Pastor Elliott's Blog - Calvary Bible Church

COME HOME

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 in Forgiveness, Luke, Repentance |

“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need. And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight …”
(Luke 15:14-18)

Come to your senses. Come home.
It’s not too late. Come home.

BACK IN THE DAY USEFUL TODAY

Posted on Jul 28, 2015 in 2 Corinthians, Ministry, The Past |

I sewed every patch on the shorts. Close to 40 years ago.

When I outgrew the shorts I passed them on to my younger sister. When she outgrew them she surprised me one Christmas. She had them framed as my Christmas gift that year!

I now display the shorts in my office as they remind me of happy bygone days and they start conversations with visitors to my office.

Because of God’s touch, your past can be a launching pad to your ministry to others.

“But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer …”
(2 Corinthians 1:6)

God has helped you out of your past so you can be in someone else’s future. To the glory of God!

OUR RELUCTANT LIFE GUARD

Posted on Jul 22, 2015 in 2 Corinthians, Salvation, Thanks |

Yankee Today Yankee went swimming with us at beautiful Cabbage Beach.

Yank got into the warm water but nowhere near as deep as Beth was swimming.

He so desperately wanted to swim out to her to keep her safe but he was way too scared.
So he did the next best thing (at least to him; a canine life guard!).

He incessantly offered his shrill bark.
I’m pretty sure in the bark language he was saying: “Hey, you … Master … Get in here where I can keep you safe!”

Jesus is our un-reluctant Life Guard. He waded into the very deep water to bring us to safety.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Thank your un-reluctant Life Guard / Saviour now.

SMALL SCREEN – SMALL LIFE

Posted on Jul 22, 2015 in Addiction, Matthew, Pornography, Selfishness |

Beth and I were at the beach today. The young woman beside us never spoke to anyone; never went in the water; she snapped many selfie’s, masterfully using her neon-colored selfie-stick; and she rarely looked away from her smart phone.

We largely have become a world of small screen-watchers.

At his Shepherds Pastors Conference, I heard John MacArthur observe that the screens of our electronic devices are getting smaller and smaller; and as they do so the risk of sin greatly increases.

He cited the sin of pornography and that is true. I would also add self-absorption, disregard for others, idolatry & addiction to the list of other possible sins easily bred by small-screened devices .

Jesus said that the second most important commandment of all involves paying attention to others.
“… You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matthew 22:39)

Work on a suntan that doesn’t reveal your electronic device.

THE SHEPHERD

Posted on Jul 22, 2015 in God's Care, God's Love, Psalms |

This shepherd is tenderly sheering the wool off of his sheep. And his sheep is not fighting him.

This sheering does not merely harvest wool for the market; it saves the sheep’s life. Too much wool can cause a sheep to flip onto its back and then be stuck in that position and eventually choke to death. Such a flipped over sheep is said to be downcast.

Jesus Christ is our loving & caring Good Shepherd.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Appreciate His care for you and don’t fight him!