Mondays Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

The Greek word for “self-control” comes from a word that literally means “strength” or “might.” Often, it is translated “dominion” or “to dominate.” Self-control simply put is when you dominate self rather than letting self dominate you. The simple way to do that is found in Galatians 5:25

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Self-control is not a work, but a walk. The way you control yourself is after you crucify it and then you take the “you” that is left and you surrender it to the Spirit of God.

Self cannot be controlled from without; it can only be controlled from within. Self-control is really Spirit control. The way to self-control is surrender to the Spirit’s control.

That really is the difference between being a Christ follower and a non-Christ follower. If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ self calls the shots. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ the Spirit calls the shots.

Mondays Daily Hope

You Can be Confident about Your Future

You Can Be Confident About Your Future
By Rick Warren

“I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b NLT, second edition).

Some day your body is going to die, but you aren’t! Your body is going to end, but that’s not going to be the end of you. You’re going to live forever in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. They’re both real places. Your body is going to die, but you’re not going to die, because you were made to last forever.

How long is forever going to last? Forever!

Why should Christians be the most confident about the future?

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord”(2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 NIV).

You’re not ready to live until you’re ready to die. You don’t know how to live until you’re ready to die. Only a fool would go through life totally unprepared for something that everybody knows is inevitable. 

You’re going to die someday. If you’ve accepted Christ, then you’re going to go to Heaven. You’ll be released from pain, from sorrow, from suffering, from depression, from fear. “He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good — tears gone, crying gone, pain gone — all the first order of things gone” (Revelation 21:4 MSG).

For Christians, death is a transfer, a promotion. It’s on to better things and no more problems. 

Talk It Over

• How is your confidence about the future reflected in your life?
• What do you think is the right way to grieve for a believer?
• Share with someone or your group about what you think Heaven will be like. What does the Bible say Heaven will be like?

Mondays Devotional

Labeled

Labeled
by John UpChurch, Crosswalk.com Contributor

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. Ephesians 5:29-30 

Early in their marriage, Kate* discovered her husband, Jim, had a pornography addiction. She confronted him about it; they prayed; and he promised to change. For several months, Jim seemed to be doing just that by throwing himself into his ministry position. Their marriage returned to normal.

But the façade soon collapsed. Kate began suspecting something when she discovered Jim had been to a questionable restaurant several times with some of the other members of the church staff. She searched his computer and found hundreds of porn sites in the browser history. She also came across personal items belonging to another woman in his car.

When confronted, Jim begged for forgiveness. Kate moved out but agreed to counseling—if Jim would be serious this time. But he wasn’t. He was late when he did show up for the counseling sessions. Mostly, he just didn’t come.

Kate filed for divorce—and picked up a label. Many members of the church where Jim worked couldn’t believe he would do anything. So, they blamed the divorce on Kate. They knew she had her eye on someone else for months. They knew why she really wanted a divorce.

And that label went with Kate. Thanks to the power of the Internet, the certainty of Kate’s actions spread to other friends and family members. Jim, for his part, did nothing to dissuade the rumors, and Kate refused to slander Jim to the church—even if he’d hurt her, even if it meant wearing the label.

Kate eventually moved back to her hometown, but even there, enough people knew her past to keep the stories and “certainties” churning. They knew who she was and what she’d done. Jim stepped down from the church staff, ostensibly because of the turmoil, but picked up his own label: poor, discarded husband.

Years later, Kate still wears her label. She remarried, but for many people, she’s still the woman who ran out on her husband, who didn’t fight hard enough, who really had ulterior motives for leaving him. Even after Jim left ministry and church altogether, the reason behind his apostasy fell at her feet. She’d been labeled, and that was enough.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Church can be a scary place because the process of living life together is messy. Husbands and wives cheat. Doubts bubble up. Irrational fears overcome. We’re joined together at our most vulnerable point: trust.

We’re all tempted to categorize events and people, especially when something goes wrong. Categorizing makes it all seem safer, so different from us. But the purpose of the church isn’t just for when things are going well; it’s for when things mess up. Once we categorize and label, we’ve made things seem tidier in our heads, but that tidiness rarely exists in real life.

For Kate, healing took years—all because those she trusted fit her neatly into the box where they wanted her to be. And for Jim, labeling meant he never dealt with his sin.

For Further Reading

John 8:1

*Names changed.

Mondays Verse of the Day

Good morning everyone, hope you have a Happy Monday and Great week ahead!

Thoughts for the Day

You've got to understand that the Bible is the only place where God's eternal non-negotiable truth for everyone everywhere has been deposited. If you take God out the picture and revealed truth out of the picture and the Bible out of the picture, morality, ethics, what is right and what is wrong - it's up for grabs. -- Pastor Merritt

My Opinions

My opinions. Why do we have to categorize everyone into a certain race. We should all get along by personalities, not by what race we are. Maybe even by what country we are from. Calling someone African-American that is black but was born and is from America, that doesn't make sense. So if you go by that logic shouldn't a white person be called European-American? I mean some of us, including me, were born here but my ancestors are not from America. The only ones that are truly Americans are the ones we use to call Indians and now they are Native Americans because of this politically correct stuff that is being pushed down our throats. Why are we not all just people? Americans, Africans, Mexicans, British, Irish, Russian, etc... If a person is from Africa then they are African right? If and only if they have dual citizenship then they can be called African-American, otherwise nope. 

Whats wrong with dating people, why do whites have to date white, black date black and so on? Isn't it people or human dating another human? We all started from the same place. The only reason we have different skin tones is because of the part of the world that we originated from way way way back in the day. To many parents still teach their children hate and it just continues on and on. It's never going to change unless people start making a change within themselves. I don't mean by violence either because that is not going to change anything. That will only make some scared and some angry. We have a problem in America because a lot of people STILL see the color of a persons skin instead of who the person really is. This needs to stop, otherwise we will be headed for another civil war, and I can say for sure this one will not have a good ending. Instead of hate; love should be the topic, they way to communicate. Stop the violence and sex in the music and other areas that kids are readily exposed to these days. Children need to be loved and nurtured, taught proper manners and given the best education they can get. I mean I know depending on where one grows up the education could be less than other places, yes that is a problem as well. I don't think anyone except God has the answer. He gave us directions on how to live. To bad we could not follow that and that we allowed Satan into our lives. Unfortunately, in order to make it to a place where nothing matters, we have to go against everything in this world and what it stands for.  Can you do that? It's very difficult to say the least but if you want eternal life. Its something we must do.

Explain Trinity to Children

How to Explain the Trinity to Children

• Russell Moore

Some time ago a journalist friend emailed to ask a question I think many Christian parents have asked. How does one explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to children?

I think the reason this question resonates with so many parents is precisely because we adults can’t adequately explain the doctrine ourselves. We can teach children the inerrancy of Scripture by simply saying, “The Bible Is True.” We can explain something of the atonement by saying, “Jesus paid for our sins and is alive forever.” The Trinity, though, is another matter.

I think much of our fear and stumbling here comes with a misunderstanding of what the Christian gospel is all about. Yes, Christianity is reasonable and intelligible (Carl Henry stands affirmed). But Christianity is not merely about reason and intelligence. The gospel points to a different kind of wisdom, one that silences human mouths (Isa. 55:8; Jer. 8:9; 1 Cor. 1:19-20).

God is one God, and God is three persons in an everlasting relationship with one another, a relationship into which we are invited. That’s not contradictory. God is not one in the same way he is three, or vice-versa. But who can reduce this to some sort of formula or easy analogy?

Sometimes we seek a quick analogy for children because we want to put our kids out of their mystery. If the Trinity is an easy explanation (it’s like a shamrock; it’s like water, ice, and steam), we can “move on.” We’re afraid if we say that the Trinity is in some ways beyond comprehension that our kids won’t trust us to tell them with confidence about the truth of the gospel.

But Jesus tells us there’s something about a child’s way of believing that ought to be true of all of us. We must, he tells us, become like them if we’re going to enter the kingdom of God at all. In one sense, it’s true, children are often hyper-literal. I remember thinking as a child that a “soul” was a little version of myself located in one of the chambers of my heart (and wearing a soldier’s uniform, for some reason).

But, in the more important ways, children are open to mystery and paradox in ways adults often aren’t. Children explore the world around them with a wide-eyed sense of wonder. They don’t comprehend it all, and they know they don’t comprehend it all.That’s the kind of blessed ignorance I believe Jesus commends. In order to believe, you must trust everything God has said to you, but you must also see him, not your own comprehension, as Lord. To see at all we must know that we “see through a glass darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12).

With that the case, we ought to boldly say to our children, “God is One and God is three. I can’t fully explain all of that because that’s how big and mysterious God and his ways are. Isn’t that wonderful?” When your child says, “That boggles my mind,” don’t respond with a worried handwringing but with a twinkle in your eye. “I know!” you say. “Me too! Isn’t that wild, and great!” That doesn’t end the conversation, of course. It only begins it. But we’ve got several trillion years and beyond to explore the depths of the Trinitarian reality. A start is what we need.

And learning of God’s oneness and threeness in terms of wonder and awe is a good place, I think, to start vaccinating our children from the kind of sterile rationalism, Christian or atheist, that can lead to a boring, despairing, tragically normal sort of life.

The Trinity

Why learning about the Trinity matters

Patrick Mabilog 

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Understanding the fullness of God is trying to fit a whole ocean into a glass of water -- it's next to impossible, but it's worth a shot. Some believers find it unnecessarily burdensome to have to try to understand God, but it is in pursuing the knowledge of Him that we grow more into understanding everything.

God's unfathomable nature is something we will never fully comprehend, but it's a task that we are to pursue nonetheless. Colossians 1:10 says that we must do this "...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."

Take for instance God's character as a triune being. Teachers and theologians have tried over and over to give a full account of God as being three and one at the same time. No one has even come close to scratching the surface. However, one cannot discount the fact that this deeper understanding of God does build us up so we may understand more through understanding our God.

When we know God as Yahweh, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and yet being one, we open ourselves up to more questions, yes. But in the process we find answers to vital questions that make the quest of understanding more than worthwhile. Here are just a few ways understanding the trinity helps us walk in our lives.

The trinity maps out God's definition of unity

God is a God of unity, and we see this best in His personality. We understand that God exists as three separate beings -- God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- but at the same time as one. This is the fullness of the unity that God desires for us as people, communities, churches and organizations as well.

It's like having five basketball players, but one team. God is the perfect basketball team that we must strive to be as a body. As God's church, we are to chase after God's unity with Himself in order to experience the fullness of fellowship.

We understand God the Father's heart

As we meet God as the Father, we grow to see God as being a loving Father and realize that we are more than just His creations. We are His children. As we come to understand God's identity as a Father, we come to understand our identities as sons and daughters of God.

We grow into the person of Jesus Christ

The goal of life now is to grasp the fullness we now have through the person of Jesus Christ. God the Son is the mold that we are all to strive to follow and also the motivation and enabling power to be able to do so. Through the Son we are forgiven and set free because Jesus is the epitome of compassion and love for all mankind.

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit

If God the Father is the head and Jesus is the Heart, the Holy Spirit is God's person of action. We are filled, empowered, enabled, comforted, healed and restored through the work of the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit is a testimony that God does take delight in participating in our daily lives. When we understand this, we realize that we are never alone, but that God delights in taking part and being a Counselor to us at all times.

Thoughts for the Day

On my desk in my office I have a quote. I read it every day. It's a quote from Dwight L. Moody and here's what he said. He said, "if you will take care of your character, God will take care of your reputation." Be faithful to who you are. Be focused on where you're going. Stay firm in what you believe. - Pastor Merritt

Factory Reset Your PS4

How to Factory Reset Your PlayStation 4

If you plan on selling your PlayStation 4, here’s how to reset it by deactivating your PSN account and deleting all of the files on the console to put it back into factory condition.

There are only a couple of things you need to do in order to completely wipe your PlayStation 4. You first need to deactivate your PSN account from the console so that the new owner can login using his own account, and then you’ll need to completely wipe everything off the hard drive, which will put the software back into a state just like it was when you first pulled the PS4 out of the box for the first time.

Step One: Deactivate Your PSN Account

Deactivating your PSN account from your PS4 won’t completely delete your PSN account–it’ll just disassociate your account with that specific PS4. It’s sort of similar to turning off Find My iPhone and signing out of iCloud on an iPhone that you’re selling.

From the main screen on your PS4, hit “Up” on the controller and you’ll see your latest notifications.



Hit “Right” on your controller until you get to “Settings”. Select it.



Scroll down and select “PlayStation Network/Account Management”.



Select “Activate as Your Primary PS4”.



On the next screen, “Deactivate” might be grayed out, which technically means your account is already deactivated, but just to make absolutely sure that is, you can activate it and then deactivate. There have been many stories where sellers think they deactivated their account, but the new owner couldn’t log in because the seller’s account was still on there, so double-check this by selecting “Activate” on this screen.



Click “OK” when it’s done.



Select “Activate as Your Primary PS4” again.



Choose “Deactivate”.



On the next screen, select “Yes” to confirm this action.



Click “OK” when it’s done.



The PS4 will restart, so you’ll need to press the PS button on the controller to get back to the main menu.



After that, select your user account (which is different than a PSN account).



From there, you’ll be brought back to the main menu.

Step Two: Wipe Your PS4

Now that your PSN account is deactivated on your PS4, you can completely erase the console, which will delete everything from it and put it back into factory condition.

