Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Desiring Less"

Good morning WVBC,

I do hope your week is going well.

With only nine days until we get to celebrate our Lord's birthday, I thought I would remind you not to get sucked in at the last minute "buy" the way the world celebrates.

G.K. Chesterson once said, "There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less." How true this is!

The Bible reminds us of this very fact...

John the Baptist said it like this:

"He must increase, but I must decrease."
(John 3:30)

David said it like this:

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life."
(Psalm 27:4)

And Paul, like this:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."
(1 Timothy 6:6-7)

So with Christmas almost here, where's your heart focused--on accumulating more or on desiring less?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "Keeping the Savior in Focus"

Good morning Church,

Listen to what God's messenger said to the shepherds two thousand years ago...

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people...a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2: 10-11 (NIV)

Whose birthday we will all be celebrating in 16 days? Sometimes during this time of year, we tend to lose focus. With all the shopping for gifts we can easily forget the greatest gift, given to us 2,000 years ago.

How can we stay focused on the reason for the season? Try these 3 simple steps in the next 16 days:

1. Each morning, make time to read your Christmas Daily Bread devotional.
2. Each evening, discuss and pray with your family about what each of you learned from the devotional.
3. During your family prayer time, pray for the families from whom you received Christmas cards that day.

In the next 16 days, I want to focus on the Savior who was born so long ago. He was and is "Christ the Lord."

Let's stay focused & joyful!! Amen!

Pastor Bob

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "CHRISTmas"

Good morning WVBC,

I hope your week is going well.

I had a chance to talk this week to a little girl, and I asked her if she knows why we celebrate Christmas. Her response was "no." How sad...to be four years old and think Christmas is just a reason to get presents. To not even know who Christ is!

How many of us don't see Christ in Christmas? Have we gotten that far from the truth?

We put up all of our pretty lights, but have we forgotten the real "LIGHT OF THE WORLD"?

We give gifts to nearly everyone we know, but have we missed the biggest gift of all?

I hope not!

There's only one way to keep Christ in Christmas, and that is to be like the angels who appeared to some shepherds that night long ago:

"...praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Hope to see you Saturday, reminding people why we celebrate Christmas.

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "Giving Thanks"

Good morning Church,

"This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Tomorrow we will celebrate Thanksgiving, and if you're like me, today could be a very stressful day. How we live today will probably affect how we will enjoy tomorrow. Will tomorrow be a day filled with giving thanks or a day filled with stress?

Are you ready for a challenge?

Try out these three steps and let me know how they work for your family.

Step 1: Begin today by reading and meditating on Psalm 118: 1-29

Step 2: Throughout the day, have each family member make a check list of blessings and trials you are thankful for. (James 1:2-3)

Step 3: End the day by having a family prayer time encouraging each family member to be ready to share their thanks on Thanksgiving Day.

I'm ready for the challenge. How about it? I'll share with you how it worked in my family, and I hope to hear from you too! Remember, "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

"In everything give thanks,"
Pastor Bob

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Seeing His Glory"

Good morning once again, WVBC. I hopy your week is being blessed.

In my devotions this week, I was reminded NOT just of who God is, but also what my heart longs for. Let me explain...

In 2 Chronicles 5, Solomon is finally done with the temple, so he sets up a day to dedicate to the Lord.

"The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians--Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives--stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:

'He is good; His love endures forever.'

Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God."

Simple Church, my prayer this week is that on Sunday morning, we too would see His glory and like the priests of that day be unable to move. But this only comes when we come together in unison, with one voice testifying to who He is in our lives. I look forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do on Sunday!

Pastor Bob's Devotional: "Sing for Joy or Sing the Blues?"

Good morning church,

It just occurred to me that we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving in 3 weeks, and in 7 weeks we'll be celebrating Christmas. The holidays are quickly approaching. Are you ready to sing for joy or sing the blues?

Every year we strive to keep those two wonderful holidays holy, but the world and our guilty consciences influence us to over eat and over spend. I suggest that this year we give thanks and give gifts that reflect the joy of our Lord.

Jesus said,

"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."

John 15: 10-11

Over eating and over spending are easily remedied when we "abide in His love." When we are controlled by His spirit, we will be more like Jesus whose joy was not dependent upon temporal things like food and gifts, but upon eternal things like keeping His Father's commandments.

We'll be singing for joy if we follow the model of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for me and I will pray for you as we sing in the new year with His joy!

For a little extra inspiration about rediscovering what Christmas is really about, check out this video.

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: Friendship

Good morning WVBC,

I hope your week is going well and your heart is being encouraged in the Lord.

Today I was blessed in reading 1 Chronicles 27. It wasn’t so much the chapter itself that stood out, because it was just an account of who was helping David rule. There was Jonathan Son of Uzziah, who was over the storehouses, and Ezri, who was over the agriculture. The list goes on from there, but then in verse 33, there is something the writer saw as important in David’s life.

In verse 33 the name Hushai comes up. Now Hushai was not over some great army, or in charge of David’s vineyards, or even in charge of the temple. He is simply known as a friend to the King.

So often we can find ourselves trying to pursue this or be in charge of that. We become focused on the “position” we have or want to have. But we can forget the most important job we can have is just being a friend.

Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Proverb 18:24 says “ A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.

My question today is, who has been that friend to you? Take a few minutes and call them today to let them know how blessed you are to have them in your life.

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "The Test"

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

James 1: 2-3

Good morning Family!

Thanks for praying for us while we were away last week at our annual "Elder's Advance." We were clearly blessed as we prayed for you and as we heard our Lord ask us, "Do you wish to get well?"

This question comes from John 5:6, where Jesus asked it of a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years. I'm sure you know the rest of the story...Jesus healed him and told him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." He passed the test!

As we applied the question "Do you want to be healed?" to WVBC, we received guidance and direction for the new year ahead of us. In the coming months, you'll be hearing about these changes that need to happen if we as a church are to grow in faith. In the meantime, we need to be ready because with faith there always comes a time of testing.

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham with his son Isaac. And in John 6, Jesus tested Philip when a huge, hungry crowd arrived and Jesus asked him, "Where are we to buy bread so that we may eat?" Philip's response was typical: "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

As you know, Jesus used two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the crowd of more than 5,000 people. What might happen to us, His church, if we are able to pass the test of faith during these tough times we are experiencing? What miracle might we see? These are exciting times because our Lord is still willing to test our faith so that we will grow stronger and gain endurance.

How can we be ready for these times of testing? Look again at John 6...when Philip was tested, he had a "care group" to support him. Andrew didn't necessarily have the answers, but he did find a boy with a few fish and some loaves of bread, and he brought them to Jesus. That's what care groups do. Those twelve disciples learned to grow in faith together as their Master cared for them through their various tests and trials. What an example Jesus has given us!

I hope that you also have a care group like Philip had. If you need a group to be a part of, please let me know.

In His Mighty Grip,
Pastor Bob

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Pray for Us"

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Hebrews 13: 17-18

Good morning WVBC!

At first glance, this might seem like a weird way to start a devotion, but let me explain.

This weekend the elders will be spending a few days away for what we call "Elders Advance." During this time away, the elders ask the Lord for His instructions on how we are to advance His church. It is something I personally look forward to every year, for it is a great time dedicated to fasting, praying, and seeking the Lord on your behalf.

Knowing that some day we "must give an account" for how we are leading WVBC is haunting at times, and this is why we need your support in prayer. We want so much for this body to be open and ready for whatever the Lord would bring our way, so like the writer of Hebrews, I ask you to "pray for us."

Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom with finances, understanding in how we are to grow West Valley Bible Church, and direction for the future.

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "The Power of Prayer"

"'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.'"

Luke 22:46

These words were spoken by Jesus minutes before He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. The inner crowd of disciples (Peter, James & John) had been asked by Jesus to support Him in prayer as He found a quiet place in the garden to be with His Father one-on-one. Three times our Lord came to check in with the three disciples, and three times He found them sleeping (Mark 14:41).

I don't know about you, but I can relate with these three disciples. We all say "Amen" when we hear about the "power of prayer," but oftentimes we fail to pray and then wonder why we fall into temptation.

Do you think there's a correlation between prayer and victory over temptation?

Yesterday morning I asked the Lord to give me a "divine appointment" with someone. During the afternoon, I forgot all about my prayer request and was tempted to be self-absorbed as I walked through Costco. But I was awakened from my complacency when a young man with one arm and one leg and a nurse by his side stopped me and asked, "Are you rich?"

