Sunday afterthought 2.28.10

Here are my Sunday afterthoughts:

*Having many things to do can wear you out, but God's love should never wear you out.
*Having a church family means alot, but I appreciate it much when you see them in action with you.
*We learned that being a Christ follower means nothing without love!
*When people are hurting, we need to help. Be in help mode.
*My grandma's memorial service was done well with songs, bible verses and prayer.
*My grandma sought to bring many to the church, when God called her home and the service was done, there was at least 300 People at Trinity Cristo Del Rey!
*Losing a loved one is tough, but our memories will never fade.
*I will see my grandma again one day, will you see me or her?

Give...Give...Give - Acts 4

I have not been able to update my blog until today. My grandma just passed away yesterday and since that time, I have been thinking about the times I have had with her.

What I remember most is that my grandma was a giver. Every Christmas she always gave us grandkids gifts. Same gift for all the boys and same gift for all the girls. It didn't matter how many grandkids or great grandkids or step grandkids...she always gave.

She modeled the principle we find in Acts 4:32.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possession was his own, but they shared everthing they had.

My grandma was a giver. She gived, because she believed in every word in the Bible. She believed in living a life full of God. She was dedicated and if you saw her, she might ask you if you want something to eat. She would greet you and love you.
WHY? Because that is how God greets us. That is how Jesus would greet us. He would give and love you. Remember to live for God is to be a giver. How is your giving? Are you sharing what you have?

Sunday afterthoughts 2.21.10

Inspired by Perry Noble, I am posting my Sunday afterthoughts:

• Prayer is a tool that we forget to use. Don't use in case of emergency, use all the time.
• We had good attendance, but God still wants more people in his church.
• I preached for 15 minutes, yet God used it in so many ways.
• I am glad I can be open and honest in the church, after all isn't that the way we should be?
• Having church dinners is what makes me a Baptist! LOL!
• Glad to see that creativity still exists in the church!
• Paul did so much more than teach people, he actually reached people even if they weren't saved. Acts 28:1-10
• I learned that I love my neighbor, but I really need to learn to love my spouse before my neighbor.
• God's love is immearsurable and incomprehensible. So why do we seek to understand it? Because love comes from God.

Peter is on a roll... - Acts 3

Welcome back! I love those Energizer bunny commercials. That bunny has so much power that he continues to keep going and going and going. It seems that he is just on a roll.

As we continue to journey through the book of Acts and one thing is for certain Peter is full of power! He just preached his first message (he didn't even use a concordance) and now he continues to carry on the message of the cross.

I want to focus on one verse to express a thought to you and those around you. It is in the story of an encounter with a crippled beggar. The story goes that Peter and John (for some reason we see people in groups of twos, but I digress...) went to the temple to pray. They encounter a man who was crippled from birth who was set in front of the temple courts (a sort of main entrance) for the purpose of begging for money. In fact, this beggar looked specifically at Peter and John and asked them (as he probably did everyone), "Can you spare some change?". He probably was expecting to be ignored, after all no Jew would even want to be near someone who had a physical disability for fear of being "contaminated". Instead he got a different response. They said, "Look at us!" They wanted to make sure he was not distracted, but he was probably expecting some BLING BLING, $$$$$, M-O-N-E-Y! Then Peter said he had something better to give him and it would be done in the name of Jesus.

So in Acts 3:7 this is what Peter did, "Taking him (the beggar) by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong." Here is my one thought (believe me there are thousand more in this story). Peter touched and helped this man. Peter, a Jew, was actually touching him. It was probably one of the rare opportunities that this beggar had from another human being. This was a big "no no" for Peter. All other Jews like Peter probably never even considered touching, speaking, or looking at this man. He was probably the most neglected man both emotionally, physically and spiritually. Peter was on a roll of spreading the Message!

Here is my question for you. Is there some relationship you are
neglecting? Is there some issue or attitude you are neglecting?

Wouldn't a touch from Jesus help you to be on a roll of living a life for Him?

I am going now. I need to touch someone right now.

Sunday afterthoughts. 02.14.10

Inspired by Perry Noble, I am posting my Sunday after thoughts:

• People need to be real 24/7 and we must live for Christ 24/7.
• I love my Boomers class, they teach me alot about myself and the world around me.
• Guest speakerers are not only a good break for pastors, but also a good lesson for pastors.
• It is hard to love when you face trials and the unexpected happens, but we must continue to love.
• Shopping teaches you alot about the community around you. Who they are and what they need?
• When we can live like Jesus, then we are perfect....until then I will continue to strive to be like Him.
• My heart breaks when I see so many people lost, and so little people showing people how they can be found.
• We all make mistakes and we need to learn, live, and be accountable for them.
• Love will conquer all things....Yes....I need to learn to love like Jesus did.
• John 3:16 says how much God loves us, how much do we love God?

In His Love,

Pastor Waldo