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6 Questions to Prayerfully Consider Before You Leave Your Church

MikeGlanzer on June 26, 2017

Stop, Don’t Leave Just Yet…

6 Questions to Prayerfully Consider Before You Leave Your Church.

There are a lot of good reasons for you to leave your current church. There are also a lot bad reasons for you to leave your current church. The fact is that if your church life isn’t messy and complicated from time to time then you aren’t doing it right. However, another fact is that if your church life isn’t refreshing and wonderful then you aren’t doing it right. This is how relationships work and your relationship with your church is no different. Like any relationship there will be seasons of pure joy, seasons of pure frustration, and seasons where everything seems pretty balanced.

Unfortunately, it’s the seasons of pure frustration that tend to drive people away from their churches, just like, unfortunately, people are often driven away from their spouses. But part of being in community together includes a commitment to one another through thick and thin, especially through the most frustrating times. To give up and leave your church when it gets difficult or messy is the easy thing to do, but that doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.

It can be difficult to discern whether or not God is actually asking you to leave your church. Maybe you have wrestled with this before or are currently wrestling with it now. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you leave your church that I hope will help you sort through the situation and be able to discern what God is really asking of you.

1. Will I be able to walk with God closer and know Him better if I leave?

This should be one of, if not the primary question in your mind as you are thinking about leaving your church. Nothing in this life matters more than your relationship with God. Nothing. Not even your relationship with your church. If you can say with confidence that you will be able to grow deeper in your relationship with God at another place, then it is possible God is asking you to leave. However, this should not be a license to leave just because you are struggling to grow at the current time. Most of the time the inability to grow spiritually lies within us, not within our church. If you are a true Christian but aren’t growing closer to God, then it is most likely your fault. If anything, the lack of growth in your life should drive you deeper into the Christian community that you already have in your home church, rather than away from it to seek it somewhere else. Before you abandon your church, think deeply about the answer to this question.

2. Would Jesus be pleased with my reasons for leaving?

“Well, I don’t get along with someone there Jesus, so I’m going to leave.” Jesus responds with Matthew 5:23-26.

“Well, I’ve been hurt by someone there so I’m going to leave.” Jesus responds with Matthew 6:15.

“Well, it’s just too heavy of a load to deal with all the struggles there, so I’m going to leave.” Jesus responds with Galatians 6:2.

“Well, I’m just really not getting what I need from that church, so I’m going to leave.” Jesus responds with Philippians 2:3-4.

I could keep going, but I think you get the point. Most of the reasons that we hear from people leaving their church are not reasons that Jesus that would be happy about. When you enter into relationship with someone, or with a church, you have to take the good and the bad. No person is perfect and no church is perfect. If you are thinking about leaving your church because it isn’t perfect, search the Scriptures to see how Jesus would respond to finding out your reasons for leaving.

3. Have I done everything in my power to make things better?

Whether you are frustrated with the pastor, a specific person, a specific group of people, or something specific about the church as a whole – it would be childish and immature for you to leave if you have not done everything in your power to make it better. It does no good to whine about a problem or give up and leave if you have not offered a solution. More often than not, God puts frustration in our lives so that we can become sanctified and help sanctify those around us. Don’t allow your frustration to drive you to abandonment, let your frustration drive you to become more like Christ and help those you are frustrated with become more like Christ in the process.

4. Have I talked to church leadership about my frustrations?

Your pastors and other church leaders are probably frustrated by many of the same things you are. In fact, they are probably looking for people who feel the same way to help lead the charge to improve the situation. Even if your frustration is with the church leadership, you need to have the courage to express your frustrations to them and engage in a dialogue. By doing so, even if you decide to leave in the end, the church will be better off. Please don’t just leave your church without talking to your church leaders or at least explaining why.

5. Am I leaving to leave, or leaving because God has called me elsewhere?

God rarely, if ever, calls people away from something unless he is calling them to something else specific. When God called Abram away from his home and the only life he had ever known, He wasn’t just calling him away from Haran, He was calling him to Canaan (Genesis 12). When God called Paul away from his plans to preach in Asia, He also called him to preach in Macedonia (Acts 16). Don’t leave your church just to get out. If God is calling you to leave, He is most likely calling you specifically to another community of believers. Make sure you aren’t leaving just so be somewhere else.

6. Will I be moving to another church, or to the couch?

Whatever your reasons for wanting to leave your church, one thing is certain – you are not better off on the couch at home. If you are going to leave your church, make sure you are getting involved in another gospel centered, Bible-believing congregation. Too many people leave their church and never join another one. Similar to question 5, make sure that you have a plan to get involved in another church before you leave your current church.

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Please don’t leave your church without asking yourself these questions, or questions like these. There is too much church shuffling going on in our churches these days and it is not healthy for the people or for the churches.

Noah Adams – Noah is an associate pastor in Elgin, Il. and is excited about communicating and applying Biblical truth through the tools of social media and the world wide web. Noah works with Purpose Launch Ministries to help accomplish this task.

A Note From God to Parents of Struggling Children

MikeGlanzer on May 22, 2017

We know there are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children. All parents go through stages of concern for their children. When they are young and when they are old, loving Christian parents have a great love and concern for children who may be straying in their walk with God. Of course

We do not claim to speak for God. However, by application, we can weave the truths of Scripture into what a letter from God might look like if written to the parents of a son or daughter who is struggling in their relationship with God.

We encourage you to read this and then study for yourself the scriptures mentioned and let God speak to and encourage your heart. Perhaps you can take some of these Bible truths and promises and infuse them into your prayer life for your children. May you be bless and encouraged. God loves your children!

Dear Mom or Dad,

Don’t be afraid, I am with your dear child. I know when they sit down and when they get up, when they go out and when they come in. I formed them and made them. I understand them even though you may not. (Psalms 139) In my time and in my ways, I will strengthen them. I will help them. I will uphold them with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10 and Isaiah 55:8-9) I am working every detail of their life out for good and for my glory (Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 1:11) because I loved them before you did.

I love them with an everlasting love. While they were yet in sin, I sent my son, Jesus, to die for them. (Jeremiah 31:3 and Romans 5:8) I have laid a burden on your heart to suffer for them, pray for them, and love them. That burden you feel, it is from me.

It is my Spirit leading you to love and care for their soul. I have begun a good work in them, I have lead you to love, care and pray for them and therefore it is right for you to expect that I will finish the work I started in them. (Philippians 1)

When my Spirit is leading you in prayer, He prays in deep ways that even you can’t understand, but touch the depths of my heart for your child. You may not know how to pray for your child according to my will, but He does. (Romans 8:26-27) Remember that my Spirit is at work in them even though you may not always see evidence of it. He is working to convince them of their sin, of my righteousness and that judgement is real. At the same time my Spirit is working to remind them of the free gift of salvation and a changed life through my son Jesus Christ. (John 16:8)

I am the Good Shepherd. I will look after them. When they go astray, I will pursue them and bring them back. (Psalms 23 and John 10) You and I are coworkers together in this process. (1 Corinthians 3:9) but I am the source of their spiritual life, so let me do my work. Stay sensitive to my leading. Don’t get ahead of me, don’t lose your cool, be patient, firm, loving and continue to point them toward the truth in the Bible. Don’t get weary in the work. Your effort is not in vain. I am using you in his life even if you can’t see it right now. (Galatians 6:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:58)

Thank you for loving your child. I love them too even more than you do. Trust me even if it gets worse before it gets better. Once things got bad with my son, Jesus. He didn’t do anything wrong of course, but things did get worse before they got better. They did get better though and now everyone knows the plan was perfect. It will be perfect in your situation too. My way is always perfect. It is always good and it is always loving. (Psalms 18:30)

Don’t forget that I love you and i love your dear child.

Your Heavenly Father

Thank you for reading this article. Please browse our site for more helpful information.

If we can help you with your family, pray for you or give godly Biblical counsel, please contact us or join us for a service soon.

10 Ways to Enjoy God When Life is Busy

MikeGlanzer on March 9, 2017

Many of us have good intentions when it comes to spending time with God. However there is often a long list of other things that can push this priority to the bottom of the pile. Family, work, school, sports, and other commitments can fill our days leaving little margin for the spiritual activities that really feed our souls. By not making time for God, we often leave ourselves empty, vulnerable to temptation, and without direction.

D.L. Moody, the nineteenth century founder of Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, recognized his need for God and once said, “the only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running.” So how do we “keep the faucet running” in the middle of a hectic schedule?

Here are some practical suggestions:

Use travel time. The AAA Foundation recently conducted an extensive survey to better understand the characteristics of today’s American drivers. In this study they reported that the average driver spends over 290 hours driving every year. That is the equivalent of seven 40-hour work weeks! All of this time spent on the road can be an excellent opportunity for us to pray — with your eyes OPEN, of course! Storing prayer cards in the sun visor or console can provide some quick prompts to help you get started.

Multitask. If you can cook dinner while watching a Netflix show or helping one of your children review for a spelling test, then you can multitask. This means you should also be able to listen to worship music while getting ready in the morning or to pray while doing other projects which don’t require your full mental attention. You can look for natural connections to help you remember — like asking God to clean your heart while you are cleaning the kitchen or praying for a child to grow in God’s grace while you are doing an errand related to that child.

Rise and Shine. Although multitasking is great, ideally it is a good idea to prioritize some focused time with God each day. One way to accomplish this is by waking up a little earlier each morning to read the Bible and pray. The house is usually quiet then, and having the automatic brew cycle set the night before will allow you to wake up to the smell and the warmth of coffee. For most people, the key to getting up earlier is simple — going to bed earlier. It starts there — the night before. Nothing else compares to prioritizing and enjoying these regular blocks of focused time with Him!

Get some exercise. Look for ways to strengthen your heart while strengthening your body by filling your mind with truth while exercising. One way to do this is by listening to Christian podcasts or audiobooks while exercising. This is also a quiet time to talk with God in prayer.

Memorize and Meditate. Even in the busiest times, it is possible to use wait times to work on memorizing Scripture. A Scripture memory card can easily be stuffed in one’s pocket or bag so that it is available during down times throughout the day. This might be while waiting for a client, sitting in a doctor’s office, or passing time in the after school pick-up line. Memorization is more than simply recalling words; it is a great way to meditate on God’s Word! There are some great apps out there to help with Scripture memory.

In the Moment Prayers. God doesn’t care where you are or how noisy it is when you call out to Him. You can ask Him for wisdom and patience while in your favorite overstuffed chair in the early moments of the morning, while waiting in traffic, or while pushing a two-seater truck-cart down aisle 12 at Target. He is always present – always desiring to help and guide you.

Prioritize Church. Getting to church can be a challenge if it is not already built in to your schedule, but being with other believers and hearing the teaching of God’s Word is an important part of every believer’s life. Paul refers to the church as a “body” in which we all play an important role (1 Corinthians 12:27). By making this time a priority, you contribute your part to the body and to bringing glory to God.

Spend Quality Time with Other Believers. The Bible includes many admonitions directed at the things believers are to be doing for “one another.” These include encouraging, praying for, building up, serving, and more. We cannot be doing these well unless we are spending quality time investing in friendships with other Christians. This does not mean that Christians only spend time in deep, serious talk. Instead they share life and laughter together often making it easier and more natural to talk about the things that deeply matter.

Serve. Philippians 2 explains that Jesus Himself came to this world as a servant, and in the same way, every believer is instructed to use the gifts God has given to serve others (1 Peter 4:10). Serving can be little things like helping people throughout your day or it can be done in a more planned way by regularly serving in a certain ministry through your church. By humbly giving of yourself to bless others, you offer a gift of worship to the Lord (Ephesians 6:7).

Ending the Day. As the day comes to a close, it is good to take a few moments to reflect back over your day. This is a great time to confess any sin which God brings to your mind and thank Him for the many blessings He brought throughout the day. When areas of concern come to mind, give them to the Lord asking for His wisdom and strength.

If you are not already in a regular habit of spending time with God, choose one or two these suggestions and get started this week. You were made with a desire to relate to God built deep into your DNA, and by making time for this important priority, you will find great fulfillment in the love He desires to pour into your life.

We hope that in your busy schedule, you’ll take a “day of rest” as God did. A great thing to do is make that day Sunday and make worship part of that time. We hope you’ll take some time to join us for a service. We would love to have you.

Hate Waiting? 4 Truths About Waiting on God.

MikeGlanzer on February 20, 2017

All of us hate to wait. Waiting in traffic, at the doctor’s office, or for that pokey family member can cause even the most patient among us to become frustrated. Frustration occurs when something out of our control gets in the way of our plans and goals. And let’s face it, waiting causes frustration because we’ve done all we can do and are out of control in the given situation. We can only wait on God to work and answer prayer. However, if you have been a Christian for very long at all, you have realized that waiting on God is a major part of our lives. Why do we have to wait, and how do we wait without getting frustrated?

Why do we have to wait?

1. God tells us to. Often parents tell young children to wait; and, like it or not, they must obey.

Look at the many commands and verses that imply that God, our loving Father, tells us to wait.

Psalm 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Hosea 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Psalm 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psalm 130:6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:

Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

2. God’s ways and plans are wiser and better than our ways and plans. We wait for His time, which is the best time, whether we realize and understand that or not. Consider these verses from the Bible.

Isaiah 55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God has all power, wisdom and an eternal plan that he is executing flawlessly.

Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

Psalm 29:10 The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.

Psalm 47:2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psalm 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

How do we wait? When you are in a position of waiting on God, perhaps this acrostic, using the word “wait” will help you know and remember how to wait.

Watch without anxiety. We are told to watch and pray often in the Bible. The words associated with the Greek word “watch” in these passages means to keep alert and yet remain calm and collected. It seems to have the idea of expectancy as well. Continue to pray and watch for the answer. Do not be anxious and nervous when it does not seem to happen according to your reasoning and timing.

Act on what you know to do. We must continue to function according to what God has called us to do. We must go about the normal responsibilities given to our care by the Lord. If the burden is great enough, the temptation for some is to “shut down” and do nothing but pray and fast. God may lead you in this direction, but be careful here, especially if you are of an anxious and fearful temperament. In most cases, the best solution is a combination of praying and fasting, and yet still working at what you know God has already given you to do. Be cautious of prayer that is nothing more than “sanctified worry.” This is when we find ourselves not really praying to God, but rehearsing our problem over and over again in our own minds in the guise of prayer. Often it is best simply to pray a short prayer, leaving the care with the Lord and then continuing with our business of the day, trusting God to do the work we cannot.

Instruct yourself in the things of God. Spend time seeking God while you are waiting. This is when God will reveal new things about Himself to you from His Word, preaching, good Christian books, godly friends, and even through the moving of the Holy Spirit in your heart. This is not a time to complain, but to “Be still and know that I am God.” Keep a journal, especially through very trying times, and write down all that God teaches you. This is a prime blessing of waiting. You will grow closer to God!

Trust.

God is all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving. His whole plan is for His glory and the good of His children. We know this from Romans 8. Sometimes all will seem chaotic and confusing as we try to wait for God to answer our prayer and lift our burdens; however, it is during this time that we must trust God. Someone once said, “When you cannot trace God’s hand, you must trust God’s heart, power and wisdom.” Most of the time we cannot trace his workings, but with the help of the promises in His Word and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we can learn to trust Him.

If you feel that we can be of help to you in any way, please get in touch with us. Join us for a service. You’ll be encouraged in your journey. We are a family here and we try to help bear burdens and help during the waiting.

An American Thanksgiving – The Rest of the Story

MikeGlanzer on November 23, 2016

Thanksgiving in America is a wonderful time to celebrate our thankfulness to one another, but ultimately to God for his bountiful and undeserved blessings in our lives. America has a rich heritage of giving gratitude to God. This is certainly a tradition we need to pass down to future generations. Take some time this week to share the story again with your children, grandchildren, family and friends.

A Thanksgiving festival is deeply rooted in American history and even predates the Pilgrims’ celebration at Plymouth. Although the one in 1621 is probably the real beginning of Thanksgiving celebrations in America, David Barton of Wallbuilders explains in the video below how days of thanksgiving in American date as far back as 1541 in Palo Duro Canyon in what would later become the state of Texas. There was another in 1595 in St. Augustine, another in 1598 in El Paso as well as several more. You can watch David Barton explain the history of Thanksgiving below in this article.
The majority of presidents from Washington to Obama have made Thanksgiving Day proclamations pointing to God as our ultimate source of blessing. You can read the presidential proclamation of each president by clicking here.

We have also included a few below in this article.

We encourage you to watch the video from David Barton, but even more so the following video from “The Story of Liberty” website with your family sometime during the Thanksgiving holiday break. It is about 30 minutes long, but well worth your family’s time if you want them to understand the true significance of this national day dedicated to thanking God for his bountiful and undeserved blessings.

Here is just a glimpse of the story told in the video. The story is rooted in William Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation pages 242-243 (

Click here for a PDF of the manuscript

) In this narrative, Bradford explains that the Pilgrims had endured a terrible drought for months. We pick up the story there…

Upon which they set a part a solemn day of humiliation, to seek ye Lord by humble & fervent prayer, in this great distress. And he was pleased to give them a gracious & speedy answer, both to their own, & the Indian’s admiration, that lived amongst them. For all y e morning, and greatest part of the day, it was clear weather & very hot, and not a cloud or any sign of rain to be seen, yet toward evening it began to overcast, and shortly after to rain, with such sweet and gentle showers, as gave them cause of rejoicing, & blessing God. It came, without either wind, or thunder, or any violence, and by degree in yet abundance, as that ye earth was thoroughly were and soaked therewith. Which did so apparently revive & quicken ye decayed corn & other fruits, as was wonderful to see, and made ye Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of faire warm weather, as, through his blessing, caused a fruitful & liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy (in time convenient) they also set apart a day of thanksgiving.

Just amazing, right? These are stories our families need to hear as we consider our own blessings and spend time thanking the Lord.

We also wanted to post some portions of Presidential proclamations from over the years for your understanding of the significance of this day in American history and as a reminder that we are a country with a Christian heritage.

George Washington – WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Abraham Lincoln – The year that is drawing towards its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

Franklin D. Roosevelt – To the end that we may bear more earnest witness to our gratitude to Almighty God, I suggest a nationwide reading of the Holy Scriptures during the period from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas. Let every man of every creed go to his own version of the Scriptures for a renewed and strengthening contact with those eternal truths and majestic principles which have inspired such measure of true greatness as this nation has achieved.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of the Congress approved December 26, 1941, do hereby proclaim Thursday the twenty-third day of November 1944 a day of national thanksgiving and I call upon the people of the United States to observe it by bending every effort to hasten the day of final victory and by offering to God our devout gratitude for His goodness to us and to our men.

Ronald Reagan

– Thanksgiving Day summons every American to pause in the midst of activity, however necessary and valuable, to give simple and humble thanks to God. This gracious gratitude is the “service” of which Washington spoke. It is a service that opens our hearts to one another as members of a single family gathered around the bounteous table of God’s Creation. The images of the Thanksgiving celebrations at America’s earliest settlement—of Pilgrim and Iroquois Confederacy assembled in festive friendship—resonate with even greater power in our own day. People from every race, culture, and creed on the face of the Earth now inhabit this land. Their presence illuminates the basic yearning for freedom, peace, and prosperity that has always been the spirit of the New World.

… The blessings that are ours must be understood as the gift of a loving God Whose greatest gift is healing. Let us join then, with the psalmist of old:
O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him, Tell of all His wonderful works!
Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 24, 1988, as a National Day of Thanksgiving, and I call upon the citizens of this great Nation to gather together in homes and places of worship on that day of thanks to affirm by their prayers and their gratitude the many blessings God has bestowed upon us.

David Barton from WallBuilders gives more information on the history of Thanksgiving in America. Watch the video here.

We hope you will enjoy this time of celebration with your friends and family.

If you are looking for a church in the Plattsmouth area for you or someone in your extended family, please look over our site. We would enjoy having you visit with us soon.

First Baptist Plattsmouth