As a result of prayer in the morning, I was able to share with these two strangers that I was very rich because I am a child of God and my Lord Jesus is building me a mansion in heaven. (John 14:2).

Now do you think I would've been ready for that question if I hadn't prayed that morning for a divine appointment? No! I would have fallen just like Peter, James and John did when they were with Jesus in the garden.

Oh, the power of prayer! Let's just do it!!

Let me know how I can pray for you.

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Believing is Seeing"

Good morning once again!

Today I had the privilege of reading John 9 with my girls. You might recall the scene....

Jesus came across a blind beggar and proceeded to spit on the ground, make some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.

You should've seen my girls' faces when they heard this! (I have a feeling they might be practicing this one on Dayenu one day this week).

Verse 7 of the passage tells us what Jesus did next:

"'Go,' he told him, 'wash in the Pool of Siloam' (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing."

What was it that healed this man?

Was it the spit? The mud? Washing in the nasty pool?

Or was it just his faith, shown by his obedience to do what Jesus asked of Him?

For this man, seeing wasn't believing. It was the other way around...by believing, he was given sight.

Verse 3 of this passage tells us that Jesus said the reason the man was blind in the first place was "so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." When Jesus healed Him, he opened the man's eyes physically and spiritually--he got to see the work of God in his life.

How many of us miss a chance to see the power of God in our lives because we don't follow His directions? I know that oftentimes I'd be able to see a lot more clearly if I would just obey the first time.

Here's a little vision test for you; feel free to share your results in the comments:

How's your eyesight?

A. 20/20 (I obey the first time and get to see God working in my life.)

B. Near-sighted (I only obey when I'm forced and I don't get to see the what God has for me until it's right in front of me.)

C. A Few Blind Spots (I obey when it works for me and I'm missing out on seeing some good things.)

D. Legally Blind (I rarely or never obey and I'm not seeing God's power working in my life at all.)

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "Miracles"

Good morning Church!

How are "the called out ones" doing?

After spending some time in Luke 8 this morning, I came away with the reminder that we serve a great and mighty God! Check it out:

Jesus calms the storm for His fearful disciples.

Jesus casts demons out of the man from Gerasenes.

Jesus heals the hemorrhaging woman.

Jesus raises Jairus' daughter from the dead.

Jesus did all this in one day! Oh what a mighty God we serve!

These miracles occurred a long time ago, but I was again reminded that God's Word says in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Which leads me to ask:

What storms are you facing today?

What demons are bugging you today?

What kind of healing do you need today?

What family members of yours need the truth of Jesus today?

Take a few minutes now and thank God that He has not changed and that He is able to do miracles just like He did in Luke 8. Then ask Him to perform a miracle according to His will for your life today.

Let me know how you are doing and how I can pray for you.

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: Lessons from Kids

Good morning WVBC! I hope your week is going well.

The last few weeks, we've been talking about the question "What is the church?"

Today my daughter showed me a great answer to that question.

It started as I was about to leave for the office, and Jubilee came and sat on my lap. She noticed that I have a fever blister, and she asked me if she could pray for my "owie." I told her she could, and she prayed the sweetest little prayer.

Her prayer made me think, why don't I ask people more often how I can pray for them? Am I in such a hurry that I don't even notice other peoples "owies"?

Matthew 18: 2-4 says,

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

The great thing about kids is that they see everything, and they're not afraid to ask about it. Jubilee, in her innocent way, showed me that she cared about my owie and she knew that Jesus cares too.

As the church, we should be doing the same thing for each other.

So today I'm asking you, what is your owie?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "The Blessing"

Have you received "The Blessing"?

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Mark records that a voice came out of the heavens:

"You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

Mark 1:11

God the Father let God the Son know that He had His blessing.

Last Sunday we did not hear a voice from heaven, but we did witness 7 believers being baptized in "God's pool."

Oceanside is a lot different from the Jordan River, but you can bet that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit up above were smiling and saying to each other, "We love those 7 children, and we are well-pleased with them."

If you have received & proclaimed Christ as your Savior, you are one of God's children, and He has given The Blessing to you too. The Heavenly Father loves you and is well-pleased with you!

Have you shared "The Blessing"?

