Deliberate, Intentional and Focused

Hi Friends and Family!

Here we are...less than 24 hours away from the end of the 2010 year and the beginning of 2011, a year of new beginnings and renewed focus on what's important and glorifying to our Lord. This Sunday we will be reflecting, inspecting, and expecting. In other words, we'll count our blessings of 2010 and praising God for them; asking God to inspect us and reveal anything that needs to change to bring Him more glory; and, looking forward to what's to come in 2011 with hopeful hearts trusting in our faithful God.

I would like to ask of you to take some time and reflect on what's transpired this year and let me know how the Lord speaks to you - what He reminds you of.

I want to thank you for being a wonderful congregation that seeks the Lord, growing in His grace and knowledge - I have been truly blessed as we search and learn God's truth together in Scripture and experience the peace and love that can only come through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have a Happy New Year! Be more Deliberate, Intentional and Focused on Jesus Christ this year to serve Him with your lives!

Sincerely...

In Christ,

Pastor Raul

Refuge Christmas Dinner 2010

Here's a quick reminder about our CHRISTMAS Dinner this coming Friday, December 10th at 6:30PM at the Norton Younglove Community Center.

We're having a delicious dinner, fun exchanging gifts, and a whole bunch of fun getting to know each other a little better!

I don't remember who got the WHITE ELEPHANT last year, but I'm sure it'll be among the gifts this year. Mark your calendar, make sure you come out and have some fun during this wonderful Christmas time when we celebrate our Savior's Birth.

Jesus Christ IS the reason for the SEASON! See you this coming FRIDAY.

In Christ,

Pastor Raul

Slaves & Masters

It's amazing how God is interested in all earthly relationships, INCLUDING the ones we have at work. It's every moment of every day that we are to honor our King and serve Him, and witness to others through deed and word.

Scripture refers to bosses and employees with the words "masters" and "slaves". These are NOT outdated titles, but ones that apply to us today. We need to understand that when God inspired these words to be written they were pure and serve HIS purpose. To God, they still ARE pure terms, BUT man has done these positions VERY wrong! Today, we have perverted and abused these terms by inhumanely treating others for personal BENEFIT and PROFIT.

Regardless, we need to understand what God describes as Slaves and Masters, and REVOLUTIONIZE the way we work to God's glory!

Here are some of the principles, as Christians, we need to keep in mind:

* Employees are to be EAGER to do a good job and FEARFUL of displeasing the boss. (Eph. 6:5)

* Employees are to be SINCERE about serving their leaders, and your FIRST consideration should always be your boss's interest and not someone else's or your own. (Eph. 6:5)

* Employees are to have INTEGRITY. Don't ONLY perform well when your boss is looking, but do so because you know that the Lord IS looking all the time! (Eph. 6:6)

* Employees are to ULTIMATELY serve the Lord, and your REWARD is non-perishable if it's stored in heaven! (Eph. 6:7-8; Matt. 6:19-21)

* Bosses are to do ALL of the above, WITHOUT threats, understanding that your RESPONSIBILITY is great before the Lord. Be good stewards of the lives that have been entrusted to YOU! (Eph. 6:9; Col. 4:1)

Employees and Bosses...or for Christians, Slaves and Masters (in the most pure sense, according to Scripture) are to serve the Lord in everything. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

REVOLUTIONIZE the way you work and SERVE the Lord every moment of every day and joyfully serve HIM as a grateful BONDSERVANT of the MOST HIGH!

Let it Fly By

I'm reading this book by Warren Wiersbe titled, "What to Wear to the War". It's a study of Ephesians chapter 6, where we can find a list of armor we are to put on in order to successfully gain ground from victory in our Christian walks.

One thing that you can be certain of is that the Christian life is NOT a playground (as Wiersbe said), but rather a battleground. And the sooner you realize this the sooner you will live as a successful Christian to God's glory.

I'm at the point in the book where Wiersbe is briefly describing the armor of God found in Ephesians 6 because it's by this that we can better understand Satan's strategies of attack.

The shield of faith is listed in Ephesians 6:16, which is used to "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." One of the "fiery darts" the enemy uses is doubt. This is common to everyone, but we can rest in complete assurance that we can trust God, especially when thoughts cross our mind that is contrary to His Word.

Martin Luther said, "I cannot stop the birds from flying around my head, but I can stop them from making a nest in my hair."

Lift up the shield of faith in the "Word of God and in the God of the Word" and let that doubt fly by!

Pastor Raul

Joy Comes in the Morning!

Happy Black Friday!

This is suppose to be the day in which many of the retail stores get out of the red (negative) and into the black (positive) with regards to profits. This may have been a tough year for most retailers, but it seems like there's a buzz today with more people spending their money than last year.

Now, some of you may feel like you're still operating in the red for various reasons; I have times when I feel like this but what's COMFORTING is that we have a High Priest (Jesus Christ) that understands us and INVITES us to come to Him and says we'll find GRACE in times of need (Heb. 4:15-16).

I am so glad that my HOPE lies in Someone (not some thing) that will NEVER leave me nor forget about me.

