2010 is in the Books

Psalm 90:12 (NKJV) So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I love it when a new year is just up ahead. They are so open with possibilities, positive changes, and open doors from the Lord.

It's incredible too, to think that yet another year has passed! They seem to just fly by us. Every time another new year rolls around, I'm reminded of the saying, "Only one life will soon be passed and only what's done for Jesus Christ will last."

With a year behind us, we now look forward. What's the best way to redeem the time God will give us in 2011? I believe one of the best ways is to follow the instruction of our psalmist. He asks God to teach him to number his days. Truly that request is one designed to help us live out daily, our lives for Jesus Christ. There is great wisdom in not allowing the enormity of a year, or a month, or even a week to weigh heavily upon our hearts, but to trust in our precious Lord daily.

I desire so much to live out what Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).

With the blank slate of a new year ahead of us, it's my prayer we're ready for all that God has planned! See you next year!

In His Love,
Pastor Ed


Response
Thank you so much. I have to tell you I've really been blessed since coming back to the Lord and beimg led to Calvary Aurora. It is so refreshing and the fellowship has been missing from my life for 35 years.

Do You Love?

Ephesians 5.1-2 (NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Love is at the heart of Jesus' message. It's key. It's central. The gospel is love; it's very core! There are a lot of thoughts and theories passed off as Christianity today, including some that have become so very popular. There is the message of health and wealth. There is the message of control and power. There is the message of give to get more. The list continues on and on with poor and unbiblical substitutes for the love of Christ. The key question is, "Do you love?"

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34 What a great way to wind down the year, meditating on the love of Jesus in our lives and through our lives.

In Him,
Pastor Ed


Response
Thank you, Pastor Ed, for this encouraging message. My husband, Sean, died a little over two months ago, and I was having a very hard time today. It usually is "well with my soul," but I needed the reminder today that God is in control and He will take care of me until the day that I can be with Him and Sean in Heaven. I have not been able to make it back to church since my husband's passing because it's just too hard. However, I always watch the service on the Internet each week ~ just like Sean and I used to do while he was bed-ridden. Thank you for your ministry and faithfulness to the Lord.

Merry Christmas

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I pray that you have a wonderful day celebrating the one of the most magnificent days on earth, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Bring someone to church this weekend!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed


Response
Thank you for this encouragement. Just the other day I was singing another song titled "Overwhelmed."

I am overwhelmed by Your mercy.
I am overwhelmed by Your grace.
For the faith You give even when I doubt You.
I am overwhelmed by Your love.

You are so right! We need to turn it around. So when I get overwhelmed, I will purpose in my heart and mind to recall these songs, and be overwhelmed in singing His praises.

Thanks for helping to start the day on the right foot! God Bless.

Habits

Acts 2:42 (NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

A habit, good or bad, is a powerful force in our lives. Webster defines a habit as, "a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up." It's important that we develop good spiritual habits that will crowd out the bad ones we've picked up along the road of life.

Consider this little description:
You may know me. I'm your constant companion. I'm your greatest helper; I'm your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am at your command. Half the tasks you do might as well be turned over to me. I'm able to do them quickly, and I'm able to do them the same every time if that's what you want. I'm easily managed, all you've got to do is be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want it done; after a few lessons I'll do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men and women; of course, servant of the failures as well as the successes. I've made all the great individuals who have ever been great.

And I've made all the failures, too. But I work with all the precision of a marvelous computer with the intelligence of a human being. Take me. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Be firm with me and I'll put the world at your feet.

Who am I? I'm a Habit!

We need to develop and cultivate good, solid, spiritual habits. They are essential for your spiritual growth. Habits like daily prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, and service all help to grow us in the things of Jesus.

Pray about your habits today. Watch and see what God will do!

In Hope,
Pastor Ed


Response
For me, my favorite verse is John 3:16. It was (I think) the first one I learned, and I remember someone telling me once to replace the words "the world" with "you." For God so loved YOU, he gave his only begotten son.... Thanks for the encouragement.

Pathway of Blessing

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

The wonderful song book of the Psalms opens with this powerful instruction. If you want blessing, be careful where you walk; where you stand; and where you sit.

Be careful that you're not walking in the counsel of those who don't love God. This world is full of that type of counsel: the counsel that is totally devoid of spiritual depth and instruction. Don't walk that way, David says. Instead, the Bible says in Psalm 119:1, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!"

