Devotional

Devotionals written by Pastor Pat and others on core team; weekly eBulletin

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Devotional

Citizens of Heaven

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

Let’s face it. It’s easy to get discouraged when you look at our culture. Sexual brokenness, loneliness, anger, rampant immorality, political corruption, refugee crisis, apathetic attitudes, Islamic terrorism, and the list goes on.

As Christians, we should be messengers of hope and warriors for justice, as we carry the gospel to every place we go. We have the answer that people are looking for. How hopeful it is to hear about a life that has been rescued from sin!

This broken world also reminds us that, as Philippians 3:20-21 says, we are citizens of heaven. One day Jesus will come back for us and at that moment our bodies will be transformed to be like his glorious body. Yes, a big chance is coming — the likes of which you have never seen. You, Christian, will be changed! Your body is going to change! It will be a body that is ruled by the spirit, not by the flesh. It will be a new, glorious, perfect existence.

The next time you look into brokenness here in our fallen world, the next time you serve someone with the compassion of Jesus, the next time your heart cries, “How long, oh Lord?” remember that your home is not here. And one day, when you see Him, you will be made to be like Him.

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Devotional

Here’s What’s On My List

What are you thankful for? Please share in the comments section.
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Devotional

What are people saying about you?

What are people saying about you? from Pat Sieler on Vimeo.

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Devotional

How to Stop Complaining

“Do all things without complaining.” That’s from the Bible. It’s recorded in a letter that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:14)

But is that really possible? I mean, have you ever gone through even one day without complaining…at least a little bit….maybe just in your heart Could you imagine what a different world it would be if no one, anyone ever complained….about anything…..ever!?

So how do you stop complaining? I guess you could stick a lemon in your mouth and squint like a maniac, but that would look pretty ridiculous and wouldn’t last too long.

The real answer is in Philippians 2:13: “It is God who works in you…” Without God working in you, you cannot stop complaining. It is through the miracle of Jesus living in us that we have the power to live for Him.

Complaining is like a spiritual gauge. It can be a warning sign. If there is a lot of complaining on the outside, there’s something wrong on the inside. The solution is to go to God and ask Him to work in you. Get alone with Him today. Repent. He can take your complaining away! He can do that for me, too!

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Devotional

She was always at Jesus’ feet…

This past Sunday we looked at Matthew 26, which documents several events in Jesus’ life shortly before He went to the cross.

In particular, we looked at Mary, Judas, and Peter. They all followed Jesus, but their relationship with him was quite different. And they responded to His pending death in drastically different ways.

Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, but Mary worshipped Him.

You and I should emulate Mary. Every time in Scripture we see her at the feet of Jesus.

First, she’s listening to His Word. (See the end of Luke 10.)

Then, she’s pouring out her heart. (John 11)

Finally, she’s giving her best in worship. (Matthew 26).

Brothers and sisters, these are three events that we need to have with Jesus every day: listen to His Word, pour out our heart to Him in prayer, and giving our best to Him as we surrender in worship. The Bible, prayer, and worship: That’s devotion.

Be devoted to Jesus!

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Devotional

Are you being tested?

Proverbs 17:3 says, “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.”

Tests are a part of life. God will lead you into circumstances for the purpose of testing you.

You may be in a challenging situation right now. It may be a relationship gone sour. It may be a stupid situation at your job. Perhaps you are dealing with unmet expectations or some emotional “funk” that you can’t define and can’t shake. You’ve lost your joy and you can’t get it back.

Welcome to the test.

Do you see your same sour reaction surfacing time and time again? God is testing you.

Do you fail to get the recognition that you deserve, or think you deserve? God is testing you.

Are you working a job for which you are WAY over qualified? God is testing you.

Is there an “hard to love” person in your life that you just know God wants you to love? God is testing you.

Remember this. God doesn’t bring tests into our lives so that He can see what’s happening in your heart. He brings them into our lives so that we can see our own heart.

Trials don’t make you angry; they reveal the anger that is already there.

Trials don’t make you sour; they reveal the bitterness that is already there.

God reveals it to you so that you know it’s there and so that you can deal with it.

Lately, I’ve seen some ugliness surface in my own life. I was not pleased with how I was reacting in certain situations. After struggling with the Holy Spirit, I finally prayed. I like to pray with an open Bible. I know the Psalms can be very helpful for our emotions, so I opened to the Psalms and looked for a verse to apply to my life. I found it. Here it is: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, For only He can release my feet from the snare.” Psalm 25:15.

Our tests can be a snare to us. The way to get out is to look continually to the Lord. Keep your eyes EVER on the Lord! And you will pass the test.

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Devotional

The Best Show

The Best Show

Have you ever been to a concert? Moments before it starts, the lights dim. Everything is dark. But when the star of the show begins performing the lights come on and everyone cheers.

Matthew 24:29 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light….” The next verse tells us what happens after this divine black out. “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven….and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds…”

Revelation 19:11 fills in some details. “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True…His eyes were like a flame of fire…”

This is the Second Coming of Christ. Everything blacks out – and then all the worlds attention is focused on the Light!

What a sight it will be – Jesus on a white horse with the armies of heaven behind Him. How spectacular, how triumphant! He is coming to judge. He is coming in great glory. He is coming as King of all!

This future event is certain to happen! It will be the final culmination of human history.

What should your response be?

Watch. Be ready. Be filled with hope. Live pure. Your Redeemer is coming. If you don’t know Him, you still have time. Give your life to Jesus right now!

