beautiful day to succeed

by Pastor Jim Rovaggi

Just a quick note on this BEAUTIFUL DAY!

I don't want these devotional thoughts to become routine but I was asked by several people to bring them back...so here it is. That means you have to read it! : 0 )

By now I'm sure most of us are at work for several hours, dealing with our little ones...at our offices...in our classrooms...perhaps it's time to get the laundry together...or return that call to our boss from Friday when he left that message. Maybe you got home from a long night's work not long ago and you're just now getting to sleep! Either way, I'm sure Monday hit us in the face like a pie full of cold grease. Sorry for the visual...

What ever the case may be, I have a few very important questions to ask you and they're tough ones. Ready?

Do you remember the principle of the sower? You reap what you sow. You get out of something what you put in to it. The things you invest in, will flourish. There is a little story that goes like this. (and there are several different versions)

In each person reside two dogs. One dog is an evil nasty critter. He's bitter, spiteful, jealous, arrogant, can't take correction, he's un-teachable, easily offended, and he'll bite anyone that gets near. The other dog is good, faithful, sweet, loving, patient, kind etc. Which one grows big and strong? Which one takes control? Well for sure the one that eats Italian food ...but besides that, the answer is, the one you feed. So you get it? Simply put, the principle of the sower: You will get out of yourself what you put into yourself. OK, Next question.

Did you make time for God first thing this morning? Are you a night owl? Maybe your quiet time with God (reading the Word - praying - worshipping) was late last night? (and no church doesn't count.) If you didn't make time for God, here is the last question. Why should He make time for you? Does that sound harsh? Read on.

Psalm 37:4 ...Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Church, please take this to heart.... Yesterday morning during the worship service here at W.H.C.C., I felt a strong urging of the Holy Spirit to encourage the church family to turn off everything from their TV, to their cell phone, and everything in between so we could spend some time with the Lord. Maybe 30 minutes, maybe an hour, if possible. You see the people of God in this day and age have become so comfortable with instant gratification that we have decided our relationship with Jesus works the same way. We go to church Sunday morning. If we're really sanctified we'll go again Wednesday. In between we'll look up some quick devotional thought on the Internet, where some one spoon feeds us something completely UN-original and PRESTO...we expect God to pour out showers of blessing. Well on-line devotionals are fine but it doesn't work that way. Yes, God is a God of grace and blessing and He does want to give you more than you can imagine but HE WILL NOT CONTRADICT HIMSELF!

So once again here is the formula "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"If we're honest with ourselves we have to admit we make time for what matters. Period. When I delight myself in ANY thing other than Jesus, (even seemingly good things) then the formula quiet simply doesn't work.

You can walk in victory! You can have peace and joy.... You can be a power house for God ... You can trust that God WILL provide the desires of your heart. You do not have to suffer the garbage that surrounds you and sit around wallowing in fear, and anxiety, and self-pity, and failure! How? By spending time with God ... knowing Him...by allowing the Holy Spirit to saturate you so full of joy and life and power that you can't help but shout Praise the Lord! In fact, here is a little test for you. Are you at your desk? Are you surrounded by people...or maybe just a co-worker or two? I want you to say something to praise the Lord right now out loud! Whatever you like. Go ahead I'm waiting. Say it: Thank You Jesus...Praise the Lord... Come ON you chicken! SAY IT! Whispering doesn't count! (But don't yell in such a way that causes someone to call Human Resources because W.H.C.C. will not take responsibility!) Folks we just have to get to know Jesus again! Maybe you're asking. Where do I start. I'm so glad you asked! God spoke to our hearts in a recent message from Ephesians!

Eph 6:10-17 (NIV) "...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Will you make time for God today? Look, I know there is a lot of good material on-line, and we've got devotional books galore, but the problem with that is, those things don't teach us to get in the word and read it, and then sit back and say "Lord, tailor this to me. What do you want me to get out of this?" All the wisest words from the best writers, speakers, and famous pastors, that can all be found in seconds on line, can not take the place of what Jesus wants to speak into your heart.

Make time today. Call your wife, call your husband, make arrangements, set a plan in place so that you can spend time with the Lord. It'll be the best investment you ever make.

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