Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Being a big dreamer doesn’t mean you will do big things. But never dreaming means you will never do big things!
And my God is a dreamer and a doer!
-Lyn Sahr
-Gen 1:31-2:3 NIV
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning–the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Seeking God is an action phrase. No action, no seeking! One of the first exercises is deep knee bends, all the way to the floor!
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 27:7-9 NIV
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.
Monday, January 29, 2007
The difference between believers and non believers has become “gray” and it seems be harder and harder to distinguish one from another. In eternity, this will not be a problem!
-Lyn Sahr
-Rom 6:23 NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
I knew it what coming, and even though I’ve known about this day for, well about the last 18 years, I still wasn’t looking forward to it. That’s right, the day my oldest daughter turns 18. My friends told me there’s “no way YOU could have an 18-year old,” and when I realized how fast the time has gone. I thought to myself “I can’t believe it either.”
There were so many things I wanted to do with her, so many places to go, a college fund that really wouldn’t fund much college at all, and a dad who has not always been the Christian parent that he dreamed about when she was born.
There are things I have given her over the past 18-years though: Lots of love, a listening ear, and a loving home. I’ve shown her that when her dad messes up (and I do quite frequently), that I can ask for forgiveness and try to learn from it and not make the same mistake twice.
But the most important thing that I’ve shared with her is the love of Christ. And because of that, she too has made a commitment to let Him lead her life. Even though she is going through the “teen trials” right now, she has a relationship that will remain closer that I can be to her through her lifetime, and that’s with her heavenly Father.
We also spent some “daddy-daughter” time this week, and she reminding me how much she appreciated me, and how much she enjoyed going to Disney movies together. So to celebrate, we went to another and guess what? We had the whole theater to ourselves. We laughed, talked, hugged and laughed some more….AND made some new memories in the process. Oh, and she still calls me “daddy!”
Maybe it wasn’t all that bad having my daughter turn 18 this week after all.
-Garrett Novak
-Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
We have returned from vacation in Hawaii, a gift from our children for our 40th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We were blessed.
However, we were a little surprised what a big city Honolulu is with all its high rise buildings. We were expecting a little slower pace and not so much “big city” life although we did find that in the north shore of the island. We had a preconceived idea of what life in Hawaii is.
So it is with many people when it comes to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They expect a dramatic transformation from the old self to the new with no effort or trials. But that transformation generally comes from years of growing in grace and a few tumbles along the way. In other words, they have a preconceived idea of what the Christian life is, an unrealistic one I might add. If you want to learn about being a giant for the Lord read about the life of the Apostle Paul and you will get a dim view of what one might expect who totally dies out to one self for Jesus Christ.
Some may say, “Don’t you think that is a little extreme to use Paul as an example because we don’t use whips today in our civilized society.” Yes, you are right. We don’t use leather whips with bones, metal barbs and stone in them but we do use whips. We give tongue lashings which are more painful and the inflictions often never heal. We don’t whip people on the back or to their face but rather behind the back!
This is a sad reality and certainly not the preconceived idea people have when they put their faith in Christ.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Cor 11:21-33 NIV
That anyone else dares to boast about-I am speaking as a fool-I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
ChurchMouse Vacationing!!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
The Bible is the Christian’s guidebook. We need to study and meditate on it every day. And there is something very interesting about the Bible: no matter how many times we read it, there is always something new for us in its’ pages. All we have to do is open it and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through it to us.
-Ardis Rivera
-Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
-2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
While driving to work this week, I saw one of the most incredible things. While the sun was rising over our western Wisconsin city, a single beam of the sun’s rays was shooting straight up through the hazy morning sky. At first I thought it was a man made light, then I realized that it was another reminder to me of what our heavenly Father had created.
It was if the sun was pointing heavenward to God, saying “Garrett, I am your Father, I created you and everything on this planet, and I just wanted to remind you to let your light shine today.”
Just as Jesus pointed the disciples and everyone he preached to and “touched” to His heavenly Father, so too, do we as Christians. The problem is, some of us don’t have much “light” radiating from us pointing others to God.
Remember the song from Sunday school? “A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam!”
Won’t you be a sunbeam today?
-Garrett Novak
-James 5:14 (MSG)
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to bring light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand-shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up to God, this generous Father in heaven.
Friday, January 12, 2007
In the middle of March I will be heading back to Mexico with a team of students and adults. I will be meeting with pastors to discuss upcoming conferences and ways in which our ministry can serve them. One thing that many people do not understand about missions in Mexico is the fact that it is a financial expense to our ministry. There is no way to recover our costs from the people we serve. Life is very difficult for the 70% poor in Monterrey. I truly wish that many of you could experience the faith and love of these people first hand.
When I approach people about going with us to Mexico or taking adult leaders from their churches, there is an unexplainable look that comes into their eyes. You would think I had just asked them to door to door evangelism or I was offering them a free trip to Bagdad!
If you always stay in your comfort zone, you have just been corralled!
-Lyn Sahr
-Mark 16:14-17 NIV
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The years go by quickly, almost unnoticed. Many people try to leave large estates to their children but forgot to make memories that can be drawn from repeatedly over the years. It’s the memories that carry the generations and form your children and your children’s children. The memories of faith will carry the next generation long after we are gone.
-Lyn Sahr
-Ps 89:1 NIV
I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Louis and Rachael entered an area of the relationship as a husband and wife that few ever experience, they became one. We all know of the mystery the scriptures speak of when a man and woman become one but to witness it is another thing. One day Rachael fell and broke her hip. I was called to the hospital and everything seemed to be going well after the surgery. But after a couple of days Rachael contracted pneumonia and began to fail to a point that they put her on a ventilator. She remained in that condition for a few days and I watched the life leave her eyes. Facing the loss of the love of his life, Louis was naturally devastated. After meeting with the doctor a decision was made to remove the ventilator and Rachel went home to be with the Lord some time later. Rachel and Louis would make no more memories together but he would hold the memories they did make in his heart until his death.
Make memories with the people you love while you have the time.
-Ps 116:15 NIV
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Louis and Rachel were truly a dear couple. They lived a simple life in northern Wisconsin with a small home with a garage on the river. They were living their dream in their retirement years.
When I first received a phone call from Louis to see if I would be interesting in rebirthing the church he told me something I will never forget. He told me that he was 82 years old and that he was the assistant pastor. I remember thinking, “How old was the senior pastor?”
Looking back on Louis’ desire to stay active in ministry and to server the Lord I am reminded that we are never too old to be in ministry. We don’t retire from being Christians and therefore we don’t retire from ministry. Louis’ ministry changed as he got older, it got better!
-Lyn Sahr
-Dan 7:18 NIV
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever-yes, for ever and ever.’
Monday, January 8, 2007
In a “mission” church I pastored there was an elderly couple named Louis and Rachel. They were very, very dear people. Their theology was steeped in the holiness movement and Louis used to testify in church that he hadn’t sinned in 40 years! At first his boldness startled me but I realized that he believed that once you accepted Christ you did not have to sin. His theology basically said that sin was a willful transgression against God and other incidences were not really sin.
One day when Louis and I were having a theological conversation he again said that he hadn’t sinned in 40 years. I responded, “Louis, would it be alright if I asked Rachael about that?” We had a great laugh and he understood the point I was making.
The point is that we are not always the best judge of the condition of our spiritual lives. It is how we treat and behave around those we are supposed to love the most that reveal the condition of our relationship with God.
-Lyn Sahr
-1 John 1:8-10 NIV
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
There is no place like home unless you have no home. There is an alarming increase in homelessness. I often wonder where the families are of the homeless and why hey are not there to help them. It is tragic to say the least. The good news is that in eternity no one will be homeless and everyone there will be part of God’s family.
-Lyn Sahr
-2 Peter 3:13 NIVBut in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Change is inevitable. The new car that you purchased just a few short years ago is starting to show some signs of rust. That young son or daughter of yours is having children of their own now. When you look in the mirror, you notice that that youthful exuberance is being replaced by signs of aging. We can’t change the fact that… things will change.
As a Christian, are you changing? Are you becoming more like Christ as the days go on, or more like the world around you? Do you speak quickly, and in anger? Or, like our verse today, do you listen and then speak slowly, not harshly?
As we start a new year know that in the next 360 days change is coming. Will you be able to see how God is changing you?
-Garrett Novak
-James 1:19 (NLT)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Friday, January 5, 2007
You have heard it said that “cleanliness is next to Godliness.” Today I have a new saying for you, “selfishness is next to devilness.” Today we face an epidemic of evil selfishness that has crippled the family to the delight of the devil.
Selfish adults are nothing more than selfish children that have never grown up spiritually!
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 26:12 NIV
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Did you know that toothpicks are made from trees? One tree, depending upon the size, makes thousands of toothpicks. Each of us is like a tree, splintering off small pieces of our lives to thousands of people we encounter in our lifetime. The impact we have on others is a direct result of where are roots reach!
-Lyn Sahr
-Heb 12:14-15 NIV
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Selfishness doesn’t usually change from one year to the next. When a person is self-centered they usually continue to be self centered from year to year, for a lifetime. The only way self-centered people change is when they become God centered. Until God becomes the center of ones universe a person will always think they are the center of the universe.
-Lyn Sahr
-James 3:13-18 NIV
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
This weekend the carpet was laid in our offices and I moved in a temporary desk and worked in the office for the first time in many months. The joke around here was that my car was my office and that wasn’t far from the truth. Our offices were in pretty bad shape when we purchased the building 18 months ago. It felt good today to sit at the computer in a stable setting knowing I could “settle in.”
I think that’s how it is for the faith of many people. They really never allow God to “settle in” and they live their lives with no spiritual stability. I cannot stress how important it is to stabilize your relationship with God.
Spiritual stability and spiritual maturity go hand in hand!
-Lyn Sahr
-Heb 5:14 NIV
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Monday, January 1, 2007
As we enter in the new year it is a little like untying the boat from the dock. It is much more comfortable to remain tied to the dock where we know it is safe. And if you untie your boat and you don’t have your motor running you just float at the mercy of the wind and waves without direction.
Too often people start they new year tied to the past and unwilling to journey out into uncharted waters of life. I have found that the motor running in my life is the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. He guides me and gives me the power to stay afloat in the roughest waters!
-Lyn Sahr
-Lam 3:25-26 NIV
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
