Fall Creek Christian Church

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4 ESV) What or who are you afraid of? Are you fearful of losing your job, your family, or even your life? Are you afraid of a certain person? So many times we are fearful of what may happen. And when we go there, the possibilities for terror are unlimited. The following quote from Eugene Peterson is so powerful: "If we truly believe that we live in a God-bathed world, we having nothing to be afraid of." We are praying today that you would take Psalm 23:4 to heart, and know that you have nothing to be afraid of... Because God is with you.

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (Psalms 18:30 ESV) Do you ever get frustrated with making the same mistakes over and over? Have you ever been to the point where you don't care anymore? I think we've all be there. These are symptoms of having our eyes fixed on wrong things. God? He is perfect. His word is always true. He is a shield. Want consistency in your battle against sin? Run to the one who knows how to help. Run to the one whose ways are flawless. Run to the one who never fluctuates. Run to the one who can really protect you from everything in this world. All we have to do is seek refuge in the One who is above all.

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen." James 5:16 Great things? Wow, sign me up! I often feel like great things are for someone else. Finding the cure. Saving someone in danger. Solving the unsolvable. I did score the game winning goal in my sixth grade soccer championship game. It felt like a great thing at the time, but I'm not so sure it really qualifies as a genuinely great thing. I think James had a pretty good handle on both our desire to be a part of something great and our feeling that we haven't been. As it turns out, in order to be a part of something great, we need to both believe in and talk to someone who is great already. Who's greater than God? Through Jesus sins are forgiven, healing takes place, and great things roll down from heaven like thunder. Whenever God acts, it's a great thing because he's great. Wonder of wonders ... He i

“Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed." Psalm 37:34 "Beat the GPS" is one the many games I play to occupy my mind while driving. Ah-ha! You play that game too, don't you? The ETA listed on the GPS is not simply a nice feature, it is a time that must be crushed! Arriving anytime even remotely close to the original arrival time is a defeat of unacceptable proportions. O no, as soon as that time pops up, it's on! Needless to say, there are some unfortunate side effects to this misplaced conquer at all costs obsession - uncomfortable passengers, stern spousal warnings, visits from officer friendly and the like. Yet, I continue. After all, the GPS started it! David apparently understood our proclivity for impatience. We really don't have to rush around like the whole world is on fire. Patience. Steady. Why? First, God will act i

“But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." I Corinthians 10:13 The only thing worse than being in a cave, is being in a cave and not being able to get out! They are cramped, cold, damp, and painfully dark. One day, with three hours of crawling around in the bowels of the earth under my belt, I was more than ready to get out. After a few wrong turns, my claustrophobia shifted into high gear. Cold sweat. Heart racing. Hyperventilating. "Out!" was the only thought on my mind. With my breaking point fully in view, my flashlight illuminated the most beautiful letter "O" I have ever seen. The spray-painted letter was accompanied by an arrow directing us to the exit. "Thank you Lord&

“This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.'" Jeremiah 17:5-8 On more than one occasion, I've found myself completely parched, thirsty beyond the ability to ignore it. In my efforts to quench my thirst, I've gone to a drinking fountain seeking relief only to discover that it wasn't working. Waterless. An impostor! It looked the part, but once tested, it came up dry. In our ve