FreshBread

Dear Friends,

     Yesterday a wonderful women in our church died.  Helen Lynch (Vanessa Leonard and Valerie Elliot’s Mom) passed away early in the morning.  We will be having a memorial service for Helen this Friday at 1:00 in the auditorium at FreshStart.  You are all invited to come and share in this time of thanks and praise for the Life of Helen.

Today’s Reading is found in Matthew 6:14-15

         14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Last Friday I promised I would share with you about these verses on Sunday morning and I forgot; well, not really.  I mentioned that in January we are all going to be reading the Bait of Satan book.  Well, in the book the author talks about these verses.  He says that God always means what he says, so in this case we are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.  If we hold onto bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts and lives…..well, Jesus says here that if we refuse to forgive, God will NOT forgive us.

As a Staff we talked about that for an hour…..WOW….think about it. This is a heavy deal, BUT, I have a suggestion. Instead of trying to figure it out, just ask yourself this question:  Is there anyone you’re harboring bitter feelings toward?  Anyone you have not chosen to forgive? God is calling you to do that NOW!   It’s our way….REMEMBER!

Let’s talk in the am…..hope to see you tomorrow night, 7:00pm at church!

Scott

Good Morning,

Today’s Reading is Matthew 6:1-4

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Have you ever thought about what is going to happen at the end of the World? I have been taught many times that someone is going to meet me at the gate of Heaven and ask me why I would be let in? The problem is that I do not see that the Bible tells me that is something that is going to happen. But here is something that is going to happen. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 we read:

9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

At first glance this may seem confusing, Jesus is saying do things in secret, but Paul is telling us that we will stand before Jesus to be Judged for what we have done.

Let’s unpackage a few things….the key is in the word “BUT” that we talked about last week. Jesus, in his message in Matthew, is contrasting the way in which the religious Pharisees live and the way he is calling us to live in the Kingdom! Kingdom living has a different agenda, different goals, and different attitudes, and actions than Pharisaical living. Pharisees do what they do to gain the praise of men. God calls us to do what is right in order to please HIM! The Judgment that Paul is talking about will be by fire. I believe that every motive that we have served with will be tested and those with selfish motive (every message I have delivered for the praise of men and not the glory of God will be burnt up) will then be rewarded for what is left. I think that gives us a little to think about today.

Talk to you in the AM

Scott

PS. If you have some time, read these verses from Romans 2:5-8

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger!

Here is my question for the day if you have time to respond….How do these verses enter into the discussion this morning? What insights might you have on what God is saying to us in these passages? Write me at Scott@freshstartchurch.org. Have a great day!

Good Morning, Today’s Reading is found in Matthew 6:5-6

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Hey, let’s try something powerful today…..Everyone that is reading this today, let’s take 5 minutes and pray for the following three things:

1. The strengthening of Marriages at Freshstart
2. The filling of the Student Ministry Position at FreshStart
3. The Vision Team as they meet together this morning
Have a great day!

Scott

PS This Sunday we will finish our series, KID CEO, with a message called …”How a Christian Family should FIGHT!” This has been a series with a lot of positive feedback so don’t miss this awesome conclusion!