1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” NKJV

Life Lesson: When we come together, we create problems. When we work together to solve them, we become stronger people and stronger in the Lord.

This is true in marriage, family, workplace and church. We all have some kind of problem in the realm of our relationships. Maybe you went into a relationship thinking that you were 100% in agreement about everything. I’m sure that bubble was quickly burst. It’s rare to have absolute agreement between two people much less between hundreds or even thousands.

When you work through differences, you build a stronger relationship. Many times, when a marriage hits a rough patch, there is a freshening of the relationship. It’s like hitting the reset button on a game console – suddenly things are working again.

Disagreements can also be distractions, especially within the church. How do you keep a church from reaching others with the gospel of Jesus Christ? You create division among the members. How many churches has Satan rendered ineffective because he was able to generate dissention? Christians easy prey when the trap is baited with prideful prejudice over unimportant matters. Division hurts Jesus and the cause of Christ.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for forgiving me. Help me not to be argumentative. Lord, I want to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Give me the wisdom and discernment to recognize division and live a life reaching out to others in unity. Thank You for Your glorious salvation and a life forever changed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 14:3-7 “Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters. And these are the names of his children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Live out your faith at home.

David, while an incredible man of God, was not the father he should have been. In several places in scripture, we see where he did not discipline his kids the way he should have. Additionally, the fact that he took many wives, in violation of God’s command (Deuteronomy 17:14-17), shows that what he lived out in public he may have skimped on in his own home. God blessed David in spite of multiple marriages, but he had many problems because of it.

This is not only true for David, but probably true in so many ways for each and every one of us. It’s quite easy to cover up for deficiencies at work or with friends, but deficiencies are often very evident in family life. Don’t believe me? Ask your wife.

Being the Spiritual Leader of your home means more than issuing orders and doling out discipline. It also means being the first to repent and apologize when you get things wrong or lose your temper. That’s not easy to do. Your family is learning from you. To little eyes, the things you do or don’t do speak just as loudly as the things you say. Show your family a life submitted and poured out to God and they will follow in the path you blaze.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. I am so grateful that You care to help me when I call on You in the midst’s of my battles. Please help me not to pretend that all is O.K. to everyone else. You see my brokenness, my sin and my shame. Lord, I am running to You right now. I have been so beat up lately. Lord, I want to be real and honest .I want to demonstrate true spiritual leadership in my home and in the workplace. Please be strong in my life. Restore my brokenness and help me develop a dependence on You, Lord. Empower me to live my life demonstrating Your love to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Jesus is coming soon.

There are a lot of people who want to tell you about how to be a Christian. Bookstores are replete with how-to books, iTunes is full of podcasts and television is brimming with programs. It’s enough to make one think that being a Christian is something really complicated. Friend, don’t be distracted by instructions and manuals. Put away the books and open your Bible. Close your eyes, and talk to God. Open your ears to God and not to your iPod. Allow Him to lead your heart. Christianity is not about rituals or traditions. It’s about Jesus. Don’t let the world take the place of Jesus in your life, and if you do, take comfort because He remains faithful. He starts the good work in you, and He completes it. Not you, Him.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.” TLB

You cannot be secure in yourself. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your salvation is a gift. It’s a gift God places in you that produces works demonstrating whose child you are. You had nothing to do with it, but Jesus…He had everything to do with it. You are secure in Christ and that’s important because Jesus is soon coming. Live for God. Do all you can to know Him and follow Him, then trust Him with everything.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins and being a keeping God. Please change me from the inside out. I trust that You will complete a good work in me. As I look at today’s events, I see Your coming is drawing near and I am comforted. But Lord, when I look around me, there are so many who don’t yet know You. Lord, challenge me to get serious and see that no one is left behind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

Acts 6:1 “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” KJV

Life Lesson: Leave your ME at the door.

Last night, Pastor Shawn talked about “God’s Model for the Church” which led into Pastor Nick sharing about “The Supremacy of Love.” It was a great combination because when the church operates according to God’s model instead of according to man’s model, love indeed becomes supreme in the church.

In Acts chapter 6, we see an interesting transaction between the Apostles and some disciples regarding a situation in the early church. The gist of the situation was that the Greek widows felt discriminated against and that special favor was being shown to the Jewish widows. The Apostles realized that they could not continue in the calling the Lord had given them and take care of the minutia of church affairs. The answer was to allow faithful men who had demonstrated their heart for God and love for others to be servant leaders over the people. But, what brought this situation to a head? People focused on themselves.

Many problems that creep up in the church are the result of our focus getting off God and being placed on self. When that happens, things get out of kilter in our following Jesus. We cannot follow Jesus and be focused on self. This is true individually, but also on a church wide basis. An inward focused church is a selfish church. To follow Jesus we must be focused on Jesus. When that happens, it’s like a dam breaks allowing incredible works of love to flow unhindered in our lives. That, my friend, is God’s model for the church, loving God and loving others.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. It was Your great love for me that kept you on the cross. In thought of that, I am humble. I admit, many times, I take my eyes off of You and focus on situations and circumstance around me. Give me the strength to draw my focus back to You. Empower me with a passion to share my love others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 1:3 “that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,” NKJV

Life Lesson: God has blessed you, give Him thanks and praise.

There’s a story of a young man, just out of High School, who approached his father about a graduation gift. “Dad,” he said while pointing to a car in a magazine, “This car is what I want. It would be the best graduation gift you can give me.” The father looked at his son, gave him a hug and took the magazine and put it on his desk. A few weeks later, father and son met together at a favorite restaurant. Dad said, “My boy, I’m proud of you. I’ve got something for you and it’s the best present I could ever give you.” The son could hardly stop from grinning because he just knew his dad was going to pull out a set of keys. Instead, his father placed an old, worn Bible on the table. “Son, this is my Bible. It’s meant everything to me and I know it will to you as well. I want you to have it.” His son looked at the Bible, visibly disappointed. He took his eyes off his father, shook his head and left the restaurant, leaving his father and the Bible behind. Years passed with no communication between the two. Then one day, word came that his father had passed away. The son returned to his father’s home to settle the estate. As he looked through his father’s desk, he noticed the Bible sitting in its own spot beside a picture of him and his father in happier times. He picked the Bible up and as he did, a piece of paper fell to the ground. Looking closer, he realized it was a dealer’s check for the car he had wanted. It had been tucked inside the Bible that his father wanted to give him so many years ago.

Friend, you and I are so blessed, and the crazy thing is we usually don’t even notice it. We are just like the son in this story who didn’t realize the blessings that were already his. Friend, don’t overlook blessings because you are focused on what you don’t have. You know how many people in this world wish they were able to live the way you do? Even in hardship and pain, you are blessed because you are an heir through Jesus to the riches of our Father in Heaven. God has blessed you, my friend. Give Him thanks and praise.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the gift of salvation. Lord, I know at times I do not recognize the day to day blessings around me. I humbly give thanks for You and all that You have done for me. Help me to put my focus and trust in You and not on myself. I recognize that all blessings come from You. I ask You to give me faith to see You in everything and everybody. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 13:3 “and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should seek God for more wisdom.

Today, on September 11, we remember lives taken by terror and heroes who fought valiantly to preserve our freedoms. The recent years have brought recession and financial ruin to many—a financial pain to all. Across the world, people are dying from curable and easily treated viruses and diseases that by no means should claim lives. In this day and age and perhaps as much as ever, we need to seek God’s wisdom. We need our elected officials to seek God’s wisdom and to be surrounded by Christian men and women who will speak bravely into situations.

If a Nobel Prize Winner came to you and said he wanted to spend some time to teach you certain things that only he knows, wouldn’t you invest in that relationship? What if you were suffering from an incurable disease and a world renowned physician told you he knew of an easy cure and would like to share it with you. Wouldn’t you listen to him right then and there?

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” NKJV

Well, the almighty, all-powerful Creator of everything, God, wants to spend time with you to tell you about His plans for your life and about His cure for an incurable disease called sin. Have you invested in the relationship with Him? Have you taken the time to listen to what He has to say to you? Have you read His book? Will you?

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for cost that You paid on my behalf for my sins. Lord, I come boldly to the throne of Your grace and ask You forgive me afresh. In the presence of You Lord, I ask that You alter me and make me different. Lord, give me a passion to know Your Word so that I can intimately know Your will for my life. I ask You for wisdom and discernment. Grant me the strength to apply this wisdom each day to my own life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

Romans 16:25 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began” NKJV

Life Lesson: God is a keeping God.

There’s great comfort in this, friend. Our God is a keeping God. He may keep some secrets but He also keeps His promises. His faithfulness is without end. God establishes us His children according to the generous outpouring of His love through Jesus Christ. He keeps us secure in His hand from which no power can snatch us away.

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” NKJV

Where man fails to keep promises made to God, our Father never fails in His promises to us. He establishes us in Him and won’t let go. What have you promised God that you have neglected to do? While you are less than faithful to the Lord, He is ever faithful to you. Don’t you think you owe Him more of a commitment than that? The things we do reflect the commitments we honor. Would your family say you were committed to serving God? What about a stranger?

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins. I want Your fresh mercy and grace. Lord, I am available to do the work you have called me to do. Help me, Lord, to share the simple Truth of Your Word with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 12:33-34 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks; of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them thirty-seven thousand with shield and spear;’ NKJV

Life Lesson: You should be committed in your service to the Lord.

In 1972, NASA launched a space probe, Pioneer 10. The primary mission of this satellite was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, take measurements and beam data back to earth. For 1972, this mission was deemed a very ambitious plan. Prior to this, no satellite had made it beyond Mars. Pioneer 10, however, didn’t know that. Over the next 20 plus years, Pioneer 10 kept plugging away, traveling more than 6 billion miles by 1997. The satellite passed Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto continuing out into the unknown reaches of our galaxy. That whole time, Pioneer 10 kept beaming back data with only an 8 watt transmitter…the equivalent power of a child’s night light.

Pioneer 10 defied all expectations of failure and plugged along doing its job in a way that exceeded its creator’s expectations. Too many times, I’ve seen Christians step up to serve the Lord, and when adversity hit, they quit. They decide they are not qualified or they don’t have the power or the energy. Yet, as Christians, we have within us the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit and the promise of Jesus that “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Forget about adversity. God’s got it covered. Let’s do our jobs above and beyond. Let’s step up and serve our King. Failure is not an option.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You that my past is pardoned and my future is secure! Lord, give me determination and ambition to step out and serve. Help me to make a difference in the church and in the lives of others. Empower me Lord, to answer to the call to do battle. May I never be satisfied to just coast along, but to be actively involved in reaching lost souls. I am a disciple of Christ! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880