Anguish for the Lost...

I have recently been deeply challenged by the words of Romans 9:1-3. In these verses, Paul reveals that he feels pain for those who do not believe in Jesus. He writes, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen.” These words pierce me and expose my own sinfully self-oriented heart. May God open my eyes to see the glory of Jesus on one hand and the great spiritual need of the lost on the other hand. And may I be brought to my knees in anguish and sincere compassion to intercede for the lost and then may I be moved to rise and take to them the good news of Jesus our Savior!

Do these words of Paul resonate with you? Or do they reveal a lacking in your heart as well? Either way, let us take up with more fervency the task of interceding for the lost. Are you willing to join me in this battle? It is a fact that we invest in the things that we care about. Are there people that you love dearly yet who do not know Jesus as Savior? Fight for them on your knees! Do you have a heart to see your community reached with the Gospel of Jesus? Do battle for them! Is your desire to see Jesus glorified among all peoples and nations around the globe? Do the hard work of intercession! I look forward to standing with you on the front lines!

Lord, I sincerely confess my selfish heart. Break my heart with my own desperation for your grace through Jesus and move me to see the same need of those around me. Lead me to fight for your glory on my knees and to do the work of intercession for the souls of the lost. So let it be.

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

Does My Mood Matter?

This morning I woke up in a bad mood. Do you ever do that? I definitely have my share of those mornings. I am not much of a morning person and that has never been in doubt. Usually, I prefer to not talk for the first forty-five minutes of the day. I don’t like being this way and God has done a lot of work on me over the years to smooth some of my rough edges. But today started with one of those moody mornings…and it has been bothering me. Even in the middle of my bad mood, I knew that there were spiritual implications for the attitude I have each moment. That’s when I felt a rebuke coming. Do you ever get those gentle corrections that hit you like a punch and cause you to stagger back for a moment? In my heart I felt God reminding me that my life is not about me. Each moment I live is to be lived for the glory of God. Even the mundane moments of daily routine or drudgery or even suffering can be lived for God’s glory. It’s not easy and it does not come naturally and I am not very good at it… But God is working on me. To finish up this bit of self-revelation with a point, I just came across this quote that I wrote down while listening to a sermon a while back: “It is important that Christ-followers live abundant lives, joyful lives. And it is important that we be seen living joyful lives in Jesus.” I am thankful that God reminded me that the joy I have rests with Jesus and the attitude I choose to adopt in each moment has the potential to exalt Jesus in sight of those around me.

He Must Increase, I Must Decrease.

JasonPS

A Long Time Coming!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I posted. To say the least, we have had a few things going on. Excuses, excuses....

To cut to the chase, our move to the Seattle area has gone incredibly well. How about I just give a quick rundown of some of the wonderful ways that God has been so good to us and has answered prayers in perfect timing and provision.

-Wonderful host family (Mike and Nicole Leck) for our first three weeks.

-Transportation needs met (loaned van, rental car, purchased minivan and Honda CR-V)

-Apartment secured

-Belongings delivered

-Furniture purchased

-Wonderful support from the church

-God working through an inexperienced pastor

-Home in Brownsville, TN about to sell (to good friends of ours)

-The boys are adjusting very well

-We are meeting people and beginning to make friends and build relationships

I could go on and on. God has been so good to us and has blessed us tremendously. I am humbled that He has chosen to use us and is working through me despite my inexperience and many weaknesses. Any good that is being done is only God doing it!

He must increase, I must decrease.

(I get to preach on this passage [John 3:30] this Sunday, August 7!)

JasonPS

Wise Words From A Young Heart

We are just days from our big move to Seattle. We got to celebrate with Brownsville Baptist Church this past weekend and enjoyed a truly encouraging time of sharing with the congregation.

One tremendously encouraging conversation that I had was with Luke's Sunday school teacher, Jan McAdams. She told me that just that morning their class had been discussing how Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world to tell people about Him. She said that Luke immediately looked up and said, "That's just like me!" Sometimes it is ha

rd to tell whether our boys understand why we are moving and what is behind all of this big transition. But clearly, Luke gets it and this makes the task much easier.

"Thank you, Lord for helping our family follow you. Increase our understanding of your purpose for our lives and give us a greater desire to walk with you."

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

I Can't Wait!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. We had a wonderful morning worship service at Brownsville Baptist Church followed by an afternoon of celebrating and visiting with people that we care deeply about. But what stands out for me yesterday was an experience that I think we don't have often enough.

Our church hosted an Easter musical called "Forgiveness at the Cross." The choir and the drama team did a fantastic job...but that is not the point. The final scene from the drama featured the risen and glorified Christ seated on His heavenly throne being exalted and worshiped by multitudes of people clothed in white, gathered around the throne and singing His praises.

While I know that we cannot even begin to imagine Jesus' glory to be revealed at that time, the scene gave us a hint of what we can expect. In that moment, one thought kept ringing in my mind: "I can't wait!"

I want to increasingly long for that day when Jesus will be glorified before all people. I want to be motivated by anticipation for that moment. And, I want to be God's instrument to bring more and more people to worship around that throne on that day!

"Lord, move in my heart that I would long to see Jesus high and exalted on His throne! Use me for your purposes, to bring more people to that wondrous day!"

He must increase, I must decrease!

JasonPS

Are you desperate?

Sin is as close to us as our own skin and we can easily become comfortable with this ever present enemy. After all, how do we consistently wage war against our very own flesh? We have to always be in a state of desperation! Not desperation in the sense of not knowing where to look for the answer or to whom to turn for relief. Instead, we know that our only hope for overcoming sin is in Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in us. But here is the rub: When we feel strong in ourselves or become confident in our own mastery over sin or comfortable with this sin or that hint of immorality, we have already begun to loose the battle.

I have been there... If you are a believer, then you have been there, too. We have to be desperate! We have to desperately depend on the grace of God to give to us the righteousness that we cannot achieve for ourselves. We have to desperately plead for Jesus to overcome sin in our hearts. We have to desperately walk in the Spirit each day, knowing that the moment we stop leaning on His strength, we will fall.

I have a couple of friends that are caught in this battle right now. They know that they are being beaten by sin and the consequences of their choosing sin are looming. But they are not desperate yet. They like the sin just enough that they don't want to take the drastic measures that will protect them. I am praying for desperation for them and for me. I don't ever want to forget that I am powerless without Jesus and that when I go into battle poorly equipped or in my own strength, I am doomed.

Hebrews 12:4 says, "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."

What about you? Are you desperate in your struggle against sin? Are you desperately clinging to Jesus for victory over the sin that is never far from you?

"Lord, I have no power on my own. I have no righteousness on my own. I am desperate for you, for your presence in my life, for your power to bring victory to my struggle, and for your glory to be displayed through me."

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS

My Wife is Awesome!

God has blessed me beyond measure with an amazing wife!

I can't even begin to tell you all of the ways that she is better than me or scratch the surface on how wonderful she is. This business of selling our home and most of our possessions, leaving behind our friends and family, and moving across the country to take on the role of a pastor is a big deal and Melissa is feeling the weight of it all. Still, she plows right along doing a fabulous job of being a mother and a wife and a friend.

Have you read Melissa's blog about the move? serving-in-seattle.blogspot.com

I have really enjoyed reading her thoughts and hearing her ideas. I have a new appreciation for who she is a woman and as a child of God. She stretches me to be better than I am!

"Lord, thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful wife! She truly does make me stronger and fills my gaps. Your wisdom and providence are beyond compare!"

He must increase, I must decrease.

JasonPS