Life Lifters | Lakeshore Community Church

Nov 05 8:34 AM

Play to Your Strengths

Nov 05 8:34 AM

Friday, November 5, 2021

I use this phrase all the time, and I really believe it's true. I believe it's biblical. It's called "playing to your strengths." How do you play to your strengths?

Friday, November 5, 2021

Romans 12:6

I use this phrase all the time, and I really believe it's true. I believe it's biblical. It's called "playing to your strengths." How do you play to your strengths? When you look around you, when you look at your spouse, you look at your kids, you look at your environment, the people that you're with, you realize that you're all so different. I have many friends who, when I will look at them, I realize I have nothing in common with that person. Our interests are so different. For example, I am not a sports person. Many of you know that. I don't like sports. So when this comes up in conversation, I really can't contribute anything. Then, you kind of get this feeling like, "Wow, I really don't have anything in common with some of these people." But the fact is that we're all created this way. It's all intentional that we're all different.

I want to talk about how we play to our strengths. The apostle Paul writes this in Romans 12:6 he says, "We all have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." Here's what I love about this verse, I think this is so cool. He says, "we have different gifts," and when we hear the word "different," we understand it's not the same as something else. But the word "different" here in the original text means "more excellent." You see, we all play a very specific role. We have to understand that we don't need to look down on somebody or look differently at someone because they are gifted in a different way than you. In fact, we don't want everyone to be the same, because life would be pretty boring if we were all just like one another. God has created us this way, and it was all intentional according to the grace that He has given to each of us. So let me just encourage you with that today.

Listen, you're gifted in a different way than the people around you. It's supposed to be that way because we build into one another, we strengthen one another, we make each other better. So if you see somebody who's different, don't break them down. Don't beat them up about it. It's supposed to be this way. Let's find that common ground so we can complement one another. Father, I want to thank you again, please help us understand that we are all different and gifted by your grace. Lord, let us understand that we're different. That doesn't just mean "not the same," but it means to be "more excellent," that we have a gift that is more excellent. I pray that we would really hold that true, and if we're struggling with that today, I pray that you would encourage us through it, that we may be able to see how we complement one another. We thank you and we lift this to you in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Brian Pawlowski

Nov 03 8:56 AM

Not Being Self-Seeking

Nov 03 8:56 AM

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about this idea of what it means to be self-seeking, that oftentimes we find ourselves in a position where we're seeking how to satisfy ourselves.

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Today, I want to talk to you about this idea of what it means to be self-seeking, that oftentimes we find ourselves in a position where we're seeking how to satisfy ourselves. Now, here's the thing, it's not like we grew up knowing how to be selfless. In fact, we are hardwired to be selfish. We only think about ourselves, we only think about what's happening to us. That's how we come into this world. Hopefully, over time, if our parents are some influential characters in our lives, they had really taught us how to share, how to be polite, how to do all of those different things. But it doesn't come naturally, even after we learn it.

The apostle Paul writes this profound phrase in First Corinthians 10:23-24, "I have the right to do anything - but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." Here's what's fascinating with how Paul writes this: First he says, "I have the right to do anything." Now the word "right" here means lawful. It's permissible, it's okay for you to do it. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I know that's a hard concept for a lot of us to understand, just because you can doesn't mean you should. He says, "I can do all things," meaning it's okay. But then he says, "but not everything is beneficial." What does he mean by beneficial? He means it's not for the common good. It's not going to benefit those around you. It's not going to create a better environment. Then he repeats himself, "But I have the right to do anything." Again, it may be permissible, but just because you can doesn't mean you should, because then he follows it up with this, "but not everything is constructive." What does he mean by being constructive? It literally means to build something up. Just because you can doesn't mean you should, because it's not going to strengthen someone else. It's not going to create a better environment around you. It's not going to build others up. The word that we use in the church for that is edification. It's not edifying. It doesn't build you up.

You see, we are naturally selfish. That's why I think he closes it with this, "No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." Remember, you are naturally selfish. That's how we come into this world. It's a process throughout our entire lives to figure out how to be selfless, and to put someone else's needs before our own. So I want you to change the question you internally ask yourself. Especially when you're in a situation and you're working with somebody, maybe that person's annoying you or something. I want you to change the question that you ask. Ask, "what does this person need? How can I help them?" versus, "What do I want?" It's this idea of not being self-seeking. Father, I want to lift up everyone who's reading this. Thank you for them. Father, we just ask that you would help us have the strength to not be self-seeking, so that everything we do is to build someone else up to help the common good. Father, we thank you for the grace that you have given us and I pray that we would be able to extend that to one another. For whoever's watching and is struggling through that right now, I pray that you give them courage, give them strength, give them peace, so that they can love someone else and ask that question, "what does this person need?" versus, "what do I want?" Thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Brian Pawlowski

Nov 01 8:35 AM

Apologizing is Hard

Nov 01 8:35 AM

Monday, November 1, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about something that I have personally struggled with for many years. I know many other people have as well. It's the idea of apologizing.

Monday, November 1, 2021

Romans 12:3

Today, I want to talk to you about something that I have personally struggled with for many years. I know many other people have as well. It's the idea of apologizing. We've all done something that we knew was wrong, and then you have to muster up that courage and swallow your pride to go apologize. Or, maybe sometimes we don't apologize when we should. Maybe you're even in a moment where you know you were right, but the way that whole interaction played out just wasn't up to par. So now you find yourself in a position where you know you probably should apologize, but maybe you don't want to. Here's the fact: apologizing is hard, regardless how you do it. This is because it all comes to ourselves, it all comes down to our pride and how we're going to work through that.

There's a scripture passage that I want to look at just to give you some encouragement, because maybe you're struggling with this today, maybe there's something going on in your life, where you really need to deal with this. And I know this is a daily thing that I have to struggle with and work through, especially as a parent and as a husband. But in Romans 12, verse three, Paul writes, "For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." Here's what's interesting, he says the word "think" twice. In the English language, we have one definition of that, but in the original text, it means something completely different. He says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you should." That first word "think" literally means don't be overly proud. Don't have a big ego, don't go in like you rule the universe. He says, don't think of yourself more highly than you should or more highly than you ought. Don't think of yourself in a highly proud manner. That's the first thing.

But then he says the word think again. He says, "but rather think of yourself with sober judgment." Okay, but the word "think" here means be understanding. Have a little compassion. Don't think too highly of yourself. Don't be too proud. But instead, go into the situation with understanding. Put yourself in the other person's shoes, whether they're right or wrong. It's all in how we carry ourselves and approach one another. He says in the last part of that, "but think of yourself with sober judgment." What does that mean? It means to be of sound mind, it means to be sensible. So what Paul is saying here is that in those moments where we know an apology is going to be needed, maybe for what we said, or maybe it's simply for how we said it, he says don't be overly proud. Don't go into this thing thinking you rule the universe, but think of it and approach it in a way of understanding where that person is coming from. And be sensible, be somebody who can really take to heart what is happening in the situation.

I know this is hard, but but some of us are parents, we can implement this with our spouses, with other family, maybe people that we work with. The fact is, is apologizing is hard. But he says, "Do this in accordance with the faith that God has distributed to each of you." In other words, do this with the faith that God has given you. It is by grace that we have been saved, but it's also by grace that God has given us a sensible spirit. So if you're feeling heated, you feel like you have a conflict with somebody, or if you think "maybe I said something that really turned somebody the wrong way," I want to encourage you, and I want to challenge you today. Go apologize to that person. I know how hard it is. Oftentimes with my boys something comes up, or they say something, or I come in and I'm like, "Yes, I got this, right." And I realized I just broke them down in the process. I didn't mean to do that. So I want to just challenge you today. Maybe there's that person that you need to call or text and start that conversation to apologize. Don't be too proud. Be understanding, be sensible. Father, I want to pray for everyone right now who's dealing with this and we know how difficult it can be to apologize because it all comes down to our pride. I pray that we'd be able to swallow that and to make right with whoever we need to, whether it's our children, or our spouse, or family members, friends, co-workers, whoever that may be. Give us the courage to do so, so that we can follow what your Word says, and that we would distribute the faith that has been distributed to us. We thank you in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Brian Pawlowski

Jun 11 8:14 AM

Our Deepest Relational Need

Jun 11 8:14 AM

Friday, June 11, 2021

You have to realize that relationships have limits. You say, "But Vince, if relationships have limits and I have love-needs, and they can't meet my love needs, then where do I turn?"

Friday, June 11, 2021

Proverbs 20:6, Proverbs 18:24

Today, I want to talk to you about this truth: all human relationships have limits. I think you know that, but I think we sometimes forget it in the heat of relationships. Sometimes we put too much on people. We want people to meet needs they can't meet. We want people to love us in ways they can't love us. We want people to be something for us that they can't be, and the problem is not them. The problem is in our expectations. Relationships are important, you have to have relationships. The worst thing you can do to a human being is to put them in solitary confinement in prison. But you have to realize that relationships have limits. You say, "But Vince, if relationships have limits and I have love-needs, and they can't meet my love needs, then where do I turn?" You turn to the lover of your soul, to God, to Jesus Christ.

I get that from a couple passages in Scripture from the book of Proverbs, that great relational handbook. Proverbs 20:6 says this, "Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?" The proverbs writer is saying what we have said before, which is that you have very few close friends. But this passage is also implying that there are limits to what people can do to meet your needs. Then, Proverbs 18:24 says this, "A man of many companions may come to ruin." Remember, we said companion are close friends. You can't have too many close friends.People will say that you can't have enough good friends, and I understand that, but you can't have too many people that are close friends because it's just physically impossible. And the text even says that if you do that, you'll just come to ruin because you're getting pulled in too many different directions.

The rest of that verse says this, "But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Nobody knows for sure. But this seems to be proverbs doesn't necessarily do this a lot. But it seems to be a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our brother. He's our father, he's the Son of God, he is our Savior, but He is also our brother in a certain sense. He is the lover of our soul, and he will love you in a way that no human being can. Are you making sure that your most important relationship needs are being met by Jesus Christ and not by human beings? Because humans can't do it. And they'll let you down and they'll hurt you not because they're intentionally doing it, although sometimes they do, but because they can't. Only Jesus Christ can. Are you letting Jesus Christ love you? You know, to become a Christian is the way you start letting him love you. And if you are not yet a Christian, you can't experience the love of God. When you say, "Jesus Christ, you are God. Jesus, I am a sinner, I sin, I mess up, I make so many bad decisions that hurt you, others myself, my family," and when you believe he died on the cross in your stead, in your place for your sin, and you receive him into your life by faith alone you become a Christian. Then you have his love, then you have the love of God. And you will have your deepest love needs met through Jesus Christ. You need your human love needs met, but there's a limit to that. Jesus Christ is infinite. And he'll meet your deepest needs in ways you never dreamed possible, because he's the lover of your soul.

Father, I pray that anybody who has over-relied on a relationship to meet their deepest needs, I pray that they would desist from that and turn to you. And if they haven't turned to you for the first time, I pray they would do that now. Just communicate what we just said and how you're our only hope. For those of us who already have, help us to stop over relying on relationships to meet our deepest needs and to turn to you. God, just meet our deepest love need. We pray this in your son's name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jun 09 7:47 AM

Relational Distance

Jun 09 7:47 AM

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about something that might throw you through a little bit of a loop, but it's really important. It's the concept of relational distance.

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Acts 15:36-40

Today, I want to talk to you about something that might throw you through a little bit of a loop, but it's really important. It's the concept of relational distance. Here's where I'm coming from. First of all, the Bible says that if you are a Christian you must love everybody, you don't get a choice. God loved you unconditionally. We love as he first loved us. If he loved us unconditionally, we have to love people unconditionally. You don't get a choice in this. Unless you want to be disobedient to God, you have to love all people, but not all people are truly lovable. So what's the rub? You have to love all people but not all people are lovable. What's the rub? The rub is this. There are some people you must learn to love from a distance.

I want to talk to you about a passage in the book of Acts. I found it very fascinating. It's the account of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas. They're really good friends and they're getting ready to do a missionary journey. In Acts 15, they have a Christian fight. I'd like to see that on pay per view. Let's get ready to rumble! Paul versus Barnabas the Missionary! Anyway, enough of that. So the Apostle Paul and Barnabas are getting ready to go on a missionary journey, they have a Christian fight, and we are witness to it in Acts 15:36-40. It says, 'Sometime later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers and all the towns where we preach the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.'

So, in other words, Barnabas said, "Come on, let's take John Mark." John is also known as John Mark, he wrote the Gospel of Mark. Paul said, "Nah, I tried that already. He deserted us." There are two things happening that maybe you wouldn't read or know from the text. First, they have different personalities. Paul was more of a task achievement guy. He loved people, but he had to get the job done, the mission that God gave him - see Acts 20:24 where he says, "Nothing else, but the mission God gave me." Now Barnabas' name literally means Son of Encouragement. He was a little bit more on the people side. So he asks Paul to give John Mark a second chance, but Paul said, "I gave him a first chance, it didn't work." That's the first thing.

Here's the second thing, John Mark was Barnabas' cousin. So he knew him a little bit better, and there was maybe a little familial pull there. But listen to this, starting in verse 39, "They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord." They didn't even do the missionary journey together. You know, it's interesting, the Bible never says who's right or who's wrong. The Bible never even says if they totally patched things up, although there are some suggestions that they at least were friends. But here's what probably happened, at least, as a result of that occurrence: They were friends from a distance.

Sometimes, you're going to have to learn to be a friend from a distance, to love from a distance. There are some people I really don't want to engage with. They're toxic, they're dark, they're evil, but the God of heaven and earth says I'm called to love them. So, I have to love them from a distance. Is there anybody in your world that you have to love from a distance? Love from a distance. Give that some thought, because you are called to love everybody, and the two errors are either that you think to love means to pretend nothing happened. Wrong. The other error is to believe that love means you're not going to engage them even if they didn't hurt you, and you never can do anything. Wrong. Love from a distance is the answer.

Let's pray. Father, we all have people that drive us nuts, but those are the people who you have called us to love. Help us to learn how to love them. If needed, help us to love them from a distance. I asked this in the strong name of the lover of our soul, Jesus Christ. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jun 07 8:07 AM

Not Everyone is a Close Friend

Jun 07 8:07 AM

Monday, June 7, 2021

We don't always do relationships so well. If we are great at relationships, then why is the world such a mess?

Monday, June 7, 2021

Proverbs 12:26, Proverbs 19:2

Relationships are super important. I have found more and more that people need biblical help on relationships. We don't always do relationships so well. If we are great at relationships, then why is the world such a mess? It's a mess, in part, because people struggle with how to relate to each other. So today, I want to talk to you about this truth. This is a little bit of a challenging truth, it's going to challenge your views on relationships. Here it is: Not everyone is a close friend. You know, there are three levels of relationships. You have acquaintances, friends, and close friends. I would define a friend as somebody who you might see semi-regularly, you can share a little bit with them, and you remember things about each other. Close friends, or companions, are really tight relationships. Here's what I want to say. Sometimes you can treat an acquaintance like a close friend and you get in trouble. Or you can treat a friend like a close friend, or a companion like an acquaintance. You have to know and correctly define your relationships. Not everybody is a close friend. In fact, here's what I want to warn you. I believe this because I have found this to be true. You have fewer close friends than you realize. We tend to think we have lots of close friends, but they're not as close as you think. I think you have less close friends. I think most of us have less super close friends than we think. There are exceptions, of course. Where do I get that from? Here's a couple passages of Scripture that speak to this from the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 12:26, "A righteous man is cautious in friendship." Why is a righteous man cautious in friendship? Because not everybody is a companion or a good friend. They might be a friend, they might be an acquaintance, so you're cautious. Remeber that you have to pace relationships. Don't go too fast. Don't go 10 miles when the first time you meet somebody you should only go 100 yards. Here's another one - Proverbs 19:2 says, "Zeal without knowledge is not good." In other words, you may be zealous for a relationship, but if you don't know that person, it doesn't work out. By the way, that speaks of anything. Zeal without knowledge in any area of life is not good. So who are your closest friends? Are you sure they're your closest friends? Who are your friends, or your acquaintances? You probably have no more than 5 to 10 really, really close friends. I heard one person say that a close friend is someone you call at three in the morning with something you need to talk about, and not one time in that conversation do they say, "Do you know what time it is?" That's when you know you have a close friend. So, just be careful with your close friends. Not everybody is a close friend. Don't expect to have massive numbers of close friends. By definition, a close friend is a small, tight knit group.

Let's pray. Father, it's so important that we understand our relationships. And it's so important that we understand that not everybody is a super close friend. We may wish it, we may want it, but it takes two to form a close relationship. Help us to know who those close relationships are with, and who they are not with. Help us to accept that. Someone we thought was a close friend is just a friend, or someone we thought was a friend is just an acquaintance. God, help us to be pleasantly surprised that a friend was really a close friend who loved us more than we ever realized. Help us to discern that and accept the close friends you've given us, and to do everything we can to be close friends back to them. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jun 04 8:14 AM

Relationships Are Like Teeth

Jun 04 8:14 AM

Friday, June 4, 2021

Relationships are what life is all about. The people who have the best relationships are always learning how to relate better, and we all can learn to relate better to people.

Friday, June 4, 2021

Proverbs 25:19, Proverbs 17:17

Relationships are what life is all about. The people who have the best relationships are always learning how to relate better, and we all can learn to relate better to people. With the environment we're in, in this world, we need to relate better. So today, I have a profound thought for you about relationships. Ready? Here it is: Relationships are like teeth. What I mean by that is that if you want to have nice teeth, you have to get regular checkups. You know, you're supposed to go every six months to see the dentist. So, first you see the dental assistant, and he goes in there, gets that little metal pick, picks around, flosses you, and then puts the teeth cleaner in there. But then, the worst scary part is when the dentist comes in, because he's looking in your mouth for problems. I've had a few cavities, and as he looks in your mouth, you're praying, "Oh please, Lord, don't let him find a cavity. Even if I have a cavity, don't let them see it." Because if they do, then you have to come back, get it filled, and all that.

Here's all I want to say: If you want to have great teeth, you have to have regular checkups to see if there are any problems. If you want to have great relationships, you have to check up on your relationships. That's why relationships are like teeth. And I didn't just randomly make that up, I get it from the Proverbs. The book of Proverbs has tons of advice on relationships. Look at what Proverbs 25:19 says. It says, "Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble." In other words, if relationships are like teeth, and you want to do checkups, sometimes you think you have a great relationship and it's not. you think that's a strong tooth, but man it's got a massive cavity or a small cavity that you haven't seen. You have to check up your relationships know where your relationship is, do a little trial tests to see how they respond. And you may sometimes find that you have overestimated that relationship.

Here's another one. Proverbs 17:17, "A friend is loyal always, and a brother is born to help in time of need." One of the great tests of a relationship when you're trying to give a relational checkup is to ask, "When I need help, will they help me?" Now, I have to make sure you're not asking for $10,000 worth of help from a $10 relationship. You know what I mean? You can ask way too much from a young relationship, but if you ask a reasonable amount from someone you think is a reasonable friend, their response is really going to tell you where the relationship stands. It's so important that you check up on your relationships. You need to find ways to assess and ask, "Is this a solid relationship? Or is this a cavity relationship?" It's really important because sometimes we make mistakes, and we all will, but you don't want to over-rely on a bad relationship, it can really mess you up. So check up on your relationships. How's your relationship with your family, your neighbors, your children if you have them, your parents, your spouse, etc.? Check up on those relationships. If you need to make some improvements, great. If they need to make some improvements and they can't, understand it and know what you got. If they can make improvements, know you got a really good friend.

Let's pray. Father, thank you for the reminder that relationships are like teeth, and we need to rely on the right ones, not the wrong ones. Help us to know how to give ourselves relational checkups like our dentists knows how to check our teeth for cavities. Help us have the discernment to know who we can rely on, and who we shouldn't in our relationships. In Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jun 02 8:55 AM

Easy Does It Relationships

Jun 02 8:55 AM

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Do you think most people go too fast in a relationship or too slow today? The answer is too fast. Most people go way too fast - sometimes, people get into a relationship and they go from zero to 60 faster than a Lamborghini and that's not good.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Proverbs 25:17 NIV; Proverbs 19:2b NLT

Today, I want to talk to you about relationships like I did last time, and will for the next few times, because relationships are so important. They determine the direction of our life and the satisfaction of our life. With COVID and things opening up, relationships are kind of getting more back to normal, we're seeing more people, we're going to need skills and wisdom on how to manage relationships. So today, I want to talk to you about this principle, you need more "easy-does-it relationships". Easy-does-it, take it easy, calm down, and here's what I mean by that - sometimes, people get into a relationship and they go from zero to 60 faster than a Lamborghini and that's not good. A relationship that moves too fast, is not going to be a reliable, solid relationship. So when you start to make a friend by being a friend, which was our last life lifter, you have to learn how to pace a relationship.
Most people struggle with pacing a relationship. Do you think most people go too fast in a relationship or too slow today? The answer is too fast. Most people go way too fast. They go on a first date, and somebody wants to plan the wedding, it's a little too fast. I know somebody that met someone and got married within two weeks of meeting them, a little too far, too fast. And then sometimes people go way too slow. And so you have to learn how to pace a relationship.

