Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Springtime and God’s Blessing on You - Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for April 6

Isaiah 55:10-12, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 SO SHALL MY WORD BE that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
 
Behind our home, looking through our kitchen and patio windows, one of the first signs of springtime are daffodils breaking through the soil and blooming in our neighbor's yard. There is also the change of color in our lawn as the grass seems to come back to life.
 
In the Book of Isaiah, God's purpose of prospering is compared to rain nourishing plant life in providing both seed and bread. Cycles of nature are a reminder of the reliability of God's Word and promises. As Spring unfolds, signaled by flowers emerging and trees blooming, remember that God keeps all His promises, especially as you emerge from a long winter season in life.
 
Not only does God give you seed to sow, He blesses everything you have sown. Know that whatever "thing" you need, God assigns and provides resources to cause your purpose to prosper. These are not options or suggestions, these are facts of life for Christ followers.
 
Only be specific about the things you expect and need.
 
God Bless and Be Encouraged

e Law Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, Part 2 - Two Kinds of Freedom

Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law [religion] could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Think of God’s systems/laws as you think about the law of gravity. It is everywhere on the earth, all the time. It works for you and can work against you––but it was designed for work for you.
“Made Free” Happens at Two Levels:
LEGAL (Formal): Salvation is a gift. You did not earn it. You have freedom through nothing you’ve done.
PRACTICAL (Everyday life): You have it, but then you learn to walk in it.
What we don’t do is seek to change things we don’t understand or that make us feel uncomfortable. What we do is learn and change.
Everyone has thought at one time or another that the Bible is wrong. Like anything in life that is highly developed, tested, and proven over a long time, it is infinitely more likely that we don't understanding something than something is actually wrong.
2 Peter 1:21 (NIV), For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Never place your speculation above proven knowledge and experience.
Seek to understand. Don’t presume.
Decide to have faith in God and His Word, or not.
Feed your faith. Starve your doubts.

I’ve Lived Long Enough to Know – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for March 30, 2022

David wrote in Psalm 37:25, I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
 
This verse, which I've heard my whole life in Christ has more significance today.  When I was younger, it was just something David said. Now it's something I have both lived and seen.
 
We had a visit last week from our son, daughter-in-law, and new granddaughter. As I looked at her and held her, I thought about the goodness of God in our family. I reflected on her future and all the blessings that lie ahead.
 
I wondered what my grandparents thought about me when I was born. As a minister, my grandfather, Ray Elijah Hudson knew of these words from David. His life was certainly much more difficult than my life, coming from rural Tennessee. My father talk to me about his challenges growing up but never complained or lost sight of the blessings of God. My grandfather and father had never seen the righteous forsaken or their descendants begging for bread, though they had seen hard times. They were part of the Great Migration of Black families who moved north in search of a better life, which they found.
 
So my wife and I look at our children and grandchildren in the same light of God's blessing that our parents and grandparents looked at us.
 
I want to remind you that you have come from people who knew God, who prayed for you, and walked in the light of God. Continue to teach your children, grandchildren, and others to love God and walk in His blessing and favor.
 
God Bless and Be Encouraged!
Bryan Hudson, D.Min

The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ – Stronger Than the Law of Gravity

Romans 8:1 
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law [religion] could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Think of God’s systems/laws as you think about the law of gravity. It is everywhere on the earth, all the time. It works for you and can work against you––but it was designed for work for you.
Psalm 119:89-93
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations;You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.
It is important to understand the use of the word “law” in the Book of Romans 
Greek, νόμος  “nomos” 
Anything established
A precept or principle
The law Moses (Mosaic Law)
NT covenant principle
The word law is used in the book of Romans in three primary ways: 
Referring to the Law of Moses 
A principle - The word law is also used to describe a principle such as the “law” of sowing and reaping and other laws related to nature. 
NT principles - The word law is also used to describe New Testament and Christian principles, or the Christian faith, such as the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ.” (Rom. 8)
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

The Secret to a Long Good Marriage

On March 24, 2022 my wife Patricia and I celebrate 43 years of sharing the Covenant of Holy Matrimony. I use those words to describe our marriage because I'm convinced it was God who joined us and has kept us all these years.You might ask: “What is your secret to staying together happily for 43 years?” Well, here is the secret: “God has been good to us, we have been good to one another, and we didn't move the landmark.”A friend offered congratulations on my Facebook page and stated that for 43 years my wife and I had learned to trust each other and trust the Lord. I was appreciative, but my reply was that we’ve never had a problem trusting God or trusting each other. I know there are trust issues in some marriages, but Covenant is trust, Jesus created the Covenant, and we started out in Him. All of our challenges have been related to either selfishness or needing to adapt to one another. God being good to you is something He wants to do. Being good to others is something people choose to do, and some people don't make that choice.Our Firm Foundation is God‘s faithfulness to us and our faithfulness to one another. I think about the verse that reads, “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers set.” (Proverbs 22:28) I'm thinking about my wife's parents who were married for 68 years before her father passed away in February. I'm also thinking about my parents who were married 48 years before my mother passed away 21 years ago. Our parents set a landmark for my wife and I.Again, the not-so-secret, secret to a good, long marriage relationship is: 
1) Let God be good to you,  
2) Be good to each other at all times,
3) Don't remove the landmark or the legacy and standard placed in your life.
 
