Monthly Archives: October 2021

WORSHIP – Overcoming DISCONTENT

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 

No one wants to be unhappy or unsatisfied in life. I would suspect that many of us plan and try to avoid situations that can be unfruitful. However, discovering what the future may hold escapes every man without divine guidance. Yet, time and time again, we set ourselves up for disappointment by pursuing happiness in temporal places and things. We can grow anxious in our living when our plans and earthly help become inconsistent. Maybe the promotion didn’t come, the move couldn’t happen, or the vacation must be delayed. In times like these, the word of God both reminds and charges us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Phil 4:6-7). When our wounded heart and busy mind start to work against us, lifting our heart and mind in prayer makes more room for the filling of God’s peaceful presence. Are you looking for peace of mind in your circumstances? We must look to the hills from where our help comes knowing that all our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  

Paul didn’t let his disappointment in how others responded to his needs grow into discouragement. We must also be confident in the faithfulness of God and His call on our lives. He is what makes what needs to happen come to pass (Phil 1:6)! Yes, the people in our lives are required and can be involved, but as must as God moves their hearts. We must be careful that our fellowship in the body of Christ doesn’t degrade into worldly transactional relationships. People are not disposable! All people should be treated with dignity and respect. Every relationship we have has value. Maybe some relationships are designed to be more distant, but in Christ, we are the family of God. My heart aches when I witness fractured and broken relationships. 

Especially when people are not where we may want them to be for us. How we serve and give of ourselves must flow from the gratitude of our worshiping heart for our God and Savior. When our service or level of service is contingent on others’ actions, we have forgotten whom we are serving. When we first planted New Victory some Sundays, my family were the only worshippers present, but that didn’t release me from my calling to preach the gospel. I had to remind myself the most important presence on any given Sunday is Jesus! So, whether the pews are empty or full, I will preach the gospel with all the power the Holy Spirit guides and convicts me. God gave us everything in Christ Jesus, and this is why we can give of ourselves like we do. He has made us givers, but we must never forget that it is more blessed to give than receive (Luke 6:38). Has disappointment impacted your worship? Are you still a giver of your time, talent, and treasure?

I have to confess that it is not easy to keep pressing forward when you seem to be traveling this faith journey alone. I shared Sunday that God will let you know that He is all you need with you to accomplish what he called you to do. In 1996, we started a technology company with a few clients. I was working full-time during the day at an engineering firm and growing the business at night. We were adding a new client per month, and we needed office space, but we could not afford the lease requirements in the areas. One day one of our clients found out we were looking for space. He called me for a meeting and graciously offered us office space in their building he was not using. It was already finished and had its own entrance. He stated that he wanted to have us close by in need of an emergency. Nobody but God can move people’s hearts to do gracious things for others. We can labor and toil from sun up to sun down and still have no satisfaction, but Jesus says, come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28). Our sufficiency must be in God and him alone, then we can press forward with little or much. We can be satisfied no matter where we are, what we have, or who we are. We will never have to worry about the future when we seek the kingdom and Christ’s righteousness first place in our lives. 

Finding satisfaction in life is one thing, but keeping satisfaction is another. I used to run track, and both coach Ward and Brown used to say on the night before a race, remember to eat your carbs. Most of us let our parents know, and we usually had spaghetti or some pasta dinner. The benefit of all the hours of specialized practice could not be realized if we did not balance our physical labors with the proper diet. Our track team won most of our meets and the championship each year. When we realize that God has met our needs, that’s contentment, but being ready for what may come after is called competence. Being ready no matter the circumstances we find ourselves is we have been given the help and enablement of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to get what we want, but we can be satisfied wanting what we get.

