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
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
the grass is always greener but it's not always God
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
Did you know, it’s been suggested that glass is actually a liquid? If someone had asked me years ago, “Is glass in a solid or a liquid state?” I would have confidently answered; it’s in a solid state. I would have been wrong. Take a look at a really old pane of glass some time. You’ll notice it looks sort of droopy. Have you ever been utterly convinced about something only to find out later you were wrong? When was the last time you asked God, “Am I in the right state? Is my heart and mind in the right condition? Even the Psalmist David had to say “Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me”
Let’s talk about obedience briefly. It’s mighty easy to consider myself obedient if I never ask the Lord, “What should I be doing?”
My precious little boy has developed a knack for deflecting blame that would make a politician proud. Here is how the scenario plays out: From a seated position I would say, “Julian, put down the stuffed giraffe and come here, it’s time for breakfast”. His immediate response? “noooo”. “Julian, now!” I’m still sitting, but now my posture has gone rigid. Once again, “noooo”. At this point I’m annoyed that I have to go collect him physically, and it’s written all over my face. Upon reaching the little guy I sternly ask, “Why are you not obeying daddy!?” His reaction? He very sweetly offers up the stuffed giraffe to me accompanied by an adorable smile. Now if I can manage to not break down into a fit of giggles at his diabolical cuteness, it is time to put him in “time out” for being rebellious. At two years of age, these battles with discipline are about fifty-fifty between being strong disciplinarians and smothering the little guy with kisses, but because my wife and I love him and want to see him mature, addressing the rebellion is rapidly climbing. Very much, I imagine, like God does with us.
I’m reminded of the story in 1 Samuel 15:10-25 when Saul gets caught in disobedience and tries to squirm out of it by claiming he was sacrificing for the Lord. Well friends, there’s no squirming out of accountability with God.
1 Samuel 15: 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
As the children of a loving but disciplinary Father, we need to make a point of examining our hearts to make sure that we find sincere obedience there! I’ve witnessed people who are faithful, and even generous with their tithes and offerings, and use that as license to not get involved in any area of ministry! The reverse is also popular among the faithful. I‘ve heard a brother or sister say, “This is the ministry I sacrifice to the Lord and I’m happy to serve because we’re really in no position to give from our finances.” NEWS FLASH. Neither outlook is acceptable before God. It’s not one or the other. He is looking for obedience.
There is another side to all this of course. The negative side is that we invite discipline of our Father’s love when we are disobedient, but conversely, when we follow the Lord in obedience, we are rewarded with peace and confidence!
I had a conversation last week with a dear sister who shall remain nameless. Let’s call her Ethel. She’s married to an officer, lives a handful of blocks from my wife and I, and works for an attorney, but I digress. So as we chatted, “Ethel” shared how much she had enjoyed a recent trip, and how nice it would be to relocate there but the difficult truth was, that wasn’t in the plan of God at this time. My wife and I experienced a similar situation years ago. We thought perhaps the Lord was moving us to “greener pastures” but as we sought to be obedient we realized it wasn’t to be. I’m not able to say, “Everything has been just perfect!” but I am able to clearly see the many blessings we received for being obedient, including the birth of our precious child. As I spoke with “Ethel”, a thought settled into my spirit. How many followers of Christ have stepped off the path of obedience God had for them in favor of chasing greener grass only to find God putting them in “time out”? Will you take some time today and have a conversation with Jesus? He went to the very cross for you and I. Are you willing to go where He asks? Or for that matter, are you willing to stay put? Are you willing to obey? I pray that you are so that you can experience His great blessing.
Well I have to go folks. A giraffe just came flying by head. It’s time for a father’s love.
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
Did you know, it’s been suggested that glass is actually a liquid? If someone had asked me years ago, “Is glass in a solid or a liquid state?” I would have confidently answered; it’s in a solid state. I would have been wrong. Take a look at a really old pane of glass some time. You’ll notice it looks sort of droopy. Have you ever been utterly convinced about something only to find out later you were wrong? When was the last time you asked God, “Am I in the right state? Is my heart and mind in the right condition? Even the Psalmist David had to say “Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me”
Let’s talk about obedience briefly. It’s mighty easy to consider myself obedient if I never ask the Lord, “What should I be doing?”
My precious little boy has developed a knack for deflecting blame that would make a politician proud. Here is how the scenario plays out: From a seated position I would say, “Julian, put down the stuffed giraffe and come here, it’s time for breakfast”. His immediate response? “noooo”. “Julian, now!” I’m still sitting, but now my posture has gone rigid. Once again, “noooo”. At this point I’m annoyed that I have to go collect him physically, and it’s written all over my face. Upon reaching the little guy I sternly ask, “Why are you not obeying daddy!?” His reaction? He very sweetly offers up the stuffed giraffe to me accompanied by an adorable smile. Now if I can manage to not break down into a fit of giggles at his diabolical cuteness, it is time to put him in “time out” for being rebellious. At two years of age, these battles with discipline are about fifty-fifty between being strong disciplinarians and smothering the little guy with kisses, but because my wife and I love him and want to see him mature, addressing the rebellion is rapidly climbing. Very much, I imagine, like God does with us.