Be careful that you're not standing in the pathway of sinners. This includes the places that sin is committed. Why would we be standing in places that are set apart for the fulfillment of sinful pleasures in this world? Instead, the Bible says in Psalm 134:1, "Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord!"

Be careful that you're not sitting in the seat of those that are scornful. We don't use the word scornful much, but the idea is those who mock God; those that express utter contempt for the things of God. Paul tells us that evil company can corrupt good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33).

So the pathway to blessing begins with a careful life that watches out for where we choose to walk, where we choose to stand, and where we choose to sit!

Blessings,
Pastor Ed


Response
I haven't written you in a long time. It's actually been a year. One year ago, I, as an exchange student from Russia, left America, my host dad and friends. I spent the very last night with my friends at Calvary Chapel Aurora on Wednesday. I was brought to the church by my dear friend in May and I had a wonderful time there. And when I left I felt a little bit lonely. I missed Calvary, people who were there. I asked myself: What am I going to do next? Since there's no Calvary Church in my city and my American friends are gone. I thought I was alone which was not entirely true. My family was there, my friends were there. You knows who else was there? Jesus. I travelled many times leaving some important to me people behind, but Jesus was always there. He was there from the beginning and He always will be. I attend church at my city where I live and I faithfully miss Calvary Aurora Chapel. As I feel I've grown in the Lord. I came to realization that it's not about attending a particular church. It's about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is everywhere no matter where we are.

Authenticity

Mark 12:37 (NKJV) And the common people heard Him gladly.

One of the greatest tools in evangelism, in sharing the gospel with those we love and care for, is authenticity. They need to not only hear the message from us, but see it lived through us in a real, true, and authentic way. Hypocrisy is simply unattractive, and not at all like Jesus.

As an unbeliever, lost - so desperately lost - I know that I was looking for something powerful, real, and authentic. What I had seen in the 'Christian World,' especially on TV, just wasn't real. Scandal after scandal rocked the popular preachers and it put a real sour taste in my rebellious mouth. It didn't help present Jesus to me at all.

So many today are still looking for that real, authentic, powerful connection with God. They aren't looking for some syrupy imitation. They don't want some Christian experience or some religious nonsense. What people are looking for is something worth living for; worth dying for.

Jesus is authentic. Jesus is real. Jesus is powerful.

Live out your life in Him and watch the people around you hunger for that authentic Savior you're so in love with!

In Mercy,
Pastor Ed


Response
Thanks for this, Pastor Ed. I was one of the 'strays' and have come back to the Lord. I know there must have been people praying for me for a long time, and I certainly felt the Shepherd calling me back to the fold. It is so good to be back in fellowship with the Lord and feeling again that best-friendship I missed so acutely in my life! It is a special blessing that my husband accepted Christ as his Savior the night I re-dedicated my life. We also have 2 little boys who now are being raised in a Christian home and will never remember a time when Mommy and Daddy didn't know Jesus. I am especially grateful for this timing because I want so much for my children to know the peace of God in a tangible way in their lives. God is SO GOOD! Just when you think you have gone too far and that God will never condescend to the place you find yourself, He reaches into the pit to pull you out. It is just too much for words.

Pray for 89.7 GRACEfm

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

In just 20 days, our plans are to be on the air with 89.7 GRACEfm, reaching the entire Denver Metro area with solid Bible teaching and inspiring worship music every day, all day, all year! We will be Denver's station of Worship and the Word!

As many of you know, it continues to be a huge step of faith for us as a congregation. Yet, we know it's from the Lord. It's so exciting, it's hard to contain it. We believe God has prepared our precious fellowship family for such a time as this!
Today, would you please pray for the station... for the city... for the lost... and for the amazing church family of Calvary Aurora both here locally, around the country, and around the world!

Your prayer coverage and financial support is so greatly appreciated!
Be sure to join the conversation at:
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What a ride,
Pastor Ed


Response
Great morning Pastor Ed!! Just a quick note to let you know that I appreciate the Abounding Grace emails, specifically this morning's. Last night my 10-year-old daughter was having trouble sleeping. When I asked her why, she said she just didn't "feel" saved. I had the opportunity to share with her that salvation is not a feeling but a fact! Having witnessed her confession of sins and her request for forgiveness from our loving Lord, I assured her that her name was written permanently in the book of life. We prayed together asking for peace and she settled down to a good nights sleep. God is so GOOD! Thanks for sharing this morning and being used to confirm God's truth!