I've been remiss on posting a devotional lately. You may be thinking this poor brother must be suffering. Perhaps he is going through some stormy season and so has neglected his devotional life. The pressures of ministry have finally gotten to him.
This reasoning couldn't be further from the truth. The exact opposite is true. I have been blessed with a wonderful time of comfort and excitement! I have had the privilege in the last few months of the “mountain top “ experience. I have to admit. It’s mighty nice up here. I’ve had specific prayers answered. I’ve had clear direction form the Lord on various subjects. I’ve preached sermons that were confirmed by several people and spoken prophetically and watched God confirm the prophecy through trusted Godly people all around me. This is the stuff of goose bumps for me. Is our faith based on feelings? No, but it sure is nice to have our faith built up through our feelings once in a while. Don’t misunderstand. There have been the usual challenges of home and ministry. However, it’s as if the Holy Spirit decided recently, “it’s time to build this poor guy up for a while.” Delightful.
So if everything is so ducky then why not share it on my blog? Because I didn’t have permission to do so. ( Read that last sentence again, then read it one more time ) Each time I would sit down to share some thoughts there would be a “check engine light” of sorts in my spirit, that would click on and stop me. I certainly wrote out several devotional thoughts, I simply understood that it was not meant to share.
You see there is a direct correlation between obedience and the joy and blessing I’ve been experiencing. In order for me to enjoy the “mountain tops” I have to be obedient. Let’s connect the dots here. Obedience to the Lord does not guarantee worry free bliss and a constant spiritual giddiness … What it does guarantee is peace, and sustenance and yes, occasionally, the mountain top experience.
Let me be very clear about this. Sharing a devotional thought is fine. Sharing your testimony with someone is terrific. Sharing your thoughts with fellow believers is great. Here is the caveat. Before we do any of these things we need to make sure we’re doing it in obedience! Otherwise we run the risk of sharing our own thoughts filtered through our flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. Am I suggesting that believers ought to just quiet down? Absolutely not! Rather, I want to exhort you to seek the Lord in prayer and in scripture and in times of intimacy so our hearts and actions become attuned with Him. When we allow, daily, our desires to be overshadowed by His we give Him license to use us!
I leave you with a few short scriptures to ruminate. Psalm 32:8-9, Psalm 37:23 Proverbs 20:24, 1 Samuel 15:22.
In the last several weeks the Lord placed in my heart a little nugget of wisdom that is meant for us all. It is far more important for us to be gracious than lawful.
Will you join me in a simple prayer?
Lord, give us wisdom. Help us to be kind, loving one another. Guide our steps. Guide our words. We need your insight. Give us hearts that are soft and sensitive and easily led by your Spirit. Overshadow our desires with yours that we might be useful to the kingdom of Heaven with out wounding those around us. We thank you in advance for the discernment you freely give, as we seek to know you and be obedient. Amen
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
for the marrieds and the hopeful
Here are some of my latest ponderings. I’ll be shifting frequently so hang on.
My wife lost her job not too long ago, my mother was recently quite ill, we had a leak in our bathroom, we're facing some tough issues at church, and other varied difficulties are transpiring simultaneously. Even our grass has decided it's time to shrivel up and die. In light of all the trials facing us, my family and I have decided to split for good. Leaving the Garden State. Heading for the hills forever. Hitting the road and NEVER looking back. Actually we had planned a little trip some time ago, it was non-refundable and we'll be back in a week. Shift.
I needed to share this little thought with my extended family, (that's you) before we go. Roughly twenty years ago I knelt at my bed in a little apartment and gave my heart to the Lord. I'd love to say I came to the Lord as a result of the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit leading me down a gradual path, peacefully like a meandering stream. In truth it was more akin to a nuclear bomb of conviction laying waste to every part of me. I came to the Lord as a result of the Holy Spirit prompting me to ask my self, "What will happen to me if I don't straighten out, where will I end up?" My words to Jesus were literally, "Please don't let me die, I'm not ready. I’m sorry, forgive me, I want to change." I recall that night sleeping more peacefully than I had in a long time. I wouldn’t trade the grace of God and His precious forgiveness and the ensuing relationship for all the tea in China!
Ever since that very night, the peace has never left me. I've had my "ups and downs" certainly, but I always came to rest on the unshakeable certainties that Jesus died for me, His presence and protection and guidance will never leave me. When my time comes to leave this poor, miserable, wretched, carcass here on this planet, my soul will go be with my Lord and Savior. He is at the center of my heart. What an awesome sense of confidence He provided for me! Shift
In the past several months I've entertained myself by posting sweet little comments about my wonderful wife on a popular networking site. Why does this entertain me? Well, because she is not a tremendously public person, especially when it comes to matters of AMOURRR. I regularly feel overwhelmed with “warm fuzzies” for her and I NEED to express it. Just recently she made some of the best French onion soup I’ve ever had! She works hard and I want others to know how blessed I am! Apparently the little comments I made tugged on several heart strings. I've gotten numerous reply comments to my original comment. Truth is my wife and I love each other very much and even though troubles arise and may even result in the odd skirmish, all-out war never breaks out because we are on the same side! We don't live in some fluffy chocolate encrusted mansion shrouded in roses. We have our struggles, but in the end there is peace and love, and at the center is Jesus. Shift
Where is this all going? What is he babbling on about? Allow me to connect the dots. I started by saying we've experienced some very tough times lately. Secondly, I shared how indescribable peace and forgiveness entered into my heart and remains there as a result of my continuing relationship with Jesus Christ. Finally I noted how people seem to perk up when I declare warm thoughts about my wife. In a recent phone call a dear sister said she was amazed that such joy and peace is always evident. ( Her opinion is a little over inflated if you ask me…but it’s mostly accurate I guess...)