In other words, go a little step, and then wait and then go another step. But don't try to go ten steps in a relationship when you should only take one step at a time. I get that from a couple verses in the book of Proverbs, which speaks so much about relationships with some of these doozies. Proverbs 25:17 says "seldom set foot and your neighbor's house, too much of you, and he will hate you". I have a great next door neighbors. One of my next door neighbors, he's such a great guy and he's really good at everything. So whenever I have something that needs repair, I go "Hey, Mike, can you take a look at this?" and my wife would say "would you stop bugging Mike?". Too much in your neighbor's house and he will be sick of you, not sick of me because I give him little gifts and everything. But you got to be careful not to keep engaging a relationship too fast. Now, if you're really, really super friends, you can do that, but that takes time. There's no substitute for time. You have to pace relationships.

Here's another one. Proverbs 19:2, "A person who moves too quickly, may go the wrong way". And here's what I found, a lot of people that don't pace relationships that move too quickly, who don't have an easy-does-it-view of relationships, they get in trouble. They do things in that relationship they shouldn't do. They share things in that relationship they shouldn't share. They give up things in that relationship that they shouldn't give up. They trust in that relationship, things they shouldn't trust. And it's because you have not learned to take it easy. Take it easy. There's always tomorrow for that relationship.

Are you pacing your relationships appropriately? Are you moving too quickly in any relationship? Back off, slow it down. You can go too fast in a relationship by sharing too much too quickly, by meeting too often, so many different ways you can go too fast in a relationship. Maybe some of you just need to hear "take it easy". Take it easy. I'm not talking about loving people, I'm just talking about going too fast in a relationship. Relationships are like a fine wine, they only get better with time and I hope you'll do that.

Father, I pray that if there's anybody that may be moving too fast or perhaps even too slow in a relationship give them the wisdom to pace it. Give them the wisdom to know not to move too quickly, not to always be at the person's house or in the person's world, but to pace it, to have an easy-does-it view. Help them to know when to do one or the other. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, easy does it have a great day!

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

May 31 8:27 AM

The Most Important Relational Vitamin

May 31 8:27 AM

Monday, May 31, 2021

Life, it's all about relationships, our relationship with God, and our relationships with people. Today, I want to talk to you about the most important relational vitamin.

Monday, May 31, 2021

Proverbs 3:27-28, Proverbs 27:10

Thank you for joining me for this edition of life lifters. Our whole purpose on life lifters is to give your life a lift, there a five minute blast of encouragement, and scripture. You know, for these next few life lifters, I'm going to talk to you about relationships. Life, it's all about relationships, our relationship with God, and our relationships with people. And through COVID, we learned a lot more about relationships. For these next few life lifters I'll talk to you about relationships. We'll talk about different aspects of relationships to help you in your relationships with other people.

Today, I want to talk to you about the most important relational vitamin. What's the most important relational vitamin? Vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B complex? What is most important vitamin when it comes to relationships? B one. The most important vitamin when it comes to relationships is B1, or b - e - o - n - e, Be one. The most important thing to do in a relationship, if you want friends, is to be a friend. To make a friend, you must be a friend. That's where the one vitamin B1 comes from. I get that from a few verses in the book of Proverbs. In Proverbs chapter three, verses 27 to 28. It says, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it's in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say 'come back tomorrow, and I'll help you'". What's that saying? Whenever you have an opportunity to be a friend, be one, and you'll make one. Don't pass up opportunities to be a friend. Be friendly with everybody that you possibly can, because that's the most important vitamin.

Here's another one, Proverbs 27:10. It says "never abandon a friend". So the first one is kind of establishing friends. And this one, "never abandoned a friend -- either yours or your father's. Then in your time of need, you don't have to ask your relatives for assistance". So he's saying that whenever you have an opportunity to relate to somebody, be a friend. That doesn't mean you have to be bosom buddies, but I know this, I would rather have too many acquaintances that I have to pick and choose from, to find who my real friends are, then they have almost nobody, you know?

Are you being a friend? Are you friendly? Do you treat people with respect? Are you a good friend whenever you can be to other people? If you are, then you're going to have lots of acquaintances and relationships, and people are going to respect you. And you won't have to be one of those people that worries if there will be six people in this world that love me enough to carry my casket when I die, which is kind of a morbid thought, but think about that you would like to be the kind of person that has such a great relationship with so many people that the funeral home was packed for your memorial service. It's a great thought. And it happens when you're a friend. So to make a friend be one. So be one, be one to your neighbor, be one to somebody at work, be one at the grocery store, at Kohl's. Be a friend.

Let's pray. Father, help all of us remember to make a friend we have to be a friend. Instead of waiting for somebody to be friendly to us, help us to be friendly to them. Not only can we build a relationship, we can also perhaps have an opportunity to share our faith and help them find the God we love, Jesus Christ. We ask all us in Jesus name, Amen. The most important vitamin in relationships. Be one. I hope you'll be one today.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Mar 03 8:47 AM

Learning Separation

Mar 03 8:47 AM

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Matthew 16:13-23

Today I want to talk to you about something really uncomfortable for me. Maybe it's uncomfortable for you as well. I'm talking about when someone you love and care about, maybe a friend, a family member, a co-worker, and they betray you—they stab you in the back or they say something hurtful about you. Over the years, this has happened all too many times and I've learned to deal with it in a certain way. I want to share that with you today. It's dealing with it by separating the person from their sin.

We see this modeled by Jesus in Matthew 16:13. Matthew writes this: "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'"

In that moment, Jesus really commends Peter for that. He prophetically shares what's going to play out in Peters's life as the church unfolds. What we see here is that Jesus replied with the following to Peter: "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." So Peter listened for the voice of God. God revealed something to Peter and he listened. He had that seed planted in his mind and he proclaimed that truth back to Jesus.

Just a few short verses later, though, we see a completely different story after Jesus commends Peter. We pick up in verse 21: "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!'"

Are you nuts, Peter? You don't do that! Can you imagine if Peter prevented Jesus from going to the cross? I don't even want to think about that. But I'm glad that this is what Jesus did. We see in verse 23, "Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns." And so we see here, Jesus rebukes Peter, but did He actually call Peter Satan? I mean, it sure sounded like He did. He knew Peters's name and we know that that was not Peter's nickname. So what's really going on there? Did Jesus call Peter Satan? I think the answer is no. I think what Jesus was doing was that He was speaking to Satan through Peter; He was speaking to Satan through Peter. There's an enemy that works behind each of us and that enemy is Satan. He's trying to trip us up. He's trying to tempt us. He's trying to get our sinful nature to act out on the temptations that he plants for us. So what Jesus did here is He modeled separation.

You see, Jesus separated the real Peter—the one that wanted to listen and obey the Lord— from the one that desires to listen and follow the kingdom of Satan. So here's the ugly truth. This not only happens to people around us who say and do things to us. This happens to us, as well. This idea of separation that Jesus modeled for us has been helping me in dealing with relational issues. It's opened up my eyes and it's helped me to take ownership when I'm the one who has sinned. It's helped me to truly forgive people when they have sinned against me.

So I want to encourage you to learn and understand that there is an evil force that often works behind us trying to trip us all up. Why do we have relational issues? Well, oftentimes, I think it's because we, instead of listening for the voice of God like Peter did at the beginning of this story, we end up following the voice of Satan and giving in to temptation.

Let's pray. Father, I want to thank you for this idea of separation that Jesus modeled for us. Help us to understand that there is an enemy that wants to trip us up and get us to screw up our relationships and screw up our faith. So Father, help us to recognize that when we open our mouth and when we act, let us take responsibility and ownership when we make the mistake of following Satan instead of following you, Father, and let us be quick to forgive those around us Father who do the same. Father, help us to encourage one another, as we forgive one another Father, and we thank you for this and we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Thanks for joining us today. Don't just have a great day, but go and make a great day!

By Pastor Frank De Luccio

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