New Years Resolution

It’s the same story every year. It’s the beginning of a new year and the time for people to make their new years resolutions is here. “Its time to get in shape” or “its time to get out of debt” “its time to spend more time with my kids” or its time to take more trips and so on and so forth.. And we all know that for some people, the promises they make to ourselves will be broken in the first week or so. Not very comforting news I know! However there is a new years resolution we as Christians can make. We can make a resolution to God. We can resolve to spend more time with God in His Word and prayer. We can make the decision to come back to church FULL TIME. The thing about making promises to God is that we need to keep our promises to Him, but know this, that He can help and encourage us in our new comittment to Him. And know this that the commitment to God is longlasting in importance because it is of eternal value. So I want to encourage you today to make new resolution to God where you are in your life today. Lets commit to Him even more than before.

Psalms 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”

By: Steven Overbaugh

Real meaning of Christmas

During this wonderful time of the year, it is so important that we all remember what the real purpose and meaning of Christmas is. Many times in our busy lives we sometimes forget why we celebrate this time of the year or our focus is in the wrong place. It is easy to get distracted with all the presents we want, great Christmas sales and holiday shopping, the family dinners, then AFTER Christmas sales, etc. All of those things are great, but is it easy to forget that it is Jesus’ birthday after all. One thing my family and I do on Christmas morning – before we open a single gift, is we open our Bibles and read the story of Jesus’ birth. That always means a lot to me that we put Jesus first on His day. Not everyone has to follow that tradition, but my point is we need to put Jesus first in our lives and not just on Christmas, but 365 days a year. This is a joyous time of celebration we as believers can enjoy! I like what the angels told the shepherds in Luke 2:10 “Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to ALL people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord.” It’s a time of great joy for everyone!

So as I write the blog for this week, I just want to encouage everyone to remember the precious gift our Father God gave to us, His Son Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6  “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

By: Steven Overbaugh

Renewing the Mind part 2

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Renewing your mind is a lot like a renovation project. It can be a long process. It takes time. It takes effort. The end result however is something NEW! It is the same with renewing the mind. The process of changing our mind and thinking in line with the Word of God, takes time; it takes effort; it take perseverence. The end result however is something NEW – a new mind which will also make a new life!

In our lives, we can tell when there needs to be some renovation. Did you ever see some “stinking” attitude come up all of a sudden? We have to get rid of that! The problem is when Christians hang on to behavior like that. That is when it becomes sin. And God see’s our motives. It is so good to know that I can do something about every stupid thing, that is worldly, that tries to get into my thinking. James 1:21 says “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” To save is to deliver. Sometimes we have things in our lives and thinking that we need to be delivered from. If you are teachable, if you will receive the Word of God, if you will sow it into your heart and your mind, then there will be a change in you. The Bible says if we will work at engrafting the Word, planting a seed, rooting itself and causing growth in your soul, it will deliver your soul. It will preserve your soul, it will protect your soul, it will literally save, make whole, deliver your mind. But it’s not enough just to read the Bible. You have to do the Word! A lot of people are reading the Bible, but their not doing it. And if your not getting results here is the problem right here. James 1:22  says “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” If you want results in your life, you have to continue to look into the Word of God and then go and be a doer of the Word! 

Pastor Jim Overbaugh and Steven Overbaugh

Renewing Your Mind

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

“He says your mind doesnt he? Your mind is not you. Your body is not you. It’s  YOUR mind and YOUR body. God did not make you a robot. He made you and He gave you a free will and He wants you to follow His instructions in order to gain victory in your life, in your mind, and in your body. He said in Romans the way I am going to get to the place where I am not conformed to this world  is by the renewing of my mind! There is a renewing process that takes place according to the Word of God that actually transforms me. The Greek word means to change form. The butterfly is great example of this:  He starts out as a caterpillar. The caterpillar builds a cocoon around himself, he’s in there, and there is something that takes place inside there that you can’t see. Something that takes place inside that you can’t see!” It takes time, but one day that old caterpillar comes out of his shell as a beautiful butterfly. His form has completely changed, his appearance is different, he acts different. The same thing is true spiritually, God wants to do something inside your mind!  Renewing your mind is so important in order to live in victory over your flesh. It will transform you, it will change your attitude, it will change your appearance, it will change your life!

  There are so many ideas in our world today that would love to get into our minds and dominate our thinking. We will always be “renewing” our mind to something (not necessarily the Bible). For instance you can renew your mind to what sickness and disease tells you, or what the economy tells you, or what the T.V tells you, or what your checkbook tells you, or what other people tell you that doesn’t line up with the Written Word.   There are many voices in the world.  So it’s important that you listen to the right voice. Renew your mind to what God has to say to you in His Word. Colossians 3:10 says “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” We need to become the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. To do this we must think the way He thinks – we must renew our minds with His Word. It does take time to change our thinking, but time in the Bible is NEVER wasted time!

Pastor Jim Overbaugh and Steven Overbaugh