A Little More Time

Posted on September 1, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I visited with someone recently who has received a tough medical prognosis.  Their condition is terminal and unless the Lord intervenes, they may not live to see the end of this year.  As I visited with them about the things they are going through, they shared with me that this terminal diagnosis does not scare them.  They said they have placed their faith in Christ and know that when they pass, they will go to be with Him.  In fact, they said they look forward to that time.  And while they look forward to being with the Lord, they are concerned about those they are leaving behind.  They want to have more time to share the love of Christ with friends and family who do not yet know the Lord as they do.  We visited for a while and closed our visit by praying for their health, their concerns and their desire for God to help them make the most of the time they have remaining.  Our discussion reminded me of what Paul said in Philippians 1:21 – 24.

Phil 1:21   For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was in prison and his life was at risk.  This was not an unfamiliar situation for Paul.  Paul had experienced some difficult and dangerous times in his ministry; he had endured times of imprisonment, beatings and persecution. But even as he faced death, Paul told the church that he was not afraid of dying.  Quite the opposite.  Paul looked forward to the time when his life would end so that he could go to be with the Lord.  “To die is gain” he wrote.  And though Paul looked forward to being with the Lord, he still wanted to stay here.  He still had some more work he wanted to do; he still had some things he wanted to accomplish.  Paul wanted to continue to share the gospel with others.  He wanted others to come to know the same forgiveness that he had received through Christ.  Paul wanted to make the most of the time he had left.

Posted in Christianity, Church, Forgiven, forgiveness, God's Mercy, God's Strength, Philippians 1:21, To Die is Gain | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

August Heat Wave

Posted on August 25, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I spent some time the other day watering the trees and some of the rose bushes in the back yard with a water hose.  It has been so hot that even with our sprinkler system the trees and flowers are really taking a beating.  As I was watering the plants and thinking about how hot it has been outside, I was reminded of Jeremiah 17:7 – 8.

Jeremiah 17:7   “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”

In this chapter, Jeremiah contrasts the experience of those who trust in themselves and those who trust in God.  Those who trust in themselves or trust in man are compared to a lonely, parched shrub in the desert which barely manages to survive.  On the other hand, those who trust in God are like a tree planted by an ever flowing stream.  Oh, they will still feel the heat of this world and face droughts from time to time, but they do not need to worry.  They can trust that God will continue to refresh them, revive them, and help them bear fruit.

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Truth and Love

Posted on August 10, 2019 by pastorpstephens

This past week I have been reading through the epistle of 1 John.  It is a wonderful letter and I encourage you to read through it as well.  I really appreciate the way John reminds the church that we are to keep the commandments of God and abide in His word.  We are to walk in the truth.  John also says that we as we walk in the truth, we are also to walk in the love of Christ.  Truth and love should always go hand in hand.  John writes in 1 John 4:19

1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.  20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

In a sin-fallen world where we witness and experience so many hateful things, Christ calls us to walk in love.  As Christians, others should experience and witness God’s love in us and through us – even when we disagree and even when we’ve been wronged.  We are to love.  There is no place for hating others.  There is no place for hurting others.  We are to love others.  That does not mean we have to compromise the truth.  We are to walk in truth and love.  We are called to do so and we are able to do so because He has first loved us.

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Why I Think Jesus Is God

Posted on August 3, 2019 by pastorpstephens

Someone recently asked me why I think that Jesus is God.  Let me first say that I believe that the Bible teaches the concept of the Trinity even though it may not use the word “trinity” to describe the concept.  The Bible presents a picture of the Trinity at Jesus’ baptism.  Luke’s Gospel records that when Jesus was baptized “the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased. (Luke 3:22).”  In this passage we have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all present at the same time.

Perhaps the main reason I believe that Jesus is God is because Jesus claimed to be God.  The gospels record four us that this claim of His was recognized by the Jewish leaders.  They understood that through His words and His teachings, Jesus was claiming to be God.  When Jesus healed the crippled man in John chapter 5, He also forgave the man of his sins.  The Jews understood that only God can forgive sins and they understood that Jesus was claiming to be God.  The Bible says in John 5:18 “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.”

Jesus was very clear about His Deity in John chapter 10 as He spoke about being the Good Shepherd.  The Jewish leaders pressed Christ further on His Messianic claims and Jesus said in John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”  When Jesus declared Himself to be God, the Jews picked up stones to kill Him for His blasphemy.  They had no doubt about who Jesus was claiming to be.

Two of my favorite verses (and there are others!) that speak to this truth are in the gospel of John and in Paul’s letters to the Philippians.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

 John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 Jesus, who claimed to be God, performed miracles of healing, cast out demons, showed His power over nature by calming the wind and the waves, He lived a sinless life and He predicted His own death, burial and resurrection.  Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross and then demonstrated the power and authority to take it back up again.  He rose on the third day.  All of these things are evidence and testify to the fact that we can trust what Jesus says.  We can trust that He is God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity. We can trust that He can and will forgive us of our sins if we ask. We can trust that Jesus is God.  I pray that you have accepted Him as yours.