From the main menu on your PS4, hit “Up” on the controller and you’ll see your latest notifications.



Hit “Right” on your controller until you get to “Settings”. Select it.



Scroll all the way down and select “Initialization”.



Select “Initialize PS4”.



You’ll have two options: “Quick” or “Full”. A Quick initialization is just that–it quickly wipes all of the data, but not very securely. So someone with specialized software could recover any of that data.



A Full initialization wipes all of the data securely and prevents anyone else from recovering the data. This process can take several hours, though. It’s best to choose the Full initialization.



Once you choose one, select “Initialize” to confirm the action.



Then, hit “Yes” on the next screen to confirm again.



Your PS4 will reboot and the process will begin. Again, this will take at least a couple of hours, even if it says there’s less time remaining at the beginning.



After it’s complete, the setup guide will show up on the screen, where it asks you to connect your PS4 controller to the console using a USB cable.



At this point, you can turn off the console by pressing the power button on the PS4 unit until it beeps. From there, unplug it, pack it up, and prepare it for selling.

By How to Geek

The Best Sex

The Best Sex

• Kenny LuckFounder, Every Man Ministries

Got your attention? Studies estimate men think about sex from 20 times a day to every seven seconds. The media uses sex to promote, tempt and ultimately sell stuff making it hard for men to avoid sexual imagery. Culture has made sex a tool, as well as a right for all men regardless of character, emotional maturity, or relational capacity.

Clearly, sex is on our minds and a modern obsession, but out of context it is possibly the biggest cause for the degradation of human society. Key word? Context.

So let’s address it: How can we have the best sex?

Get married.

Sex is good, really good, when a man and woman enjoy God’s context for human sexuality. Throughout the Bible, we see sex between a married couple as a divine intention for holiness, happiness and faithfulness. Sex is a gift from God, a source of pleasure (Song 1:2), shared intimacy (Song 2:3), comfort and companionship (Song 3:1) procreation (Genesis 1:28) and a way to glorify God and bless your spouse. The promise of sexual satisfaction is to draw us into the marital covenant to share the joy of physical bond (Prov. 5:18-19), and becoming one flesh (Gen. 2:24).

SEE ALSO: A Vacation from Temptation

However, sex outside of marriage is akin to Biblical anarchy. Rejecting the authority of the Bible on issues of sexuality rejects the authority of the Creator to determine what is right and wrong, natural and unnatural, allowed and forbidden (Romans 1:19-25). Unfortunately, trying to enjoy sexual happiness without holiness leads to all kinds of problems, and a plethora of consequences and pain.

For those single men in our community reading this, hang tough because sex is worth the wait, and not worth the trouble. The Bible empathizes with you and equips you, knowing sexual temptation is rampant and it’s passion is difficult to avoid (I Corinthians 7:2, 7:9).

Get the right motive.

Amazing sex is the bonus which comes out of having a trusting, loving, caring, open and honest relationship with your wife. Sex should not be a quid quo pro type of ploy where you try to earn it by doing something for your wife (Prov. 21:2). Keeping a ledger or deeds in exchange for sex won’t work. That’s manipulation. So, don’t fix the gutters so you can lay some pipe.

SEE ALSO: The Five Keys Men must use as Intentional Leaders

Your motive should be to honor God, with a mutually submitted relationship that’s under control (I Cor. 6:13, 18-20, I Cor. 7:3-5, 1 Thess. 4:4).

Get a Ph.D. on your wife.

Pay attention, listen between the lines, and learn about her desires, preferences and longings. Men tend to default to visual stimulation and affectionate touch. But that’s not typically the case for women. She wants to know you are thinking about her, knowing her thoughts and needs. She wants to feel special, cherished and admired. Read the Songs of Solomon, and you will see a relationship on fire, words that reflect desire, honor and respect.

If you don’t know your wife’s “love languages,” you may be missing the boat altogether. Take time to find out what triggers her heart beat: Is it quality time together. Surprise gifts? Affectionate touch? Affirming words? Acts of service?

SEE ALSO: Fatherhood: Man's Highest Calling

You may even want to take a deeper dive into learning her personality traits. Author David Keirsey wrote “Please Understand Me II”. In his book, he helps unravel the famous “Myers-Briggs” personality test and gives excellent insight into your wife.

Make learning about your wife a life-long adventure, and you will keep the fire burning.

Get humble.

As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, turn the focus off you, and onto your wife. Find ways to show her respect, and romance. Here are a few practical things you can do:

SEE ALSO: Which Sounds Better To You: Heaven or Hell?