God Bless and Be Encouraged!~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
 
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Finding Your True Strength - Firm Foundation Minute for March 16, 2022

Around the time of Jesus’ passion in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples to pray for Him. He came over to where they were on three occasions and found them sleeping. They literally fell asleep on the job.
If this was not part of god‘s plan it would have been tragic. Jesus' disciples were not as strong as they thought  themselves to be. We are not as strong as we think we are, but that is only a problem if we are unwilling to accept that we need God to strengthen us day by day.
When Jesus told the disciples He was going to be taken and that they would struggle and stumble, Peter strongly objected and said, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” To which Peter said, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matt. 26:31-35)
Well, we know what happened. Fact: Peter if you couldn’t stay awake to pray with Jesus for an hour in a peaceful place, you didn’t have the strength to stand with Jesus in crisis.
Our strength comes in humility. To be humble is to be willing to be helped. The old saying is true, talk is cheap. Let God help you today, and day by day. That's what Jesus died, buried, and rose again to provide to you and me.
God Bless and Be Encouraged!
Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

Faith-FULL: Unlocking God’s Favor

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES
God‘s blessing and favor are not locked away from you. 
God‘s blessing and favor are locked away for you.
Isaiah 45:3 NLT, And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
Parables show why things are locked from some and for others
Matthew 13:10-12, And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it as been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have even what he has shall be taken away from him.
God chooses people based on who will allow Him to be faithful. God doesn’t need partners, because He does not need help. 
God chooses sons and daughters to reveal Himself through.
People who think they have it, don’t think they need God.
People like to talk about God, but don’t actually want to do what He says.

The Things We Do for Love - Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for March 9, 2022

Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
 
I didn't sleep well last night,  and I had to get up at  5:30am. It was a cold morning leaving the house and driving north on the highway before dawn. Praying and listening to a worship playlist while navigating the light early morning traffic made me fully awake. Rolling up the interstate, checking directions, looking at the ETA on my GPS, and thinking about my destination.
 
I am not an early riser, especially since I am  something of a night owl, working on projects often late into the  evening. But today I had no regrets about getting up early on a cold morning, not getting enough sleep, and driving alone for 119 miles.
 
Love and a promise I made was the difference. I promised my four-year-old grandson that I would be present for Grandparent's Day at his school. My wife was not able to come this year.
 
I arrived to the school a little early. In comes my grandson with his other grandmother. He said, "Hi Papa," as casually as if I had just drove around the corner to be there at 8:30am.
 
That's all I needed to hear.
 
There is always joy in the things we do for love...and it is never a burden.
 
God Bless and be encouraged!
 

Sharpen the Saw: Getting Your Edge Back On - Continued

SELF-ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NJKV), If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom produces success.”
(NLT), Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.
(NIV), If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the saw.” ~ Attributed to Abraham Lincoln
From a knife sharpening guide: 
“Maintaining Your Edge”
A properly maintained knife is sharp. A dull knife can be dangerous because you will apply much more pressure than you would with a sharp knife and your hand will be much more likely to slip.
A honing tool will realign the edge and also bring to the surface the carbon molecules that provide most of the cutting action. Frequent honing is essential and will keep your knife cutting like new for months.
Use your honing tool virtually every time you use your knives.
KEY WORDS
Ax (Saw) – The instrument of service; our lifestyle
Edge – The cutting edge; the action edge; What we actually do; our gifts and unique contribution to God’s purpose
Wisdom - Ability to make proper choices and reach proper conclusions and decisions; Shrewdly aware and subtly resourceful; Using the proper means and procedures in attaining an end; Knowing how to restore and maintain your edge.
Sharpen: Raising the level of your skill and effectiveness through RENEWAL
Tools That Sharpen 
Doers of the Word: Eccl. 10:18, Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house
Prayer & Worship: Individual, corporate, John 4:23
Simplicity/Declutter Life: 2 Cor. 11:3 NLT, But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
Fellowship: (“Iron sharpens iron”) Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 2:7
Personal Preparation: 2 Tim. 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Accountability: Hebrews 13:7, Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. account.
Faith: 2 Cor. 5:7, Prov. 11:4, He who observes the wind shall not sow...”
Teaching & Training: Sermons, Bible Study - Acts 2:42, They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Why Your Season Never Fails - Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute for March 2, 2022

In the first Psalm, David described the blessed person who knows that seasons never fail. He wrote. “They shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”Your season never fails because a season does not depend on you. Your season depends where you are planted.Trees, like our lives, that are planted by rivers of water have a steady supply of nourishment contributing to steady growth. Having served in ministry for more than 40 years, I have seen the difference between people who are planted by rivers of water, such as planted in churches that teach the Word, who honor Jesus, and those who are not well planted. When you are well planted, your leaf does not wither, and you prosper, even when you don't feel like it. God is faithful, even when we struggle— especially when we struggle!Again, your season never fails because it does not depend on you. Are you well planted?Thank God for the streams that nourish you –– Streams of a faithful church, caring pastors, and loving people in your life.
God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
 
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