Matthew 6:34 (ESV)Notes from the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖Matthew 6:34 (ESV) “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 📘Pastor's Note: Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, tells us not to be anxious about our life, what we will eat or drink. He points to the wonderful provisions of our Heavenly Father using examples of how He feeds the birds (v26), how He grows and clothes the lilies and grass of the field (v27-30). Jesus then follows that up by saying, "If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" I am often attacked with the temptation of anxiety. Unfortunately, though I don't like to admit it, I sometimes give in to this temptation—not about what I will eat, drink, or wear, but by pressures in ministry. Questions plague my mind: Am I doing what I need to do to properly feed and care for His people? Are my priorities right? Am I leading a life that points to Christ? Am I being faithful to fulfill His calling in my life? Am I leading and making God-honoring decisions? These are many questions that often tempt me into anxiousness. Then, when He said "O you of little faith," I can't help but realize that when I let my anxiety paralyze me, it's a demonstration of having little faith. Maybe my eyes have turned toward looking more at myself for the power to accomplish things. Maybe I've taken my eyes off our glorious risen Savior who has conquered death and the grave. That's not something I'm proud to say. But I need to acknowledge and confess it. In doing so, I'm reminded of the frailty of trying to accomplish things in my own power and am reminded of my absolute need for the grace and provision of my Savior every moment, in every breath I take. I need to water my mustard seed of faith with His word so that my faith will grow bigger in Him as my focus on self dies. Where do you stand with being anxious? How do you overcome the paralysis that it brings? I have found two things that nurture the ground so our faith may grow bigger: prayer and personal feeding on God's word. May when times of anxiety rise up, may we bend a knee and remember what He says in the never-ending depths of Scripture. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #Truth #seek #study #serve #mygpchurch  Proverbs 21:2-3Notes from the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖Proverbs 21:2-3 (ESV) Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 📘Pastor's Note: In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to become preoccupied with external actions and appearances. We often judge ourselves and others based on outward deeds, forgetting that there's something far more significant at play—the condition of the heart. These verses serve as a powerful reminder that while we may justify our actions in our own eyes, it is ultimately the heart that God examines. Our intentions, motives, and the sincerity behind our deeds hold far more weight in the eyes of the divine than mere outward observance of rituals or sacrifices. So, what does it mean for the Lord to "weigh the heart"? It speaks to the depth of our character, the purity of our intentions, and the alignment of our actions with His divine will. It's a call to introspection, urging us to examine the state of our hearts before God. In a world that often prioritizes outward success and achievement, these verses challenge us to shift our focus inward. They prompt us to consider whether our actions are driven by a genuine desire for righteousness and justice or by self-interest and pride. Moreover, the emphasis on righteousness and justice underscores the importance of living a life that reflects God's values. It's not enough to go through the motions of religious observance; true worship involves living in accordance with God's principles and actively seeking to promote justice and righteousness in our communities. At its core, Proverbs 21:2-3 teaches us that authenticity matters. It's not about putting on a show for others or ticking boxes to fulfill religious obligations. Instead, it's about cultivating a heart that is sincere, compassionate, and aligned with God's purposes. As we navigate the complexities of life, let us remember the profound truth encapsulated in these verses: what truly matters is not the outward facade we present to the world, but the condition of our hearts before the Lord. May we strive to cultivate hearts that are pleasing to Him, seeking righteousness and justice in all that we do. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️ Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2021&version=ESV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare See More Notes by Visiting www.mygpchurch.com/notesfromthepastorsdesk #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #Truth #seek #study #serve #mygpchurch  Matthew 24:7-14 (ESV)Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖Matthew 24:7-14 (ESV) 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come 📘Pastor's Note: The beginning of birth pains. We are closer today to the end than we were yesterday. Reading these words from Jesus to His disciples and looking at the gross sinfulness going on in the world, we can’t help but know that the time is nearer. Come, Lord Jesus, come. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2017&version=NIV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #jesuslovesyou #bethechurch #EnterpriseAL #bibleverse #Truth #biblestudy #seek #study #serve #churchnearme #faith #hope #christianity #growth #go #learning #fellowship #loves #GodsWord #prayer #wordofgod #NotesfromthePastorsDesk #Jesus #jesuschrist #mygpchurch #EnterpriseAlabama #bible  John 12:37-40 (NIV)Notes From the Pastor's Desk #notesfromthepastorsdesk 📖John 12:37-40 (NIV) 37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 📘Pastor's Note: Hard hearts won’t believe, blind eyes can’t see, closed ears can’t hear. Then why preach the message of the Gospel to those who are unwilling to believe, see, or hear? Because we are told to. For those unwilling to open up their hearts to the Truth, it is a message of judgment. But for those of us who believe, it is the grace of God unto salvation. Our objective is the message we carry. It’s God’s work to change hearts. 🙏I'm praying for you always. ❤️God Bless! Pastor Jamie Read the Chapter: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2017&version=NIV Learn more about us: www.mygpchurch.com/whoweare #notesfromthepastorsdesk #thegpchurch #jesuslovesyou #bethechurch #EnterpriseAL #bibleverse #Truth #biblestudy #seek #study #serve #churchnearme #faith #hope #christianity #growth #go #learning #fellowship #loves #GodsWord #prayer #wordofgod #NotesfromthePastorsDesk #Jesus #jesuschrist #mygpchurch #EnterpriseAlabama #bible  |
AuthorPastor Jamie Payton 
Archives
November 2024
Categories |
