Spot Light

If what Shakespeare said is true, "All the world is a stage..." then what would be different in the world today if we focused our spot light on other people instead of shining it on ourselves? What would happen in our lives if we made our focus more about others and less about ourselves?

The temptation to focus on self instead of others is probably the greatest temptation believers face today.

It's true temptation can come in many different forms. The things that tempt you may not necessarily tempt me, but there is one principle that all temptation seems to share When it comes to sin and temptation - it's all about me. The spot light goes from being focused on others to being inwardly focused. It becomes all about me, what I want, what I need, what I think.

Temptation leads us to believe that life is all about us.

We must shine our spot light on others, submit ourselves to God, resist every temptation with the Word as Jesus did. When we do that, “ the devil will flee from us.”

Take courage...he himself suffered when he was tempted and his able to help those of us being tempted. You WILL be able to stand up under it.

Want less. Serve more.

Right thinking,

Pastor Steve

Parable of the Persistent Widow

Does God seem to respond to your prayers with silence?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is a parable about how to handle what seems like “no response.” The woman in the parable represents all of us. She was a Jewish widow seeking justice from an unethical Gentile judge.

She didn't have a voice in his courtroom, but the heathen judge began to look upon her with favor because of her persistence. Jesus said to his disciples that if this judge would eventually rule in the widow's favor then how much more would God defend and answer His children.

Jesus taught this parable to teach us that we should always pray and not give up. That we should be PERSISTENT.

The easiest thing I know to do is quit praying.

When we are tempted to stop praying, that's when we need to remember God cares about us, God is listening to every word we pray and God is working on our behalf.

What happens during the silence will determine if Jesus finds faith in us.

When God seems silent that's when our faith should be cultivated by remembering we are children of the King, seated at the great Banquet Table, and we can expect great things from our Father in this life! Don't stop praying, don't stop believing.

Will God find faith in Bixby? Will God find faith at BCC?

Will God find faith in me?

Right Thinking,

Pastor Steve