• Allow her time to rest (so you can keep her up late).
• Honor date nights so you both can step away from day-to-day life.
• Use your words. Remind her of what you love about her in written notes, texts, voicemails and cards.
• Afford a babysitter or share babysitting duties with other couples so you can make time home alone.
• Be sentimental, re-enacting events of what you did “when it all started.”
• Be the spiritual leader in the household. Put an asterisk next to this one! Women love to feel comforted, safe, and protected and they love men of God.
• Be an encourager. Remind her of her unique strengths, abilities and talents that can be used to accomplish great things.
• Be chivalrous. It’s not dead. Being polite and having manners show respect, and honors her femininity.

Most importantly, to keep the fire in your marital sex life, you need to keep the fire in your relationship with God. That may sound weird, but in order for you to love, you need to feel loved. And God is the best source
.

Cheating if...

Is it cheating if... 11 Bible verses explaining God's definition of adultery

Alannah Francis

     

Infidelity is one of the most common causes of marriage breakdowns. The act of adultery doesn't just demonstrate a lack of commitment but a betrayal of the vows that husband and wife agreed to uphold throughout their marriage.

In the Old Testament, God deemed adultery a sin punishable by death. In our society, the consequences of infidelity aren't that severe, but cheating on a spouse can ruin marital relationships, family bonds and friendships. And it's damaging effects aren't limited to the innocent parties, those committing adultery suffer its ramifications too.

Despite the apparent ubiquitous nature of cheating on a partner, it remains one of the acts which Christians and non-Christians alike regard as morally wrong. However, when most people think about adultery their minds turn to acts of physical intimacy but can unfaithfulness extend beyond this? Here's what the Bible has to say about it:

It's about more than actions

Matthew 5:8 - "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Luke 11:34-35 - Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

It's not just harmful to those who it's committed against

Proverbs 6:32 - But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

Matthew 5:32 - But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

It's something God explicitly commands us not to do

Exodus 20:14 - "You shall not commit adultery."

Colossians 3:9 - Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

It demonstrates a prioritisation of earthly, individual desires over acts that lead to God

Romans 13:14 - Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

It can be forgiven

John 8:10-11 - Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Sundays Inspiration

Morning Inspiration with Pastor Merritt

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 1:1)

It was Mexico City 1968. John Steven Akhwari of Tanzania had started the Olympic marathon with all the other runners hours before, but he finished it alone. When he finally arrived at the stadium there were only a few spectators remaining in the stands. The winner of the marathon had crossed the finish line over an hour earlier.

It was getting dark; his right leg was bandaged and heavily bleeding. He was obviously in great pain, but he crossed the finish line suffering from fatigue, leg cramps, dehydration and disorientation. A reporter asked him why he didn’t just quit. He thought for a moment and said, “My country did not send me here to start the race; my country sent me here to finish it.”

If you are a Christian you are in a race this passage in Hebrews 12 refers to running a race. The word for “race” is the Greek word “agon” from which we get the English word “agony”. The Christian life calls for the discipline of an athlete, the endurance of a marathon runner, and the determination of a champion.

You see, the way you win the race is not by focusing on the finish line, because we don’t know where the finish line is. The way you run and the way you win is by focusing on Jesus.

Salvation is not a reward you get at the end of the race. Salvation is the gift that puts you into the race. I encourage you, today, if you’re not in the race give your life to Jesus. He’s got the shoes and the uniform waiting for you. If you are in race, run it for the glory of God, keeping your eyes on Jesus who will make you a winner.

Sundays Devotional

The Best is Yet to Come 

The Best Is Yet to Come
By Rick Warren

“I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b NLT, second edition).

When Kind David says, “I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b NLT, second edition), he’s saying that God has prepared a place for him in Heaven.

That’s one of the most important connections we see in the Bible. It connects yesterday with today and then connects them both with tomorrow. 

God says, “I’ve got this great life planned for you, and goodness and mercy will follow you through it. But that’s not the end! I’ve got something else in store for you!” God builds it to a crescendo. 

So David ends his Psalm by saying, “We’re going to Heaven!” God saves the best until last. With him, it just keeps getting better and better.

You can live with the assurance of this promise: The best is yet to come.

“We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands”(2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV).

Talk It Over

• How does an eternal perspective change the way you live your life?
• Who in your life needs to hear about God’s offer of an eternal home in Heaven? What will you do about it?
• What kind of place do you think God has prepared for you?

Sunday Verse of the Day

Amen...Good morning everyone. So good to be back home and thankful for this beautiful day the Lord has made. Have a wonderful day everyone.