I’m reminded of the story in 1 Samuel 15:10-25 when Saul gets caught in disobedience and tries to squirm out of it by claiming he was sacrificing for the Lord. Well friends, there’s no squirming out of accountability with God.
1 Samuel 15: 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
As the children of a loving but disciplinary Father, we need to make a point of examining our hearts to make sure that we find sincere obedience there! I’ve witnessed people who are faithful, and even generous with their tithes and offerings, and use that as license to not get involved in any area of ministry! The reverse is also popular among the faithful. I‘ve heard a brother or sister say, “This is the ministry I sacrifice to the Lord and I’m happy to serve because we’re really in no position to give from our finances.” NEWS FLASH. Neither outlook is acceptable before God. It’s not one or the other. He is looking for obedience.
There is another side to all this of course. The negative side is that we invite discipline of our Father’s love when we are disobedient, but conversely, when we follow the Lord in obedience, we are rewarded with peace and confidence!
I had a conversation last week with a dear sister who shall remain nameless. Let’s call her Ethel. She’s married to an officer, lives a handful of blocks from my wife and I, and works for an attorney, but I digress. So as we chatted, “Ethel” shared how much she had enjoyed a recent trip, and how nice it would be to relocate there but the difficult truth was, that wasn’t in the plan of God at this time. My wife and I experienced a similar situation years ago. We thought perhaps the Lord was moving us to “greener pastures” but as we sought to be obedient we realized it wasn’t to be. I’m not able to say, “Everything has been just perfect!” but I am able to clearly see the many blessings we received for being obedient, including the birth of our precious child. As I spoke with “Ethel”, a thought settled into my spirit. How many followers of Christ have stepped off the path of obedience God had for them in favor of chasing greener grass only to find God putting them in “time out”? Will you take some time today and have a conversation with Jesus? He went to the very cross for you and I. Are you willing to go where He asks? Or for that matter, are you willing to stay put? Are you willing to obey? I pray that you are so that you can experience His great blessing.
Well I have to go folks. A giraffe just came flying by head. It’s time for a father’s love.
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 2, 2009
how loved we are
by Pastor Jim Rovaggi
I hope this e-votional finds you doing well today. What I have to share is for those who may be dispirited or in the doldrums. Perhaps you’re struggling with full fledged depression or maybe you’re just a little “down” for whatever reason. Many times we attend church, pick our favorite seat next to that brother or sister who smiles at us and shakes our hand, and they never know the struggle we may be going through. If that’s you today read on.
My thoughts this morning are on the more somber side. I have a fifty year old aunt, Esterina, who went to be with the Lord last week after undergoing a severe sickness that placed her in a coma. As the family prayed and waited, she did come out of the coma simply to pass away several days later. But it is a testament to the grace and mercy of the Lord that He allowed my father’s sister to be conscious in her last moments to share a tiny message that I will never forget.
Allow me to describe this little Sicilian woman. My earliest memories are of a short stout woman who giggled constantly and was as sweet and loving as they come. She struggled with various handicaps that somewhat hindered her mobility and even her mental abilities and so rendered her the type of individual that would most likely be very forgettable to most people passing by her today. She was loving, often silly, innocent in many ways, and had a child like faith that the pillars in the spiritual community would envy. She struggled a bit to read, but that didn’t stop her from reading the word of God and it certainly didn’t stop her from praying. In fact I can say with confidence, she prayed for her entire family most every night.
It has been years since I had seen her, and quite frankly, weeks since my thoughts turned towards her. Being separated by miles of ocean sometimes tends to distance us from loved ones. When I received the call last week that she had gone on to be with the Lord, my first reaction was resignation. “She’s better off“. I thought to myself. My mother tearfully went on to share that my aunt’s final words were, “I see my mom and dad, they’re calling me home.” I have to admit that I got off the phone very quickly at that point, because I was too choked up to continue. I was struck with the truth that this forgettable little woman was not forgettable at all to the loving Savior she had worked to serve for the majority of her life.
When my father-in-law passed away years ago, he was surrounded by family. Countless friends from church had been in and out of his hospital room to bring comfort and encouragement. I remember in the days preceding his death, he was concerned for those he was leaving behind. Of course we did our best to console him but true consolation could only come from the Holy Spirit. Even as he slipped away, I will never forget a statement he made to my brother-in-law and I. “You guys are like my brothers”. It seemed odd to me at the time. But in retrospect it became evident to me that God was giving him a level of confidence, and peace, that those he was leaving behind would be taken care of; that as he went home to be with a loving God, there was no need for anxiety.
Getting back to my aunt, many of her family members were far away in those final moments, but the presence of the Lord was not. I have no doubt that the arms of Jesus were more than adequate to collect her Spirit to Himself.
I would not describe myself as a mystical sort of person. Although I often feel very clearly, the leading of the Holy Spirit in various ways, I have never heard the audible voice of God. I have seen some wonderful manifestations of the Spirit of God but I don’t see prophecy around every corner, and I admit to a certain degree of skepticism when I hear someone flippantly toss around statements like, “God spoke to me and said this and that…” With that said, I did not take her final words lightly. I fully believe that the Lord was welcoming her into eternal glory and quelling whatever fear she may have faced.
Here is what I need to share with you today. In the same way that Jesus loves a precious soul, living, for all intents and purposes, in the middle of nowhere, He loves you. He desires to sustain, and protect, and nurture you in life and in death. I was reminded in a powerful way with Esterina’s “home going” that we are in the Lord’s thoughts constantly. He never ceases to love you! Are you frustrated today? Are circumstances threatening to drag you under? Finances? Relational problems? Health Issues? God has not forgotten you. He loves you. Let Him comfort you! You are his dear little child! A young lady in a recent home bible study shared that His love was able to manifest itself like arms surrounding her in a warm hug. Can you understand today, how loved you truly are? I pray that you experience God holding you today.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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 hope this e-votional finds you doing well today. What I have to share is for those who may be dispirited or in the doldrums. Perhaps you’re struggling with full fledged depression or maybe you’re just a little “down” for whatever reason. Many times we attend church, pick our favorite seat next to that brother or sister who smiles at us and shakes our hand, and they never know the struggle we may be going through. If that’s you today read on.
My thoughts this morning are on the more somber side. I have a fifty year old aunt, Esterina, who went to be with the Lord last week after undergoing a severe sickness that placed her in a coma. As the family prayed and waited, she did come out of the coma simply to pass away several days later. But it is a testament to the grace and mercy of the Lord that He allowed my father’s sister to be conscious in her last moments to share a tiny message that I will never forget.
Allow me to describe this little Sicilian woman. My earliest memories are of a short stout woman who giggled constantly and was as sweet and loving as they come. She struggled with various handicaps that somewhat hindered her mobility and even her mental abilities and so rendered her the type of individual that would most likely be very forgettable to most people passing by her today. She was loving, often silly, innocent in many ways, and had a child like faith that the pillars in the spiritual community would envy. She struggled a bit to read, but that didn’t stop her from reading the word of God and it certainly didn’t stop her from praying. In fact I can say with confidence, she prayed for her entire family most every night.
It has been years since I had seen her, and quite frankly, weeks since my thoughts turned towards her. Being separated by miles of ocean sometimes tends to distance us from loved ones. When I received the call last week that she had gone on to be with the Lord, my first reaction was resignation. “She’s better off“. I thought to myself. My mother tearfully went on to share that my aunt’s final words were, “I see my mom and dad, they’re calling me home.” I have to admit that I got off the phone very quickly at that point, because I was too choked up to continue. I was struck with the truth that this forgettable little woman was not forgettable at all to the loving Savior she had worked to serve for the majority of her life.
When my father-in-law passed away years ago, he was surrounded by family. Countless friends from church had been in and out of his hospital room to bring comfort and encouragement. I remember in the days preceding his death, he was concerned for those he was leaving behind. Of course we did our best to console him but true consolation could only come from the Holy Spirit. Even as he slipped away, I will never forget a statement he made to my brother-in-law and I. “You guys are like my brothers”. It seemed odd to me at the time. But in retrospect it became evident to me that God was giving him a level of confidence, and peace, that those he was leaving behind would be taken care of; that as he went home to be with a loving God, there was no need for anxiety.
Getting back to my aunt, many of her family members were far away in those final moments, but the presence of the Lord was not. I have no doubt that the arms of Jesus were more than adequate to collect her Spirit to Himself.
I would not describe myself as a mystical sort of person. Although I often feel very clearly, the leading of the Holy Spirit in various ways, I have never heard the audible voice of God. I have seen some wonderful manifestations of the Spirit of God but I don’t see prophecy around every corner, and I admit to a certain degree of skepticism when I hear someone flippantly toss around statements like, “God spoke to me and said this and that…” With that said, I did not take her final words lightly. I fully believe that the Lord was welcoming her into eternal glory and quelling whatever fear she may have faced.
Here is what I need to share with you today. In the same way that Jesus loves a precious soul, living, for all intents and purposes, in the middle of nowhere, He loves you. He desires to sustain, and protect, and nurture you in life and in death. I was reminded in a powerful way with Esterina’s “home going” that we are in the Lord’s thoughts constantly. He never ceases to love you! Are you frustrated today? Are circumstances threatening to drag you under? Finances? Relational problems? Health Issues? God has not forgotten you. He loves you. Let Him comfort you! You are his dear little child! A young lady in a recent home bible study shared that His love was able to manifest itself like arms surrounding her in a warm hug. Can you understand today, how loved you truly are? I pray that you experience God holding you today.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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
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