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 These are NOT outdated titles, but ones that apply to us today.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