The preceding paragraphs can be summed up in a few lines. Even amidst financial uncertainties, physical struggles etc, when the peace of God reigns in your heart it WILL reign at the very center of your home. When Jesus is the center of a relationship, love will manifest itself. Peace and joy and butterflies fluttering around in you house is not the goal, it’s a secondary pursuit, essentially it’s a side effect. The pursuit of Jesus and walking in relationship with Him is the goal….every thing else will follow.
Are you married and struggling? Perhaps you just came out of a tough relationship. My brother and sister, pursue Jesus. Follow after the Lord with all that is in you and He will work on your other “stuff” We should be chasing the Creator not His creation. Make sense?
You may be wondering why there are no scripture references. Well, quite frankly because I want you to look them up. I’ll give you a hint. With-in these chapters you’ll find everything I’ve said repeated. …Psalm 37, Matthew 6, Ephesians 5
My prayer for you is that peace would rule in your heart and in your marriage. If you’re not married, I pray that the Lord would bless you as only He knows how. That the Holy Spirit would guide you to be in the right place at the right time and that He will give you wisdom and discernment. Amen
My wife lost her job not too long ago, my mother was recently quite ill, we had a leak in our bathroom, we're facing some tough issues at church, and other varied difficulties are transpiring simultaneously. Even our grass has decided it's time to shrivel up and die. In light of all the trials facing us, my family and I have decided to split for good. Leaving the Garden State. Heading for the hills forever. Hitting the road and NEVER looking back. Actually we had planned a little trip some time ago, it was non-refundable and we'll be back in a week. Shift.
I needed to share this little thought with my extended family, (that's you) before we go. Roughly twenty years ago I knelt at my bed in a little apartment and gave my heart to the Lord. I'd love to say I came to the Lord as a result of the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit leading me down a gradual path, peacefully like a meandering stream. In truth it was more akin to a nuclear bomb of conviction laying waste to every part of me. I came to the Lord as a result of the Holy Spirit prompting me to ask my self, "What will happen to me if I don't straighten out, where will I end up?" My words to Jesus were literally, "Please don't let me die, I'm not ready. I’m sorry, forgive me, I want to change." I recall that night sleeping more peacefully than I had in a long time. I wouldn’t trade the grace of God and His precious forgiveness and the ensuing relationship for all the tea in China!
Ever since that very night, the peace has never left me. I've had my "ups and downs" certainly, but I always came to rest on the unshakeable certainties that Jesus died for me, His presence and protection and guidance will never leave me. When my time comes to leave this poor, miserable, wretched, carcass here on this planet, my soul will go be with my Lord and Savior. He is at the center of my heart. What an awesome sense of confidence He provided for me! Shift
In the past several months I've entertained myself by posting sweet little comments about my wonderful wife on a popular networking site. Why does this entertain me? Well, because she is not a tremendously public person, especially when it comes to matters of AMOURRR. I regularly feel overwhelmed with “warm fuzzies” for her and I NEED to express it. Just recently she made some of the best French onion soup I’ve ever had! She works hard and I want others to know how blessed I am! Apparently the little comments I made tugged on several heart strings. I've gotten numerous reply comments to my original comment. Truth is my wife and I love each other very much and even though troubles arise and may even result in the odd skirmish, all-out war never breaks out because we are on the same side! We don't live in some fluffy chocolate encrusted mansion shrouded in roses. We have our struggles, but in the end there is peace and love, and at the center is Jesus. Shift
Where is this all going? What is he babbling on about? Allow me to connect the dots. I started by saying we've experienced some very tough times lately. Secondly, I shared how indescribable peace and forgiveness entered into my heart and remains there as a result of my continuing relationship with Jesus Christ. Finally I noted how people seem to perk up when I declare warm thoughts about my wife. In a recent phone call a dear sister said she was amazed that such joy and peace is always evident. ( Her opinion is a little over inflated if you ask me…but it’s mostly accurate I guess...)
The preceding paragraphs can be summed up in a few lines. Even amidst financial uncertainties, physical struggles etc, when the peace of God reigns in your heart it WILL reign at the very center of your home. When Jesus is the center of a relationship, love will manifest itself. Peace and joy and butterflies fluttering around in you house is not the goal, it’s a secondary pursuit, essentially it’s a side effect. The pursuit of Jesus and walking in relationship with Him is the goal….every thing else will follow.
Are you married and struggling? Perhaps you just came out of a tough relationship. My brother and sister, pursue Jesus. Follow after the Lord with all that is in you and He will work on your other “stuff” We should be chasing the Creator not His creation. Make sense?