(There was a "black Friday" in my life many years ago - that was the day I placed my trust and my life in Jesus Christ. That's the day I went from OWING to a day in which I was, and am, RICH with God's eternal abundance.)

My family and I have had a rough couple weeks, but I'm not complaining! (SERIOUSLY) BUT I AM ANGRY that the enemy is hurting, destroying and stealing a few personal things to try and get his way into my family, at me, and distract my focus in serving the Lord.

It AINT gonna happen! I resolve to give more of ME to the Lord and pray harder for my God's will to be done. In fact, I KNOW something GREAT is coming because of the trials!

I will pray more and harder, and I ask that you pray more and harder that God is glorified in our lives. I was comforted and strengthened by what the psalmist wrote: "Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." - Psalm 30:4-5

For those that have placed their trust in Jesus Christ there is a PURPOSE that goes beyond this life and you can rest assured that all things work for God's GOOD plan and purpose (Romans 8:28) - NOTHING is wasted.

I will continue to look to my AMAZING God for what He wants me to do next, regardless of the circumstances I find myself in. I CHALLENGE you to do the same. He is truly worthy of our PRAISES!

Remember, "joy comes in the morning!" Don't get down, but GET ANGRY (righteously), and be MOVED to live MORE for Jesus than ever before!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a picture of a great Thanksgiving:

¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This is Ephesians 5:15-21. I gave a message on this a few weeks ago in our Value Series. I had to read it again and pass it along again because the days we are living in are days we need to make the best use of.

Do not walk without knowledge of Scripture, but READ and be a LEARNED people. This is how you make the BEST use of your time here on earth and KNOW what God's will is (not some mystical revelation that is contrary to the Word).

Don't be filled with alcohol (spirits), but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Yes, you are filled with the Holy Spirit the moment you surrender to Jesus. You have all of Him but does He have all of YOU?

And the last few verses is a beautiful picture of Jesus' church. I pray we are a wise, surrendered church that makes the best use of every moment of every day to bring glory to our AMAZING God!

Happy Thanksgiving! I love you! - PR

Why?

Why is it that we ask "why" all the time? Inquiring minds want to know.

Why is it that we feel like we need an answer for everything? Why not just leave things in the "unknown" section of the mind? Why are we not comfortable with not understanding something we've become aware of?

God is amazing and is the only One that knows everything there is to know. At one time I thought my dad knew everything. Our Father in heaven does and I'm ok with not understand why things happen, or why I don't know many things.

Frustration, and sometimes even anger sets in when we don't understand something. Different people respond to the unknown in different ways - some shut down, act as if it's not true, some ignore the unknown, others never tire of trying to figure it out.

Is there something in your life that you don't understand? There's plenty in mine! And, that's ok.

The Bible tells us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Phil. 4:6-7

Earlier in Philippians (2:5) we are told: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." And Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, humbling Himself to the point of death, "even the death of the cross." (v.8)

Can I say something simple to you without a debate? Let God be God and submit to His will like Scripture tells us to. I guarantee you will live a happier and more fulfilled life that is focused on what you do have control over and not what you don't. You won't be frustrated or anxious, but will basically "roll" with however God wants you to roll.

Can I give you some Scripture to put you at ease and give you some peace about anything you're pulling your hair out about and cannot seem to figure out or understand "WHY" it is what it is?

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 54:8-9

One more thought for comfort and joy: "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

Let's praise God through thick and thin and understand that He is truly on our side and only allows things because He understands and sees the "whole picture" and not just a portion of it.

Instead of asking "why, God?" ask "what, God?" and follow what He wants to do through you in all circumstances. In other words, understand what you are to do instead of demanding an answer for everything while crossing your arms to our heavenly Father.

What do you want to us to next Lord? (See Romans 12:1)

The Refuge One Year Anniversary!

I can't believe it's already been one year since we started meeting in my living room studying the Word of God!

It was a time of healing, as well as a time of ministering to each other. Our church continues to this day to do just that, but has also been reaching out people in the community, families, friends, co-workers and strangers showing the love of Christ to everyone who will listen and open their hearts to the gospel.

We have been blessed by the showering of God's love, grace and the strength, things that we continue to faithfully find in Him. Our church is called The Refuge because we know that the Lord is Whom we take refuge IN and Jesus Christ is on Whom we stand - we are immovable, strong and courageous disciples of Jesus Christ!

My desire is to see God grow people into passionate disciples of Jesus Christ, and it has certainly been exciting as I see Him doing this!

This Sunday we are having a potluck lunch, some cake and great fellowship as we celebrate what God has done and is doing at The Refuge. The message this Sunday is very fitting as I will focus our attention on being Thankful for the many promises of God, Jesus being central to them all!

I am SO excited about this Sunday and I am also looking forward with great expectation to 2011 as to what God will do with our church!!!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Raul

Barren Hill of Sacrifice - Breath-taking Views

Last Sunday I gave a message on Israel's victory over Ai (second time around). The last five verses were about how the Israelites fulfilled God's command to proclaim Blessings and Curses from Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim (Deut. 27 & 28), as soon as they entered the Promise Land.

They were also to build an altar of natural stones (without being altered by anyone) on which they were to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings. This altar was to be built on Mount Ebal from which the curses were proclaimed from - sin, and the Israelites had to proclaim these curses personally.