Just as God the Father spoke His approval for His Son from heaven, fathers & mothers need to verbalize their approval to their kids.

They need to hear from us that we love them and we are well-pleased with them.

My challenge to you is to follow the example of how our Heavenly Father blessed His Son...pass "The Blessing" on to your kids.

Let me know how enjoying "The Blessing" changes your week and how sharing it with your children changes theirs.

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:21

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: Step Back

Good morning WVBC,

As many of you know, I just came back from a sweet time with my kids on our Dads Backpacking Trip. And once again, it was a special time just hanging out with my girls. (Yes, I did take Jub's this year--it's amazing what those little green eyes can make me say yes to!)

The passage we looked at during our "church in the woods" was Joshua chapter 3. (Read it here if you get a chance; it's only 15 verses or so).

This passage is filled with so many great truths--God is the God of the living, and He wants us to show us amazing things, to name a few. But one of the things that really spoke to me was how God wanted the people to get back and watch.

"When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it."

Joshua 3:3-4

It wasn't that God didn't want His people close. It's that He wanted them to see who He was. To see His power. To be reminded of His grace.

So often my life is filled with places I have never been and situations I never saw coming, and more often than not, I find myself running amiss. I forget to stop and listen to what He has to say or to be still long enough to watch Him move.

If that's you this week, STOP and take a STEP BACK. See what the Lord is really doing. Listen to the word He wants to give you to direct or comfort you.

If you do, you just mind find that you'll be able to see Him a little more clearly.

Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

Mark 1:17

I don't know about you, but I was raised as a kid to be a leader and not a follower. It was drilled into my head that followers are "losers" and leaders are "winners." So to be the teacher's "pet" and line leader in school, you had to sit up straight, not talk in class, and always be the first to raise your hand. Needless to say, that wasn't me.

In the sixties, during my teen years, I learned to be a non-conformist. Long hair. Long beard. Raggedy clothes. Being a leader in the hippie generation meant doing your own thing.

Then in 1969, Jesus chose me to follow Him.

Forty years later, I'm still learning what it means to follow Jesus. After walking with Jesus for all this years, the truth rings out loud and clear that following Jesus requires that I allow Him to make me a "fisher of men" and not of trout!

His promise to make us become His witnesses calls for total surrender to be His hands, His feet, and His mouth to those people in our lives that need Jesus.

Will you make a commitment to follow Him today?

Expect a divine appointment with someone who needs you to lead them to the One who is the way, and the truth and the life.

P.S. Let me know how God used you today with your divine appointment. I'll be praying for you...

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Encourage One Another"

"But let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:25

Everyone needs a little encouragement, and I hope this blog has been an encouragement to you the last few months.

Today, you have a chance to encourage each other!

Post a comment in the comments section and share what God is doing in your life. You never know who might need to hear the encouragement He's been giving you.

"Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me."

Psalm 66:16

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "Be Still"

"Be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Last week, I used a week of vacation time, and wouldn't you know that I spent most of the week being sick!

This vacation was going to be a "working vacation," which means a busy vacation, and I had a mile-long list of "to do's" around the house. Could it be that busyness was the cause of my sickness?

This morning I was reading in Matthew 20 about Jesus, who after 3 years of demanding ministry, was on His way to Calvary. As Jesus was leaving the city of Jericho with a large crowd following Him, two blind men on the side of the road heard that Jesus was passing by. They cried out, "Lord have mercy on us, Son of David!"

The crowd told the men to be quiet, thinking that Jesus was way too busy to stop and care for two blind beggars.

Do we ever feel our Lord is too busy to help us? Or are we too busy to take the time to be still and know that He is God?

You know what Jesus did.

He stopped and asked the two beggars, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Today, Jesus is asking that same question to you. Will you be still long enough to let our Lord Jesus tend to your needs?

You may not be blind, but you need His touch to cure your busyness!

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: "Godly Jealousy"

The the word of the Lord of hosts came,saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.'"

Zechariah 8:1-2

After more than twenty-six years of marriage, I still get jealous if any other man shows any kind of interest in my wife. You see, I am a jealous husband because I love my wife!

Some might say, "That's not right...1Corinthians 13:4 says, 'Love is not jealous.' Is God contradicting Himself?"

Webster defines jealousy as "intolerance of rivalry or unfaithfulness." When God says He is exceedingly jealous for Zion, He is stating that He is intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness. He will not allow anyone or anything to get in the way of His relationship with His people.

In the same way, husbands, we must be intolerant of any form of rivalry when it comes to our relationships with our wives. And wives, you must be intolerant of any form of unfaithfulness when it comes to your relationship with your husbands.

Zechariah's words remind us that God is an exceedingly jealous God when it comes to His love for His people.

Oh that we would follow His example and love each other with a healthy, jealous love!

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: "Seeing Things Clearly"

Today's devotion comes from Numbers 13:25-33.

Click here to read the passage.

"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

Numbers 13:33

So often, we find ourselves doing the same thing these spies were doing...seeing things "in our own eyes."

The blessing of the Lord was right in front of them. The land was filled with milk and honey!

But the battle seemed too much. All they saw was a land that devoured its inhabitants and a people too great for them to conquer.

In the spies minds, the people of the land even thought of the Israelites as grasshoppers. But in reality, the Canaanites were terrified of them because of who they followed. In Joshua 2:11, Rahab tells Joshua's spies what the other nations really thought about Israel:

"When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

The Canaanites knew the power of the God of the Israelites and were afraid. But the Israelites themselves, God's chosen people, had lost sight of it.

And they would end up spending the next 40 years wandering in the desert until they could see things clearly. Until they could take their eyes off of how big the circumstances appeared to be and set their eyes on how big their God is.

Someone once said that the eye that shifts its focus off of God and onto the world will lack the stability to take confident steps in victory.

What are your eyes focused on today?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: July 22

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord of hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain, and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it."

Zechariah 4:6b-7

Do you need some encouragement today?

Two thousand five hundred years ago, Zerubbabel was given the task of building the temple, and he had hit some roadblocks along the way. He needed some encouragement. And isn't it just like our God to provide exactly what he needed?

Zerubbabel saw the obstacles as mountains standing in the way of completing his task.

But as God speaks through the angel, He reminds Zerubbabel that it is "not by might nor by power" but by God's Spirit that he will see results. By God's grace--God's provision for our every need when we need it--Zerubbabel would see the mountain become a plain.

What are your mountains today?

God is ready and able to level those peaks if we just depend upon His Spirit to do it! In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Whatever your obstacle, whatever your mountain, take it to Jesus.

Let me know how I can pray for you...

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: July 15

The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care.

Acts 27:3

Not very often in the book of Acts do we see others treating Paul with consideration. Most of the time, Paul was treated to stones, whips, accusations, and chains.

What made this man Julius treat Paul like he did?

Was it Paul's attitude towards his shipmates or maybe the way he did not complain about being chained or unjustly punished? It could have been his servant's attitude or maybe is was just his reputation.

Whatever it was, it made Julius look at Paul in a different light.

In Colossians 4:5-6, Paul would write, "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."

Sounds like great wisdom to me. And it's from a reliable source.

Paul certainly knew firsthand the value of putting this advice into action.

We never know who is watching us or listening to the things we say, but our actions and words influence the way others see us, and more importantly, how they see Christ.

What are your words and actions saying to others today?

Pastor Bob's Wednesday Devotion: July 8, 2009

Last night while I was watching the news on tv, the only thing being reported on was the death of one of our greatest entertainers. Whether or not you like the music and dancing of Michael Jackson, you have to admit that he captured the hearts of millions of people all over the world. As the "King of Pop" he became the idol of many.

This morning I opened my Bible and read from Habakkuk 2 about the emptiness of idolatry. Entertainment has become one of many American idols, and how sad our God must feel when we place those gods before Him.

Habakkuk ends the chapter by stating, "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him."

My prayer for us as believers is that we "be silent before Him" because He "is in His holy temple."

And He wants our undivided attention.

Let's put aside any idol that would keep us from being continually in His presence.

Le me know if I can pray for you as we pursue the truth..."Holiness = Happiness!"

Pastor Robbie's Wednesday Devotion: July 1

Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

Acts 26:28

I don't know if King Agrippa ever became a Christian, but Paul certainly gave it his best shot. Some have said that Paul was not a great speaker. How many of us can relate to that?