And keep looking up – today might be the day!

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Bible Study Devotional

S.O.A.P.S. – A Simple Way To Spend Time With God

“How blessed is the person,
who does not take the advice of the wicked,
who does not stand on the path with sinners,
and who does not sit in the seat of mockers.
But he delights in the LORD’s instruction,
and meditates in his instructiond day and night.
He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
yielding its fruit in its season,
and whose leaf does not wither.
He will prosper in everything he does.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

As a Christian, it is our great privilege to spend time with God each and every day, as we read His Word and pray. Here is a simple way for you to do that.

First, pick a Bible reading plan. We have a couple suggestions here. Then, grab a notebook and a pen. Finally, use the S.O.A.P.S. method to get more out of your Bible reading.

S = SCRIPTURE

Read today’s portion of Scripture with an open heart.
Underline or highlight anything that grabs your attention.
Out of what you marked, pick one verse that means the most to you and write it down.

O= OBSERVATION

What is it about this verse that grabs your attention? What does it say to you about God? About yourself?
Read the verse a few times and maybe try to memorize it.

A = APPLICATION

How can you apply this to your life? What should you do, think, or believe differently? Listen to the Holy Spirit.

P = PRAYER

Say a simple prayer about what you have just read and learned. Write it out.

S = SHARE

Throughout the day, share what you have learned with your family, friends, or whomever the Lord would lead.

May the Lord bless you richly as you spend time with Him!

Click here to listen to a message where Pastor Pat talks about the S.O.A.P.S. method of devotions.

 

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Devotional

Living Under Threat of Terror

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

These last two weeks we have seen horrific terrorist attacks in central France and Mali. This misguided evil shocks us. I can’t imagine the memories etched into the minds of the survivors, those who were at the concert or hotel or restaurant and were blessed to keep their life. They will never be the same.

Have you ever wondered if these types of attacks will become more common in North America? I think they might. That certainly is the agenda of the perpetrators.
As North American Christians, how should we respond. Let me offer a couple suggestions.
1. Pray for the terrorists
The Apostle Paul was once a terrorist. He sought out Christians to kill them for their faith. But it was Jesus who appeared to Him. Saul became Paul. He was humbled and used by God like few others. A man opposed to Christ became arguably the most passionate pastor and leader of the Christian faith. May Jesus appear to the terrorists!
2. Be not afraid
Over and over and over again the Bible tells us not to be afraid. From Genesis to Revelation. From Abraham to the Apostle John. God’s children are not to live in fear. Of course this comes from being secure in Christ, being forgiven, and having the issue of eternity settled in our hearts and minds.
One of the reasons, however, we find these words occurring many times in the pages of the Bible is because we do fear. So God tells us …..
3. Be active in sharing our faith.
The battle against terror will not be won by the politicians and military strategists. Oh, I am sure they will do a fair job of stemming the tide by bombing ISIS headquarters and uncovering would-be attacks. But the real battle is a battle, not of ideologies, but of the souls of men and women.
What if you know a terrorist? What if that person that lives on your street or works down the hall from you is plotting a terrorist attack? I know, it sounds far-fetched. But everyone needs Jesus. And you never know the impact of a friendly conversation or an invitation to church.
You might just be used by God to save more than one person’s soul.
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Devotional

Why is There Suffering in the World?

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God.” Job 19:25

 

This past Sunday at Calvary Chapel I continued our “Big Questions of Life” Series by considering the important question. “Why is there suffering in the world?”
I, like you, am no stranger to suffering. My mom died my senior year of high school. My sister died of breast cancer a couple years before that. She was 33. She left behind to young kids. My nephew got hit by a car and died when he was 16. There was foul play in that situation. My middle child has spent a combined several months in the hospital over his first several years of life.
When we look at the world around us, it is painfully clear that something is wrong. Evil is pervasive. Innocent people die. Poverty, crime, terrorism, exploitation, natural disasters.
When we look at our own heart, we also see evil. At the core, we are selfish and proud.
The reason for this is that we live in a fallen world.
Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to everyone, because all have sinned.”
One of the best places in the Bible that digs deep into the topic of suffering is the book of Job.
Here are five observations I have about suffering that were derived from Job and other places in God’s word.
1. God initiates the conversation with Satan about Job.
Job is about to go through a tremendous test, an unfathomable time of human suffering. And it all starts with God asking the devil a question: “Have you considered my servant Job?” God is sovereign in our suffering. He allows it to happen. Previously, Job was shielded by God. Ultimately, nothing happens to us that God doesn’t allow. This should give us peace. We can rest in Him.
2.  Satan has a role in suffering.
The passage clearly indicates that Satan caused Job’s hardships. Satan’s goal was to get Job to curse God. Have you ever heard someone curse God because of their suffering? They are playing right into the agenda of the evil one.
3. Man’s explanations will always fall short.
The bulk of the book of Job is his three, then four, friends tell him that he is being punished by God. His friends should have kept quiet. Be careful what you say when you are around people who are hurting, Just be there. Be quiet, pray for them.
4. God uses suffering for the good of His children.
Job was a better man at the end of the book than at the beginning. God brought him through it. Job’s perspective turns on this phrase, “I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6) He had a greater revelation of God and of himself because of his suffering.
5. Evil is not eternal.
Thank God for that! Something is wrong with the world. But one day, everything will be made right. This is our hope – and it is a certain hope! Job 19:25 says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God.”
Take heart, dear brother or sister. One day God will destroy evil.