Life Lifters | Lakeshore Community Church

Nov 19 8:52 AM

TOP 10: White As Snow (Originally Published 9-21-2020)

Nov 19 8:52 AM

Friday, November 19, 2021

God gives us many tremendous promises of forgiveness, and today we are going to focus on one of them.

Friday, November 19, 2021

Isaiah 1:18

TOP 10 LIFE LIFTERS: For the next few weeks, we'll be re-releasing some of the top Life Lifters we've ever published since we started this devotional series. Join us as we look back at popular topics like prayer, joy, trust, and hope!

Today, I'm going to talk to you about how to deal with your past so you can move forward in your life. The number one way you deal with your past is you ask God to forgive you for whatever it is that happened in your past. God gives us many tremendous promises of forgiveness, and today we are going to focus on one of them. God only forgives what we bring to him. I mean, he forgives us for sins that we don't even know about, admittedly, but the best way to deal with your sin is to acknowledge it before God when you get called to attention on it. Then, you can experience His forgiveness. One of God's promises is what I call the white as snow promise. When Isaiah the prophet, speaking for God to Israel some 2700+ years ago about their sin, he made this amazing statement. After talking to the rebellious nation about their sin, he says this in Isaiah 1:18, "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"

Our sins are bold, they're red, they're undeniable. They cannot be hidden. They're visible to everybody. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Imagine that, a big blood stain on your white t shirt, and then God says, "I'll make it white as snow. It's as if it's a brand new T shirt right out of the package and no remnant of that blood stain. Though our sins are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Again, he just goes from red to white. The amazing thing is that if you come to God in your rebellion, like Israel was challenged to do here in Isaiah 1!18, God will cleanse you. The basis of God's cleansing is Jesus Christ's blood. It's interesting to me that in Isaiah the idea of sin is painted as crimson red. The color of our blood is crimson red. It's almost like the blood of Christ, over and dealing with and engaging with the blood of our own guiltiness leads to white. It's like red plus red equals white. It's like the blood of Christ can cleanse any stain, because Jesus loves you that much. He wants to flip the script on your life. He wants to help you go from being a crimson mess to being a forgiven person.

The only difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is whether or not our sins are forgiven. Now, hopefully a Christian lives a more noble life. Hopefully a Christian doesn't flirt around with sin. I would hope so. I know many Christians have had their lives changed and transformed, and they are living a more godly life, but that doesn't mean once you become a Christian, you stop being burdened with sin. The difference between a Christian and non Christian ultimately is what happens with our sin, it can be forgiven. So I want to say this, if you're already a Christian, God has already forgiven you in one sense, but in another sense, you need to turn to him to ask for forgiveness when you sin. And you can thank Jesus for that forgiveness because he provided it through his crimson blood. If you're not there yet, I just want you to know this: Jesus Christ loves you. He loves you so much that he shed his blood so that your crimson-stain-sin can be forgiven. I hope you'll know how much Jesus Christ loves you and I hope you know that one of the benefits of getting right with God through His Son Jesus Christ is that forgiveness is available. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past, it's available and he will turn your red, bloody, messy sin as white as snow is white as well. You want that? White as snow is available to you.

Let's pray. Lord, I come to you as one who sins and needs tons of forgiveness. I'm sure everybody listening would agree that their own life would be the same. Thank you that you provided this cleansing opportunity that our sins can be white as snow. When we turn to you, like Israel on their rebellion, if we turn to you, we can find this forgiveness. We do that now. Forgive us our sins, Lord. Forgive the specific sins that we think of, that come to mind right now we give to you. Forgive us. Help us appreciate that we are as white as snow when we ask you to forgive us, in Jesus' name, Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Nov 17 8:18 AM

TOP 10: Competence at Work (Originally Published 8-4-2020)

Nov 17 8:18 AM

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Today I am talking about one of the greatest traits you can have as an employee: competence.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Proverbs 22:29

Today I am talking about one of the greatest traits you can have as an employee: competence. The person who has competence at work is the person who eagerly learns new skills, and they do their work with excellence. So first, they eagerly learn new skills. Some people say, "No, I'm not going to try that." I'll be honest with you, there are certain jobs I had where I didn't want to learn new skills. And guess what? That was not good for me. I just didn't want to do it, and it was wrong. We should be eagerly learning new skills, growing, and expanding. Then second, a competent person works with excellence. When they turn in their work it's thought out.One of the great things about Lakeshore staff is that I often ask them to do something, and then they come back to me with more. I say, "Can you do A?" And they come back saying, "Well, here's A, but I also found B, C, D and E." Guess what? I think they're very competent. And guess what? I also think, "How can I keep this employee? How can I give them a raise?" etc, etc, etc. We love when people are competent.