You may be wondering why there are no scripture references. Well, quite frankly because I want you to look them up. I’ll give you a hint. With-in these chapters you’ll find everything I’ve said repeated. …Psalm 37, Matthew 6, Ephesians 5
My prayer for you is that peace would rule in your heart and in your marriage. If you’re not married, I pray that the Lord would bless you as only He knows how. That the Holy Spirit would guide you to be in the right place at the right time and that He will give you wisdom and discernment. Amen
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
fun with facial hair
It has been a while since I’ve been able to sit down and write out some thoughts that I could share. In these past several weeks …I’ve grown a beard and shaved it off. I grew side burns and shaved them off …I grew a goatee and shaved it off. I’ve transformed into the apostle Paul wearing chains and back into little ole me. I had the privilege of ministering to my very own ageing parents. I was heartbroken at hearing of a tragedy from a sister near and dear to me. I was discouraged by another tragedy a friend shared with me even as I tried to encourage and counsel them. In Pennsylvania, this past week, I was blessed to see twenty-something people give their heart to the Lord in a thought provoking service on the rapture and last days. My wife and I have been praying and trusting in the Lord for several important issues in our home. I have been counseling with several people struggling with the complexities and disappointments of life and family relationships. I have even had the privilege of watching my wife spatter a news anchor with pureed carrots on live TV. Suffice it to say, it has been a busy couple months! I have been up and I have been down. I have rejoiced with those who rejoice and grieved with those who grieve. Romans 12:10-18
Why haven’t I shared all this with you? Well, because the truth is, although it’s enjoyable to share my own devotional thoughts with others, many times they are simply meant just for me. I love to minister, to preach the Word of God, and worship publicly, but the focal point of my relationship with Jesus is a journey meant only for me.
It ‘s wonderful to seek Godly counsel and encouragement from brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is absolutely vital that we are able to find the answers for ourselves! Take, for example the relationship I have with our two year old. At this stage in his journey he comes to us for everything, and that’s good. I certainly can’t expect him to boil a little water, put in some kid friendly pasta, strain it, drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle it with freshly grated parmesan cheese…. you get the picture. In several years from now it will be a different matter. I will always be his da-da but as he matures, he will discover how to take more and more responsibility for his own journey.
I wonder today where you are on your journey? When you run into a spiritual conundrum, when you have questions, where do you turn for the answers? Do you panic? Do you begin to call on all the “spiritual” people in your Rolodex? Do you rely on mom or dad or your spouse? Perhaps you call an aunt or an uncle or a sister…or maybe you call them all. In the interest of clarity let me share with you the other side of this “coin”. We are not islands. You are not meant to be alone. We are not meant to suffer in silence with out the love and support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Just re-read Romans 12:10-18. It illustrates this point beautifully. However, as we mature in our faith, our dependency should shift from anyone who will listen, to Jesus Himself. At some point we will transition from milk to meat. We will learn to draw strength from the Lord Him self as opposed to the people around us!
David said, in Psalm 144: 1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge…” Praise the Lord! We have an unending source of strength and confidence!
Allow me to be brutally candid for a moment. There are times when little Julian is resistant to eating breakfast. Because he’s only two I have resorted to some shameless tactics to get him to eat. For example, just this morning I was dancing around the kitchen on my toes as I hummed the “Nutcracker Suite” while holding his oatmeal aloft. I would then twirl the spoon around and around coming to rest in front of his mouth where I would rapidly shove in the cereal amidst his giggles. Let me be very clear. I do not expect to be tiptoeing around the kitchen waving a chicken leg around in an effort to feed Julian when he’s ten years old.
So I encourage you today. Examine where you are in your journey. If I were to ask you, Can you feed yourself? Surely you would say yes. Well I want to ask you, Can you feed yourself Spiritually? Let’s dive into the Word and into prayer today in a deeper way. I hope I have motivated you to seek new maturity in your relationship with Jesus. With that said, I have to go shave.
God bless you and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
Why haven’t I shared all this with you? Well, because the truth is, although it’s enjoyable to share my own devotional thoughts with others, many times they are simply meant just for me. I love to minister, to preach the Word of God, and worship publicly, but the focal point of my relationship with Jesus is a journey meant only for me.
It ‘s wonderful to seek Godly counsel and encouragement from brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is absolutely vital that we are able to find the answers for ourselves! Take, for example the relationship I have with our two year old. At this stage in his journey he comes to us for everything, and that’s good. I certainly can’t expect him to boil a little water, put in some kid friendly pasta, strain it, drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle it with freshly grated parmesan cheese…. you get the picture. In several years from now it will be a different matter. I will always be his da-da but as he matures, he will discover how to take more and more responsibility for his own journey.
I wonder today where you are on your journey? When you run into a spiritual conundrum, when you have questions, where do you turn for the answers? Do you panic? Do you begin to call on all the “spiritual” people in your Rolodex? Do you rely on mom or dad or your spouse? Perhaps you call an aunt or an uncle or a sister…or maybe you call them all. In the interest of clarity let me share with you the other side of this “coin”. We are not islands. You are not meant to be alone. We are not meant to suffer in silence with out the love and support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Just re-read Romans 12:10-18. It illustrates this point beautifully. However, as we mature in our faith, our dependency should shift from anyone who will listen, to Jesus Himself. At some point we will transition from milk to meat. We will learn to draw strength from the Lord Him self as opposed to the people around us!
David said, in Psalm 144: 1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge…” Praise the Lord! We have an unending source of strength and confidence!