But even though he lacked ability in that area, he had the only two things someone needs to persuade someone to become a Christian--a heart like Christ and the truth.

The desire of Jesus' heart is to see none perish, but all to come to repentance, and that was Paul's heart too.

The second thing Paul had was the truth.

In Acts 26, Paul's conversation with King Agrippa was simple. The resurrection is true. Life after death is real. And Jesus is the one that proves it.

Paul didn't use big theological arguments. He just shared his testimony.

So often I forget that this is the best way to share the gospel. I try so hard to persuade people with nice illustrations or some great insight instead of just keeping with the plain and simple truth. Paul knew how to keep it simple.

In verse 20, Paul tells King Agrippa that his message from the beginning was that men "should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance."

Sounds simple enough.

If you've ever found yourself doubting whether you have what it takes to persuade someone to become a Christian, just remember that all you need is a heart for the lost and the plain & simple truth.

I pray today that you will get a chance to share the simple truth of Christ with someone.

Sorry we missed you!

There is no devotion for this week because Pastor Robbie is busy with his wife Shaney, celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.

Happy Anniversary you two!

Wednesday devotions will be back up and running next week.

Pastor Bob's Midweek Devotion: June 17

Good Morning Church!

I hope you had a good night's sleep and your dreams were sweet!

But if you're like me, sometimes that's not the case. Have you ever been awakened by a dream that seemed so real you wondered if it really happened? Or have you ever been in the middle of a tough situation and wished it was only a dream?

In Mark 4:35-31 we see that, whether real or imagined, no problem is too big for Jesus.

One night, Jesus was sleeping in a boat when his disciples frantically woke him up because a storm had arisen and the boat was in serious trouble...it was going down!

Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and [his disciples] woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

Aren't you glad Jesus did not roll over and tell his disciples to go away and just pray about it? Jesus got up and dealt with the storm. He said, "Hush, be still."

What's your storm today? Jesus, who "is the same yesterday and today and forever" wants you to come to Him. He will miraculously hush the raging worries, pains, disappointments and fears in your life if you just come to Him.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Is there a storm in your life that you need to ask Jesus to take charge of?

Let me know how I can pray for you!

Pastor Robbie's Midweek Devotion: June 10

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Acts 23:11

After every dark night comes the light of day...

Paul had just been through a long day. He'd been arrested, beaten, and thrown into a dungeon. Like most of us in that situation would, I think Paul must have been wondering if he was really doing what the Lord had called him to do. Unsure of what was ahead of him, Paul got an unexpected visit that would change his outlook on what was to come.

And if we take notice of four important things in this verse, it can change our outlook as well.

#1. The Lord stood by him.

The Lord was not in front of Paul, pulling him, or behind Paul, pushing him. He was beside him. Step by step, walking with him.

#2. The Lord encouraged him.

"Be of good cheer."

In the Greek, the phrase means, "Exercise courage." Like a lot of us, Paul needed to be reminded to push through his fear. Just like with physical exercise, there comes a time when you want to give up, when your body says, "No more." It's at that point when we have to refuse to give in to our flesh and work through the pain, the fatigue and the discomfort if we want to reach our goals. It's the same way when it comes to fear. We have to face it, walk through it, take it on. And knowing the truth of 1 John 4:18b, we can -- "But perfect love drives out fear."

#3. The Lord called him by name.

Here, Jesus calls Paul by His name. I like that. He knows our name. He knows everything about me, from the hairs on my head to the tears from my eye. He even knows, as the Psalms say, that I am but dust.

#4. The Lord reminded him of what was true.

"...you have testified"

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said we would be His witnesses. Despite how we may feel about our witness, the reality is that God is going to use it for His glory. Here, I think Paul may have been thinking that he had blown the chance to really be a witness and to show the love of Christ. Yet in the Lord's eyes, he had done a great job.

My hope for you today is that you will be reminded that He will use whatever we are willing to give, no matter how great or how small.

Pastor Bob's Midweek Devotion: June 3

Good morning church!

I woke up this morning with a prayer on my lips for a brother I talked to yesterday. He shared an all-too-common problem facing so many today: he had been laid of from his job two weeks before and is now facing a financial crisis. After listening to his woes, I had the privilege of lifting him up in prayer to our "Great High Priest" (Hebrews 4:14).