Father, thank you for your faithful provision in and for our lives. Our contentment and competence are found in Christ and the power of your Holy presence. You promised never to leave nor forsake us. Thank you for being faithful to your promise. Help us trust you most of all and rest in your great provision to sustain and strengthen us so that we are ready for anything with Christ Jesus our Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Because He lives,

Pastor Reggie Sheppard

WORSHIP – Overcoming FUTILITY

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But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 3:20 

Have you ever been homesick? To be somewhere other than the place that is safe, loving, and strengthening. To miss being around loved ones you have been sharing life. I joined the military in 1985 and boot camp at Fort Jackson, SC. I was excited and looked forward to the new challenges. Yet, even with all the new experiences, people, and loud drill instructors, there were moments my heart and mind would wander home. It was interesting that no matter how noisy, chaotic, demanding, or wonderful things became at Fort Jackson, the home still had my heart. At times things seemed pointless, and there were days I felt like I was just going through the motions to complete this assignment. The fact of the matter is that there are things that have value to us temporarily and eternally. However, the eternally valuable things will guide our hearts and minds through the foggy days of life. Are you losing sight of your direction in life? It happens to all of us young and seasoned, but thanks be to God who has not left us without help.

God has made us dreamers and to have a vision for our lives. Paul encourages us to keep the heavenly vision and press toward the goal so that we receive the reward of the called of God. Yet daily, we are bombarded with tasks and toils. The to-do list continues to demand our attention at home, work, and the church. Some tasks left undone limit our and others functionality and progress. Some tasks are pressed upon and seem to have no value to us but everything to someone else. Busyness is normal pre-pandemic and, in a pandemic, but in the pandemic, there was pushback. Why? The pandemic exposed the futility and emptiness in many things that had become a priority in our lives. The people in our lives matter more than our things and titles. Somehow, we lost our way, but our loving God sends us an opportunity to reset. Ok, I get it; everyone does not see this opportunity, but they are still trying to turn back the clock. However, the divine reset is not to go back but to reset our thinking and priorities to move forward in the world as it is now. We all need to have people in our lives going in the same direction we are who can be signs for us along the way; we are still on the strait and narrow path. Therefore, Paul says, follow me as I follow Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). In times of uncertainty and charge, our direction must not be detoured by signs along the way that are not for our destination. Look around and be honest; who are those in your life going in the same direction toward your destiny with Christ Jesus?

It amazes me how persons can take advice from anyone who is offering it and let the chips fall where they may. The voices that speak into our lives must be authenticated and supported by the living word of God. When we follow the worldly crowd instead of Christ, we can expect smoke and mirrors. You can expect distractions disguised as opportunities with lies and illusions of the truth (Phil 3:18-19). The bad influences will put physical desires over the interest of others, praise themselves, and their hearts and minds depend on earthly things. Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned against the entanglements of the National Socialist regime of Germany and the Confessing Church. The Nazi party rose to power surprisingly with supporters who claimed to be followers of Christ. Bonhoeffer said, “when the Bible speaks of following Jesus, it is proclaiming a discipleship which will liberate mankind from all man-made dogmas, from every burden and oppression, from every anxiety and torture which afflicts the conscience.” Programs and policies are to serve the people and not the opposite. Following the bad influence can lead to unnecessary detours, delays, and destruction of meaningful relationships. Can you recognize the difference between an opportunity or a distraction?  

Our hope is exposed over and over when we find ourselves in places of unfamiliarity or instability. We find ourselves looking for someone or something to hold on to gain our footing. Many of us struggle with a state of chronic double-mindedness, hoping in whatever is served up to us. We hope in the new job, hope in the new president, hope in the new relationship and hope on Sunday we hope in Christ Jesus. We shift hope so much; no wonder we see so much instability in our own lives and those we love. James warns us that a double-minded person is unstable in all our ways (James 1:7-8). We must have the right and clear goal of glory! Glory is our direction and destination in and with Christ Jesus. When our minds are single in this, we can then press toward the goal with all might and spiritual vigor representing our eternal home on the earth.

Father, thank you for providing the source of our strength and the source of our hope in Christ Jesus. Our sufficiency is in Christ and him alone in whom there is no greater hope. Help us to stay on the narrow path with all who are following Christ. Guard our hearts and minds against distractions that lead to destruction. Empower and strengthen us by your resurrection power and presence to press toward our eternal destiny with you forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Because He lives,

Pastor Reggie Sheppard