Allow me to be brutally candid for a moment. There are times when little Julian is resistant to eating breakfast. Because he’s only two I have resorted to some shameless tactics to get him to eat. For example, just this morning I was dancing around the kitchen on my toes as I hummed the “Nutcracker Suite” while holding his oatmeal aloft. I would then twirl the spoon around and around coming to rest in front of his mouth where I would rapidly shove in the cereal amidst his giggles. Let me be very clear. I do not expect to be tiptoeing around the kitchen waving a chicken leg around in an effort to feed Julian when he’s ten years old.
So I encourage you today. Examine where you are in your journey. If I were to ask you, Can you feed yourself? Surely you would say yes. Well I want to ask you, Can you feed yourself Spiritually? Let’s dive into the Word and into prayer today in a deeper way. I hope I have motivated you to seek new maturity in your relationship with Jesus. With that said, I have to go shave.
God bless you and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
Saturday, May 30, 2009
flaming pink death
Imagine with me for a moment that you are 9 or 10 year old boy. You make certain absolutely no one is around you. Now envision yourself as a world famous samurai/super-hero and the broom you wield is actually a flaming instrument of death. Everything is going great for a while. I was slashing at unseen villains and killing enemies left and right. Until the ... accident. As I twirled and stabbed, a small ceramic figurine had the nerve to leap out from its perch on the shelf and face me! It brazenly leaped in front of my flaming instrument of death! What was I to do!? Well, as you can imagine I had to stab this foe! Alas, its tiny ceramic head flew off. Uh oh. This foe was no moe. I stood there suddenly transformed back into a child with a broom. I thought the magic had ended. But no! The magic continued! Out of nowhere, shrouded in a dark mist...there appeared....my mother. She had a gift for materializing when least expected. I’m pretty sure Star Trek got the idea of “beaming” people around from her. I didn’t even have a few minutes to work out my infallible “the cat did it” defense. No time to strategize on which sibling to blame. Poof there she was. There were loud angry words at that point, and there was a wooden spoon involved after that. It all gets very messy but suffice it to say, the flaming instrument of death was retired. (Until several years later, when I was challenged to a mortal duel by a tooth residing in my brother’s mouth. The tooth lost of course....but that’s a story for another day.)
Let me be abundantly clear about something. Most all the discipline I received as a child was well deserved. You see it was 99.99% my fault that I needed to be reprimanded over and over and over and over and over...etc. As I child I never enjoyed discipline. I certainly didn’t welcome it. In fact I avoided it like the plague. I never failed to use whatever deceit or guile I could dream up to get myself out of trouble. (It seldom worked)
The truth is, in retrospect, I am truly thankful for the discipline and protection that was afforded to me! Were it not for those tough days of rebelling, and paying the consequence for that rebellion, I never would have understood the beautiful, precious gift of grace in which I now rest! Did it sting when my parents rebuked me? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes.
Ponder something with me for a moment. We all pay the consequences for our actions. We all need to deal with the fruit that is birthed from the seeds we’ve sewn. Every one of us understands what it means to have to lie in the bed we’ve made, so to speak.
Is God able to spare us from the consequences of our actions? Certainly He is, and yet many times we see throughout scripture that He allows us to “face the music” or the noise that we have caused. In fact sometimes, when there aren’t visible consequences, He brings in the noise Himself! Why? Among other reasons, so that we can learn from our mistakes. There is no greater lesson, no clearer instruction; on what behavior we shouldn’t repeat, than paying the consequences of our action.
In the same way my parent’s discipline and correction was a form of love and protection, so is God’s. "FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (Hebrews 12:6). Look at this wording! “...He scourges!” God gets rough with His discipline. He doesn’t mess around. The term scourging indicates an object being used. (Much like a wooden spoon!) To reiterate, there is no question that no one likes getting a scourging, but it is in fact, useful in keeping us from doing foolish things again. If we had not done it in the first place, we would not have received a scourging. In actual fact, a quick and patient spanking can change our little one’s attitude from haughty to humble in seconds. We can put the little guy in the corner all we want; it will not have the same effect. This is a biblical principle whose purpose is to keep a child safe from him or herself. The principle continues into adulthood.
My mother, once said, in respect to disciplining your children, you can either cry a little today or a whole lot tomorrow. Truer words were never spoken.
And here is the clincher. Parents can make mistakes. We can often overreact, or lose our patience, or face the temptation of reprimanding in anger and frustration but God does not. No, His discipline is always righteous, and just. His discipline is perfect and full of love and grace.
When I was a child, discipline made me angry. A spanking from dad made me angry. My mom with her ninja reflexes made me angry. To this day I see a wooden spoon and I smolder a little. My mom’s reflexes are so good, the moment a fly enters the room a flaming pink fly-swatter materializes in her hand. Will someone please call Steven Spielberg…this woman is amazing! This tiny little woman will stalk that fly like a sleek, vicious, and slightly plump cougar …till…. Splat! Dead fly. Did it ever even see the blazing pink blur that lead to its demise? I think not. I mean that is punishment to be feared folks.
Friends … we need not fear correction from God. He is a gracious loving father. He is able to chastise and correct and discipline without ever once forgetting his unconditional love for us. I welcome his discipline. I require it! I need him to chip away with a chisel and hammer all that is not a part of His plan for me! I have full confidence that my Jesus is not trying to crush me! He’s trying to form me into His own image!