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God said:

"If my people, who are called by my Name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Brothers and sisters, take note of the "if" and the truth that we are His people. The Greek word for church is "EKKLESIA" which literally means "the called out ones." As the church, as His people, we have been called out to pray.

My challenge to you for the month of June is to practice 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Financial woes are upon us. Will we look to the government to bail us out? Or will we look to Jesus, our Great High Priest?

In Him, we have our example of how to pray and fast, and what a privilege it is to follow His example! Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights to spend time in prayer with His Father (Matthew 4:2). The people of Ninevah also fasted when they were convicted of their sin (Jonah 3:5). Fasting for the purpose of prayer is a spiritual discipline we often see in the Bible. And while most of us know how to pray, do we know how to fast and pray?

There are many things that occupy our time and our thoughts...food, tv, the computer, etc. By choosing to go without one of these things for a time, we give ourselves an opportunity to focus on prayer. Tuning out something that consumes our attention allows us to tune in to our conversations with our Father. Fasting for the purpose of prayer is both our privilege and our responsibility.

So for the month of June, let's follow the example of Jesus as we ask our Heavenly Father to heal our land.

How can we pray for you? Let us know!

Pastor Robbie's Midweek Devotion: May 27

Today's devotion comes from 2 Kings 18: 1-7, which you can read here.

In our culture today, a lot of people seem to have embraced the idea that adolescence lasts until you reach your thirties. There are a lot of people in their twenties who are still acting like kids. Not Hezekiah!

He's an example of a young man who's got it right.

At the young age of 25, he took responsibility not only for his position, but also for his calling.

In verse 4 we see him removing, breaking down and cutting down the things he knew were wrong...the things that could get in the way of a life that pleases the Lord.

In verse 5, "he trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel." As such a young king, it could not have been easy to go against the culture of the day, but he did it.

And finally in verse six we see that "he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept his commandments...."

And the result of Hezekiah's choices?

"...after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him."

Hezekiah prospered wherever he went.

It's funny how much we hear about our need to prosper as a country or succeed as individuals, and yet very few people are talking about the need to cling to the Lord. You can't have one without the other.

In what areas in your life do you need to follow Hezekiah's example?

Are there things that need to be removed or cut down?
Are there areas where you aren't trusting in the Lord?
And finally, are you clinging to Him?

Pastor Bob's Midweek Devotion: May 20

Good Morning Church!

I've got my cup of coffee, got my Bible in my hands, and after a conversation with our Lord, I've got a beautiful truth to share with you that the Lord showed me in Daniel chapter 2.

Are you feeling stressed this morning?

A bit depressed?

Even after reading His word and talking to Him, we sometimes still feel down and out.

How about doing what Daniel did?

Check it out....

Daniel had just been told that all the wise men in Babylon would be murdered because they could not interpret the king's dream. Instead of being a "Lone Ranger" prayer warrior, Daniel

"went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." Daniel 2: 17-18

Call a friend today and ask them to pray for you. Or call a friend and ask them how you can pray for them.

Why be stressed when He wants to bless us?

Jesus said,

"Ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

As you read that verse, put your name in it. And then consider getting together with one of your brothers or sisters in Christ to ask, seek & knock together.

Pastor Robbie's Midweek Devotion: May 13

(Today's devotional is based on 1 Kings 20: 1-19 which you can read here.)

Good Morning Church!

Today I was reminded once again that God has a purpose in every deliverance He provides. And there are many!

In this chapter of 1 Kings, the Lord provides deliverance for Ahab, the king of Israel. Twice, in verses 13 & 28, God tells Ahab that His deliverance is so King Ahab will "know He is Lord." He is Lord of the mountains--the big things that come our way. And He is Lord of the plains--the so-called easy, everyday things we go through.

God wants to show you that He is in control of all of your circumstances. But it has to start with you.

Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, "Thus says the Lord: 'Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.'" So Ahab said, "By whom?" And he said, "Thus says the Lord: 'By the young leaders of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who will set the battle in order?" And he answered, "You."

In order for Ahab to experience God's deliverance, he had to put his faith into action and get in the battle.

What's your battle today?

I am praying today that you will put your faith into action and get in the battle. Then you will see that He is Lord of the mountains and the plains.

Pastor Bob's Midweek Devotion: May 6

Good Morning Church!

I woke up this morning with a childhood song on my mind...

Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above is looking down with love,
So be careful little eyes what you see.

Then, after I grabbed a cup of coffee, I spent some time meditating on Daniel 1:8.

Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.

How easy it is to defile ourselves in the world we live in today! Everywhere we turn, there are temptations to live like the world lives, to take part in the "pleasures" it has to offer.

Brothers & sisters, let's make up our minds this new day to put a smile on God's face and practice 1 Corinthians 6:20--"For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."

As you read that verse today, put your name in it. Make it personal. And see if it doesn't change the way you respond to the temptations that come your way.

Passion Week Devotions: Friday

Rules for Better Driving


Rule #13: Create Space--Use the "Two-Second-Plus Rule"
Guard your safety by actively creating space around your vehicle, never allowing yourself to get "boxed in." Adequate space creates time and helps you avoid collisions. Maintain at LEAST two seconds of driving distance, more if you can.

Many of us learned the "Two Second Rule" in our driver's ed class, and it's a great rule for driving. But it's deadly when it comes to following Jesus.

In Luke 22:54, Peter makes the mistake of his life.

"Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance."

Sadly, most of us at times do the same thing. We don't want to get "boxed in." We try to "create space"--space in our friendships, space in our marriages, space from our church, and even space from the Lord.

But you see, in the Christian life, it's never about how far we can go. It's about how close we can get.

Passion Week Devotions: Thursday

"When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...' "
Luke 22: 14-15

In speaking of His fervent desire, Jesus reveals His passion.

Passion is defined as "a strong or powerful emotion towards someone or something."

To Jesus, we are that passion.

In this passage, Jesus explains to His disciples that His fervent desire, His heart of hearts, is to spend time with them. Quality time spent telling them the things to come, loving on them, speaking the truth into them, and showing them what is really important.

In verse 16, Jesus tells the disciples that He won't share this meal with them again until the Kingdom of God comes. Can you imagine the anticipation that must have been in His voice as He looked forward to that day?

Church, my hope and prayer for us today is that the truth of this would penetrate us. We are His fervent desire. That has not changed. Despite how we feel or what we think we should be doing, all He wants to do is dine with us.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Revelation 3:20

Passion Week Devotions: Wednesday

For this day of the Passion Week, the Scriptures are silent.

Not a bad place to start.

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

"But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him."
Habakkuk 2:20

"Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those He has invited."
Zephaniah 1:7

We are invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. To be still and know that He is God.

If the pace of life, the noise of the kids, and the complaining of co-workers is getting you down, maybe it's time to do what Jesus did. Be silent and just listen to that still, small voice longing to refresh your spirit.

Passion Week Devotions: Tuesday

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Luke 21:33

Yesterday we looked at what we should be hanging on to--"every word He said."

Today, we're going to look at why.

Luke 21:33 tells us that the words of God will never pass away. They are as applicable to our lives today as they were to the people who heard them spoken by Jesus 2,000 years ago.

This Word tells us in verse 34 to "be on guard" so that our hearts will not be weighed down with the worries of the world. And in verse 36, we're told to "keep on the alert," praying that we may have strength to escape the things that are coming.

Church, they are coming!

It has been said that we are either in a trial, about to go through a trial, or just finishing a trial. My prayer for you is that, whatever circumstances you are in, you are fully equipped for it. That your eyes may be open, looking forward to standing before the Son of Man. Ready to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Passion Week Devotions: Monday

"...and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said."
Luke 19:48

Oh, that this would be said of us! And yet, we seem to have no problem holding on to everything else in our lives but His word.

The boxes of stuff piled up in the garage that I tell myself, "I might use someday," even though someday never seems to come.

The clothes in my closet that I still hope to be able to fit into again.

The fear that keeps me from reaching out like I should.

The finances that seem to never be enough.

The bitterness of a previous hurt that eats at my soul.

Sound familiar?

Yet I know the truth:

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."

Psalm 19: 7-10

And if this isn't enough to get us to hold on to His words, think about what Jesus "hung" onto for our sake...Paul tells us in Galatians 3:13,

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us -- for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'"

What more of a reason do we need to do as those early disciples did, and hang onto His every word?!

The question is, what are you holding on to instead?