Front Porch Confessional

God loves you so much and is constantly calling out to us, but we are often blind to it.  Paul is a wonderful evangelist and intellect who is helping understand how God speaks. Romans 1:19-20 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisib...

The jealous of God is something I've struggle with since first hearing about it as a kid.  Do I want a jealous God?  My answer is" YES," praise God he is jealous. Exodus 34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

There are so many words in this word, and I am the chief offender of over using them.  Solomon is inviting us into a different way of seeing words. Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Where do I belong in this world?  This is a question that pains so many people...and David wants to help us understand the answer to that longing. Psalms 8:3-4 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,   what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

No matter how hard we try, we will not stop sinning...that's discouraging right???  What matters in the midst of this reality is who I believe Jesus to be.   Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Meal time prayers really bother me...why do we do them?  Why do we rush through them?  This passage and podcast are going to invite us into the life giving worship that God deserves. 1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

I love Solomon...he knows we are struggling with how to live in this word, so he gives us this amazing picture of wisdom and folly. Proverbs 17:12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.

Do we love God enough to do anything to make sure we are pursuing after righteousness so we can experience his presence?  David prays this radically relational prayer, will you? Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  

Pastor Paul is helping us understand what it means to grow in our faith in a culture that wants to pull us away.  What are we to do? 1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."

How do we stand firm in what we believe and still be loving?  Look to Jesus! 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.   Do everything in love.

What happens when the grief is to much?  What are we to do?  The Son of Korah is inviting us into the mysterious tension if following after God when things are hard. Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

Pastor Paul loves the spiritual children that God has given to him to parent.  In a culture so deeply rooted in the world, Paul is trying to join them and us to the life giving truth of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Have you ever wondered how your relationship with the Lord is going?  If you are following or faking it?  This passage will help you discern if you are living into the life of Jesus. 1 John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Have we spent too much time thinking about God as father and not as a friend? Jesus has something to teach us. John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command.   I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

There is a solution for our souls- Love and seek the Lord.  What does that mean? Why is it important?  Listen to Solomon explain to us why. Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."

This is everything...if we get this then we will truly experience heaven on earth. Colossians 3:3-4  3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Paul is going to continue to challenge where our focus is...so where is your focus.

So often our identity is rooted in the wrong things and as a result instead of advancing the kingdom of God, we work against it.

David is trying to help us understand what it means to truly sense the presence of God...listening in and discern- Are you resisting or relenting?

We trust ourselves way to much...David is going to challenge our thinking.

Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the love of Christ.  Listen and learn from pastor Paul proclaim his undying love for Christ.

We need to slow down and evaluate where we are in Christ.  Isaiah helps us do this with this passage. 

We are are looking for peace, but we it's dependent on us we will never find it.  So who do we trust? Where do we find peace?

Yes Christ is everything to us, but we are invited to care for others with him...but what does this look like?

Human logic is a tricky thing...it's important to help us learn and grow but it can lead us down a narcissistic wormhole.  The logic of God is a whole other thing...it's foolishness to those who haven't given into it.