Sit down for this last part. Will you pray with me today and invite God to discipline us? That’s right. You read correctly. Can we join together and ask God to remove from us whatever needs to be removed even when it stings? Remember, God’s method of correction is far more gracious and merciful then anything we can dole out. Isn’t that awesome? His rebuke will always come to us in love! He’ll never, without a shadow of a doubt, come at you like a giant pink flyswatter! (Unless you’re a fly)
Let me be abundantly clear about something. Most all the discipline I received as a child was well deserved. You see it was 99.99% my fault that I needed to be reprimanded over and over and over and over and over...etc. As I child I never enjoyed discipline. I certainly didn’t welcome it. In fact I avoided it like the plague. I never failed to use whatever deceit or guile I could dream up to get myself out of trouble. (It seldom worked)
The truth is, in retrospect, I am truly thankful for the discipline and protection that was afforded to me! Were it not for those tough days of rebelling, and paying the consequence for that rebellion, I never would have understood the beautiful, precious gift of grace in which I now rest! Did it sting when my parents rebuked me? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes.
Ponder something with me for a moment. We all pay the consequences for our actions. We all need to deal with the fruit that is birthed from the seeds we’ve sewn. Every one of us understands what it means to have to lie in the bed we’ve made, so to speak.
Is God able to spare us from the consequences of our actions? Certainly He is, and yet many times we see throughout scripture that He allows us to “face the music” or the noise that we have caused. In fact sometimes, when there aren’t visible consequences, He brings in the noise Himself! Why? Among other reasons, so that we can learn from our mistakes. There is no greater lesson, no clearer instruction; on what behavior we shouldn’t repeat, than paying the consequences of our action.
In the same way my parent’s discipline and correction was a form of love and protection, so is God’s. "FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." (Hebrews 12:6). Look at this wording! “...He scourges!” God gets rough with His discipline. He doesn’t mess around. The term scourging indicates an object being used. (Much like a wooden spoon!) To reiterate, there is no question that no one likes getting a scourging, but it is in fact, useful in keeping us from doing foolish things again. If we had not done it in the first place, we would not have received a scourging. In actual fact, a quick and patient spanking can change our little one’s attitude from haughty to humble in seconds. We can put the little guy in the corner all we want; it will not have the same effect. This is a biblical principle whose purpose is to keep a child safe from him or herself. The principle continues into adulthood.
My mother, once said, in respect to disciplining your children, you can either cry a little today or a whole lot tomorrow. Truer words were never spoken.
And here is the clincher. Parents can make mistakes. We can often overreact, or lose our patience, or face the temptation of reprimanding in anger and frustration but God does not. No, His discipline is always righteous, and just. His discipline is perfect and full of love and grace.
When I was a child, discipline made me angry. A spanking from dad made me angry. My mom with her ninja reflexes made me angry. To this day I see a wooden spoon and I smolder a little. My mom’s reflexes are so good, the moment a fly enters the room a flaming pink fly-swatter materializes in her hand. Will someone please call Steven Spielberg…this woman is amazing! This tiny little woman will stalk that fly like a sleek, vicious, and slightly plump cougar …till…. Splat! Dead fly. Did it ever even see the blazing pink blur that lead to its demise? I think not. I mean that is punishment to be feared folks.
Friends … we need not fear correction from God. He is a gracious loving father. He is able to chastise and correct and discipline without ever once forgetting his unconditional love for us. I welcome his discipline. I require it! I need him to chip away with a chisel and hammer all that is not a part of His plan for me! I have full confidence that my Jesus is not trying to crush me! He’s trying to form me into His own image!
Sit down for this last part. Will you pray with me today and invite God to discipline us? That’s right. You read correctly. Can we join together and ask God to remove from us whatever needs to be removed even when it stings? Remember, God’s method of correction is far more gracious and merciful then anything we can dole out. Isn’t that awesome? His rebuke will always come to us in love! He’ll never, without a shadow of a doubt, come at you like a giant pink flyswatter! (Unless you’re a fly)
Friday, May 15, 2009
algorithm of the spirit
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
I apologize that I was unable to get my blog posted for a while. Thank you, to those of you who encouraged me with your impatience. So here is a tiny part of what’s been floating around in my thoughts lately.
Life is complicated. Deep huh? I imagine anyone older than nine years old fully agrees with me. In fact, the older we get the complicated-er life seems to become. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want to shout at God. Do you ever feel like that? Have you ever just been tired enough, or frustrated enough, or angry enough to say “Why Me!?”, “It’s not fair!”, “Why are my days so complicated?!”
Even my, now famous, two year old has bad days. Let me describe a typical day in the life of my precious bundle of joy. He woke up crabby and flushed with fever from the molars coming up in his mouth. So already I knew it was going to be a complicated day. He decided that instead of sitting in his child-size rocking chair he would stand on it surfer style. Inevitably he came crashing down. I scooped him up as he wept pitifully to comfort him, and as I walked around I smelled something, um, odd. By now he had calmed down somewhat, right up until I hefted him up to get a better whiff and bonked his head on the low beam crossing the ceiling. Again the weeping commenced with renewed vigor. He finally quieted down enough for me to release him. In no time at all he was back to his normal self. Meaning he went back to surfing on the rocker. When that got old, he munched on several house plants till I spotted him. I gave chase, he ran away (dirt spilling from his mouth), he crashed over his gigantic 2 foot high Curious George…. and so the dance went on for the entire day. Happy, sad, mad, content, angry, giddy with joy and so on.
How does that compare to my own thirty-something life? Well, from birth we know life has its’ ups and downs and Christianity is no different. When we came to know the Lord we weren’t given the keys to immediate joy and perfection.
Matthew 5:45 says: “….that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” There will be good things and bad things that come our way. No we weren’t given the keys to euphoria, but we were given the algorithm to live in peace and joy.
Here is how Wikipedia describes an algorithm: In mathematics, computing, linguistics, and related subjects, an algorithm is a finite sequence of instructions, an explicit, step-by-step procedure for solving a problem, often used for calculation and data processing. It is formally a type of effective method in which a list of well-defined instructions for completing a task is utilized.
Algorithms are complicated, just like the Christian walk ….Do you recall calculus or algebra? A single problem that needed to be worked out consisted of multiple steps. One equation could cover several sheets of paper. I would get my equations so convoluted I could no longer follow my own reasoning! I would never have the patience to be a good mathematician! It’s a good thing I’m not a rocket scientist. I guess many of you knew that. In these long linear algebraic problems if you got any of the initial steps wrong, your final equation would be off. Solving those kinds of problems requires diligence and focus and concentration. Just like the Christian walk.
I know it can be infuriating when a well meaning brother or sister tells us to just “hang in there”. But the truth is that is Godly advice. James 1:2-6 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work (or its equation) so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
So today I’m asking that we look at our complications the way the apostle James would. We can choose to ask questions in frustration. (And they may be very valid questions.) Lord, why can’t I just have what I want?! Why shouldn’t I have a bigger house or a nicer car? Why am I blind? Why am I handicapped? Why am I sick? Why can’t I have children? Why am I alone? And so on. I’m asking that instead, we would ask of God what can I learn from this? In what way can I use my frustrations to bless the kingdom? What experiences, what knowledge can I use to bless someone else going through similar or worse situations?
You‘ve heard the term, “don’t be bitter be better”. That’s what a Christian’s perspective should be.
So sit back. Relax. Let the peace and wisdom of God lead you today, and if you should happen to see my son chewing on a plant let me know.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
I apologize that I was unable to get my blog posted for a while. Thank you, to those of you who encouraged me with your impatience. So here is a tiny part of what’s been floating around in my thoughts lately.
Life is complicated. Deep huh? I imagine anyone older than nine years old fully agrees with me. In fact, the older we get the complicated-er life seems to become. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want to shout at God. Do you ever feel like that? Have you ever just been tired enough, or frustrated enough, or angry enough to say “Why Me!?”, “It’s not fair!”, “Why are my days so complicated?!”
Even my, now famous, two year old has bad days. Let me describe a typical day in the life of my precious bundle of joy. He woke up crabby and flushed with fever from the molars coming up in his mouth. So already I knew it was going to be a complicated day. He decided that instead of sitting in his child-size rocking chair he would stand on it surfer style. Inevitably he came crashing down. I scooped him up as he wept pitifully to comfort him, and as I walked around I smelled something, um, odd. By now he had calmed down somewhat, right up until I hefted him up to get a better whiff and bonked his head on the low beam crossing the ceiling. Again the weeping commenced with renewed vigor. He finally quieted down enough for me to release him. In no time at all he was back to his normal self. Meaning he went back to surfing on the rocker. When that got old, he munched on several house plants till I spotted him. I gave chase, he ran away (dirt spilling from his mouth), he crashed over his gigantic 2 foot high Curious George…. and so the dance went on for the entire day. Happy, sad, mad, content, angry, giddy with joy and so on.
How does that compare to my own thirty-something life? Well, from birth we know life has its’ ups and downs and Christianity is no different. When we came to know the Lord we weren’t given the keys to immediate joy and perfection.
Matthew 5:45 says: “….that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” There will be good things and bad things that come our way. No we weren’t given the keys to euphoria, but we were given the algorithm to live in peace and joy.
Here is how Wikipedia describes an algorithm: In mathematics, computing, linguistics, and related subjects, an algorithm is a finite sequence of instructions, an explicit, step-by-step procedure for solving a problem, often used for calculation and data processing. It is formally a type of effective method in which a list of well-defined instructions for completing a task is utilized.
Algorithms are complicated, just like the Christian walk ….Do you recall calculus or algebra? A single problem that needed to be worked out consisted of multiple steps. One equation could cover several sheets of paper. I would get my equations so convoluted I could no longer follow my own reasoning! I would never have the patience to be a good mathematician! It’s a good thing I’m not a rocket scientist. I guess many of you knew that. In these long linear algebraic problems if you got any of the initial steps wrong, your final equation would be off. Solving those kinds of problems requires diligence and focus and concentration. Just like the Christian walk.
