
A calling to one’s side, summons (esp. for help), supplication, entreaty, exhortation, admonition, encouragement, consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords refreshment
Matthew 14:14, And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
Compassion Requires and Builds Courage
Jesus commanded His disciples to feed the people. Their reaction showed apprehension and fear.
Matthew 14:16, But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
 

Living Life and Life Givers - Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for November 30, 2022

2 TIMOTHY 1:5, I’m reminded of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m sure that this faith is also inside you.
In this second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul addressed him in a very personal way. Paul reflected on Timothy's faith in God. In doing so he identified the legacy of faith proceeding from both his grandmother and mother. He even knew their names, Lois and Eunice.
On November 29, I celebrated another birthday. While I saw my entire family on Thanksgiving day on the 24th, it was great to have dinner with my wife, my father, and two of our children who live in the city. Birthdays are an obvious reminder that we are blessed with the gift of life. It is also reminder of the blessing of life givers-–– our parents and life givers who extend back through our grandparents and all of our ancestors.
What we carry forward through our lives should be a reflection of the grace of God and the best attributes of our parents and grandparents. Now that I have the blessing of hindsight, it is easy to see the imprint of my maternal grandfather Rev. Ray Elijah Hudson, who was also my first pastor in mentor,  my maternal grandmother Amanda, my maternal grandfather and grandmother William and Essie Hayden (who were also Gospel singers and musicians). I also think about my maternal great grandfather, Reverend Frederick Williams.
One of the birthday greetings I received read, "I am thankful for knowing you and God having you in this world!" The thought of living one's life in the present world creates the feeling of hope, and expectation that one's life is making a positive impact on people in our world. On our birthday when we celebrate having life, we can also celebrate giving life, not only in parenting, but enriching others. 
As we are also in the midst of the Christmas season, I cannot think of a better gift than giving hope and enriching the lives of people. I think this is the summary of the legacy looking back over my family. They were all people living life in order to give life to others.
We are all life givers.
 

Thanks Giving – More Than A Day...A Foundation

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1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Colossians 1:12 (NIV), ALWAYS THANKING THE FATHER. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  
Giving thanks opens your heart and mind to God and to His supply quicker than anything else. 
Colossians 1:13 
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
There are four keys to this transfer
It is a transference from darkness to light. Without God men grope and stumble as if walking in the dark. They know not what to do; they know not where they are going. God has given us a light by which to live and by which to die.
It is a transference from slavery to freedom. In Jesus Christ there is liberation
There are four keys to this transfer
It is a transference from condemnation to forgiveness. He knows now that he is no longer a condemned criminal at God's judgment seat, but a lost son for whom the way home is always open.
It is a transference from the power of Satan to the power of God. Through Jesus Christ man is liberated from the grip of Satan and is able to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Psalm 89:15, Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.
 

Giving Thanks is a Foundation - Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for November 23, 2022

We know the thanksgiving holiday in the USA is Thursday, November 23, but we know that we give thanks to God every day. This is one of the few  holidays in which is appropriate practice and celebrate every day.
Thanksgiving is foundational. One of my sayings is this: "Every good thing happens on a Firm Foundation."
David wrote in psalm 100:4, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him and bless his name."
Giving thanks positions your heart, mind, and personality on the firm foundation of God's goodness and grace. The act of giving thanks clears the heart, settles the mind, and puts your emotions into balance.
For a believer, not giving thanks is injurious to your heart and mind:  
Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:21, For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Think of giving thanks as a good rain that washes dust and dirt off of your sidewalk and driveway. More simply, think of Thanksgiving as a car wash. The accumulation of dirt and debris hides the true appearance of something, or impedes your vision, when covering a windshield.
However you want to think about importance of Thanksgiving, know that a lack of giving thanks to God introduces empty thinking and allows foolishness to seem normal. As the Apostle Paul wrote, for someone to know God but not glorify him as God, or give thanks, is taking divinity into one's own hands. If we don't think God is worthy of our thanks or our attention, then our focus is misplaced.
So enter into God's presence every day in worship and prayer. Refresh yourself in that cleansing and encouraging encounter with Christ.
Let me Remind you pray for and support our 32nd Community Christmas Jesus celebration and outreach. Invite families in need, volunteer, and join us or December 17. Logon to www.newcovenant.org
God bless, have a great day, and be encouraged!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!