Lent

Lent is upon us and in lent we are asked to really reflect upon our faith and how our faith has been within our life.  Often times many give up food or some other habit they don't see fit.  But what we really need to do is reflect upon bad habits that make us sin.  Some of these can be very small habits, but in lent we are reminded of Christ dying for us upon the cross.  Us, as man, brought that death upon Jesus.  After all it was the short coming of our lives that had God give us his only son that we could have everlasting life.  But that required Christ death upon the cross..............so we ultimately caused that.  The ash from lent upon our forehead is to represent the death of Christ and our new lives when he rose.  But we must make the commitment, which is easier said then done.

Living in Christ and showing others we are a brother in Christ is a constant battle.  We all will forever sin, but knowing that we can live in faith and prayer to strive each day to be a better person and a better Christian.  We must commit to our old lives dying and our new life starting in Christ.  We must also commit to allow that new life continue each and everyday, but renew our faith each and everyday as well.

Are you giving up the old habits that really have not allowed you to have a close relationship with Christ?  I challenge you this Lent to allow your faith to be renewed, allow your old life to die and your new one to begin in Christ.  Then, go and be a brother in Christ each and everyday.

Pastor Shawn

Significance

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rules of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 20:20-28

Significance.  What does it mean to you?

Significance cane mean many things, but over all it means that something is important or someone is important.  When we look at our lives, we want to make sure our lives are "significant".  We want to contribute to society and so we chase after things.  It could be that we are chasing a dream for money, a house, a car, having family, or love.  We all want to look back on our life and say my life was significant.

But, when we serve others our life is significant.  We may not have a huge house or lots of money, but what we will have is a life filled with treasures where we know that we put ourselves to work using our God given talents and followed his path to serve others.  That to me, is more significant then anything life can give you in the way of material possessions.  

So I challenge you today, pray and find out what your true talents are and then use those to serve others.  Soon you will start seeing the blessing in your life come to life and one day when we are in front of our creator we will look back and say, "yeah, my life was significant".  

Choose to serve others, just as Christ wants us to do.  

Pastor Shawn  

Are you a christian or are you a "pretend" christian?

By Doug Fields So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.Colossians 2:6

It’s likely you’ve heard the famous Las Vegas advertising tagline: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Think for a moment about what this implies. Hey, you want to cheat on your spouse in Vegas? No problem, it all stays there. Want to gamble away all your savings? Vegas will never tell. Want to party till you puke? Fine. The smell will never make it to your home. The implication of this approach is that it’s okay, even desirable, to live one way in Vegas, then another way at home. I fear that for Christians, too many live out their faith in a similar way. “What happens away from church, stays away from church.” This reveals a weak, shallow, empty faith that attracts guilt, and frankly, is a lousy way to live. It’s a compartmentalized faith – a pick-and-choose lifestyle in which a person basically wanders between a Christlike life and a Christless life. Typically, such a person chooses to live God’s way when the church lights are on and Christian friends are looking, but behind closed doors, when no eye can see him, all bets are off. Here’s my personal experience: when I’m spiritually empty, I naturally gravitate toward a compartmentalized faith. I hate to admit it, but when I’m not feeling close to God, the actions of the world are attractive and even seductive to me. Thankfully, as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve also learned to recognize the signs of my spiritual emptiness. Now I can usually catch myself before I experience the negative consequences of my actions. I talk to a lot of Christians who believe that living for God means not blowing it in big areas of life: committing adultery, stealing money, murder—that kind of thing. Wrong! A non-compartmentalized, fully integrated faith means obedience in the small areas too. Obedience to a managed thought life, speaking kind words, and the call to follow God’s way. It’s what we think at night when no one is around. It’s that extra jab we do (or don’t) let lie when we have an argument with a friend or spouse. It’s the degree to which we keep (or lose) our cool while fighting traffic. What’s the solution? Obedience is much easier when we’re living topped off and spiritually refueled. When we are consistent in connecting with God, our hearts are full, and we’ll desire to live a consistent (non-compartmentalized) faith. Today, take time to refuel, by stopping, by being quiet, and by making a connection with God. This can take seconds or hours, and it can take place anywhere and at any time.

Life can be a challenge

So many times in life, we are up and down.  Its not uncommon to hear your friend(s) tell you of challenges in life.  If life where easy, we all would be happy all the time.  Truth is, life has challenges everyday that we experience, some greater than others.  I was once asked, why does God allow these things in my life??  My reply...................

It is apart of our existence here on earth to experience challenges.  It helps define who we are, helps us grow, and allows our relationship with others to grow.  It also causes us to have an influence on others, be it comforting, leader, or just being a listener.  Challenges only allow us to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to look back and say; "I got through that, it really wasn't that bad".  If life where suppose to be easy, we would have great stories to share, love to share, and friends to celebrate getting through something difficult.

So the next time you face such a great challenge, face it head on.  Know that God is in everything and he will get you through it.  Pray about it, talk with family and/or friends about it and most important, do not loose your faith in yourself or God.  Because there is nothing in life that is too great of a challenge.

Pastor Shawn

Shawn Parcells Ministries

Philippians 4:6 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Look at Paul

I cannot believe we are halfway through the year.  I heard an add the other day and realized that fall is only two months away..........wow.  Before we know it we all will be back into the Holiday shopping season.  As I was thinking about that, my mind was going over all the holidays we celebrate here in America and Easter came to mind.  This year I saw more people giving Easter credit for what Easter is about, Christ dying for our sins.  In the past it was all about the Easter Bunny so naturally I felt so excited when this year I saw more and more people and businesses giving credit to Easter for being about Christ.