I know it can be infuriating when a well meaning brother or sister tells us to just “hang in there”. But the truth is that is Godly advice. James 1:2-6 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work (or its equation) so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
So today I’m asking that we look at our complications the way the apostle James would. We can choose to ask questions in frustration. (And they may be very valid questions.) Lord, why can’t I just have what I want?! Why shouldn’t I have a bigger house or a nicer car? Why am I blind? Why am I handicapped? Why am I sick? Why can’t I have children? Why am I alone? And so on. I’m asking that instead, we would ask of God what can I learn from this? In what way can I use my frustrations to bless the kingdom? What experiences, what knowledge can I use to bless someone else going through similar or worse situations?
You‘ve heard the term, “don’t be bitter be better”. That’s what a Christian’s perspective should be.
So sit back. Relax. Let the peace and wisdom of God lead you today, and if you should happen to see my son chewing on a plant let me know.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
Thursday, April 30, 2009
fix your eyes on Jesus
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
You wouldn’t walk down the street with your eyes closed, unless you foolishly agreed to a dare. Nor would you drive your car with a blindfold on. Incidentally, putting on make-up while you drive is dangerously similar to that scenario! In short, to get from point A to point B you need to watch where you’re going. Church family, it is in the very same way that we don’t run this marathon of salvation with out fixing our eyes on Jesus.
I believe that the Lord allowed my wife and I have to have a child so that I would have an unending source of illustrations. With that said, here it is.
When little Julian wants something desperately enough he begins to move towards that object, typically an edible object, without pause. So let’s just say he sees a cookie. He will immediately wobble towards said cookie careening off tables, people, small dogs and so forth until the prize is firmly clutched in his pudgy little fist. Samson himself couldn’t pry that cookie out of his hand once he lays hold of it. He may fall down twice, he may get bumped repeatedly, he may even get nibbled at by an indignant pet …. But his enlarged eyes are still fixed on that cookie and like the old song says, he will overcome. For our intents and purposes here today, Jesus is the cookie! Fix your eyes on Him!
As I prepared this devotional thought I was overwhelmed with how good and faithful God is and I was lead to write this prayer. Read it prayerfully and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts in the direction He desires.
When my grip weakens, with out my realizing it, your grip becomes tighter.
When I think I’m one mistake away from being left the way I am, your plans for me promise life and a future.
When I lose sight of all that you’ve done, and my footsteps waiver, your right hand guides me back to the path.
Even when I begin to stumble and perhaps even fall, I have only to repent to find that you have already caught me. You were simply waiting for me to notice it. Ready to forgive.
If my thoughts stray from my purpose, and my eyes wander towards the peril of greener pastures, your loving rebuke draws me back.
When experience, abilities, and past successes seek to puff up, you reach in to humble me.
When injustice and hurt is committed against me and mine and I’m tempted to lose my focus, your sacrifice looms in my heart and my commission is reestablished.
When solitude and isolation threatens, you shine a light on the crowd of witnesses surrounding me.
Your mercy constantly protects me from myself and your love is eternal.
I will fix my eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance even when obstacles from without and within seek to entangle.
Thank you, Jesus for the grace and mercy that sustains and renews us.
Thank you, that You are the source of all power and wisdom.
Propel us to serve you, our brothers and sister in You, and the ocean of people unknowingly searching for You.
In Jesus Name Amen
Hebrews 12:1-2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
You wouldn’t walk down the street with your eyes closed, unless you foolishly agreed to a dare. Nor would you drive your car with a blindfold on. Incidentally, putting on make-up while you drive is dangerously similar to that scenario! In short, to get from point A to point B you need to watch where you’re going. Church family, it is in the very same way that we don’t run this marathon of salvation with out fixing our eyes on Jesus.
I believe that the Lord allowed my wife and I have to have a child so that I would have an unending source of illustrations. With that said, here it is.
When little Julian wants something desperately enough he begins to move towards that object, typically an edible object, without pause. So let’s just say he sees a cookie. He will immediately wobble towards said cookie careening off tables, people, small dogs and so forth until the prize is firmly clutched in his pudgy little fist. Samson himself couldn’t pry that cookie out of his hand once he lays hold of it. He may fall down twice, he may get bumped repeatedly, he may even get nibbled at by an indignant pet …. But his enlarged eyes are still fixed on that cookie and like the old song says, he will overcome. For our intents and purposes here today, Jesus is the cookie! Fix your eyes on Him!
As I prepared this devotional thought I was overwhelmed with how good and faithful God is and I was lead to write this prayer. Read it prayerfully and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts in the direction He desires.
a prayer for renewal
When my grip weakens, with out my realizing it, your grip becomes tighter.
When I think I’m one mistake away from being left the way I am, your plans for me promise life and a future.
When I lose sight of all that you’ve done, and my footsteps waiver, your right hand guides me back to the path.
Even when I begin to stumble and perhaps even fall, I have only to repent to find that you have already caught me. You were simply waiting for me to notice it. Ready to forgive.
If my thoughts stray from my purpose, and my eyes wander towards the peril of greener pastures, your loving rebuke draws me back.
When experience, abilities, and past successes seek to puff up, you reach in to humble me.
When injustice and hurt is committed against me and mine and I’m tempted to lose my focus, your sacrifice looms in my heart and my commission is reestablished.
When solitude and isolation threatens, you shine a light on the crowd of witnesses surrounding me.
Your mercy constantly protects me from myself and your love is eternal.
I will fix my eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance even when obstacles from without and within seek to entangle.
Thank you, Jesus for the grace and mercy that sustains and renews us.