Where do I get all this from? Look at Proverbs 22:29. It says, "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings he will not serve before obscure men." That word "skilled" is the same as "competent" in the language I'm using here. What's the proverb saying? By the way, proverbs are not promises. There's a difference. A proverb says that this is generally how life works. So, when you are competent and you're skilled at what you do, the proverb is saying that you're going to rise up in the ranks. You're going to start working and showing your skills before higher order people, not the obscure. When you are good at what you do, growing at what you do, everybody wants to keep you. You'll be the last person laid off. When people aren't getting raises, or very few are getting raises, you'll get them. And when people are getting raises, you'll get some of the highest raises, if you work at a good place of employment, because people who are good at what they do are special.

Are you good at what you do? Are you growing in your job? Are you asking your boss to learn new skills, going to new training, trying new things, given assignments and coming back with even more? If you're a stay at home Mom, are you building into your kids? Are you growing new parenting skills? Are you learning new ways to build into your children? Are you learning new ways to get good your profession as a parent? No matter what you do, you're either getting better or worse. It's very difficult to maintain. People who maintain, because the world is getting more complex and more challenging, even when you maintain you're really going down because the world is advancing and growing. Make it a goal to grow in competence. Father, thank you so much for helping the people reading this have more competence in their work. Help us all to eagerly learn new skills and to deliver their work as an excellent example of you and your excellence. We thank you for this in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Nov 15 8:30 AM

TOP 10: To Ultimately Glorify God (Originally Published 7-10-2020)

Nov 15 8:30 AM

Monday, November 15, 2021

Why do people suffer? Today, we are looking at the ultimate reason why you suffer.

Monday, November 15, 2021

1 Peter 4:16

Why do people suffer? Why do you suffer? Let me give you thought five potential reasons any or all of these may be at work in any given time of suffering. I got this list from Chuck Swindoll. I got the list from him, but I'm amplifying it and building on it with my own thoughts and commentary. First, personally, to develop our faith, that comes from James 1:2-4. Second reason might be doctrinally, to expose error in our life in our belief system, if it exists, as First Corinthians 11:27-30. The third reason we may be suffering is vertically, to learn obedience, Hebrews 5:8. The fourth reason on why you may be suffering is horizontally, to cultivate and develop our humility. And that comes from 2 Corinthians 12:7.

Today, we are looking at the ultimate reason why you suffer. All are true, but this is the ultimate reason. Are you ready for it? The ultimate reason you suffer is to have an opportunity to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of Faith says this, "Man's chief end," meaning the chief purpose of human beings, "is to glorify God, and enjoy him forever." Sometimes one of the ways we can glorify God is in how we handle suffering. 1 Peter 4:16 tells us this in this very powerful verse. Peter says,"However, if you suffer as a Christian," as opposed to suffering for doing something silly and stupid, "if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear his name." Isn't that amazing? Praise God that you bear his name. The apostles were beaten in the book of Acts for talking about Jesus Christ. But they did not say, "Oh my gosh, I'm hurting. That hurt. I can't believe Jesus let me go through that," which was something you and I do sometimes. Instead, they left praising God that they were considered worthy by God to suffer for his name.

Sometimes you're going to suffer for his name. How does that happen? You go to work, you stand up for what's right, and you're mocked. You're suffering for his name. You're trying to be a witness in your neighborhood, you won't get drunk with your friends, and they ostracize you. You're suffering for his name. You tell somebody about Christ, and they reject you, your faith, and everything about you. You're suffering for his name. Or, sometimes you try to build into your kids and your kids have gone wayward. Don't give up your ground, because you're suffering for his name. I could go on and on. It is very, very possible that God wants to ground you in him more deeply by allowing you to suffer even for doing what's right. The first four reasons people suffer, developing your faith, exposing error in doctrine, disobedience and obedience, and humility are all growth areas. They're all things that are wrong that need improvement or correction. This last one is a reaffirmation of what is right. To glorify God, that is the goal of life. I want my life to glorify God, do you? Do you want everything you do to glorify God? Of course, we're never going to get there completely, but we're going to strive to get there aren't we? Sometimes when you want to live for Christ, the Bible says all who desire to live a godly life will suffer persecution. You cannot live a godly life and expect to not be criticized and mocked for it. Our world is turned upside down. Wrong is right and right is wrong. In terms of sexuality, wrong is right and right is wrong. In terms of morality, wrong is right and right is wrong. When it comes to honesty and so many other things, wrong is right and right is wrong. That's one of the signs of the end times, and we're certainly getting close.