Here lies a very powerful object lesson, if we allow God to speak to us:

In order for us to live victoriously in the land the Lord has given to us in this life and have a victorious one in eternity, we need to arrive and acknowledge our mountain of sin where sacrifice needs to happen and you need to understand that you can add nothing of value to that sacrifice.

In other words, you need to arrive at a place in your life where you understand that your sin is to be handed over to Jesus Christ, our High Priest, through confession to Him; and, that there's nothing that you can do to make that process better on your part, or on your behalf.

The good news is that Jesus Christ is not only our High Priest, but also the Sacrifice that atoned for our sins once and for all! All we have to do is believe that and receive that removal and cleansing of our sin by God's grace through faith! (Eph. 2:8-9)

The meaning of the names of those hills that the Israelites came to is "barren" and that's indeed how it feels when you come to that place yourself. But God promises that once you place your sins and your very life in Christ, you will lose the old life and gain a vision of the Promise Land that is absolutely BREATH-TAKING!

From those barren hills God's people could see the whole land He had given to them to possess; and, from the barren hill where Christ was crucified we too can see the promises of God and receive them as our own, including eternity with our Lord.

How Joshua 5 encouraged me...

God rolled away what no man could roll away - reproach, condemnation and raised up Joshua and God's people.
God rolled away what no man could roll away - The stone from the tomb of Jesus and resurrected Him and us to new life because we are in Him.

Our hearts are circumcised, our reproach has been removed and we are to walk in the newness of life - In the resurrected Spirit and the promise of a glorious future. We are encouraged because the Commander of the army of the Lord is with us and cannot be defeated.

This was a great encouragement in that whatever we face, being obedient, God can breath new life in us and place us on holy ground once more in His presence - Thank you Jesus for your grace!

Life is Short - Do Foolish Things!

Have you ever thought about the brevity of life? I read up on what's going on in our world only to realize once more how everything that man is pursuing will one day be gone.

It's when someone suddenly stops in their journey of life that people briefly give their own lives a "once over" but yet continue with what they were doing. It seems like many people are numb to mortality and life just doesn't mean much to them; a paycheck, acquiring some stuff and looking good in front of a virtual world that doesn't really care.

How beautiful the cross! A symbol that represents condemnation and death was used as a tool for payment - Jesus was nailed to it, along with everything that disabled my relationship with God. He wasn't concerned about how He looked to the world but rather how He looked to the Father on behalf of the world.

Sometimes we get so caught up on what's important to the world that we forget that we serve an audience of One and what's important to Him. Life is short, remember to live for God and His glory, regardless of what the world thinks.

Remember..."For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The Parasite and the Puppy

My family was recently blessed with a little puppy. Her name is Lucy and she loves to play. She has boundless energy and is a joy to have around the house.

The other day I noticed she was acting different and realized she was sick. I had her tested and the vet informed us she had parasites. These worms were depriving her of necessary nourishment and she was even getting dehydrated.

The vet prescribed a medicine to get rid of these parasites; a medicine that would immediately cleanse her of them, and if taken regularly, would prevent them from infecting her again.

Lucy is feeling better, her appetite is back and she’s bouncing around all over the place!

Sin is the parasite that sucks the life out of people and if left untreated, will make you sick and eventually kill you.
Jesus is the ONLY medicine that gets rid of this lethal parasite.

Not only will Jesus cleanse you of all your unrighteousness the moment you allow Him to abide in you by confessing your sins, repenting of them and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior, but He also serves as a preventative measure from sin infecting you and making you a sick Christian…all you have to do is take His Word in daily and let Jesus change every area of your life.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ~ 1 John 1:9

“Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You, O Lord!” ~ Psalm 119:11

Uncovered

Uncovered

My youngest son, Isaiah, loves to make tents in his room. He arranges furniture so he can hang blankets and hide underneath.
He’ll make one room for items that he wants to hide, and makes another room to use as a look out for intruders. It’s a fun game that he plays by using his imagination; thinking he can hide beneath these covers and keep secret through the thin blankets and sheets the things that he says.

Little does he know that I can hear everything and I can pull all of these blankets and sheets from what he was covering up.

Jesus tells us that there will be a day when God will do likewise with our lives. What we thought we were keeping a secret will be known. There’s nothing that won’t be revealed.

“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:2-3)

Is there anything you’d like to change about today? God doesn’t only hear what you say, but will one day lay open for all to see. Live for His glory today!

Living for the Weekend

Are you living for Fridays? Knowing the contents of the week, we can start the week eagerly desiring the days go faster.

We’re not promised another Friday, but we do have today and God tells us to redeem the time; to make the most of it.

To do so, we need right thinking! Jesus said, “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34)

Instead we need to meditate on the goodness of God and how much He loves us. Prepare for tomorrow, but live in today. Pray, read the Bible and ask God to renew your mind!

See Phil. 4:8 for a list of things to think about. Meditate on these things and you too can “rejoice in the Lord always.” (Phil. 4:4)

Thank God for today, making the most of it and Friday will be a joy too.

Pastor Raul