Thank you, that You are the source of all power and wisdom.
Propel us to serve you, our brothers and sister in You, and the ocean of people unknowingly searching for You.
In Jesus Name Amen
Hebrews 12:1-2
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
Pastor Jimmy E. Rovaggi
Associate Pastor
West Hudson Christian Center
557 Kearny Avenue Kearny, NJ 07032
p 201-997-7762
c-973-600-8544
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
snow angels in the dirt
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
I was speaking to a young man this past week that was struggling with discouragement. He is serving God to the best of his ability and there is no lack of gratitude to the Lord for the mess He brought him out of, yet he was discouraged. He allowed circumstances, family and old friends to remind him of the failure he was in the past. It’s funny how sometimes the people closest to us are the ones that harm us the most. Intimacy has a way of giving us license to tear down and wound. Oh it’s not always meant to be mean spirited or intentionally hurtful, none-the-less it causes us to feel devalued. I want to remind you of something today. When God looks at you He sees what He created you to be. He sees your value and your success at all the good works He prepared for you to do before you were even born as it says in Ephesians 2: 10!
God looks at us through the filter of His son Jesus! Have you ever been discouraged? Have you ever been so overwhelmed with the pressures of life that made you truly question your faith?
This past week my wife and I were working in the garden. Our little boy ran around frolicking and squealing joyfully as only a two year old can, while we broke up the dirt, planted seeds, and raked weeds and dead branches that had collected over the winter. In faith, all this effort will produce lots of beautiful vegetables later this summer. I was battling a headache so I called it quits and went in the house. At one point I looked out the window to see my son playing in the dirt by laying flat in the garden flapping his limbs back and forth as if he were making a snow angel! Now my initial response was annoyance. I was annoyed that he was making a mess of the nice neat rows my wife had prepared. I was annoyed that he was covered from head to toe in dirt. I was annoyed that my wife wasn’t reprimanding him. But my feeling of annoyance turned to mushy love when I heard his giggles and saw his beautiful little expression. It made me think, this is what Jesus must feel when he looks down at us. Here we are struggling through our day to day, making mistakes, playing in the dirt as it were, and even though we deserve reprimand, Jesus pulls us up out of the dirt, brushes us off, and steers us in the right direction. Why? Because He feels warm mushy love for us far deeper than what we can feel for our own children. My friends we have every right to walk in joy and in victory today! God is faithful and true and will see us through to the end of this temporary path right into our eternal one. Don’t let misguided words ruin your day. Don’t allow memories of past failures immobilize you! When we walk in repentance and in relationship with the Lord we have the promises of God to depend on!
I leave you with these scriptures.
Romans 4:18-21 18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be. 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Be encouraged! These scriptures are for every one of us today! Take some time to take out your bible and read these scriptures for yourself. Give God time to speak to your heart today and bring you peace and joy and encouragement.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
I was speaking to a young man this past week that was struggling with discouragement. He is serving God to the best of his ability and there is no lack of gratitude to the Lord for the mess He brought him out of, yet he was discouraged. He allowed circumstances, family and old friends to remind him of the failure he was in the past. It’s funny how sometimes the people closest to us are the ones that harm us the most. Intimacy has a way of giving us license to tear down and wound. Oh it’s not always meant to be mean spirited or intentionally hurtful, none-the-less it causes us to feel devalued. I want to remind you of something today. When God looks at you He sees what He created you to be. He sees your value and your success at all the good works He prepared for you to do before you were even born as it says in Ephesians 2: 10!
God looks at us through the filter of His son Jesus! Have you ever been discouraged? Have you ever been so overwhelmed with the pressures of life that made you truly question your faith?
This past week my wife and I were working in the garden. Our little boy ran around frolicking and squealing joyfully as only a two year old can, while we broke up the dirt, planted seeds, and raked weeds and dead branches that had collected over the winter. In faith, all this effort will produce lots of beautiful vegetables later this summer. I was battling a headache so I called it quits and went in the house. At one point I looked out the window to see my son playing in the dirt by laying flat in the garden flapping his limbs back and forth as if he were making a snow angel! Now my initial response was annoyance. I was annoyed that he was making a mess of the nice neat rows my wife had prepared. I was annoyed that he was covered from head to toe in dirt. I was annoyed that my wife wasn’t reprimanding him. But my feeling of annoyance turned to mushy love when I heard his giggles and saw his beautiful little expression. It made me think, this is what Jesus must feel when he looks down at us. Here we are struggling through our day to day, making mistakes, playing in the dirt as it were, and even though we deserve reprimand, Jesus pulls us up out of the dirt, brushes us off, and steers us in the right direction. Why? Because He feels warm mushy love for us far deeper than what we can feel for our own children. My friends we have every right to walk in joy and in victory today! God is faithful and true and will see us through to the end of this temporary path right into our eternal one. Don’t let misguided words ruin your day. Don’t allow memories of past failures immobilize you! When we walk in repentance and in relationship with the Lord we have the promises of God to depend on!
I leave you with these scriptures.
Romans 4:18-21 18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be. 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Jeremiah 29:11 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Be encouraged! These scriptures are for every one of us today! Take some time to take out your bible and read these scriptures for yourself. Give God time to speak to your heart today and bring you peace and joy and encouragement.
God Bless You and may He make us blessable.
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