I want to say this: if you're suffering because you're a Christian, glorify God. Say, "Thank You, Lord, that you chose me to be the one to suffer for your name." It's very, very hard to do. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we want to glorify you with our lives. Nobody here wants suffering. Nobody reading this wants to suffer, but we want all of these good things, especially this chief one: to glorify you in our lives. If suffering is what it takes, God, give us the grace to endure suffering and glorify you through it. Let us glorify you by standing up for the truth, glorify you by praising your name throughout (not like Job's friends), and to glorify you when we get through it, and we're a better person and can glorify you even better. Thank you for all of this. I pray that this helps those who read it, in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Nov 12 8:18 AM

Roller Coaster Called Life

Nov 12 8:18 AM

Friday, November 12, 2021

Roller coasters are amazing. However, the roller coaster of our lives isn't as fun as the physical roller coasters.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Philippians 4:11-113

Today, we're going to be talking about probably one of my favorite things: roller coasters. I love roller coasters so much that the first thing that I do when we go to Darien Lake or Seabreeze, is I run to the roller coaster. What I love about roller coasters is it has the ups, it has the downs, you go upsidedown, and you just exhilarating. It's exciting, it's fun, it has the loop-de-loops and everything. I mean, who doesn't love roller coasters? I know for some of you out there me just describing a roller coaster is already sending your anxiety through the roof, but trust me, roller coasters are amazing. However, the roller coaster of our lives isn't as fun as the physical roller coasters. Just like roller coasters, your life has ups, it has downs, it has loop-de-loops, and things don't always look the same way. Things aren't always good, and things aren't always bad. But it's not as fun, like I said, as a roller coaster is.

One person who knew this all too well was the Apostle Paul. Paul had a life that was filled with ups and downs, turns, loop-de-loops, and his life was like a roller coaster. One place we can see that is in Philippians 4:11-13. He tells us how we can get through this roller coaster called life. Starting in verse 11, he says, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." So, he's saying, "I've learned that in this roller coaster called life with its ups and with its downs, with its left turns and with its right turns, that in whatever situation, I need to be content. So in whatever he's going through, whether it's good or bad, I have learned what the secret is. The secret is, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

What Paul is saying here is that whatever it is that he went through, the good, the bad, the indifferent, all of it, he was able get through it because of Jesus. That's my encouragement to each and every one of you. It's the holiday season. Statistics show that the holiday season is probably the most depressing for people, because you have loss of family, friends that maybe have moved away, and family that have moved away. For a lot of people these bad memories come up around the holiday season. But it's a it's a time of joy as well. So I just encourage you, whatever you're feeling, whether it's a high or a low, whatever is going on in your life during this time, know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You don't do it alone. Not only does he walk with us, and he says he'll never leave us or forsake us, but he goes before us as well. So that's my encouragement to you, whatever you're going through, whatever situation you may be in today, just know that you can get through it with Jesus if you turn to Him.

By Pastor Antoine Evans

Nov 10 8:33 AM

Work of Art

Nov 10 8:33 AM

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

There were beautiful sculptures in there, beautiful pictures, photography, everything. And as I was looking at it and just admiring how beautiful all of this was, it reminded me that we are all considered masterpieces in God's eyes.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Ephesians 2:10

Today we're going to talk about art. I have a little story before we jump in. This past summer, we went to the Adirondacks, my family and I. It was amazing, except for one day, it was just downpouring rain, and we had absolutely nothing to do. So, we decided to go to an art museum. As we were walking around the art museum, I thought a couple things. First, I thought, "Man, I really hope my youngest doesn't bump into anything, because I definitely don't have enough money to pay for any of this art." The second thing I thought, though, was, "This is some beautiful art." There were beautiful sculptures in there, beautiful pictures, photography, everything. And as I was looking at it and just admiring how beautiful all of this was, it reminded me that we are all considered masterpieces in God's eyes.

So today, we're going to look at Ephesians 2:10. It says, "For we are His workmanship, or his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." The encouragement fro m here is that we are considered masterpieces in God's eyes. The world will tell you that you have to look this way, you have to do this, you have to do that, etc. if you want to be accepted, if you want to be considered beautiful, intelligent, athletic, or anything like that. The world says if you want to be accepted you have to be a certain way, but God tells us that we are his masterpieces, we are perfectly made in his eyes. There's nothing wrong with us. So, the encouragement right there is that you don't have to listen to the world when it says that you're not created perfectly, or that you're not put together the way that you should be. How you were created is how you were created. God did it with a purpose and with a plan, and he looks at you and he loves every part of you. So, just know that you are a masterpiece in his eyes. Just as a piece of artwork is loved and cherished by the artist, just as a sculpture is loved by the person who sculpted it, you are loved and cherished by the Creator that created you. So take that with you today and know that God loves you immensely.

By Pastor Antoine Evans

Nov 08 8:19 AM

God's Gift to Us

Nov 08 8:19 AM

Monday, November 8, 2021

Today we're talking about gifts. When I'm thinking about gifts, there's this perfect gift that we have that has been offered to each and every one of us.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Ephesians 2:8-9

Today we're talking about gifts. It's Christmas time, so we're all looking for the perfect gift. We go on Amazon, we go to Walmart, we go to Best Buy, we go to Target, and we're looking for this perfect gift for our loved ones and our friends. So we find this perfect gift, as we would think, and we give it to them. Then, a couple of weeks later, they don't use it. They use it for week one, they use it for week two, and then it just gets boring, it gets overused, and we never see them pick it up again. However, there's a perfect gift that we have. When I'm thinking about gifts, there's this perfect gift that we have that has been offered to each and every one of us. That's the gift of salvation.

Paul talks about this in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of work so that no one may boast." What Paul's saying here is that salvation, is a gift from God. What Jesus did for us on the cross is a gift from God. What's awesome about this is it says it's not of our own doing, we can't do anything to earn this gift. If we do something to earn it, then it's no longer a gift. So, that's the encouragement for today is that we don't have to do anything in order to get this this free gift of salvation that God has given to us. He has given it to us out of his love, out of his grace, out of his mercy for us, because he loves us just that much. As we go into this holiday season with Christmas right around the corner, I encourage each and every one of you not just to remember that the gift of God is free, and we don't have to do anything for it, but remember it's a gift that we can give to other people. So whoever you come into contact with, let them know what Jesus has done for them, so that they can also receive that free gift of God. So that's all I have for today. I hope you were encouraged. Until next time, make sure to love yourselves, love others, but most of all, love God. God bless.

By Pastor Antoine Evans

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

Oct 29 8:13 AM

Try a Little Kindness

Oct 29 8:13 AM

Friday, October 29, 2021

It's so easy to not be kind. I always remember back in the VHS tape days, I don't know if you remember VHS tapes. I still have some of them...

Friday, October 29, 2021

Galatians 5:22e

We have been looking at how to live with an attitude, not a negative attitude, but a biblical attitude. We're saying that we have a choice. Life is a choice - we have a choice between living for the Holy Spirit or living for our old self. The more we live for the Holy Spirit, the more we're living with a biblical attitude. The proof so we know we're living in the Holy Spirit is when we live out the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit, the expressions of the Holy Spirit. The less we live out these nine traits, the more we're living for our old self, that's the way we used to live befor we became a Christian, if in fact we are.

So today I want to talk to you about another fruit of the Spirit. So far, we've talked about the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, and patience. Today, I want to talk to you about the fifth fruit of the Spirit, which is kindness. Galatians 5:22e says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is... kindness." So, my title for this one is "Try a Little Kindness." It's so easy to not be kind. I always remember back in the VHS tape days, I don't know if you remember VHS tapes. I still have some of them, and those of you who know me really aren't surprised I still have some of them. But whenever you would go to Blockbuster (there's no such thing as Blockbuster anymore, but back when my kids were young you would rent videos from Blockbuster), the videos would always have a label on the outside that would say, "Please be kind and rewind." In other words, once you watch this movie, bring it back to the beginning so that when the next person gets it, they can have it rewound. I think sometimes that's the extent with which people will be kind, they just will rewind. I want to tell you that if you want to be kind, you have to put out effort to love people and to treat them charitably.

We need to be more kind. I forget who said it, but one of our presidents said, "I want us to be a kinder and gentler nation." I'm not sure our enemies would appreciate that, but if that met to each other, I would agree. If we can give kindness to people, I'll tell you what, people's spirits will be lifted up. A lot of people are unkind. If you drive down 390 around 7:45AM, you see that people can be unkind. If you go to the store for Black Friday sales and you want to buy something, people can be unkind. Sometimes in your neighborhood, everybody seems to have this one neighbor nobody likes, because he's so unkind. Here's the remedy. The remedy is not to say, "I will see your kindness and I'll raise it," like a little kind of parochial poker game. God wants us to show kindness. And the greatest proof of the Holy Spirit's presence in our life is when we show kindness in situations that might theoretically, in the world's eyes, justify unkindness. Your best opportunity to show the love of God is to be kind when someone is not kind to you.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath," Proverbs tells us. That is as opposed to an angry answer doesn't turn away wrath, but fuels it. That's what kindness is. Kindness is just saying, "no matter what, I'm going to treat you right." I was talking to somebody who was in the hospital, and they said the nurses treated them horribly. They had just got over covid and the nurse told her to flip over, and she says, "I can't flip." The nurse said, "I'm not coming back here again, etc." It was an unbelievable lack of kindness. One of our members (I'm so proud to call her one of our members), do you know what she did? She showed kindness to the nurse, and eventually the nurse was, I'd love to say perfectly nice, but the nurse was less mean. So here's what I want to say. Try a little kindness. All it costs you is a decision. Father, all of us could stand to be more kind, myself included. Help us to treat people with more kindness, so that we can show them your love and so that we can live in the fruit of the Spirit. We ask this In Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

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