Then I started thinking about Paul.  Paul was highly critical of Christians.  In fact, he openly blasted them until he himself became blind.  This was the only way Christ could reveal himself to him.  In the end, Paul gave up his old ways and faithfully followed Christ.  Others cast out judgement on him because of his past, but he had friends to defend him and as those who did judge him came to know him, they soon realized he was a changed man.

As Christians, we are asked to follow Christ in faith.  We are asked to devote our lives to him, his word, and his ways.  We are asked to minister to others and live in faith that reveals itself to others who do not know this faith.  Earlier this week I challenged you to follow your faith and do more than what most think a "typical" Christian does......go to church, pray, and read the Bible.  We all know it goes way beyond that.  But what about the other side?  What I am talking about?

In life we all are so quick to judge others.  We see this in the news, looking at celebrities and their faults, looking at public figures and their faults, looking at co-workers and gossip that surrounds the office.  Yes, I am going to say this, but it is a sad fact.  In our faith, Christians who claim to be Christians, are the ones who are very quick to judge others...........those that don't live in faith, those that act certain ways, and the list goes on.  Why?  This is not what Christ calls us to do.  Rather, we must give up this judgement side of us.  Sure, it isn't easy.  I still find myself doing it and then quickly praying to stop myself.  It isn't right.  What right do we have to judge others, no matter what the person has done or how they live or act?  It isn't our place.  It is God's place and his place ONLY!!!!  The Bible tells us all sins are equal......so what does it matter to us what the person has done?  Sure, bad things happen in life, but that doesn't mean we can judge.

What we need to do is be a true Christian to these people.  Minister to them without judgement, pray for them (pray for our enemies), assist them out of their troubles and into a better life knowing Christ.  Be open with our arms and our love for them.  It's about LOVE and what LOVE can do for us and others.  Once we really understand the LOVE of Christ and what 1 Corinthians tells us, then we really can start spreading that love to others who really need it.

So my challenge to you is this.  Are you really loving yourself and others, just as Christ did for us?  Christ went on that cross knowing what the ultimate sacrifice is...........he didn't judge anyone, but rather did it for his love for us............so in return, give your love to others without judgement and counsel them into your arms so they may know the true love of Christ.  Only then can we really think about Peace here on Earth.

Pastor Shawn

Shawn Parcells Ministries

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes,what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Not realizing your full potential

Often times in life, we allow outside forces to guide our overall thinking.  Family, friends, and leaders telling us what we are talented at, what we are not so strong at, and where we should go with our lives.  It's easy to listen to others, which at times is what we need to have happen............but what about those times where our mind is telling us one thing and our hearts are telling us something else?

God has a plan for our lives and it is a good one, trust me.  But sometimes in life we must sync our minds and our hearts.  We all need guidance and surround ourselves with true believers within ourselves, but if you are fighting your mind with what your heart wants, maybe it is time to listen to what your heart is wanting.  I have always believed that is God knocking on the door.  Doing that means you must sacrifice and possibly give up something "comfortable" in your life for an unknown dream.........that can be scary.

When I started my ministry, I was fighting within myself.  I have always been medically minded and love medicine.  To this day I still have an autopsy company.  I also am an entrepreneur and love running businesses and doing business, but something was left out in my life.  Ever since the young age of 8, I have had an interest in doing ministry, but I wasn't sure how and then I started my ministry.  It is still young and still growing.............God kept seeking me.  Finally, I listened and am now still walking in the dark, wondering where this ministry will go, will it be successful, and can I really take it where I want to take it?  I have to trust God, because he knows best.

So, I challenge you to stay the course if you feel your on the right path.  If your heart is asking you to do something else, go for it.  Walk into the unknown, for Christ is with us all and he will guide you.  Trust in yourself and your talents and do not let anyone tell you any different.  Only then will you realize your full potential and what God wants you to do while you are still here on earth.

May God Bless.................

Pastor Shawn

Shawn Parcells Ministries

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

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. 

Letting Christ in

It is so easy for us to go to church, pray, seek forgiveness, and turn around and go back to our normal ways on Monday.  My question for you is are you really letting Christ in?  So many of us are half way there, some of us are not even close, and others have it just right.  But even for the ones who have it just right are still short, as we are all short of the glory of God.  That is how the cross comes into play, giving us that bridge from our human side to God.  But we have to do our part to seek Christ.

It's like working out.  Some people have a real hard time getting started, but once you get started it gets easier and easier each day to get up and workout.  As time goes on, you get in better shape, your diet changes for the better, and before you know it, you might even be encouraging your friends to do what your doing.  Seeking Christ is similar.  At first, we may not understand it, we may not know how to pray, or where to even start.  Get involved with your local church, one in which you are comfortable with, seek your friends who profess Christ faith and ask them for guidance, or even go to a Christian bookstore...........so many resources are there.  Once you get started, each day it will get easier and easier and before you know it, you will be asking your friends to join you.

Seeking Christ is an everyday thing, constant study of the bible and prayer, but also making sure you are doing your part in your life to minister to others.  It's a marathon that you will run until the day you die.........and trust me, at that moment you will be forever thankful you ran a hard race.

When we do this, peach will not only come over our lives, but we will see the path God wants us to take.  You will see the good come from the bad, and your situations where you thought there is no way out of this will soon pass you through a tunnel and you will enter into the daylight you where seeking.  Another words, if you do your part in seeking Christ...........living in everyday faith............God will bring you goodness, you will overcome your issues.  So my challenge today is seek Christ and see what it does to forever change your life for the better........trust me, God loves you and good things are to come.

Pastor Shawn

Shawn Parcells Ministries