Pastor David Keuss - Hope without Compromise

As you wake up, especially on the Lord's Day, it might be that you are opening your Bible and listening to the heart of your Father in Heaven on those pages. You might be on a Bible reading plan or at least have some strategy for reading. One day you might be in Isaiah chapters 44-45, hearing what God said through that prophet of old. One of the wonderful things you'd discover is a very high view of God in the life of Isaiah. He was one who knew his own limits, Isaiah chapter 6. Recall that he overheard this powerful song, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." That heavenly scene put his own views into perspective. Can I be very up front with you now? We all need that. You need that reminder, I do, we all do, regularly, weekly, even daily. Otherwise, we get prideful. God > Me. That is what Isaiah 44-45 reminds us and reminded the original hearers of too. To God's people, by implication we are all asked as well to ...

Vision is critical in your life. If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time. Sometimes God places you in the realm or position of leading others as well in life. When it comes to casting vision for others, there are some tips from various sources that can help you. As an example, Brian Dodd with Injoy teaches that you can know you have vision to start, when you can speak about the vision without notes. So unlike a normal sermon or message, when vision is so clear to the leader, then, it is clear to the audience as it is conveyed from the heart. Vision is not just history. Vision is “crisply” sharing today your heart to people, in a short compelling way. Compelling would motivate the sacrifice needed. What makes your vision compelling at this time? In response to a situation of a need, Nehemiah had vision that was based in God’s heart as well. In his own time, he owned the vision, to help those who were in need in Jerusalem back home. Nehemiah 1 reveals his heart forming v...

Whatever your situation in 2019, you can and will be blessed by God if you resolve to be in God’s Word regularly.  A daily Bible reading plan can be obtained from some trustworthy ministries, and so the process of choosing one is easy. Check out this set of plans from www.biblegateway.com here: https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/ Another great resource is here: https://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans/ There may be some reading this, who want to start the NT and read it, you would really benefit from this plan: https://static.crossway.org/excerpt/reading-plan/4-esv-6-month-nt-reading-plan.1.pdf Then, you may want to use time as a measure too, and there are some like these available: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/ In looking over these, my hope for you is that you find one that speaks to where you are, and encourages you.  God’s Word is rich, and every year you can and will gain much from the Lord through reading in the Bi...

Maybe you relate to the vast majority of Americans who take too few days off of work, and feel guilty for taking vacation.  If you have not been taking a Sabbath Day off ( a day of rest each week ) the summer is a great time to catch up. Decide to take a few days off of work so that you can honor the Lord, by resting from work an appropriate amount.  That ability to excuse yourself from needing any rest is risky.  Along with lack of proper regular rest, you can face burnout.  This will not honor God, will lead to health problems, and even make your work less productive when you are there. A day of rest does not have to be expensive.  Nor does it have to be staying at home.  If you are stuck in a chair doing accounting or programming or evaluating numbers, your day of rest might be getting out and getting active.  For someone who thinks of rest as an expensive vacation, perhaps if that's you, you can try a stay cation that is less of a burden. Tak...

When it comes to a powerful Christian belief for our well-being, one that stands near the top is Adoption.  People routinely struggle with thoughts like, "Does God accept me?" and "How would I know for sure?"  In ancient Rome, a person was adopted even as an adult into a family.  They were in case law, actual heirs.  This is hard to grasp for us, that it was common to have adults adopted then.  As part of adoption, a new parent would expect the adopted son or daughter to hold to their values/goals. Paul uses by the Holy Spirit's leading the analogy of what they were familiar with, to contrast and compare with what God was already up to (indeed in Old Testament, God had already mentioned this doctrine many a time, but Paul 'illustrates' it in his culture for the church). You and I now live for God's goals/values/purposes, if we are in God's family by faith. One must place their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, believing He die...

Raising kids is tough work.  A Christian parent has to rest in God's grace for mistakes, but at the same time rise to the occasion to instruct, counsel and protect. As a parent / grandparent you want to 'check up' on how you're doing as a family with God's will. The Book of Proverbs gives a really good synopsis of some parenting principles. They are generally true, not absolutely true. Here are a few points with Scriptures that would really help in this: 1. Fear. Are you as a dad or mom fearing God as you should?  Or do you fear a parent's approval, or a friend's approval or a cultural human pressure to put something else you believe before God? "In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children have confidence." ~ Proverbs 14:26. 2. Lies. As a parent, do you speak truth regularly?  Do you lie as a habit?  If you find yourself telling lies, be assured your kids will pick up on it and feel the same liberty to do s...

If you are willing to pray for our country today given the Inauguration of our new US President & Vice President, here are some Scriptures to consider praying over: 1.  " First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. "  (1 Timothy 2:2, ESV) Prayer:  'Our Father, we give you praise that you call on us to pray for leaders.  We ask for an upholding of your Law and your moral precepts in our nation's leadership.  We pray that you would even change hearts to help those leading us to know your Son Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  We pray that their leadership may give your church in our land freedom to live out our faith without harassment, even as early American Protestants also sought.  We seek the same.  Let your church be free to be u...