Front Porch Confessional

It has been my great joy to be with you all over the last 5.5 years.  This podcast has been the journey of my life with Christ and with you all.  Along the way, Solomon inspired by the Spirit of God has helped me discerned my days.  THANK YOU Ecclesiastes 7:13 Watch the way God works and fall in line, don't fight the ways for God, for who can makes straight what God has made crooked.

You are powerful, but do you know where that power comes from?1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

We are afraid of our sin...so we avoid and run away from it.  David models a life lived in the presence of God, and he is not afraid to confess his sin.Psalms 51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

We tend to trust ourselves when we shouldn't.  Solomon is trying to show how arrogant and prideful this is, and ultimately leads to death.  Jesus wants to give us life and life to the full...trust in him.Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

This is so hard, but you can protest God and have hope in him.  He is greater than your circumstance.Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face

We struggle with God's timing.  We believe we know what's best.  God makes decisions with all of eternity in mind and Pastor Peter is reminding us and this church, to rest in God's timing.2 Peter 3:8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

We are always returning to the Lord!  In Jeremiah 29 the Lord is laying out a plan to the Israelites on how they will go away and the will faithfully have them return.  We need to learn to return to the Lord with our whole hearts.Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 

Jesus says it so beautifully here...eternal life is not just something we experience in heaven, it starts right now!!!John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

As humans, we're control freaks.  We believe as we hold on we're gaining something instead of realizing what we're losing.  Jesus knows, and he trying to help reorient usMatthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

God is calling his people out so he can restore them, but we have a responsibility.Humble--Pray--Seek--Turn 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This passage is for those longing for safety.  Where do we do in times of need?  We go to the ONE who promises to protect us.Psalm 27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

ONE thing...that is what David is directing us toward.  The problem is our ONE thing is typically different than his.  Our deepest desire should be to desire the presence, beauty, and wisdom of the Lord.Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.

We are in such a hurry that we don't realize that Jesus wants to disciple us.  We think we know who Jesus is, but we don't.  Slow down, and let Jesus teach you.Mark 8:30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

We should be known as people who do good.  When people talk about Christians, they should proclaim...those people make things better.  Is that what you/we are known for?  Paul says to us...may it be!Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

God is inviting us into himself...into relationship, but so often we are so busy trying to figure out our problems in our lives on our own.  What happens when we direct our attention to God...mysteries are revealed.Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

All of life is all for Jesus.  This should be the focus of every moment of our lives. How would that change the way we exist?  Would we be more joyful and at peace?  Paul is trying to get us to reframe the way we live our lives.1 Cor 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

This passage is so important.  We are people who evaluate ourselves on what the outside looks like, but Jesus flips the script- Look inside!Mark 7:15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

So much of our life is being pulled away from the Love of God.  Pastor Jude is trying to help us get our chins up to see what really important.Jude 1:20-21 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

So many of us are pursuing after our own truth and it's why we're so lost.  David realigns us to the real truth of life.Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

There is so much evil in this world...we can change that.  Each person gets to make the decision to look and live like Jesus. Paul is instructing us to change the world by doing this.Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We have a peace problem...and because we have a peace problem, we have a God problem.  Our minds are "stayed" on the wrong things.  We need to recalibrate and reconnect with the Lord.Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

This passage is such a gift, but also a challenge.  Let us commit to seeing how Jesus talks about his Father and receive it.Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

We are autonomous people, but we were never meant to do life alone.  From the beginning of time, to Jesus, and in the present...people together is the plan that God has for us all. Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

We have a love perception problem, and it's impacting every part of our lives.  John is refocusing this young church (and us as well) back to the love of the Father through through Jesus the son. 1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

We need to  acknowledge God here on earth, but sadly so many are afraid to vocalize with what they believe because they fear man and not God.Luke 12:8-9 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Good works from God lead people to God.  Do we believe we are a light in the darkness or are we giving in to the weight of the world.  We are called to be different and make a difference.Matthew 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We tend to lean towards passive or violence, but Paul helps us see something about who God is and what we are promised.  Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

We hate the middle, but it's the place where faith in God is truly lived out.  Moses diets the people of God NOT to look at their circumstance, but the Lord...how about you?Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

The promise of the Lord is that he is near to those who are suffering, but why is it that we resist.  Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

WE DID IT...a years worth of podcasts.  Thank you so much for all the love and support both through listening and also financial.  This verse has been so important to me, and was the 1st verse on episode #1.Ecclesiastes  7:13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

How cool that Jesus calls us to be a child and not a CEO.  Why is it important to be like a child and to see how Jesus was?Matthew 18:2-3  And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Words are cheap...woudn't you agree?  Lot's of people talk, but what is the internal reality for them?  Jesus is calling out the talkers and getting to what's most important.***Note:  One correction.  In the podcast I said that Jesus was quoting Isaiah in 20:19, but the passages is Isaiah 29:13Matthew 15:8-9 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” 

How do you know who to follow...those who bear good fruit.  But how will we know?  Do they look and live like Jesus.Matthew 7:18-20 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Pastor John through the revelation of the Spirit shows us how to defeat satan.  Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

In a world that is looking for direction, why do we turn to anything other than the Words of God?  David is pointing us to the worth of God's words, we need to pay attention.Psalms 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Peter is trying to teach us how to live out the gospel in an unjust world.  Are we looking for justice or the approval of God?1 Peter 2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

We need to confront our individualism and see that it has always been about God and it will always be about him.Ephesians 1:11-12  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

I am so convicted by the passage.  God is pointing out the real error in our hearts and lives.  The way we see and serve people really matter.  So how are you doing?Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

This passage is so great...we can actually shut people up by the way we love Jesus and those around them.  This is the gospel and this is Gods will.1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

This is such an amazing passage..a crossroads moment for the Israelites and for us.  Who will you serve?  It can't be both.  You have to make a decision.  Life is the culmination of the decisions we make. Choose God!Deuteronomy 11:26-28 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

The focus of our thanksgiving tends to be circumstance oriented.  When it's good, we're thankful, when it's bad we're ticked.  Pastor Paul is showing us a different "Jesus Way" to live.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Your burdens are a gift to one another.  I know that feels weird in a myopic society, but it's what Paul through the life of Jesus is inviting us into.  Give others your burdens, and bear others burdens.Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Why do we lob off parts when Pastor Paul says we are ONE body?  1 Corinthians 12:20-21 As it is, there are many parts,[a] yet one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

We tend to go after those we sinned against secondary as opposed to dealing with the primary person we've sin against: God.  David realigns our thinking!Psalms 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

We tend to lose perspective when we're in the midst of life's storms.  God through his prophet is trying to refocus us...HE's WITH us!Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes plans don't work out?  What do we do?  Do we try to push through or do we submit to the fact that God made be frustrating those plans for a purpose.Psalms 33:10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

We tend to look at the exterior in most situations and in the process avoid what's really most important, what's inside.1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

So many of us have been hurt and abandoned.  We spend so much of our time living out of that hurt.  But the Lord will take us in, not just when we're hurt but every day.Psalms 27:10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

So many of us are in the middle.  We feel stuck.  We're frustrated.  God where are you? Go what are you doing?  What if the way we're dealing with middle is pointing to what be believe about God?  God through Moses is teaching us about what to do.Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

We have all focused on things other than the Lord...it's no wonder why we have a stressed out culture. David is refocusing us on the truth that will set us free.Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

We truly don't understand the compassion of God...if we did, it would impact the way we live our lives.Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.