Posted in Christianity, Church, faith, John 10:30, religion, the Trinity, Trust in God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is the Day

Posted on July 27, 2019 by pastorpstephens

This morning the granddaughters and I took the dogs for a walk.  It was a beautiful morning and not too hot yet.  I love going for a walk with the girls.  I know that pretty soon they will be growing up and will be very busy and interested in so many other things.  There probably won’t be much time to take walks together.  Who knows what the future holds, I need to take advantage of today.  It is like the Bible says in Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  I know I am grateful for this day.  I hope and I pray that you are too.

Posted in faith, grandchildren, growing in faith, Relationships, this is the day | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Father of All Comfort

Posted on July 21, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I was talking with someone last week and they were reflecting on a difficult time they faced years ago.  They spoke of how tough it was to make it through each day and how they know that God helped them through that time.  They shared how God has since used their experience to help them connect with and be able to offer help and hope to others going through similar tough times.  As they spoke I was reminded of Paul’s words to the church in 2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4.

2 Cor 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

In these verses Paul praises God for the comfort and strength He sends to us in difficult times.  Paul says that not only does God pull us through such times but that He is able to use these experiences in our lives in a positive way.  We are able to comfort others with the same divine comfort that we ourselves have received from God.  My prayer for you is that today, you will know and receive the comfort of God, the Father of all mercies and all comfort, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Posted in faith, forgiveness, God loves you, God's comfort, God's Mercy, religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Working in You and Through You

Posted on July 13, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I am excited that we are having another baptism tomorrow at church.  This will be the second baptism we have had this summer.  And we will have another one soon as another young man came forward last week to give his life to Christ.  I am so excited to see the way God is working in his life and in our church!

We have really been blessed as a congregation and I have been blessed as a pastor by having the Lord send us people who want to serve others, lead music, teach Sunday school and help in various other ways.  It is really a blessing seeing everyone pitch in and minister together to others in our church and in our community.  It reminds me of what Peter said about spiritual gifts in 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

God has supplied each of us with special gifts and abilities.  As His followers, we should be good stewards of His gifts, His blessings and His grace.  Our Lord wants to work in us and through us, all of us, for His purpose and His glory.  And it is such a sweet blessing when we allow Him to do so.

I hope that you know that the Lord loves you and that He wants to work in you and through you!  I hope that you know that the Lord can help you make a positive impact on the lives of others – now and for eternity!

Until next time, stay strong in the faith,

Pastor Phillip Stephens

Posted in 1 Peter 4:10, ambassadors, Being Blessed, Being Thankful, Christianity, Church, discovering spiritual gifts, Good Works | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Different Path

Posted on June 24, 2019 by pastorpstephens


I took a different path,
As I went on my walk today.
And I noticed a bench in the garden,
It was hidden and tucked out of the way.

The bench was old, dusty and stained
Time and weather had left their mark.
It may have been years since someone had rested on it,
Or even noticed it in the park.

I dusted it off and took a seat
And I gave my feet a break
And as I sat there in the shade
I reflected on our choices and the paths we always take.

How many people escape our notice,
How many do we pass on our way?
And like a bench that’s worn and weathered
We don’t give them the time of day.

I vowed to be more aware,
And to open my eyes and see,
For even those who seem worn and weathered
Have a blessing they can offer me.

So I’ll take a different path
As I go on my walk today.
And I’ll try to notice those benches
The ones hidden and tucked out of the way.

Posted in doing the right thing, God's Love, Poem, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who You Working For

Posted on May 17, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I was working at the hospital the other day and I visited with one of the cleaning ladies.  I stopped to tell her thank you for the job she was doing.  She said she was glad to do it because she knows what an important job it is.  She said her job is about more than just cleaning.  She said she knows that some patients might not have any family with them and they may be nervous, scared or in pain.  She said when she walks into the room to clean, she smiles and says hello and knows that God can use her work to help the patients feel better.   Her words reminded me of what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:23 – 24.

Col 3:23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Whatever jobs or tasks we may find ourselves doing, we should do them to the best of our ability.  It provides us an opportunity to thank God and show Him our gratitude for the gifts, abilities and yes, even the very work He has blessed us with.  And it also provides us with an opportunity to bless others.  I was grateful for this reminder provided by this lady.  And as I left, I thanked her again, not just for the work she does, but also for the ministry she provides.

Posted in Christianity, Church, Do Your Best, faith, God has blessed me, Loving Others, Work Hard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s a Good Day

Posted on April 28, 2019 by pastorpstephens

I had a good conversation with a stranger recently at a convenience store.  I commented on the lovely weather we were experiencing and they agreed saying, “This is a good day.”  They continued by saying, “Even if the weather turns bad and the storms come like the weatherman says, it’s still a good day.”  This led to a conversation with this person in which they shared about some of the storms and struggles they have encountered in life.  They testified about the way God watched over them and helped them even in the midst of dark and difficult days.  They said their favorite verse, the one that helped them keep going on during those times was Psalm 118:24.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This person praised the Lord for the help and strength He  provides to them every day –  good days and bad days.  It was a blessing to hear this person’s testimony.  And it was good to be reminded that this is the day the Lord has given us and though storms may come, we can still rejoice and be glad that He is with us.

Posted in a good day, bad weather, Build Upon the Rock, Christianity, Church, faith, God's Strength | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment