Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

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(“Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute” is a weekly encouragement. Subscribe to this blog to stay connected.)

Around the time of Jesus’ passion in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples to pray for Him. He came over to where they were on three occasions and found them sleeping. They literally fell asleep on the job.

If this was not part of God‘s plan it would have been tragic. Jesus' disciples were not as strong as they thought themselves to be. We are not as strong as we think we are, but that is only a problem if we are unwilling to accept that we need God to strengthen us day by day.

When Jesus told the disciples He was going to be taken and that they would struggle and stumble, Peter strongly objected and said, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” To which Peter said, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matt. 26:31-35)

Well, we know what happened. Fact: Peter if you couldn’t stay awake to pray with Jesus for an hour in a peaceful place, you didn’t have the strength to stand with Jesus in crisis.

Our strength comes in humility. To be humble is to be willing to be helped. The old saying is true, talk is cheap. Let God help you today, and day by day. That's what Jesus died, buried, and rose again to provide to you and me.

God Bless and Be Encouraged!
~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

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God‘s blessing and favor are not locked away from you.
God‘s blessing and favor are locked away for you.

Isaiah 45:3 NLT, And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—
secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

Parables show why things are locked from some and for others:
Matthew 13:10-12, And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it as been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have even what he has shall be taken away from him.

God revealed His motivations through choosing the Hebrews:

Deuteronomy 7:7-9

The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8] but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments

God did not choose you because he saw so much potential in you.

He chose you because He could show His faithfulness through people who were far from preferred and perfect

• God chooses people based on who will allow Him to be faithful. God doesn’t need partners, because He does not need help.
• God chooses sons and daughters to reveal Himself through.
• People who think they have enough, don’t think they need God.
• People like to talk about God, but don’t actually want to do what He says.

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(“Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute” is a weekly encouragement. Subscribe to this blog to stay connected.)

I didn't sleep well last night, and had to get up at 5:30am. It was a cold morning leaving the house and driving north on the highway before dawn. Praying and listening to a worship playlist while navigating the light early morning traffic made me fully awake. Rolling up the interstate, checking directions, looking at the ETA on my GPS, and thinking about my destination.

I am not an early riser, especially since I am something of a night owl, working on projects often late into the evening. But today there were no regrets about getting up early on a cold morning, not getting enough sleep, and driving alone for 119 miles.

Love and a promise made was the difference. I promised my four-year-old grandson that I would be present for Grandparent's Day at his school. My wife was not able to come this year.

I arrived to the school a little early. In comes my grandson with his other grandmother. He said, “Hi Papa,” as casually as if I had just drove around the corner to be there at 8:30am.

That's all I needed to hear.

There is always joy in the things we do for love––and it is never a burden!

God Bless and Be Encouraged!

~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

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Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NJKV), If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom produces success.”

(NLT), Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

(NIV), If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the saw.” ~ Attributed to Abraham Lincoln

From a knife sharpening guide: “Maintaining Your Edge”

A properly maintained knife is sharp. A dull knife can be dangerous because you will apply much more pressure than you would with a sharp knife and your hand will be much more likely to slip.

A honing tool will realign the edge and also bring to the surface the carbon molecules that provide most of the cutting action. Frequent honing is essential and will keep your knife cutting like new for months.

Use your honing tool virtually every time you use your knives.

KEY WORDS

Ax (Saw) – The instrument of service; our lifestyle

Edge – The cutting edge; the action edge; What we actually do; our gifts and unique contribution to God’s purpose

Wisdom - Ability to make proper choices and reach proper conclusions and decisions; Shrewdly aware and subtly resourceful; Using the proper means and procedures in attaining an end; Knowing how to restore and maintain your edge.

Sharpen: Raising the level of your skill and effectiveness through RENEWAL

Tools That Sharpen

– Doers of the Word: Eccl. 10:18, Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house
– Prayer & Worship: Individual, corporate, John 4:23
– Simplicity/Declutter Life: 2 Cor. 11:3 NLT, But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
– Fellowship: (“Iron sharpens iron”) Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 2:7
– Personal Preparation: 2 Tim. 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
– Accountability: Hebrews 13:7, Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. – Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. account.
– Faith: 2 Cor. 5:7, Prov. 11:4, He who observes the wind shall not sow...”
– Teaching & Training: Sermons, Bible Study - Acts 2:42, They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

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(“Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute” is a weekly encouragement. Subscribe to this blog to stay connected.)

In the first Psalm, David described the blessed person who knows that seasons never fail. He wrote. “They shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

Your season never fails because a season does not depend on you. Your season depends on where you are planted.

Trees, like our lives, that are planted by rivers of water have a steady supply of nourishment contributing to steady growth. Having served in ministry for more than 40 years, I have seen the difference between people who are planted by rivers of water, such as planted in churches that teach the Word, who honor Jesus, and those who are not well planted.

When you are well planted, your leaf does not wither, and you prosper, even when you don't feel like it. God is faithful, even when we struggle— especially when we struggle!

Again, your season never fails because it does not depend on you. Are you well planted?Thank God for the streams that nourish you –– Streams of a faithful church, caring pastors, and loving people in your life.

God Bless and Be Encouraged!

~ Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy