Cup of Coffee with Pastor Mutchler

A RELATIONSHIP WITH RULES

2012-02-01T08:13:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I'm looking forward to tonight's Bible Study on the Names of God. Tonight, I'm looking at Jehovah Jireh, the LORD will provide! Wow. We need that truth in this day in which we live. I was reading in Leviticus this morning, and I have one truth to share:

A RELATIONSHIP WITH RULES- Today we are seeing stressed in the modern Church that it is all about Relationship, and that God doesn't care for the rules. This runs contrary to the whole of Scripture however. If you say that rules don't make the relationship, then we would have to agree. That is very true. But, if you say you can have a relationship without rules, then there is where we would part company. God made the Israelites His people. He called them His people and He gave them His covenant name: Jehovah (LORD). But He gave them rules. In reading Leviticus 11-15 today I noticed that it was full of rules. What to eat, what not to eat; what is clean, what is unclean; who is a leper, who is not a leper; who has a running issue, who does not have a running issue. I mean it goes into great detail. God wanted His people to be able to know what is clean and what is unclean. God told them He wanted them to put a difference between the holy and unholy, the clean and unclean. Today, God still has rules. Not rules that go into such details as we see in Leviticus, but rules like: Love one another, preferring one another, be ye kind, forgive, give, etc. These are guiding principles that guide the relationship. Every marriage has rules, or it will explode. Every organization has procedures to follow; why would we expect less from God? I'm not all about the rules, far from it, but I'm not in throwing out what God has clearly established throughout His Word. We want the relationship... let us also embrace the rules God gives us.

Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ALWLAYS ON FIRE

2012-01-31T07:45:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. The last day of the first month of the year. The year just started and now it's first month has come to a close. Lord, teach us to number our days. They slip by so fast. What books do you want to read? What people do you want to befriend? What chores do we want to accomplish for God or our families? Let us get to them.... time is slipping away. I was reading in Leviticus this morning, and here is one thought:

ALWAYS ON FIRE- It says in Leviticus 6:13 "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." This fire upon the altar shows that it was always ready for the sin offering. No one would show up to deal with their sin, and have to go away because the fire was not on the altar ready to receive the sin offering. The implication is that God is always ready to deal with our sin, when we come to Him. He dealt with it eternally on the cross with His Son making our payment. He deals with it relationally when we come to Him in confession, but He is always ready. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. But there is another application apart from the primary interpretation. This application is that in our lives, we are always to be on fire for God. When I was a teen, I heard a lot of preaching and teaching about "being on fire for God". You don't hear that much anymore, but the need is still there. God wants us to be sold out, all in, totally committed, ..... on fire for Him! Now if we are going to stay on fire for God .... how do we do that? Put on the log of Bible reading every morning. Put on the log of prayer each day. Put on the log of Church attendance and involvement. Put on the log of Christian service. Put on the log of soul-winning. Put on the log of love for our fellow man. Before long, you are not only on fire for God, but you are having a bonfire for God! We get on fire and stay on fire because we feed the fire that God has put in our souls when He saved us. That fire is always there, but don't let it be: "This little light of mine.." Let it be: "This great fire of mine..." Let us be on fire for God! Always on fire!

Hope you have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

HOLY BRETHREN

2012-01-29T08:26:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I love Sundays! I'm looking forward to seeing what God has for us today. It is going to be a good day, I'm sure. This morning, I saw a double rainbow from our back door. It truly was beautiful and reminds us of a great God we serve. I have a thought for today and it is this:

HOLY BRETHREN- In Hebrews 3:1, it reads: Wherefore, Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;" The Bible calls us "Holy brethren". Wow! Yesterday at our men's breakfast, I asked: "Do you see yourself as you see yourself, or do you see yourself as God's Word says you are? We are called Saints, but we see ourselves as Sinners. We are called Cleansed, but we see ourselves as Unclean. We are called Peculiar, but we see ourselves as Common. We are called Holy brethren, but we see ourselves as Unholy brethren. Now who is right? What we see? or What God says about us? The Bible says that we walk by faith, not by sight. So, the key is to believe what God says about us by faith, not what we see in the mirror or acted out before us. Yes, we are flawed in our flesh, but we are perfected in our spirit. Yes, we have a lifetime of sinful failures, but yes, all of those sins have been forgiven and paid for on the cross. So we are forgiven, we are Holy, we are Special to God, we are Cleansed, we are Saints, we are Kings and Priest to our God, we are Royalty, (children of the King), we are those who will spend eternity with out LORD forever singing His praises and serving our LORD! Holy brethren.... get used to the name!

Hope you have a special day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

FOLLOW GOD'S LEAD

2012-01-27T17:06:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. I has been a very nice day and the weather has been good. I have one thought to share today found in Exodus 40:36-38 "And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." Here, we have the last few verses in Exodus. The children of Israel are traveling and God's presence is directly over the tabernacle. A cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This presence of God stayed over the tabernacle where God would meet with the High Priest once a year. When the cloud stayed, the children of Israel would pitch their tents and wait on the LORD. When the presence of God would move, then the Israelites would pack up their tents and follow the cloud or the pillar, whether it was day or night. We see this, but we need to really see this. The lesson is that we must follow God whenever, and wherever He leads. When God started moving, the people started following. Even today, we must follow God's lead. Wherever He leads I'll go, wherever He leads I'll go.... I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I'll go. That should be the motto of every believer!

Have a great day!

WHEN WORDS FAIL

2012-01-25T07:57:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I have the joy of preaching two chapels and then teach on the Names of God tonight at Church. Tonight we look at the name: Jehovah. What a beautiful name God gives us to describe Him. I hope you have a great day. As I was reading this morning, there were so many things that jumped out at me that I could have a series of sermons just on this mornings truths found in God's Word. But, I have one to share:

WHEN WORDS FAIL- In Exodus 32, Moses is talking with God and the people of Israel have made their golden calves and worshiped them. God is ready to destroy all of them and make a nation of Moses, but Moses intervenes for the people. In Moses' great prayer of intercession, He says in verse 32: "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin---; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Notice the "---". That is only found here in all of Scripture. It is simply showing that Moses expressed his heart without using words. Sometimes when we talk with God about our lives, or the needs of others, words fail. We simply don't know what to say, or don't know how to say it, but God reads how we feel, and that is enough. Don't worry about having the right words, just open your heart to God. Especially in times when your heart is overwhelmed and you don't have words to say or express your grief, your requests, your hope, your love, .... when words fail... remember that God understands the "---".

Have a great day!

Nugget of Truth from Exodus 28

2012-01-24T08:29:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I have a few appointments and then I will enjoy a lunch at Claim Jumpers with 40 of our Prime Time with Pastor group. It will prove to be a great time. I am looking forward to it today. This morning, I was reading in Exodus, and I slowly went through the tabernacle underlining each of the building materials and when I got to chapter 28, it deals with the garment that Aaron and his sons were to wear as the priests. It was so interesting, and finally it dawned on me concerning several of the items that Aaron was to wear. I'll call this thought: The Shoulders, The Heart, and The Head.

On the Shoulders, there were two plates made of gold. On these plates were six of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were listed in birth order, six on one plate, and six on the other. These two plates were on the shoulders of Aaron and his sons. It was a reminder that they were to carry the weight of the children of Israel. The priests carried the weight of the people's burdens. Pastors do that today as well. They care about their people, and the weight of their trials, sorrows, and set backs weigh heavy upon them. Just today I learned of a members dear mother going to heaven after a long fight with cancer. Her mother was younger than I am, but now she is gone. Praise God for Heaven. But I am thinking of this young couple losing their Mother and Mother-in-Law. The weight that we carry can seem too much at times, but we too must remind ourselves.... casting all you care upon Him, for He careth for you! I could share with you care after care for our people, but only God has shoulders big enough to handle them all. The priests were to carry a physical reminder on their shoulders of the cares of the people, and the weight it comes with in being a priest.

On the Heart, there was another plate of gold. Eighteen inches by eighteen inches. A big plate. On this plate were four rows of precious stones. Three to a row. They are all listed, and they are valuable, precious stones. On each of these stones were engraved a name of one of the tribes of Israel. This is called the breastplate of judgment. Here we see that the tribes of Israel were near to the heart of the priest. Not only did he bear their burdens, and the weight of the children of Israel, but he loved them! They were near and dear to his heart. This was a physical reminder that it is not just about the load you carry, but why you carry that load.... you love the people! As a pastor, I am so glad to love the dear people I get to pastor. I want to love them, and I want them to know that I love them! I want to tell them, to show them, to illustrate to them my love for them. They are not my people, but God's, but I love them. I carry their names engraved upon my heart. So does every good man of God.

On the Head, there was a plate of pure gold. It is called a "mitre", and "the holy crown". It was a plate of gold that was held upon the forehead of the priest by blue lace that wrapped around the head to hold it in place. On this plate of gold, it read: "HOLINESS TO THE LORD". All in Capitals! This is a constant reminder that though we carry the weight of the people and their burdens, and though we have their names close to our heart, that our minds are to dwell on God! Only as our minds dwell on God do we have any answers for the needs of the people. Only as God remains our constant focus do we have the wherewithall to be of help to the dear people we love and bear burdens for. So every pastor should focus his mind upon the LORD Jesus Christ each day and do his best to keep it there. What a wonderful physical reminder.... HOLINESS TO THE LORD!!

Well, that is the thought for today... The Shoulders, The Heart, and The Head. It blessed my heart.... that will preach! Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR PLENTY

2012-01-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Today is Monday. We had such a wonderful Sunday and I love Sundays so much. We are growing, we are being blessed of God, and it is exciting. I am trusting that God will continue to bless us. Today I have a thought to share with you:

GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR PLENTY- I would love to find a place that would be a good place to invest my money. Now, I don't have much, but I would love to have a great place to invest the funds that I do have. So, where do you turn? Properties? Hardly. Wall Street? Good Luck! Gold? Could be, but at almost $2,000.00 an ounce, how much could you be buying? Well, God has a plan. In Proverbs 28:27 it reads: "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." What is God's plan? Well, give your funds away to the poor, and you shall not lack. Not all your funds, but invest some each month in people. People in need. God says if you do that, you will not lack. Good results, yes? Well, it doesn't stop there. It goes on to say that IF you hide your eyes to the needs of the poor around you, then you shall have a curse! Wow. That my friend, is not good. I don't want to be cursed! If I know of needs that I could meet, and if God speaks to my heart about helping someone, and I don't... I'm cursed! That my friend, is Bible. So, what is God's Plan for my Prosperity? Give to the poor; those in need. That my friend is the word for today.

Hope you have a great day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

ON BEING DIFFERENT

2012-01-22T08:53:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I love Sundays! I'm looking forward to being with God's people and sharing God's Word. I'm excited about spending the day with people I love. It will be a great blessing. I hope you have a great Sunday as well. I'm in Leviticus and here is a thought to share:

ON BEING DIFFERENT- In Leviticus 10:10, it states: "And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;" God wants a difference! You will find this phrase "difference between holy and unholy" mention many times throughout the Old Testament. The principle we can find many places in the New Testament. Every statue that He gave to the Israelites, He gave to have them live different from all of the others around them. God wants the same for us today. He calls us to be a separated people. A unique people. He wants us to walk different, talk different, act different, dress different, etc. Now why? He wants to easily see His children. He wants a lost world to see that His people are special. Now, the world doesn't appreciate the difference, but God does. This Old Testament principle is timeless. We should not be trendy, we should be timeless.

Hope this helps! Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

FOLLOW THE PATTERN

2012-01-18T16:26:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. It snowed last night so we have been home today and enjoying some restful time. I enjoyed my time in God's Word today and wanted to share with you one thought I had as I read in Exodus:

FOLLOW THE PATTERN- In Exodus 25:9, it reads: "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." Notice that God instructed Moses to build according to a pattern. Then notice that it was a pattern that God showed him. Notice Exodus 25:40 "And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount." God told him to build after the pattern, God showed him the pattern, and God showed him the pattern when he was in the mount. (The forty days and nights spend up on Mt. Sinai) In the new testament, when we see the word "example", it is referring to pattern. God has a pattern for every area of our lives. A pattern for living, a pattern for marriage, a pattern for fatherhood and motherhood, a pattern for working, a pattern for our finances, a pattern for relationships, a pattern as a citizen of this country, etc. God has a plan for our lives, and this plan has a pattern. (a recipe to follow) So, God gives us a pattern (Our job is to look into God's Word and find it.). Then God gives us patterns in the lives of others. (Paul said: Be ye followers of me). Then, God expects us to follow the patterns He has given to us!

We don't walk through life without direction. He gives us the pattern, tells us to follow it, and gives us the Holy Spirit to let us know when we are following that pattern, or not. We don't have to guess if we are with the pattern or not, God does that for us. What a blessing to know God has the pattern and we just have to follow it! Follow the pattern friend!!

Have a blessed day..... Pastor Mike Mutchler

AGAINST THE LORD

2012-01-17T08:16:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I wasn't able to blog Saturday through Monday, but today I have set aside some time. I was reading in Exodus and I came upon chapter 16, and saw that the children of Israel, murmured against the Lord. So this is my subject:

AGAINST THE LORD- Six times in chapter 16 of Exodus, we will see the murmurings of the children of Israel. It starts in verse 2, when it states: "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:" Now to murmur, means: "To grumble; to complain; to utter complaints in a low,half articulated voice; to utter sullen discontent; with at, before the thing which is the cause of discontent;" This is according to the Webster Dictionary of 1828. It gives this scripture reference as to explain it as well. So they were grumbling under their breath.... to murmur! But, the Bible tells us in verse7: "for that he hearth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?" Moses and Aaron could not hear their murmurings because by definition, it is a complaint that is half uttered, it is something that you say under your breath, it is a complaint that you don't want the person you are complaining against to hear! But, GOD heard! Then in verse 8, it reads: "for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD." Now herein lies the truth that God is teaching us: When we murmur against God's men, we are murmuring against the LORD. This is what was taking place here. I'm sure that the people would say, "We didn't murmur against the LORD, we just murmured against these two leaders, Moses and Aaron. Those are who we are complaining against, not God. But, when God calls a man, God takes it personal when you murmur against His man instead of listen and follow His man. God deals with the murmurers. Remember in Proverbs that God says six things He hates, yea seven are an abomination to Him; and, the seventh is: he that soweth discord among the brethren. Discord is spread through murmuring! That beneath the breath complaint. That complaint that spreads silently from one to another in a low voice so only one can hear at a time. The purpose is to bread rebellion. As a pastor, I have seen God deal with people who murmur and it is not pleasant to see. God deals with people who oppose His plan, and His man. We are warned in Scripture: "Touch not mine anointed; do my prophet no harm." We are not our own, we are God's men and certainly not perfect, flawless men; but, men set aside for the cause of Christ. Just be aware that the next time you hear murmuring, or are prone to exhibit it, remind yourself that it is to murmur against the LORD. Don't do it! Like Moses said: who are we that you should murmur against us? Well, just a word to the wise today.

May God's blessings rest upon you! Pastor Mike Mutchler

A god to Pharaoh?

2012-01-13T13:14:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. Sure looking forward to a great weekend. Today I'm in Exodus, and here is a thought to share:

A god to Pharaoh? - God told Moses in Genesis 7:1 "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet." God made Moses as a god to Pharaoh. Wow! What does that mean? Well it doesn't mean that Pharaoh was supposed to worship Moses. God alone is to be worshiped! But it means that when Pharaoh looked at Moses, he was looking at God's representative. He was God's spokesman, God's ambassador! And... so are we. Does the world see us as God's representatives? Do they see Christ in us? That is the real question and speaks to the heart of the matter. Christ is our Master, our Savior, our LORD. We are to reflect Him properly to a lost world. Just as Moses stood before Pharaoh, we are to stand before a lost world and express who Christ is. Moses was to speak what God said speak and to do what God said do. We too are to do what Christ says do, and to say what Christ says to say. We are His, and He is ours! We must look to Christ for strength, just as Moses did to stand before Pharaoh. In this great task, we are not sufficient for the task. Like Moses, we do not measure up. Moses told God several times that he was not qualified, and not capable. We feel the same way, but God told Moses what to do and then he told Moses that He would strength Moses and give him help. God wants to help us too. Help us LORD!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

THE MORE....THE MORE

2012-01-12T09:47:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. Last night, I started a new series on "The Names of God". I'm excited about that and know that God will use it in a special way to not only instruct us, but to show us the many ways in which God introduces Himself to us so that we might get a fuller picture of who He is and how much He loves us. God is too big for one name to describe Him. So the more we learn, the more precious He is to us! Wow! Bring it on.

Today, I'm in Exodus and here is one thought for today:

THE MORE.... THE MORE- In Exodus 1:12 it reads: "But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." We look at afflictions and trials and suffering always in a negative light, because .... frankly.... we don't want them! But, God uses such awful things for our good. The more the Israelites were afflicted by the Egyptians, the more they grew! I know they would rather have grown without the afflictions, but in the whole scheme of God's wonderful work for our lives.... it doesn't work that way. We grow by challenges. Afflictions cause us to cry out to God.... crying out to God gets His attention.... His attention brings His intervention..... His intervention brings His blessings..... His blessings cause us to rejoice in Him.... Our rejoicing fades away.... Our blessings are taken for granted... When we take them for granted God withdrawals them... When God withdrawals our blessings, we suffer.... when we suffer we turn back to God; and the whole cycle of spiritual life begins anew. OH that men would praise the LORD for His wonderful works to the children of men! (The Psalmist says that over and over in one chapter.) So dear friend: When you are going through trials, remember that God is trying to do something MORE in your life!! Now... Praise Him!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

THEY MEANT IT FOR EVIL

2012-01-11T12:21:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I just got back from Washington, and I have a meeting real soon, so here is just a quick thought.

THEY MEANT IT FOR EVIL- In Gen. 50, after Jacob dies, Joseph's brothers come to him to ask forgiveness and to see what their brother would do now that their father has passed away. Joseph tells them "ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." Wow! Such a great truth and theology in that statement and I've used it many time to show how God used Joseph to save so many people. But, I never thought to apply it to our lives.... until today. There are times people want to crucify you because somehow you do not meet up to their expectations. Some try to destroy your good name, others to hurt you financially, or to hurt your family or ministry. But they do mean it for evil.... but God can turn that all around. Yes, even when people mean it for your evil.... God means it for your good. We can only be a stronger Christian if we have critics. We can only exercise Grace, if others spill out poison. Their bad is to create our good. Their evil is for our good. Take heart dear Christian..... God means it for good!!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

JUDAH STEPS UP

2012-01-09T09:42:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. I will be out of town Tuesday and Wednesday. I may be able to write a blog on Tuesday if I have some time, but I know on Wednesday I will be busy traveling back from Washington and will not have time. We had a great day yesterday as I shared the vision with our people for 2012. They responded tremendously and I'm just so pleased to pastor such wonderful people. I'm expecting great things this week and year for the cause of Christ. What a great start for a new year. Today, I'm in Genesis again and I want to share the actions of Judah. When it called for it, he stepped up.

JUDAH STEPS UP- Genesis 43:8-9 "And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:" When Jacob would not let Benjamin go up to Egypt with his older brothers to get corn from Egypt, Judah steps us and takes responsibility. He says that he will be "surety for him". Jacob believes his son Judah and allows Benjamin to go. Then in Egypt, Joseph laid a plot for his brothers to test them. But Judah passes the test. When Joseph says that he will keep Benjamin and let the other brothers go, here is what Judah says: Genesis 44:32-33 "For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren." When Judah steps up and says to Joseph that he will be "surety" for his brother Benjamin, then Joseph knew for sure.... they had changed! Judah was the one who sold Joseph into slavery, but now Judah is the one who steps up to protect Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin. Times have changed. Judah is different. Now, when Joseph hears that, he can no longer refrain himself. He urges all to leave, but his brothers, he weeps out loud and reveals himself to his brethren. The rest is in the book. Judah stepped up! There are times when we too must step up. Seldom pleasant, often troubling, but always needed. We must step up for Christ, for our families, for our mate, and for who we are as a human being. Let us learn from Judah that when it is time to step up.... let us be found.... stepping up! Hope this will help you someday.

Have a great day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

SIN AGAINST GOD?

2012-01-08T08:45:00.001-08:00

It is Sunday this morning and it is a beautiful day outside. I'm especially looking forward to this morning as I "Share The Vision" for 2012 this morning to our Church. I have exciting plans to share and I'm excited about them. We will also be unveiling our theme for 2012 and I'm excited about all of it. I hope our people will be too! Today, I am reading in Genesis 36-40 and here is a thought I wanted to share:

SIN AGAINST GOD? Joseph was sold into slavery and then sold to Potiphar in Egypt. God blessed the household of Potiphar because of Joseph and all was prospering and fine. But Potiphar's wife had her cap set for Joseph, and tried at times to tempt him and it just didn't work. One day however, it was evident that the time was right. Everyone was out of the house but her and Joseph and she took advantage of this setting to grab a hold of Joseph and ask him to lie with her. His answer was to run away, but she held on to his coat and it was left in her hands. With this "evidence", she accused Joseph of attacking her. You know the rest of the story. But what I want us to see is that his answer when first confronted with the temptation by Potiphar's wife was this: In Genesis 39: "how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" He knew it would be a sin against Potiphar and his trust in him, buy what motivated Joseph to live pure was that it would be a sin against God. We too, need to live with an understanding that when we sin, it is a sin against God. David understood this even with his sin against Uriah, and against Bathsheba, when in Psalms 51 he says: "against thee, thee only have I sinned." Our sin is always ultimately against God! Oh how that ought to be foremost in our minds and hearts. We sin against God when we sin. It may be against someone we love, our wives, husbands, children, a friend, a church member, but always against God. LORD, let us always keep this in mind! It is against thee. Well, that ought to help us live better lives once we get that stuck in our thoughts. Hope it helps you and me.

Hope you have a blessed day!! Pastor Mike Mutchler

I WILL LEAD ON SOFTLY

2012-01-07T07:44:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday, and I have a Mens Meeting soon, so here is one thought from the passage I looked at this morning:

I WILL LEAD ON SOFTLY- When Jacob and Esau finally meet, Esau said that Jacob and his flocks and family could follow him. But in verse 14, Jacob responds with this: "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servants: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle tht goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir." From this passage, I have embraced a philosophy concerning Church leadership. It is how I choose to lead my staff, my assistants and my people. I do my best to lead softly. People don't move quickly. They are like the cattle and children of Jacob. They are best lead softly. The faster you lead, the more you will lose. More will fall to the wayside if leadership moves too fast. This principle can be found successful in Husband - Wife relationships, Employer- Employee relationships, Father- Family relationships, etc. We must realize that it is best to lead softly. Isn't that the way God deals with us? Isn't He gracious and patient with us? Yes, He is and I'm so glad that He is! Let us resolve to adopt the same type of leadership. Let us lead on softly.

Hope you have a blessed day!!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

DIVINE FAVOR

2012-01-06T10:16:00.000-08:00

It is Friday today and I'm enjoying a day off. We stayed up to almost 1:00am and slept in till almost 9:00am. Felt sooooo goooood! As I was sitting in the living room reading a knock on the door and my daughter in law, Tiffany, and grand daughter, Natalyn dropped by for a brief visit. What a joy! So enjoyed seeing "Peanut" running around happy and talking up a storm. Didn't know what she was saying, but she was talking up a storm. The blessings of simple things. How I enjoy them. I am reading in Genesis 26 through 30, and the truth I want to share today is something dear to my heart. Here it is:

DIVINE FAVOR- Last Sunday I preached one point of my message about Divine Favor. If we are to do a Great Work for God, we will need Divine Favor. The Bible is full of examples of this, but in these chapters we see two: Issac in Genesis 26:28-29 "And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD."

The inhabitants of the land said that they saw that the LORD was with Isaac, and knew that he was blessed of the LORD. Wow! Wouldn't that be something if people around us saw that? That is my prayer. Not that I would be so blessed, but that they might see what God could do in a life. Now, how did they see this? Well, if you read earlier in the chapter, you will see that Isaac came to the land of Gerar, and digged a well that he and his father Abraham had dug when Abraham was alive, but the Philistines had since filled in. He dug out the well with his servants, and then named the well Esek; but, the inhabitants of the land disputed the well and strove against him, so he moved on and dug another well, he named Sitnah. Now, the inhabitants of the land came and again disputed this well. Now keep in mind, these were all wells that he had already once dug with his own father Abraham, and yet we see that he just moves on and digs another well. This time they do not dispute it and he calls it Rehoboth, meaning: The Lord hath made room for me! Now, here is the kicker: They noticed that God was on him because when faced with injustice and trials, he took it with grace and kept on! You see, God's hand of blessing on us is not the absence of conflict, but the proper handling of conflicts. That is the key!! Don't think that God blessed people have an easy life. No, but they have a blessed life because, they let others roll over them and keep smiling and have a happy spirit! They key is who you are inside, not what happens on the outside. Now, Isaac is one example, but Jacob (his son), is another. In Genesis 30:27 "And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake." How did Laban learn this lesson? Well he had definitely been blessed because of Jacob and his flocks had grown a whole lot, but how did he know this was of God, and more importantly, Jacob's God? Well, because every time Laban tricked this young man, Jacob, he kept a sweet spirit and God turned it around for a blessing in his life. What if Jacob had strode off in anger and said, that's it! Laban is a crook and I'm not going to be taken advantage of! Well, he would never have experienced the blessings of God. The Key is that Jacob kept on doing right when faced with trickery and deceit. How would we measure up? We want a life of Divine Favor, but are we willing to be someone's doormat so that God can be exalted? LORD.... let me learn this valuable lesson. I want your Divine Favor!!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

CAN YOU WAIT (GENESIS)

2012-01-05T07:58:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I hope you have a great day today and find joy in serving Christ.

CAN YOU WAIT ON GOD?- As I read this morning in Genesis 21-15, I was again reminded that so many times, we just have to wait on God. I was reading about Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Abram was told he would have a son when he was 75, but Isaac wasn't born until he was 100. Twenty five years, he had to wait on God. That was hard. In fact, he didn't do it. He adopted Sarai's plan and went into Hagar and had a son, Ishmael. He waited 10 years until he went into Haggar. It is hard to wait on God. Isaac was 40 when he got married, and then he had to wait 20 years to have two sons, Esau and Jacob. He waited twice as long as his father did (once promised) to have a son. God promises a great nation, and in the lifetime of Abraham he sees three boys of promise (Isaac, Esau, and Jacob). This is the great nation? Well, God's timing is not our timing. Jacob had a hard time waiting. In fact, he couldn't. He took maters into his own hands and stole his brother's birthright. God gave him many children that is true, but such hardship he endured because he just couldn't wait. I'm afraid that many of our own problems are caused by our own impatience. But we are in a world that says "Act Now!". Indeed, I like to execute the plan.... now! I don't like waiting. But, I've had to learn that it is often God's plan. Can you wait on God? It is never easy.... but oh so fruitful to do so. Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

I hope you have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

THOU GOD SEEST ME

2012-01-04T09:10:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I'm looking forward to preaching two chapels today and then our Mid-Week Service tonight. So looking forward to it! Today, I'm reading in Genesis again and here is a thought I want to share:

Hagar was frustrated. First Sarai wanted her to go to her husband, and when she did, now Sarai is treating her very mean. She has tried to be obedient, but she cannot win for losing. What to do? Well, it came into her mind to run away. So, she did. She ran into the wilderness where a fountain of water was. She knew she could hide there until she had a better plan. She is at the end of her rope. She is asked by the angle of the Lord in verse 8: "Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and wither wilt thou go?" She doesn't have any answers, but just says "I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai." The angel goes on to tell her to return, tells her that she is with child, tells her that her son will be named Ishmael, and that her son will be the father of a great multitude. The angel goes on to tell her that she should prepare herself, because he also is going to be a wild man, and against every man. (Isn't still so today?) But now we come to verse 13 of chapter 16: "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" GOD SEES US!! We usually associate God seeing us as God sees all of the things (usually the bad) that we do or think; but, her we see that God sees when we are at the end of our rope! When we don't know where to turn, what to do, what to think, how to act..... God sees! When we only fill our minds with problems that seem to have no solutions, when we are like Hagar and don't have a plan, don't know what we will be doing next, don't know how we will ever get out of this situation.... God sees! Yes, dear friend, when you cannot see, God sees! Thou God seest me! Take heart, you are in His hand.... He means you well!

God sees your hurt, your pain, your strive, your frustrations, your worry, your despair... God sees! Today, remind yourself of this thing.... God sees you. God will come through. He will never leave thee nor forsake thee. That's His promise to you everyday of your life. Take it... rejoice in it.... God sees!!

Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

DEFIANCE

2012-01-03T15:32:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I just got started reading chapter 11 of Genesis about the tower of Babel and it dawned on me that the people were full of DEFIANCE towards God. This is what I want to talk about today. Defiance- pitting ourselves against God. Openly going against God's will for our lives, God's plan for the ages. When we choose to live in disobedience, we are defiant against God! It reads in Genesis 11:4 "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Now that last phrase: "lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." That was an act of defiance. In Genesis 9:1, it says: "And god blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." To replenish the earth meant to spread abroad throughout it. But the men of Babel thought to stay together, lest they do what God wanted done. No where do we see them voicing their defiance towards God, but we do see that their actions were in direct defiance of God's plan to have them replenish the earth. I never saw that before. I just thought they were acting in a way that God opposed, but they were doing so knowingly! Sad to say, we sometimes do the same thing. We know God wants us to serve Him, and yet our schedules get full. We know we should witness, give, spend time with God, etc.; but.... knowing that..... we don't. But defiance? Really, we would not defy God's Word... would we? Well, the answer is not pretty. Yes, at times we find that our nature is defiant to the very will of God, plan of God, witness of God, etc. We pet our sins as though they are not really disobedience, just our little failures. Why we are sinners, right? We are only human, we are not perfect. Excuses. Lord, forgive our defiance. Let us realize that our knowing disobedience is nothing less than defiance to our God. Forgive us LORD! Help us to live with humble hearts striving always to only please our LORD.

Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

A GREAT EXAMPLE

2012-01-02T10:23:00.001-08:00

Today is January 2, and we it is a holiday since the first fell on Sunday. We are going to be relaxing today and watching some football on TV. I hope that you will be enjoying your day. I read in Genesis this morning, and here is the one thought that I want to share:

A GREAT EXAMPLE- Noah is a great example to us as Christians. Not a perfect man, but a godly man and one God used in a wonderful way. Genesis 6:8 says: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." God has grace available for all of us, but Noah was looking for grace. Then verse nine says: "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." What an example. A man who walks with God! In verse 22 it reads: "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." We see this also in Genesis 7:5 "And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." He found grace, he walked with God, and he did everything that God commanded him! Wow. That is a proper example. We need examples in our lives and biblical examples have always been a blessing to me. They inspire me to walk the same, do the same. Now, don't get me wrong... I'm no Noah. I fail much more than he ever did, but he inspires me to live more godly, more just, more obedient, and to walk with God. That is my goal. Do you have some good examples in life? Certainly Biblical examples are important, but I also have had wonderful examples in life. A dad and mom who loved God and their family. A pastor who loved me and my family as a child and teenager. Professors at Bible College who were excellent role models. They blessed me. Dr. Jack Hyles who befriended me and mentored me. Dr. Bob Gray from Longview, Texas challenged me in soul-winning and organizing the church. Dr. Jack Trieber, a dear friend and mentor who teaches me to love people and a model pastor. These are my examples that have helped me in life. Do you have some? Look to them. Get close to them. Follow their faith. God has given us Great Examples like Noah. Find them, and follow them.

Hope you have a blessed day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

THOUGHT FROM GENESIS ONE

2012-01-01T09:52:00.001-08:00

Today is January 1st of 2012. What an opportunity to start off a new year right! What expectations for God to do a great work in all of our lives, families, and churches. This year, I have decided to blog about one truth a day. I will not be sharing several as I read through the Bible again and again this year, but I will pick out just one truth that speaks to my heart. I love to blog, but time is the issue and since I started going to the gym, (and I need that to stay healthy), that I find it hard to get everything in the morning that needs to get done. So, this is my pattern for the year..... one truth that I can expound upon and share with others. Here is the truth for today:

THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED- In Genesis 1:2, we see that "the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." "The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." I wanted to show now the context where upon the spirit of God moved. It was desolation... emptiness, and yet... when the spirit of God moved, things happened! That is what our lives need.... the spirit of God moving on our lives! This is what our families need, the spirit of God moving upon our family member's lives. This is the answer to a church with vitality and life.... the spirit of God moving upon it. OH how we need this year to have the Holy Ghost of God moving upon our lives, our families, our churches, our jobs, our finances, our relationships, our health, our plans, our futures, our..... you get the idea? We must have the Spirit of God move! Now, here is the good news.... the spirit of God does move! The word spirit in Hebrew is the same for wind, or breath. You don't have either, but what you must have movement. Wind that doesn't move is only air! Breath that doesn't flow in and out, is dead air, and is in dead people! We must have the movement. The Holy Spirit has movement. The KEY is to find out where the Holy Spirit is going and get in the stream! He lives in us, but He wants to go in a certain direction. Let us seek His face, find our what His direction for our lives is, and get into that movement. Let us be in the flow of the movement of the Holy Spirit, and then we will see that dead relationship thrive, that dead church come alive, that cold marriage heat up, and so forth! The thought for today is: The spirit of God moved!

Have a blessed day.......... Pastor Mike Mutchler

REVELATION

2011-12-29T10:53:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I had a great time at church last night as I ran through all 66 books of the Bible and shared the highlights of each one. I so enjoy doing that. It was a blessing to me and to others as well. I averaged 41 seconds per book. Today, I am finishing up Revelation. I go ahead of myself and finished early. So, here are some comments for the last blog of this year:

1) LET HIM HEAR- Revelation 13:9, says: "If any man have an ear, let him hear." This is found throughout Scripture and now in the last book of the Bible. God wants us to use our ears to hear, our eyes to see, our hands to touch, our minds to think, and our hearts to love. We have been blessed with all of these to relate to others but most of all to God. We can hear what the Spirit is saying to us if we will listen with the ears of our spirit. Hebrews tells us several times: "To day, if ye will hear my voice; harden not your heart". We can hear, IF we get out the spiritual ear wax out of our spiritual ears. God wants to talk with us... to fellowship with us. Jesus said it this way: "My sheep hear my voice..." Really? Yes! We can hear what God is speaking to us if we choose to listen. Not audible, but in our spirit. He has promised to lead and guide us and He wants to speak to us and have us speak to Him. Let Him hear your voice today, and listen to His!

2) THE SONG OF MOSES- Revelation 15:3 says: "And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Now the song of Moses is found in Exodus 15. The children of Israel have just crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground and then saw Pharaoh's army destroyed trying to do the same thing. It was a song of deliverance and adoration. We too have been delivered, but by far greater than a flood; from eternal Hell! We too should have a song to sing. Moses is our example, and we will sing the song he wrote in Heaven. Also the song of the Lamb. Now this is not a song of deliverance, but a song of joy. Jesus is so happy we are all with Him in Heaven! We ought to be filled with joy just knowing that fact. We will be with Jesus!! Wow.

3) FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY- This we are told in Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." What a day that will be! No more trials, no more failures, no more sin, no more disappointments, no more pain, no more loss, no more broken hearts, no more stress, no more anxious moments, no more long nights, no more sorrow, no more worries, .... all gone; all done away with. The former things (that which we struggle with right now) will be done away!! Praise His Holy Name!! Thank you Jesus!! That's what I have to say about it.

Well, I hope you have a Happy New Year. This year, I have gone though the Bible three times. I hope the insights have blessed. Some of you have let me know that. I'm still not sure about what I will do next year, but I'm sure I will have some type of devotional blog. God bless you!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

REVELATION

2011-12-28T10:03:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. Tonight we culminate our Wednesday night series called Walking Thru The Bible. Tonight we recap the year and Run Thru The Bible. All sixty-six books! I'm looking forward to simply going through each book of the Bible and telling people what each book contains as an overview of the Bible. I've been working on it for several days now. I'm close to finishing up, and here are some thoughts in Revelation:

1) LOVED US, WASHED US, & MADE US! Revelation 1:5-6 "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." I love it when I find things like this. Three things that Christ did for us in two verses. He loved us! Praise the Lord for His great love. He washed us! Yes, His own blood was shed to wash and cleanse us from our sins. He made us! Already we are made kings and priests, but one day, we will realize that in it's fullest sense. Thank you Jesus!

2) IN THE SPIRIT- Rev. 1:10 says: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day," Now the Lord's day is not the Sabboth, but Sunday! We certainly should be "in the Spirit" each Sunday as we go to church; but, we also should be "in the Spirit" everyday! Yes, since the Holy Spirit dwells in us and desires to control or fill us, then we should be in the Spirit every single day of our lives as believers. Now, certainly we are not.... but let us strive to be totally yielded to the Holy Spirit so that we can be truly "in the Spirit"!
3) WORTHY OR WRATH? In Revelation chapter five, we see that Jesus is the one who is worthy! Worthy is the Lamb! We will be among that group that sings the praises of our Savior and sing out "Worthy is the Lamb!" What a great group to be a part of. But, when we get to chapter six, and verse 16, we see another group of people. They are crying out for the rocks and mountains to fall on them and cover them from the "wrath of the Lamb!". Now we are blessed to be a part of the first group, but there are many around us that will be a part of the second group. Let us share Christ while we have time!

4) OUT OF TIME- We get that way often, but one day we will never be "out of time" because there will be no time left! In Rev. 10:6 we see that a mighty angel will stand with one foot in the sea, and one foot on the land, (a big angel), and he will cry with a loud voice "that there should be time no longer." No more time!! Out of time, forever!! One day that will indeed be the case, but until then..... let us be "redeeming the time" as God's Word instructs us as believers. Let our days be useful to the LORD, and our time on earth fruitful for His kingdom. Heaven awaits us.... let us serve till we see His face!

This is all for today. I hope that you have a wonderful day in the LORD! God bless. Pastor Mike Mutchler

II John, III John, and Jude

2011-12-26T14:08:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was Christmas, and we had a great service at Church remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessing it was! Today is Monday, and a joy to realize we have one more week till the new year. I'm excited and blessed. As I end out the Bible again for the third time this year, I have had about four years with this blog. I don't know if I will keep it up, or make it something different. Any input would be appreciated.

1) TRUTH & LOVE- II John is only 13 verses long, but it deals with Truth and Love. Truth is mentioned five times and Love is mentioned three times. We are to walk in the truth and to love one another.
2) FULL REWARD- 2 John 1:8 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." The implication is that you can lose out on some of your rewards if you start backing off on those things that you once did for Christ. I want a "full reward" and so I too must "look to yourselves (myself)" to see that I keep doing and keep believing what I've always believed and done. All of us should not stop, but keep pressing on for Christ!
3) TRUTH- III John uses "truth" and "true" seven times! It also points out a trouble maker in the church, Diotrephes, "who loveth to have the preeminence". We are servants of Christ and each other and our goal should never be to lord over others, but to serve them. Before John finished this short book of 14 verses, he does point out Demetrius who "hath good report of all men". Thank God for godly men and women who are a blessing to their pastor and the cause of Christ. Being a pastor is a hard calling, and what a blessing when godly men and women work together with their pastor for the cause of Christ!!
4) KNOW THEIR NAMES- III John 14, says: "... Greet the friends by name." Paul does this even in his epistles. I spoke a week ago how in II Timothy, he even listed his adversaries by name. He named them! Here he reminds us that since we are a part of a spiritual family at church we should get to know the family and call each other by name!
5) HAVE COMPASSION- I'll end with Jude, all of 25 verses. One verse to focus on would be verse 22: "some have compassion, making a difference:" It always works…. Compassion!! Loving God and loving Others is what it's all about.

Well, I need another cup of coffee, and I'll see you tomorrow!! Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

II PETER & I JOHN

2011-12-25T09:36:00.001-08:00

Today is Christmas! December 25th! Praise the LORD for His Birth! I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. I hope this is a special day for you at church as well. Today, we have a service at 11:00am and I'm looking forward to it. I'm in II Peter and I John this morning, and here are a few gems to share:

1) GRACE AND PEACE MULTIPLIED! How would you like to have your grace and peace multiplied? The Bible says that can happen. In II Peter 1:2, it reads: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our LORD." Yes, it can multiply and it multiplies by increasing our knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Now, how will that knowledge increase? Well, by reading more about them. The more we read and meditate and implement the Word of God, the more our grace and peace are multiplied. Notice, not added, but multiplied! This is not the grace that God has towards us, but the grace we show to others. We become more Christ-like and our grace shown to others grows in such a way that it is multiplied. Our peace, that which we have in the midst of life's troubles, multiplies as we get into God's Word. So, the choice is ours. Live with what you have, or let it multiply as we get into God's Word more and more. That is the secret to greater grace and peace!!

2) REMEMBRANCE- Christian growth and health is not in the learning of "new" truths, but in the "remembrance" of old truth. Notice what II Peter 1:12 says: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth." Notice the phrase: "though ye know them". Here we see that Peter is reminding people of things they already know, but he realizes the importance of being reminded of these truths! Notice these verses as well: II Peter 1:13 "Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;"; II Peter 1:15 "Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."; II Peter 3:1 "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:" We sing the song: "Tell me the old, old story..." Yes that is what we need! Not a new story, but the same one our fathers heard. The same one we were brought up with. The same one we tell our children and grand children. Let us not seek new truth, but be ever thankful to hear a preacher or teacher who simply "reminds us" of that which "we already know". That is how we know it is truth!

3) HE PROMISED US! In I John 2:25, it reads: "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." God has promised us eternal life! That is true for all that have trusted Christ as their personal Savior. How wonderful this promise is. Then to know the Bible says that God cannot lie add more significant weight to this promise. It is real! It is true! It will be ours throughout eternity. Wow! Praise His holy name!

4) TO BE LIKE JESUS- I John 4:17 gives us an important phrase: "because as he is, so are we in this world." We are a reflection of Jesus Christ on planet earth. We are to be like Jesus. I love that chorus: To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, all I ask, to be like Him..." That is what this old world needs. More Christians living like Jesus Christ to show Christ to a lost world. LORD, please help me to live like You and to love like You and to forgive like You and to minister like You and to care like You and to have compassion like You, and.......... on and on! Let that be our goal.

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!! Blessings on you my friend. Merry Christmas!!

JAMES & I PETER

2011-12-22T09:27:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I had a great time last night at Church as I taught through the book of Revelation. It was a joy and we had a good crowd for the Wednesday before Christmas. I am in James and I Peter today and here are some thoughts:

1) NO CHANGE IN GOD- James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." In describing God as not changing in the least, it brings up the image of a sun dial. We may not see the hour hand move on our watches, but we can see the second hand move. With God, you could not see the second hand move, because he does not move.... I am the Lord thy God, I change not. If you looked at a large sun dial, you would not see any shadow of movement as it describes God! He is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Praise the LORD!!

2) WRATH DOES NOT WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS- James 1:20 says: "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." In verse 26, it says: "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Wrath and anger and malice are things God's Word tells us to "put away". These are items the old man has in plenty, but we are to have in short supply as believers. Let us not be angry Christians. James says that our religion is vain (religion being that outward profession) if we don't stop speaking in anger.
3) ROYAL LAW- James 2:8 says: "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:" This is also called the second commandment by Jesus, and now the royal law. To love others is indeed the teaching of Jesus Christ to all who profess to know Him. Let us keep the Royal Law in effect each day!

4) WHO ART THOU- James 4:12 says: "Who art thou that judgest another?" God is the judge, not us... we are to yield to Him and let Him do the judging among us. We cannot do it ourselves. Don't allow yourself the time to judge others. Don't critique! Don't criticize! Don't second guess others.... just keep on serving God and realize it is not our task to judge.

5) DESIRE- In I Peter 2:2 it says that "as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." It doesn't say we are new born babes, it says "as" newborn babes desire... so we too should desire the Word of God! How about you? Do you desire the Word of God? Do you enjoy holding the Word of God and reading it, then meditating on the truths and wonder of the blessed Book that tells us about a loving Savior? We should desire....God's Word!

6) FINALLY... - After teaching about wives and husbands and their responsibilities in I Peter 3:1-7, Peter now says in verses 8 and 9 to both: "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." These are mutual obligations of the Husband and Wife. We are to be compassionate one towards another. We are not to respond to anger or evil in like fashion. We are to act Christian towards each other!

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

HEBREWS

2011-12-21T09:17:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I'm looking forward to church tonight. These are days off as we celebrate Christmas. Several of our staff are out of state visiting family while others of us are here and relaxing with our families. Yesterday I had our grandchildren over to watch and enjoy. Today, I'm still in Hebrews and wanted to spend some more time here. Here are some items to share with you:

1) TITHES- In Hebrews chapter 7, Melchisedec received tithes from Abraham of all the spoils. (vs. 4) Abraham gave him, a priest, a tenth. This was before the law and before tithing was spelled out in the law of Moses. The law said that a priest was commanded to take tithes of the people (vs.5) Melchisedec received tithes from Abraham and then blessed him. (vs. 6) Men, here on earth receive tithes, but we receive tithes for Christ, because the Bible states that "there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth." Our tithing proves that we believe in a living Savior, who receives our tithes for His work on earth. So, we should tithe.

2) REMEMBER NO MORE! Yes, that is what Hebrews 8:12 tells us. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." That is such good news! God will not only forgive our sins, but He will not remember them against us any more. God can do this because the penalty has been paid by Christ. True forgiveness from God means that the payment has been properly paid. God cannot be just and just forgive sin without a payment. Otherwise, He would have to do this for everyone. But, because Christ paid our sin debt, God can forgive all who accept Christ as their payment for sin. Praise the LORD for His forgiveness!
3) A FEARFUL THING- Hebrews 10:31 says: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." A fearful thing! One day all those who have rejected Christ will find out to their great fear that Jesus is LORD! To their shame, but also to their great fear. Now, they will remember what Christians told them about Hell. Now they will remember that Hell is for all eternity. Now, they will quake in fear as they approach the great white throne judgment. Now, they will weep and wail as they realize that the Lake of Fire will be their home for all eternity. Oh, today they mock Christ and Christians. Today they laugh and make jokes about Hell, but then.... they will see that it truly is a fearful thing! Don't let that be your fate or your loved ones fate. Let us tell others about Christ!
Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! Pastor Mike Mutchler

Titus, Philemon, & Hebrews

2011-12-20T09:33:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I hope you have a wonderful day! Christmas is closing fast upon us. This Sunday!

1) SETTING THINGS IN ORDER-Titus 1:5- Paul tells Titus to "set in order the things that are wanting" and then starts talking about ordaining pastors (elders) and then the qualifications of "bishops" in verses 7-9. The way to "set in order the things that are wanting" is to have a Pastor! So many churches are having the laymen rule the church and calling them an "elder board". Even in the old days, some churches have had their "deacon board" run the church. Both are wrong! There is no "board" found in the Bible other than something you nail together. WE need to stay Biblical in these days. The Bible talks about Pastors and Deacons and that is all. The deacons are to help the Pastor, not control them, not dictate to them, not to question them, but to help the Pastor implement his vision for the church. The words: pastor, elder, bishop, shepherd, an overseer; are all talking about the same office of the Pastor. Each word describes a different aspect of his ministry as a pastor. A good pastor will help to "set things in order". He does this through exhortation (teaching and preaching) and example. (living what he preaches among his people.) He does not "lord" over people, but leads and guides them.

2) GOOD WORKER WANTED- This is the AD that runs in God's newspaper, the Bible! Titus 1:16 "unto every good work"; Titus 2:14 "a peculiar people, zealous of good works"; Titus 3:1 "ready to every good work"; Titus 3:8 "careful to maintain good works"; Titus 3:14 "And let ours also learn to maintain good works". HEY... could you call about this job posting?? Let us so live our lives that we could be hired by God as a good workers!
3) HOW? - How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? That question is asked in Hebrews 2:3, and it is not talking to the lost, but us! So, what does it mean? It means that if after being saved, we neglect the Salvation God provided to save us and make us a new creature, how do we think we can escape God having to deal with our sin and disobedience? We will not! Just look at the backslidden Christians around you and see the heartbreak and ruined lives, like litter on the sides of a busy street. Ruined, lives, marriages, children, homes, jobs, futures, health, and the list goes on and on. Don't try to be an escape artist, let us enjoy the great salvation we have and live for God!!
4) LOOKING UNTO JESUS- Heb. 12:2 tells us to do this, and it is the only way to stay faithful in the Christ life. We must look to Him and not others! Others will fail us, but not the LORD!! Lord, help me look to YOU in every situation today, help me not to lean upon mine own understanding, but help me to look to you with ears to hear and hands to help, and feet to run to your bidding. Help my heart to be sensitive, not hard; help my neck to turn your way, not be stiff necked and unmoveable; help my spirit to be soft so that the impression of your leadership is all I need, not a swift kick in the seat of the pants! LORD, I am yours today..... as I look to YOU, use me!! Please, use me!
Well, all for today. Have a blessed day with the Lord.... Pastor Mike Mutchler

II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy

2011-12-19T10:11:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. What a blessing we had at Church yesterday! Packed out both AM and PM and the services were such a blessing. People saved, lives touched, and Christ was exalted. The way Church was meant to be. So happy with what God is doing at Grand View. These are days of reaping and enjoying the harvest. God has blessed us. Today I am reading in II Thessalonians through II Timothy. Here are some truths to share:

1) HOLD THE TRADITIONS- This is exactly what Paul says in II Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." We live in a day where the modern church movement is chucking out the window any "tradition". They pride themselves in saying that there church is not the one their "parents" would enjoy. Strange.... that the Bible would say the opposite. We can only be culturally relevant as we are Biblically sound! The Bible tells us to "hold the traditions". I'm sure to what degree, and what traditions, are all open for variances, but the truth remains to hold on to them. Let us not be among those throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

2) THE END OF THE COMMANDMENT- I Timothy 1:5 says: "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:" By end of the commandment, Paul means that this is what the commandments were meant to achieve. Charity (love), out of a good conscience (no selfish motivations here) and faith unfeigned (faith that is sincere, not faked, not put on or disguised. The real thing!). When we love like this, we have found what the commandments want to teach us. Love for God like this, and love for man like this. (The two great commandments). Let us love one another!
3) A PREACHER, AN APOSTLE, AND A TEACHER- In I Timothy 2:7, and in II Timothy 1:11, we see Paul calls himself all three titles. "Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." Then in II Tim. "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." Paul knew that God had called him to be all three. A preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. Perhaps God has called you to be one or two of these? Now apostles are no longer available for office, but we still have preachers and teachers. Are you one of those? If so realize that you were "ordained" and 'appointed" to be so. Let us take these tasks seriously and use them for Christ's sake and to help many others come to Him.
4) PAUL NAMES SOME RASCALS- We wish it were so that all who come to Church or who profess Christ were helpful in the ministry; but, that is not the case. Some are hurtful to God's people, God's man, and God's church. They seek to tear down what they did not build and discourage whom God has called to serve. Paul had these as well, and he names them. Notice I Timothy 1:20 "Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." (We will see these names again!) Notice now in II Timothy 2:17 "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;" Here we see that Hymenaeus is mentioned again, along with a new partner in crime... Philetus. (trouble makers are always looking for companions in crime.) Now notice II Timothy 4:14 "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works." Here we see that Alexander's name is mentioned again. Hymenaeus and Alexander and Philetus caused Paul much grief, but he turned them over to Satan, and to the Lord to reward accordingly. I would not want to be in their shoes..... and neither would you!!
Well, that is all for today. I hope your day is filled with thoughts of God and His great plan for your life. Have a great day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

COLOSSIANS, I THESSALONIANS

2011-12-18T08:25:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I love Sundays! What a special day it is. We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. We get to meet with fellow Christians. We have God speak to us in the services, the songs, the fellowship. I love it! Today I am in Colossians and I Thessalonians; here are some highlights to share:

1) CREATOR AND SUSTAINER- Colossians 1:16,17 read: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him." then verse 17 says: "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." We see that Jesus Christ has created all things, for Himself, and that He also keeps all things sustained by Himself. So Jesus creates and sustains all things. Wow! What a wonderful Savior. We do not even come close to imagining how wonderful Jesus is. We will one day see Him in all of His glory! What a day that will be!!

2) THE KEY- How do we all get along as God's people? Well, Colossians 3:13 tells us what we ought to be doing. "Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Verse 12 tells us to be Christ-like: put on... mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, & longsuffering. If we are Christ-like, then we can be what we ought to be for each other. But then when we come across a brother or sister who is not Christ-like, then we learn "forbearance and forgiveness". To forbear means to "put up with", or "to make allowances for". We endure them! But when they continue, and they go too far... we are then to forgive them. Yes, forgive them. Now we take it one step further... in verse 14, we are told to put on charity. We are to love them. Yes, love the unlovable. I might say that at times we do this from a distance to keep our Christ-like character Christ-like. We are human, and yet we have the superhuman Holy Spirit living within us. Let us defer to Him!

3) MY LIFE IN YOUR STAND- Notice, that I didn't say "my life in your hand", but in "your stand". What do I mean by that? Well, the same thing that Paul meant in I Thessalonians 3:8 when God's Word says: "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." Paul was saying that he lives as long as they stand. Our lives and ministries are tied together and one affects the other. Now ultimately we are looking to Christ for strength and endurance, but still.... we depend upon each other too! We are strong if each other is strong. If others stand, it becomes easier for us to stand. Paul is stating the fact that having invested his life into these Christians, their ability to stand strong for Christ keeps him going. Were it not for them.... he would resign himself to death and his longing for Heaven. In other words.... those we invest in are the only reason to stay on this earth. Once that is gone.... Heaven... here we come!!! I only want to stay alive as long as I have influence on others for Christ. Once that is gone I'm looking forward to Heaven. So, friend, my life is wrapped up in your stand!

Well, I hope that you have a blessed day! Enjoy your Sunday. I know I'm thrilled with the prospects of mine. It is going to be wonderful! Blessings on you friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

GALATIANS, EPHESIANS, PHILIPPIANS

2011-12-17T07:46:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday. I have just about 15 minutes to write about what I've been reading. Here are some things I would like to share:

1) JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH- Galatians is a doctrinal presentation by the apostle Paul about justification by grace apart from the law. Each book in these next few books have a Personal section, a Doctrinal section, and a Practical section. Chapter three in Galatians is doctrinal. It has the PERSONAL ARGUMENT FOR FAITH in verses 1-5; the SCRIPTURAL ARGUMENT in verses 6-25; and the PRACTICAL ARGUMENT in verses 26- 4:7. Herein lie a great doctrinal truth that we are indeed justified by faith. Notice in verses 24 & 25, Paul informs us that 'School's Out!'. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (vs. 24), but now that faith is come, we "are no longer under a schoolmaster." School's Out!

2) AN HABITATION OF GOD- Ephesians 2:22 reminds us that not only does the Holy Spirit dwell in us, and that we are a habitation for God, but the verse reads: "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." In other words, God puts us together to form for Him a building, a habitation. Now, I believe that is the Church. We form local assemblies for God to dwell in. There once was one tabernacle, and one temple. Now we are all temples of the Holy Spirit, and Christians form habitations for God called Churches. So vital that we are a part of one!

3) SEEKING THE RIGHT THINGS- Philippians 2:21 reads: "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." We are stewards according to the Bible, and our goal is not our own personal wealth or advancement, but the wealth and advancement of our King, Jesus Christ. We seem to constantly be aware of and saddened to hear about politicians who use their office for the advancement of their own wealth and agenda. We have heard it so many times, that we don't even get surprised anymore when it is revealed. BUT, we are just as guilty IF we are living this life for ourselves and our own enjoyment. Our life belongs to Christ and we are to live our lives for Him! Let us seek the things which are Jesus Christ's! Lost souls, the Church, fellowship with Him, other believers, etc.

Well, time has come and gone. Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

2 CORINTHIANS

2011-12-16T09:29:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. I'm in II Corinthians and it is a lovely day outside. It is hard to believe that soon Christmas will be here. Today is the 16th day of December and soon a new year will be ours again. My how the years pass. It won't be long before we are rejoicing with our Savior. What a day that will be! Here are some thoughts from II Corinthians:

1) IT IS ALL FOR YOUR SAKE- Paul was telling the Christians at Corinth that all that happened to him and through him was for their sakes. In Chapter 1:6, it reads: "And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation." So whether afflicted, or comforted; "it is for your consolation and salvation." It was all for their sakes! This is the mark of a true minister of the LORD Jesus Christ. It is all about Christ and others! Our trials are not only to teach us, but to better equip us to help others. Oh how we need to keep this at the fore fronts of our mind when we are going through one of life's fiery trials. We are tested to advance others!

2) HOW TO TREAT THE CHRISTIAN WHO HAS DONE WICKEDLY, BUT NOW REPENTS- Well, II Cor. 2:6,7 tell us. Keep in mind this is talking about the same man as I Cor. 5:5 "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." But, now, in II Corinthians 2:6 we see: "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many." and then verse 7 tells us our response: "So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (vs. 8) Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him." So, Here is what we do when a Christian, who goes off into sin and now comes back repentant: Forgive, Comfort, and Confirm our love towards him! This is Bible! Well, they hurt me.... so, forgive, comfort, and confirm! Bible!

3) PERFECTING HOLINESS- In II Cor. 7:1, it says "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Cleanse & Perfect. This is the process of sanctification that the Lord works out in us, but clearly we see our part in this matter. We are to cleanse ourselves (remove ourselves from the filth of the flesh and spirit), and we are to perfect holiness in the fear of God. It is a lifelong process and progression, but let us be about it day by day. You and me both!

Well, so much for today. Hope you have a blessed day in the Lord and spend time with Him today. There is nothing like your time with the Lord. Blessings on you!
Pastor Mike Mutchler

I CORINTHIANS

2011-12-15T08:14:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. It is another cold day outside and the last day of school at Grand View Christian Academy before the Christmas Vacation. I was again Walking Thru the Bible last night, and enjoyed going through I, II, & III John and Jude. Next week we look at Revelations! Well, today I am in I Corinthians, and here are some thoughts to share:

1) SAMENESS- We are so very different, but we are to have some sameness about us. In I Cor. 1:10, we are pleaded with by Paul to "speak the same thing" and have the "same mind", and to have the "same judgment". All in this one verse we are to have this sameness. Now how is that possible? Well, because we have the same Holy Spirit, the same Savior, and the same Word of God! If we start out with these three the same, then it is so much easier to end up with the same speaking, mind, and judgment. So let us realize that God brings about the sameness as we spend our time with Him.

2) POWER! I Cor. 4:20 reads: "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." God's Kingdom, God's Word, God's Message, God's Methods, God's Son, all have power! It is the power to change a life, save a soul, change an eternity, and make a difference. Power is a theme with Paul in I Corinthians where they are more concerned about talking and ideas rather than what makes the difference, the power of God! Notice these verses that refer to "power".

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
OK, perhaps this is enough, but realize these are only six of the nineteen verses that deal with "power" in I Corinthians!

3) I CAN SEE IT- You don't have to tell me that you love God.... IF you do... I can see it! This is what I Cor. 8:3 tells us: "But if any man love God, the same is know of him." I will know it. I can see it. I can see it by how you interact with others. Your love for Christ will cause you to love others. I can see it how you put others first. To love Christ means that you prefer others over yourself. I can see it in your faithfulness to Church. Your love for Christ will want you to be in the Church that Christ established. (a local, visible assembly) I could see it if I saw your giving. Your love for Christ will inspire you to invest generously into the work of God through your local assembly, your Church. I can see it when you share the Gospel. Your love for Christ will cause you to witness, to sing, to give, to love, to share, to be kind, longsuffering, gentle, full of praise for God and others, faithful, serving, teaching, ministering, gracious, tenderhearted, compassionate, and on and on....

I CAN SEE IT!! Don't tell me how much you LOVE God...... SHOW me!! I'll do the same for you too!

Well, hope you have a blessed day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

ROMANS

2011-12-14T08:45:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. Christmas is coming quickly upon us and I'm looking forward to it. The days are clear and cold, but warm up in the day time. It is cold enough to snow, but no precipitation is around. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! In Romans we see the great doctrinal book of the Bible. What it says in the first 12 chapters is of a doctrinal nature, while what it says in the 12-16th chapters is a practical nature.

1) THE ESSENCE OF FAITH- In Rom. 4:18 it says of Abraham: "Who against hope believed in hope." and in verse 21 "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Faith is believing when our senses say "why?". It is all hinged on the fact that someone who is eternally faithful said something that we can count upon. Faith is believing what God has promised us. Not a leap in the dark, but believing while in the dark that God has the light!! This is the essence of faith.

2) GOD FORBID- Four times we see this phrase. Twice in Rom. 6 and twice in Rom. 7. It means "may it never be"; it is a strong word that is saying "no, God would never endorse that!" Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. (God would never endorse that!!) Also, in Romans 11:1 we see the fifth time "God forbid" is mentioned.

3) REASONABLE SERVICE- Romans 12:1 The Bible says that to serve God is our "reasonable service". We owe it to God in light of all that He has done for us and that He even created us. We ought to serve God.... it is our duty to serve God!!

4) ONE LIVE TOUCHES ANOTHER- Rom. 14:7 "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." All of us are touched by the lives of others. We cannot avoid that and we also have an effect on others lives around us. My prayer is that my influence is always for the positive and always for Jesus Christ. In HIM I live and breath, and have my being. I want Christ to be magnified in my body, whatever the cost! To influence others to come to the Savior and follow Him. That's my goal!!

5) GREAT EACH OTHER BY NAME-- As Paul concludes the book of Romans, in chapter 16, he names 37 people and two he says of them "his mother and mine". So 38 people are singled out to mention. We too ought to get to know people and be appreciative of their relationship with us. Greet one another!

Hope you have a great day in the LORD. Pastor Mike Mutchler

ACTS

2011-12-13T07:32:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I hope you are having a wonderful morning today. I am finishing up Acts and I have just a few short thoughts to share, but ones I hope will mean something to you as they have to me. Here they are:

1) LET THE WORD SETTLE THE ISSUE- Base your decisions upon the Word of God. In Acts 15 when the church made a decision about Salvation by Grace or is works included, they listen to testimony from Peter and Paul, but when James (the pastor of the church) made a decision, it was based upon God's Word... vs. 15 "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,..."

Men's testimony is good, but it must agree with God's Word or else it is not to be received. To many times Christians make decisions based upon feelings instead of God's Word. We should be "grounded" in God's Word!!

2) MAGNIFY THE NAME OF JESUS!! Acts 19:17 "... and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." Isn't this what it is all about? Isn't this why we pray, serve, get involved in church, give, go, witness, etc. To bring glory to Christ and to magnify His name!! This is what it is all about.

3) WHOLE FAMILIES! Acts 21:5 "...they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed." I don't know about you, but this brings up to me a wonderful scene of families praying with the apostle Paul as he is about to leave. I like it!

4) NO EVIL FOUND IN PAUL- Acts 23:9 "no evil in this man"; Acts 25:25 "committed nothing worthy of death"; Acts 26:31 "nothing worthy of death or of bonds." Yet, he was still beheaded for the cause of Christ. Don't think because you are not guilty that some people will still think you evil. They do not have to have a cause except you being a Christian living for the Lord. Blessed are ye when men shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name, for so persecuted they the prophets, but rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven!! (That's Bible!) We don't like that persecution here, but we will rejoice in it there!!!

Have a happy and blessed day dear friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

ACTS

2011-12-12T08:02:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. What a wonderful day we had yesterday at Church. What a blessing! We had five baptized in the morning and three baptized in the evening. We had six join the church in the morning and one in the evening. We had several saved Sunday morning and it was exciting to see the crowded auditorium. What a blessing for this preacher to behold. God is so good to us. Praise His Name!

Today, I'm in Acts and I have a few thoughts to share with you that bless my heart:

1) VISION TAKES TIME- Acts 7 we see Stephen being stoned to death as the churches first martyr. In his last sermon, he tells us about the patriarchs. Concerning Moses, he says in verse 23 "And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel." He had a vision "it came into his heart". He felt like God could use him to lead his brethren. But, it didn't happen like that. In verse 25, we read: "For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but thy understood not." So his vision died! It just didn't go anywhere. But, in verse 30 it says: "And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the LORD in a flame of fire in a bush." Now, at 80, God gives him another vision. This time, God backs it up and the people eventually respond. You see.... vision takes time! Nothing happens overnight in the work of God, and God works for generations to spread the Gospel and influence a multitude. When a great missionary went to Burma, he didn't have any converts his first seven years. He lost two wives in the land and most of his children. But, one hundred years later, there were 100,000 believers in Burma. It takes time, it cost a price, but it is worth it. Today, I'm enjoying Grand View Baptist Church more than ever before, but it has taken time, and it has cost a price, but God has blessed abundantly. Give your vision time!

2) WE ARE NOT COMMON- In Acts 10:15, a simple but powerful statement is made: "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." We are not common, because we are cleansed! Our own conscience would call us common, and the Devil would call us common, that accuser of the brethren, but we are not. Now, everything Peter saw on the blanket coming down from heaven, looked common. "fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beast, and creeping things, and fowls of the air." They looked like common, unclean animals, so Peter naturally said "I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." But God, had already said: "Rise, Peter: kill, and eat." Now think about us. We look so common at times! We look so unclean! But, God says to us: "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." We are not common, even though we look and act common, because.... God has cleansed us!! We are cleansed! We are forgiven forever and so we are not common, regardless of how we look to ourselves, we look special to our God! Wow! Praises!!

3) ARE YOU KNOWN IN HELL? In Acts 19:13-15, the seven sons of Sceva, tried to copy what they saw Paul doing (casting out demons), so they say to a fellow "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." They wanted to cast out a demon spirit. But the spirit answered: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" And the evil spirit came out of the man and beat them up roughly. So, are you known in Hell? Could the spirit say: Jesus I know, and Paul I know, and I know you too! Only when we become useful to Christ's kingdom, does our name become known in Hell. I'm not looking to be a target of Hell, but I am looking of being useful in Christ's Kingdom on earth. I want my life to count for Christ, how about you?

Well, so much for today. I hope your day is blessed! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ACTS

2011-12-11T08:41:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I'm so looking forward to meeting with God's people this morning. I'm trusting God to do something special as He has each Sunday these many months and years. I'm in Acts this morning, and here are some thoughts to share:

1) HE WON THEM OVER- A day or two ago, I mentioned the Hardest Group to Win. That was family. Jesus' own brothers did not believe him. But in Acts 1:14, it reads: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." So they were all there in the upper room. He won them over. I also mentioned that James was the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, and wrote the book of James, and that Jude was also a half brother to Jesus. His brethren became followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and servants of the LORD.

2) EXCLUSIVE! Jesus Christ is the only way to Salvation. John 14:6 tells us that "no man cometh to the Father, but by me." In Acts 4:12 we read: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Now for anyone to say that there are many ways to God, or to Salvation, is to go directly against the clear teaching of the Word of God. In fact, you would have to deny the Word of God, and having done that, what other source is going to tell you about Heaven and how to definitely get there? There is no other source of truth that speaks to sin, salvation, and a Savior; but the Word of God. Believe it, receive it, live it!

3) A SIMPLE CONFESSION- The Ethiopian eunuch said in Acts 8:37 "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." How simple! How effective! Salvation is not complicated. Jesus meant for it to be simple and forthright: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Yes, that simple and profound profession is what makes a sinner a saint. A lost man found. A dead man made alive. A child of Hell and son of Heaven! Praise God that as a nine year old boy, I trusted Christ as my Savior. I confessed Him as my Savior. Praises!!

Well, I hope you have a wonderful Sunday! I'm looking forward to the day!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

JOHN

2011-12-10T07:56:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday. I have a men's prayer breakfast in just a few minutes. Tomorrow is Sunday! What a blessing! I cannot wait until Sunday. Again, I will be expecting God to do something great. Today I am in John again and it is a blessing. Here are a few thoughts to share:

1) THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS- In John 12:1, it says: "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany,..." Now, on the next day we see in verse 12, 13 the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for the feast before the Passover. Now, these are the last days of Jesus, because you realized that He was betrayed the night of the Passover as He ate with His disciples in the upper room. This is chapter 12! John has 21 chapters. This means that almost half of the book of John deals with the last few days of Christ's life. This is unusual. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic Gospels because what you find in one, you will usually find in the others. But, John is completely different and gives us insight into Christ that shows us the complete picture that God has for us to see. Ten chapters are dealing with the last days of Christ. These critical chapters tell us how much Jesus crammed into one week. "My father worketh hitherto, and I work.." "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." So Jesus was busy. John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." So, Jesus did so much and these ten chapters tell us just a little about the week that changed the world!

2) WHAT JESUS KNEW- John 13:3 "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God." Now Jesus knew all things because He was God in flesh, but this verse points out three things that Jesus knew: a. What He had "all things into his hands"; b. Where He was from "that he was come from God"; c. Where He was going "and went to God." We too should know some things... We were made by God, for God, and enjoy all things from His hand!

3) DEATH & RESURRECTION- In John 19:25, "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene." Here we see that Jesus on the cross brought the family together. Mary's sister was not at the birth of Jesus, but here we see her at the death of Christ. His death brought the family together. So many times we see that the death of a father or mother, brings the children together when they have not been together for a long, long time. Many times we notice that a death in the family though sad, is also a family reunion. Christ's death, brought the family together. But unlike anyone else in history, Christ's resurrection brought all humanity together. John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, people from all nations, all kindred, all tongues, all tribes will be together in Heaven one day and what a day that will be!! I'm so looking forward to it, and I hope you are too!

Well, so much for today. Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

JOHN

2011-12-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. I have today off and I'm looking forward to going to the gym and then running some errands. I may even be able to get a Christmas tree for our house. I hope so. I'm reading in John and there are a few comments I would like to make about a few verses and the thoughts I have about them:

1) THE HARDEST GROUP TO WIN OVER- In John 7:5 is says: "For neither did his brethren believe in him." Jesus was the Son of God, and yet his own brothers did not believe in him. Jesus said also in: Mark 6:4 "But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." Notice this verse: Matthew 13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" Jesus had four brothers and the next verse says: Mat 13:56 "And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?" Jesus had several sisters as well. Yet, "neither did his brethren believe in him." The hardest group to win over is always your family and those closest to you. And yet... Jesus did win them over! One of his brothers wrote the book of James and was a leader in the Church. The pastor of the Church in Jerusalem! Then one of his brothers wrote the book of Jude warning about false doctrine. He did win them over! And with God's help and patience, you can too!

2) DISCIPLES INDEED- In John 8:31, Jesus says: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples in deed." To be a disciple indeed means that you are doing what a disciple does! What then does a disciple do? He continues in Christ's word, the Bible. We are not disciples because of what we know, but we are disciples by what we do. If we continue to read the Word of God and to apply it's great truths to our lives, then we are living like a disciple and are therefore "disciples indeed". It does not mean that if we don't we are not disciples, but that we certainly are not living like a disciple should live. Let us love in word, but let us love "indeed".

3) SERVICE=HONOUR John 12:26 says: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, thee shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." When we serve Christ, we are honored by God the Father. Wow! This makes our little show of service mean so much more. We become blessed of God by doing our best to serve the Savior. Let us remember that and keep on serving!

May God's blessings be upon you this day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

LUKE & JOHN

2011-12-08T07:59:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I have a full day planned out and into the night. I'm glad I get to start the day with God's Word and prayer. Here are some items to share:

1) IMPOSSIBLE! Yes it is. Luke 17:1 tells us: "It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, though whom they come!" People are going to offend you! Yes, that is a fact. But how you handle these times you are offended determines your own spiritual maturity. The Bible also tells us: Psalms 119:165 "Great peace have they that love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." This tells us that IF we abide in God's Word and love it, that we will not take offence when someone tries to offend us. James 3:2 says: "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to also bridle the whole body." Now this verse tells us that at time we will offend. If we don't, it is because we are perfect, which we are not! But God's Word has told us in Luke 17:1 that there is a "woe" attached to offending someone on purpose. We should be very careful to not offend someone even when we are correcting them, because God doesn't take offences lightly. I teach our staff this principle: Speak His mind, not ours! Hope this will help you in a practical way.

2) OCCUPY TILL I COME- Throughout America, we have seen the "Occupy" movement entering larger cities only to camp out in their city parks. They have no concise message, only a desire to camp out and occupy some land. God tells all of us as Christians to "Occupy till I come." in Luke 19:13. This is not taking about camping out. This is talking about serving His and His purposes till Jesus comes!! We are to join the occupy movement of Christ by witnessing, loving our families, supporting our church, lifting the load of others, and being a representative of Jesus Christ doing what He leads us to do, where He leads us to do it! Let us join that Occupy Movement!

3) TARRY-TIME-TRANSFORMATION- In Luke 24:49, after Christ's resurrection, Jesus says to His disciples: "... but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." So in this little statement, we see this three-fold command of our Savior. TARRY- "tarry ye" - to tarry is not just to wait. It is to wait for what is promised. To wait with expectation. Alertly waiting. TIME- "until". Not for a day or two, but "until". The wait is for the expected promise. Wait until it arrives. Don't hurry up God and His timing. Wait for the promise! We wait, but not "until". We give up waiting and move to action. Our own action, not God's. Let us learn to wait for HIS timing! TRANSFORMATION- "be endued with power from on high". This is the promised expectation! The power that comes from on high. The power that makes us effective to do His bidding. Without which we are powerless. Let us wait ourselves until we have God's enduement of power for our necessary Christian Life.

Well, my time has come and gone, and I'm not even got to share some from John. Hope you have a blessed day. Pastor Mike Mutchler

LUKE

2011-12-07T08:10:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I'm looking forward to preaching two chapels and then Walking Thru The Bible tonight at Church. It is going to be a good day. A full one, but a good one! I'm in Luke today. Here are a few items to share. Keep in mind that every chapter has many, many thoughts I could share, and I'm going through ten of them each day. Out of the scores of thoughts to share, I can only have time for a few. I hope these speak to you as they do to me:

1) BE GOD'S FRIEND- In Luke 11:5, we see the man who prays with importunity. He has a friend come to his house at midnight and has nothing to feed him which would be a huge insult and embarrassment. So, he goes to his neighbor and says: "Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?" Now this is teaching about prayer. And the idea is that we go to God and ask because we too are in great need. This man went to his friend to have his need met, and we too should go to our friend, and that Friend should be God!! God should be our friend! Be a friend to God, so that when you need a friend, you are on a close basis with Him. Talk to Him, walk with Him, sing to Him, serve Him, etc. Act like a friend to God and be a friend to God.

2) IT GROWS! Luke 12:1 says: ".... Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Leaven grows! It rises when it comes into contact with grain. So hypocrisy grows when given into. Let us not be hypocritical for a moment, but sincere, humble, truthful, honest, and transparent in all of our dealings. Let what the world sees be the real us! Let us walk the good walk as well as talk the good talk. Let us not esteem ourselves more highly than we ought. Once started down the slippery slope of hypocrisy, or stretching the truth, or dishonesty, .... it grows!! Beware!

3) ACCOUNTABILITY- Luke 16:2 says: "give an account of thy stewardship: for thou mayest be no longer steward." There will be a day that we give an account of our stewardship. All that we have belongs to God. He owns it all! We are just stewards of what He has given to us. When we give an account of our stewardship, and we have been poor stewards, then that which we have been entrusted with could be taken away. "we may no longer be a steward". Now this is not referring to Salvation, but to all else that God has placed in our care. Poor Christians live poor lives, often because they are poor stewards of what God has given to them. So,.... He takes it away! Don't let that happen to you dear friend!

Hope you have a happy and blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

MARK & LUKE

2011-12-06T16:43:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I hope you have a wonderful day. I'm looking forward to every part of the day. It is cold outside, but a beautiful day none the less. I've finished up Mark, and got into Luke. Here are some jewels to share:

1) PRESERVATION- Mark 13:31 says: "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." So, you see, it doesn't matter how many liberal Bible teachers talk about scribal error, or corrupted texts that they have to fix; we either take their word, or the word of our Savior Jesus Christ. Well, I'm taking Jesus' side on the issue and believe that we have a preserved Bible and I do believe that the King James Bible from the Textus Receptus is the Preserved Word of God for the English Language. I believe that God preserves it for all languages, for all time.
2) THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM. I liked this when I read it in Mark 16:20, the last verse of the book. It says: "And they went forth, and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." We do not do the work of God alone, the LORD works with us. In fact, I would quit if we had to do it all alone. We can look to God and know that He is working along side of us to accomplish what He desires us to accomplish.
3) THE WORDS OF JESUS- I would have loved to hear them, but I sure enjoy reading them. In Luke chapter four, I say three things about the words of Jesus: a. Gracious Words in Luke 4:22; Powerful Words in Luke 4:32; and Authoritative Words in Luke 4:36! The Words of Jesus made a difference in people's lives, and they still do today!!
4) A WORD FOR YOUR IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION- Jesus said to Jairus after hearing the news that his precious daughter was dead: Mark 5:36 "Be not afraid, only believe." Now, that is the Word of God today for your impossible situation..... be not afraid, only believe. This is not psyco babble, this is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, telling us what to do when we are confronted with dead ends in our lives. This is the God of all power and all resources, telling us where and upon whom to put our trust. This is our Savior, talking to His lowly creatures (us) and comforting us when these wonderful words in the midst of our inability to control any situation.... Be not afraid, only believe! LORD, please help me and others to take this truth to heart today! My resources are gone.... yours are only beginning. Thank you Jesus.
5) NOT A VACATION- Mark 6:31 says: "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while." When Jesus said this, He was not talking about a vacation. We use that verse to apply to one, and certainly vacations are wonderful diversions that are important in life, but here Jesus is talking about going in the desert and spending time recharging our spiritual batteries. There were no hotels in the desert in His day... not flat screen TV's... no theme parks.... no beach front condos... no, this is the desert. Perhaps a shack at best and time under the stars at night and solitude throughout the day to soak up God! How I wish I had a place like this to spend a few days ever so often. A little room in the middle of no where to be alone with God for a few days. To open up our spirit to His, to meditate on Him with no distractions, to come back re-focused, re-energized, re-committed, and with the power of God on our lives. Wow! I'd love to have such a place for a few days. To fast and pray and read and pray, and walk and talk with God each day.... alone.... just He and me. (let me know if you know such a place). We all need to go somewhere like this ever so often.

Hope you have a great day! Blessings upon you! Pastor Mike Mutchler

MARK

2011-12-05T08:10:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. What an amazing day we had yesterday at Church! God was so good to us. The morning service, we had a great crowd of people and people were saved, baptized, and three families joined the Church. What a great spirit among us! Then we had the teens take the evening service and they sang as a choir, played in the orchestra, had solos, ensembles, recitals, instrumentals, and three young men preached amazing sermons for about 7 minutes each. It was not just enjoyable, it was amazing. What dedicated young people we have and what a blessing they are! Wow. Today I am in Mark, and here are some thoughts:

1) A SOWER TO SOW- Mark 4:3 starts the parable of the sower by saying: "Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:" Now the rest of the parable we are familiar with. The seed feel on four types of ground, and only one brought forth fruit, and each seed to different amounts of harvest. But, what I want to focus on is that the sower had a mission. He went forth to sow! That is our mission. We cannot analysis the soil, but we can sow the seed of God's Word. That is our mission. We are sowers and we need to be sowing! I pray that this week, God will give me plenty of opportunities to sow.

2) HE CALLETH THEE- In Mark 10 we see the story of blind Bartimaeus. He sits by the road and calls out for Jesus: "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." Many charged him to be silent, but he cries out the more: "Thou son of David, have mercy on me." Now, Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. They go to blind Bartimaeus and in verse 49 say: "Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee." What a blessed story of Christ's compassion this is! Bartimaeus casts off his beggers garments and is led to Jesus. He will not need those garments, ever again! But here is what I want to focus on.... He calleth thee. Jesus is calling you. So, you are already saved... He calls you to spend time with Him.... He calls you to serve Him... He calls you to draw closer to Him... He calleth thee! Oh, let us listen!

3) GOD OF THE LIVING- in Mark 12:27, Jesus lets us in on a wonderful truth: "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err." Now in other passages He shares this same truth: Luke 20:38 "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him." and John 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" The truth is that all are alive unto Him. In other words, we do not die, we just transfer our abode. No one dies in God's sight. We are created to be eternal beings either in Heaven or in Hell. Our loved ones who died in faith are waiting for us, and are in Christ's presence. Oh what a comfort that is! He ever liveth, and we will live forever! He is the God of the living!

Well, so much for this Monday morning. Hope you have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

MATTHEW

2011-12-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Saturday, and I didn't get my blog out. I hope that I can share some things today from Matthew. Today is Sunday! I'm excited to see what the LORD has in store for us. May God's blessings be yours and ours today. Here are some items to share with you today:

1) MANY- I noticed this word over and over as I read in Matthew today, so I looked it up on E-sword and found out that the word is mentioned 37 times in Matthew, but the times it is mentioned in the context of Christ's teaching is what interests me. I noticed that Jesus tells us in teaching about certain people, and He calls them "many". Notice these: Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:; Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?; Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.; Matthew 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.; Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.; Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.; Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.; Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.; Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.; Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.; Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.; Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.; Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. NOW, many is used many different times and in different ways, but these were used in the teaching of Christ that referred to a group of people. When you read God's Word, look for words or phrases that jump out at you. These will bring you some insights into God's Word that you did not have before. There are many of them!!

2) THE GREAT COMMANDMENT- Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all of thy soul, and with all of thy mind." The great commandment is to love God with all that we are. Christianity is a matter of the heart! Do we love Christ? If we love Christ, then everything else in the Christian Life falls into place. Our time in God's Word, our prayer time, our witnessing, our serving, our church involvement, our giving, our living, etc. It all comes together when we get our hearts right! It is truly a Matter of the Heart.

3) THE GREAT COMMISSION- Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." This is the Great Commission! This is Christ's charge to His followers. Share the Gospel! Win the lost to Him. Win-Baptize-Teach! That simple, and yet that hard. Not an easy task because the field is the world! But the task has not changed these almost 2,000 years. Keep it simple. Stick with the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission, and you have the Christian Life in a Nutshell!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday! Pastor Mike Mutchler

MATTHEW

2011-12-02T09:02:00.001-08:00

Today, is Friday. I started reading in Matthew. I am so looking forward to going through the New Testament only ten chapters a day to get more to share. Each Chapter in the Bible could be a book. It is that filled with great stuff! Today, finishing up the Old Testament, I have a few things to share from the first several chapters of Matthew. Here they are:

1) THE FIVE WOMEN GOD USED- In the genealogy of Jesus Christ, God mentions five women in Matthew one. This is unusual that women are mentioned at all, not to mention, which women are mentioned. We have these five mentioned: Thamar (who was made pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah); Rachab (called Rahab the harlot in Scripture, who hid the two spies); Ruth (the Moabite woman, daughter-in-law to Naomi); the wife of Urias (this is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah who David saw, lusted after, and took); and Mary (the mother of Jesus Christ). God shows us His grace right from the start in using these women to bring about His son into the world. If God can use these women, and He did, then He can use us too!!
2) FULFILLED PROPHECY- In Matthew, we see right from the start that Jesus came to fulfill all prophecy. So immediately, we start reading phrases like: "that it might be fulfilled" 1:22; "for thus it is written by the prophet" 2:5; "that it might be fulfilled" 2:15; "that it might be fulfilled" 2:23; "this is he that was spoken of by the prophet" 3:3; "thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" 3:15; "It is written" 4:4; "It is written" 4:7; "for it is written" 4:10 . These let us know right from the start that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!
3) I SAY UNTO YOU- When we come to chapter five of Matthew, we see that Jesus "is come not to destroy, but to fulfil." 5:17 Nine times throughout chapter five we see the phrase "But I say unto you". Jesus will mention an Old Testament truth, and then He will strengthen that truth by saying: "but I say unto you". Here is an example: (vs. 43) "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy." (vs. 44) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." So we see this strengthening of the law. Not the law of LAW, but the law of GRACE!! Thank you Jesus!!

Well, so much for today. Hope you have a blessed day! Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor

ZECARIAH & MALACHI

2011-12-01T09:00:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I enjoyed last night at Church a great deal. Today is a slower day planned and I will get some errands run and a few visits made. I hope you have a great day as well. Today, I end the Old Testament again. Here are a few thoughts to share:

1) HARD HEARTED- Zech. 7:12 says the people's heart was hard. "they made their hearts as an adamant stone". Who would think that disobeying God a little would lead to such a state of hard heartedness? Let's not start down that road!

2) THE ATTRACTION OF HIS PRESENCE Zech. 8:23- "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." If we walk with God, others will want to walk with us so that they can learn to walk with God!! God draws people to people who walk with Him. The key to spiritual leadership is not what you do with the crowd, but what you do with God while all alone! If we walk with God, so good things start rubbing off on us and it affects those around us.

3) FULL OF PROPHECY- Zechariah is full of prophetic verses about Christ. Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem); 12:10- "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (spear in Christ's side); 13:6- "What are these wounds in thine hands?" (nails in Christ's hands); 13:7- "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered" (disciples running for cover in the upper room); and many other that deal with the battle of Armageddon.

4) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS- The last book of the Old Testament is Malachi and it is a book of questions and answers. God asks 16 questions, and man asks 10. God is seeking for His people to return unto Him and he starts talks about the tithe. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." God knows that unless the people start tithing and giving their offerings again, that God does not have their hearts!! Same thing today as well. It's not about money, it's about our hearts. That is why God says if we will give it, He will give it back "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over". He doesn't need our cash, He wants our hearts!!

5) THE ROAD TO REVIVAL- In Malachi, God is setting the stage for the entrance of Christ into the World. There are 400 silent years between Malachi and Matthew, but much happens during that time. In Mal. 3:1 it says: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:" In verse 7 it says: "Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of host." Now God is wanting the people to return to Him in order to revive His people and send His son. So, the question is..... What does God now address? Well, God talks about tithes and offerings in verses 8-11! Why, because if God doesn't have our treasure, He doesn't have our hearts. So He deals with the treasure in order to turn our hearts back to Him. Are you tithing? Do you give offerings? Anyone who is ever greatly used of God gives generously to the work of God, knowing it ALL belongs to Him!!

Hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

HAGGAI & ZECHARIAH

2011-11-30T07:28:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I'm looking forward to a full and wonderful day. I get to preach two chapels today and then teach through Hebrews tonight as we Walk Thru the Bible. Here are some thoughts from Haggai and Zechariah:

1) WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE NEGLECT GOD'S HOUSE? Haggai 1:6, 9 "Ye have sown much and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he tht earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes." vs. 9 "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." In other words, God is saying because the people have neglected to build His house, their homes will not prosper. There is an important principle here that is stating that IF we take care of God's House (the Church), that God will take care of our house! Our tithes and offerings are used to further God's Work in His House (the Church). God blesses that! And when we don't, we bring a curse upon ourselves that Haggai describes.

2) FROM THIS DAY- Haggai 2:19 says: "... from this day will I bless you." verse 18 explains it: "... even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it." In chapter two, we see that the foundation of the new Temple was laid, and God is saying from the day the foundation was laid, even from that day.... He will start blessing His people. Now notice this: it was not the finishing of the project that God blessed but the starting of the project. God does not bless your life as you complete the Christian journey, but as you start the Christian Journey! Wow! Isn't that just wonderful of God? Yes, it is!

3) GOD'S FAVOR ON THE JEWS- Zechariah 8:23 says: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." This is talking about the divine favor that God has put upon the Jew. I don't know if this is talking about a time past, present, or future, but I know God means it. Let us ever be on the side of the Jewish people, even though they are not a present serving God, nor have they accepted Christ as their Savior; but, God is not through with His dealings with them, and many of them will turn to Christ during the tribulation period.

Well, so much for today. Hope you are having a wonderfully, blessed day today. Pastor Mike Mutchler

NAHUM, HABAKKUK, & ZEPHANIAH

2011-11-29T07:51:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. Enjoyed the day yesterday, and today I am looking forward to going to the gym, then having a staff meeting for an hour or two as we continue the planning for 2012. Then I will make some hospital visits as we have members in the hospital and some having surgery. In going through the Minor Prophets, I come to three books today. There is so much to mention in these short books each of three chapters. Here are a few jewels I dug up:

1) HE RESERVETH WRATH- In Nahum 1:2 it tells us "the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies." God's wrath is reserved for sinners in Hell. Just as those of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior have a Heavenly reservation, those who have not, have a reservation as well. But... it is not a good one. The Bible says that those who have not trusted Christ as their Savior, have "the wrath of God abideth on them." This is not a reservation they will be looking forward too! In verse 6 and 7 it reads: "Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

2) HARD TO BELIEVE! God says in Habakkuk 1:5: "... for I will work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you." In other words, God is going to do something so great that you will not believe it even though you are told about it. It will be just too good to believe. I have pastored a wonderful church now for over 27 years. In those years, God has done some things that were too wonderful to believe... and I was there! We have had a day where we baptized 203 in one day. Another week when we saw over 300 baptized in one week! Yes... we did. One Weekend when we had over 1,000 saved on property. Soul-winning marathons when we saw over 1,000 saved. (a few times) We had two weekends we had over 4,000 people we preached to on and off property. We have had one Sunday with over 1,800 in Sunday School and over 540 saved! Hard to believe! "Great and mighty things which thou knowest not." That is God's promise if we call upon Him!!

3) WHAT THE LORD WILL DO- Zephaniah 3:17 says: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee in mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." Wow! What a mighty God and notice that He (God) will joy over thee with singing! I've often said that God loves to hear us sing, but God also loves to sing!! Wow!

Well, hope you have a wonderful day! Blessing on you! Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor Grand View Baptist Church

JONAH & MICAH

2011-11-28T16:37:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. My what a wonderful day we had yesterday at Grand View. God has been so very good to us! I went to the gym this morning and then to church so I'm getting my blog done in the afternoon. Here are my thoughts:

1) WHAT ARE WE SLEEPING FOR? Jonah 1:6 says: "What meanest thou, O sleeper?" The men in the boat said this of Jonah. Notice what Jonah awoke to find: a. That his life affected others vs. 4; b. That People were watching his life vs. 10; c. That God will not let us slumber vs. 11. Let us not be found guilty of sleeping while God wants to use us for His glory!

2) DIVINE PREPARATIONS- God prepares things in our lives. There are works He wants us to perform that "God hath before ordained" Eph. 2:10. Here in Jonah, we see that God prepared things to enter into the life of Jonah. Notice them: 1:7 "the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah."; 4:6 "And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief."; 4:7 "But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered."; and 4:8 "god prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live." God prepared all of these things to teach Jonah, and show him to do God's will, and to understand God's compassion of people. God has prepared things in our lives to teach us as well!

3) WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRES OF US? He tells us in Micah 6:8: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Notice those three: do justly..... love mercy..... walk humbly with thy God. These three are what God requires of us. Let us be found doing each and every one of them.

Well, so much for today! Hope your day is blessed of the LORD! Pastor Mike Mutchler

AMOS & OBADIAH

2011-11-27T09:04:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! Praise the LORD! I love Sundays! We had such a wonderful time last night with our children and grandchildren. They did not want to go home. It was a blessed time of good food, laughter, games, and Oregon football. What a great time. My wife and I took time to thank Jesus for our children and their desire to spend time with us. They are a blessing! I'm in Amos and Obadiah and there were about a dozen items I marked down to share, but only have time for about three of them. So, here are three:

1) PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD- This is said to Israel in Amos 4:12, and then it proceeds in verse 13, to tell who God is: "For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name." and then in 5:8 it says: "Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:" Also in Amos 9:6: "It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name." We forget how great God is, and this is what Israel did. Had they reminded themselves of the greatness of God, they never would have looked towards any idol or other god. Our God is the God of gods. There is no other. He alone is God. We need to realize His greatness, His vastness, His wisdom, His strength, His Holiness, His Love, His immenseness, His presence, His wonder, His creativity, His compassion, His completeness, and on and on we could go. Think about who God is!

2) CAN YOU PASS THE PLUMBLINE? In Amos 7:8, God says: "I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel:" In verse 7, we read: "... the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand." Any builder will know what a plumbline is, but most people do not. A plumbline is a weight that comes to a point like a cone shaped object with a string attached to the end of it. (not the point of it). The string is attached to the top of a wall about three inches out, and hung down to within a half inch of the floor. If the wall is in plumb (straight up and down) then the plumb bob will also be three inches from the bottom of the wall as the string is from the top of the wall. In other words, it lets you know if a wall is straight up and down vertical. Walls can be deceiving and look straight and not be straight. So we use a simple instrument like a plumbline to let us know for sure if the wall is straight. God is saying this: Israel was measuring themselves by nations around them and by their own selves, and they thought they were pretty straight, but when God gets out His plumbline, they are going to see that they are not straight but out of plumb. We too can start comparing ourselves with other Christians and think we are doing well, but we are to compare ourselves with God's Word, and then we will find that we too are "out of plumb", and need to ask God for forgiveness and help to live for Him. So let this truth remind us to live with God's Word, our plumbline, to see whether or not we are doing right. I'm guessing we all have reason to walk humbly before God.

3) A FAMINE IS IN THE LAND-Amos 8:11-12 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." Here we read of a famine, not of bread, but of hearing the words of the LORD. Oh may the preaching and teaching of God's Holy Word be found in our Bible believing Churches till the day that Jesus comes for us all! Let us ring out truth and thunder forth its teachings. Preach the Word, in season, out of season!

Well, so much for today! Hope you have a blessed Sunday! Blessings on you my friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

HOSEA & JOEL

2011-11-26T09:28:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday. We do not have our weekly Men's Prayer Breakfast this morning since it is Thanksgiving Weekend. Today all of our family will come over around noon and we will celebrate our Thanksgiving Meal together. I'm excited to have all of the children and grandchildren around. They are such a fun bunch to be around and it is always a joy to have them over. Today, I'm in Hosea and Joel. These are two books in the "minor prophets". They are minor compared to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel; but, they are powerful as well, just shorter. They are what I call: "Big Truth in Little Packages". Here are a few thoughts:

1) SOWING AND REAPING- Hosea 8:7 "For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:" Here we see the principle of sowing and reaping that is found all throughout the Bible. Notice we reap what we sow. wind-whirlwind; notice we reap more than we sow: wind-whirlwind; notice we reap later than we sow: sown-reap; and notice those who sow are those who reap: they have sown-they shall reap. Let us never forget this simple, powerful, profound, principle of God that He has established in life! We reap what we sow! Now it has a good results as well: Hosea 10:12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;" Again, all of the principles apply, but for the good! That is sowing the good seed!

2) GOD'S POURED OUT SPIRIT- Joel 2:28,29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your old me shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." On the day of Pentecost, when the disciples experienced the fulness of the Holy Spirit, this reference to what God said in Joel is brought up. It was a fulfillment of this prophecy. We now can have the fullness of the Holy Spirit because God promised to pour out His Spirit on His children. Those who are saved! The indwelling we get at Salvation, the fulness we get as we yield ourselves to Jesus Christ!

3) THE VALLEY OF DECISION- Joel 3:14 says: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." So many today are in the valley of decision. Multitudes! This is why we must get the Gospel out. We must do all we can do to reach people for Christ. Reach them before their time to make a decision is up. Soul-winning is just that important!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

DANIEL

2011-11-25T10:03:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. I just finished Thursday's blog, and now for today's. I am still reading in Daniel, and here is the thoughts I put a mark by in the margin of my Bible as I read:

1) AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT- Two times we will see this said of Daniel. In each case, Daniel is an older man. We see it in Daniel 5:12, and in Daniel 6:3. As we grow older, it seems harder to keep an excellent spirit about us. We can get where we grip, we complain, we judge, we criticize, we critique, we can become a sour crabby old person!! Well, that is not what I want to be! I want an excellent spirit like Daniel who was way up in age at this time and yet had a wonderful spirit to be around. He was not a complainer. He served when asked, and didn't resent not being called to service earlier. Wow! Let us learn from Daniel!

2) CONSEQUENCES- There are always consequences for our actions, but they often reach so much farther than we ever imagined. (if we imagined consequences at all!) In Daniel six, we have some presidents and princes trying to get rid of Daniel. So these men decided that His obedience to his God was the only way to trip him up. Through a law they had enacted, Daniel was found to be praying to His God and not to the king. He was thrown into the lion's den. Darius, king of Persia, fasted and prayed all night for Daniel's safety in the lion's den, and God heard Daniel's and Darius' prayer. But, what about the men who had Daniel put in the den? Consequences! In Daniel 6:24 "And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den." Now these men plotted against Daniel, but notice that it was more than just them that went into the Lion's den... their children, and their wives! Woe! Stiff consequences. You see, consequences are always stiffer than you can imagine. That is why a wise man studies a mater and determines the cost both ways before he makes a move. So often we think that our lives are our own and things only affect us... but that is NOT the case. It affects our loved ones, and there are consequences! Let us never forget this important lesson.

3) HELP FROM HEAVEN- In Daniel 10, we see that Michael (an angel) was sent to help Gabriel (an angel) to fight a battle, and then it is said of him: vs. 21 "and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince." God always has help that He sends us from Heaven. It might not be an angel, but God can use anything He wants to help His children.... and He will!! God will help us!! I love what Nehemiah said: "The God of heaven, He will help us!" I love what Isaiah says: "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying: fear not, I will help thee." Wow oh wow! Don't we have a wonderful God to help us from Heaven! Keep this in your thoughts as well.

Hope you have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

EZEKIEL & DANIEL

2011-11-25T09:40:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. Yesterday was Thanksgiving and a very relaxing day around our home. Our married children were at their inlaws and we will have all of our children and grandchildren over on Saturday. That will be our time of Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to that. I did not get out a blog yesterday and so I want to share two today. Here is from the last chapters in Ezekiel and the first five in Daniel:

1) THE LORD IS THERE. Ezekiel 48:35 ends with that phrase. It is the last four words in the book of Ezekiel. After all of the judgment that comes out of the book of Ezekiel, we see it ends up with God once again embracing His beloved city, Jerusalem, and calling it: "The LORD is there."

2) THE BEST-THE BEST OF THE BEST-THE BEST OF THE REST- All of these statements apply to Daniel. In Daniel 1:3-4 "And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." These were the best children that Israel had to offer. Daniel and his three friends were among them. They were of the King's children or children of princes. Royalty! They were the best! Then we see that after Daniel was kept on his diet which he humbly requested, that when they were finally tested, we find this: Daniel 1:15 "And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat." Now they were the best of the best. The best four boys of the best of the kingdom. But, God was not through with them. We also see: Daniel 1:17 "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams." and... Daniel 1:20 "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Now, they are not just the best of the best of the children of Israel, but now, they are the best of the rest of the kingdom! Wiser than all of the wise men! My how God blessed!! God can still grant you favor too!

3) PERSECUTED THEN PROMOTED- In Daniel 3 we see that the three friends of Daniel were thrown into the fiery furnace, and then after they were pulled out with no harm, it says: Daniel 3:30 "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon." So they were promoted! Often times persecution can proceed promotion. In fact in every case, testing proceeds promotion. It doesn't come easy, but once God tests us and we stand tall for Him, He promotes us! Let this be a lesson for us to learn: Your present persecution and trials is only preparation for your soon promotion!

Well, have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

Ezekiel 36-45

2011-11-23T08:35:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. Tonight, we will "Walk Thru The Bible" in the book of Hebrews. I'm excited about sharing about this great book tonight. This morning, I'm in the last of Ezekiel. Only a few chapters will be left and then Daniel. (One of my favorite books of the Bible.) Here are a few gems I've mined:

1) A NEW HEART- Ezekiel 36:26 says: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." We would describe this as the "new birth" of a believer. God changing our hearts as we give our hearts to Him! Praise the LORD we have a new heart that is open to God and hears God direct us and speaking to us in our spirit. The new "spirit" is the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We should die to self each day and life unto Christ. This is a new way of living made possible only by Jesus Christ!

2) FIRST PERSON GOD- I started noticing this as I read this morning, so I had to go back and re read it and mark it down and count it out, and sure enough, it's all there..... God is a "first person God". You see, normally the Bible in Ezekiel will say: "The Word of the Lord came unto me saying....." But starting in chapter 34, through chapter 39, we see that the LORD uses the personal pronoun "I"... a whole lot. God speaks personally to the people. In Chapter 34 (30 I's); Chapter 35 (21 I's); Chapter 36 (41 I's); Chapter 37 (22 I's); Chapter 38 (16 I's); and Chapter 39 (27 I's). Nowhere else do you see a concentration of such first person pronouns in Ezekiel as we read here. God is a First Person God! We stand before Him personally! We must accept Him personally! We must worship Him personally! And He is our personal GOD!! Thank you Jesus!!

3) THERE OUGHT TO BE A DIFFERENCE- Ezekiel 44:23 says: "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.." Somethings are clean, and somethings are unclean. There is a difference! For a Christian, somethings please God and somethings do not. Some things are lawful, and somethings edify not. We are to pick that which is pleasing to our Lord. There must be a difference between things!! Actions!! Attitudes!! Intentions!! etc.

Well, I hope you have a great Wednesday and enjoy your church service tonight as well. May God bless you and have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!! Pastor Mike Mutchler

Ezekiel 27-36

2011-11-22T14:09:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I just finished my blog for Monday, and here is the blog for Tuesday:

1) FAIN PRIDE BRINGS GOD'S JUDGMENT- In chapter 27, God again tells of judgment on Tyrus. In verse two, God tells us why they are to be judged "Thus saith the LORD God; O Tyrus, thou has said, I am of perfect beauty." They were fain and filled with pride. These two things are still disliked by God and God feels compelled to bring down the prideful. Don't get poisoned by these two addictive attitudes pride or vanity.

2) TYRUS SINKS DEEPER- God says in chapter 28:2, "Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the LORD God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not god, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:" The king of Tyrus, thought he was God! He had wisdom and riches (vs. 4,5), but that did not make him God. vs. 9 says: "Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no god, in the hand of him that slayeth thee." He many think he is a God, but those who destroy him will not think so. THEN... God likens the devil to the king of Tyrus, and speaks of Satan. vs. 12 "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty." vs. 13- Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering,.... the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created." (Satan was a master of music!) vs. 14 "Thou are the anointed cherub that covereth;" (Here we see that Satan was the highest cherub angel, honored to hover over the throne of God." vs. 15 "Thous was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." vs. 17 "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that thy may behold thee." vs. 19 "... and never shalt thou be any more." The Devil will be cast into Hell, with all of his followers!

3) JUDGMENT ON EGYPT- I noticed while reading chapter 29, something God said about the judgment of Egypt. He states in verse 14: "... and thy shall be there a base kingdom. (15) It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that thy shall no more rule over the nations." Now, Egypt had been a world power since the days of the Pharaohs. But, since they rebelled against God's plan for them, God said that not only would He judge Egypt, but that they would never again become a world power. Egypt is a backward nation to this day. It is poor, it is old and broken down. It is not a lovely place. God certainly has kept His Word!

4) NATIONS DONE AWAY WITH- After God has pronounced judgment on the many nations in Ezekiel's prophecies, He states in Ezekiel 35:9 "I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD." In other words, they would not be heard of again. Once they were scattered throughout the Babylonian kingdom, as was their nature to do, those nations were merged into the Babylonian kingdom NEVER to be heard of again as a nation.... only Israel was brought back as a nation and people by God. His plan kept on going forward because out of Israel is to come a king... the King of Kings and LORD of Lords!!

Well, so much for today! Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

EZEKIEL 17-26

2011-11-22T13:40:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday, but I'm going to do a blog for Monday. My internet was not working but now I'm playing catch up. Monday, I read Ezekiel 17-26. Here are some simple thoughts:

1) NO LONGER CHILDREN OF THE KING- In God's judgment of Israel, Ezekiel 21:25,26 says: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the LORD God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high." Since they were children of the KING, they had a symbolic crown on their heads and diadem in their hands. But since they have not followed the LORD, the LORD tells them to put up the diadem, and take off the crown. This is talking about God's favor as a nation, not His salvation for an individual, so don't confuse His dealings with a nation with His dealings with us as individual Christians.

2) I FOUND NONE- In Ezekiel 22:30, God sought for a man to stand in the hedge so that the nation would not be judged, but.... He found none! Let us hope that God sees us in this land of America. Let us be men and women that stand in the hedge. Let God see us!

3) TYRUS JUDGED- In Chapter 26, God begins His judgment of Tyrus. It goes on for several chapters, but it starts in chapter 26. When it is all said and done, God says in verse 4: "And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock." God will have the city so destroyed it would be like scraping the top of a rock. All that will be left is the top of the land that shows something was there, but no one can identify what used to be there. It looks like something was there and was scraped off.... it was.... the city of Tyrus!

Well, so much for today. I've another blog to write for another ten chapters. Pastor Mike Mutchler

INTERNET HAS BEEN DOWN

2011-11-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

My internet has been down for two days now. I have a backlog of items I marked out to share and hopefully will get to them if for no other reason just to put my thoughts down. Sorry you have missed, but I'm sure you have made it just fine as well. Look later today to see if I've posted anything.

Pastor Mike Mutchler

Ezekiel 7-16

2011-11-20T08:37:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday. I didn't have time for yesterday's blog until the day begun, and then the day filled up with activity. Today, I am so looking forward to Church and Sunday School. I hope you are too! I read in Ezekiel 7 through 16 this morning, and here are some thoughts to share with you:

1) THE END IS COME- In Ezekiel 7, God tells Ezekiel to let the nation of Israel know that the end is come. We see it in several verses and many phrases like: verses: 2-"An end, the end is come"; 3- "Now is the end come"; 5- "behold, is come"; 6 "An end is come; the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come."; 7-"the time is come"; 10- "it is come"; 12- "The time is come" One of these days, the inhabitants of Earth will also know that "the end is come"! God has warned us and warned us, and we can be ready IF we have trusted Christ as our Savior and we live for Christ. This is the key! We cannot change Earths outcome, but we can change our outcome. The Earth is headed for Judgment, but we can be headed to our rewards in Heaven.

2) THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD- In Ezekiel 7:27 it ends the verse with: "and they shall know that I am the LORD." Now this phrase is found 26 times throughout Ezekiel. I read it many times this morning. God not only will judge the wicked, but will bring them to a point that they shall know the God is the LORD and that Jesus Christ is God, our Savior! Revelation 1:7, says this: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

3) GOD IS A MIND READER! In Ezekiel 11:5, it says: "... for I know the things tht come into your mind, every one of them." God knows our thoughts. God knows the imaginations of our hearts. Ezekiel 14:3, it says: "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart". We certainly out to guard our thoughts as well as our actions, but also be mindful that "if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts." We surely should be thankful we are saved by God's grace, because even our own thoughts can condemn us. God knows us very well, that is why all of us should walk humbly before our God.

Well, it's Sunday! I'm going to get finished getting ready for Church this morning. Looking forward to it. Hope to see you tomorrow dear friend.

Pastor Mike Mutchler

LAMENTATIONS

2011-11-18T08:29:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday, and I have Friday's off so I love Fridays! Today I have two appointments but that is all I have planned. I am going to finish my blog and run off to the gym for a longer workout. Getting to enjoy spending the time at the gym working out and praying while I'm doing that. I am in Lamentations, and it is called: The Lamentations of Jeremiah. Lamentation means: "weeping". It is put into poetry. With five short chapters, we have chapters 1 & 2, 4&5 having each 22 verses. Chapter 3 has 66 verses. Each chapter has almost as many words as each of them, but chapter 3 is broken down into shorter thoughts, hence... more verses! Here are some thoughts from Lamentations:

1) OUR MERCIFUL GOD- Lam. 3:22 says: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." I love verses like this! It tells us of our merciful God. We know what we are, and are reminded of that often, but when we see who God is... it encourages us. If the LORD were to mark iniquities, David asks, who would stand? For the believer, our sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. As though they never existed. What a wonderful thing to know that because of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven forever! Praise His name!

2) MINE EYE AFFECTETH MINE HEART- That is what Lamentations 3:51 says. It is so true. What you see is what you think about is what your heart will lean towards. So... what what we see! Make wise choices in what we choose to look at and we will be much stronger and victorious Christians. If we look at the work of God, we will have a heart for the Work of God!

3) FAMINE- Famine is a terrible thing and Jeremiah speaks of the terrible famine that was in Jerusalem before it fell. The city was laid siege to until there was nothing to eat. So, Jeremiah gives us these terrible insights into how bad it got: 4:8 "Their visage is blacker than a coal;... their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick." vs. 9: They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger; for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field." vs. 10- "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden (cooked & eaten) their own children:" 5:10 "Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine." We need to praise God that we have not experienced such terrible things in our life time.

Well, I'm done for today. Hope you have a blessed time today! Pastor Mike Mutchler

JEREMIAH 45-52

2011-11-17T07:41:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. I had a great time last night Walking Through The Bible with Titus and Philemon. I enjoyed these books very much. We had a great crowd, new people present, and a great spirit of God's people. Yesterday I had a very full day, today is a bit more relaxed and I hope to get some things accomplished. Here is what I got from Jeremiah today:

1) DON'T SEEK GREATNESS- Jer. 45:5 says: "And seekest thou great things for thyself: seek them not;" Let us never be guilty of seeking greatness. Let us humble ourselves and exalt our God and Savior, Jesus Christ and let Him plan what ever greatness would be ascribed to us. And let even that greatness be focused back on Christ, for we are nothing without Him! Don't seek greatness!

2) STRONG HEARTS TURN WEAK- In Jer. 48:41 it says: "and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs." Tough men turn weak when they stand before the judgment of God. So many times I've witnessed to men, who acted tough, but they will not be tough in God's presence, and they will not be tough in Hell. In an instant, they will be crying out like a woman in birth. Let us be compassionately persistent when witnessing to strong men.

3) ISRAEL REMAINS- Jeremiah ends with Judgment on different nations like: Philistines, Moab, Ammonites, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Babylon. These nations are never heard of again as a nation. Jer. 51:5 says: "For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of host;" All of these other nations were destroyed and never heard of again, but Israel was judged and God brought them back together again. WHY? Because they were chosen by God to bring forth His Son, Jesus Christ. So, though God judged them, He kept bringing them back together and blessing them. God does love Israel and will again bring them back to Himself during the tribulation time.

4) BABYLON IS THROUGH- In Jer. 51:13, God says to mighty Babylon: "O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness." God rises up a nation and lowers it. Perhaps that is what God is doing to America and the nations of the earth right now financially. We must look to the Lord and know that all will be well as we trust Him. In the captivity of Israel, remember that they went into captivity with Babylon, and then Babylon was overtaken by the Medes and Persians. So they were servitude to two world powers during the seventy years of captivity. Daniel was a chief counselor in both of their rule. But, God brought them back with favor of Cyrus, King of Persia. My what a God we have. He takes down a world power and yet His children are watched over.

5) THINK ON HIM AND HER- The Him is God; and the Her is Jerusalem. In Jer. 51:50, it says: "… remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind." Here the captives were going into captivity, and God's prophet is told to say: "remember the LORD afar off"; don't forget God, do turn back to Him, do think on Him. And then, "and let Jerusalem come into your mind." This is what Nehemiah did. He thought about Jerusalem even though at his age, he had never seen it! Now, I've not seen the LORD, but I think about Him; I've not seen Heaven, but I think about it! Lord, help me to think of you throughout the day, let me dwell on that which is eternal. Forgive me when I get earthly minded, and give attention to worldly things that bring you no pleasure. Help me LORD, to think on my great God!
6) BROKEN AND ABANDONED- In Jer. 52, we see that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and that only the poorest of the people were left in the impoverished land. Then all of the houses were burned, and all worth taken was taken from the city and the temple. When God humbles a land, He does a good job of it. Let us not be found out needing to be humbled by God. Rather, let us chose ourselves to walk humbly before God knowing that He is in control at all times. This is the condition of the city when Nehemiah comes to rebuild the temple. After it has lied in this state for over 100 years, Nehemiah rebuilds the walls in 52 days! What a God who can take something broken and abandoned and fix it up. Know that He can do that to people too!

Well, hope you have a great day dear friend! May God richly bless! Pastor Mike Mutchler

JEREMIAH 35-44

2011-11-16T08:14:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I have a full day ahead of me and it is filled from the time I leave the house to service tonight. Here are some thoughts out of the chapters in Jeremiah I have for you today:

1) THIS IS ONLY A TEST! In Jeremiah 35:2, God tells Jeremiah to go to the house of the Rechabites, and "give them wine to drink." Now, with all the Bible has to say against wine and strong drink, why did God tell Jeremiah to do this? It was only a test! You see, God knew what their answer would be. No! In verse 6 it says: "But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:" He also told them to dwell in tents, not in houses; also to not sow seed, nor plant vineyards; and they obeyed! In verse 8-10 it reads: "Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters: Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us." Now, here is the kicker.... Jonadab told them to do this..... over 250 years earlier!! For older than we have a country, they obeyed the voice of their great, great, great, great, .... grand father!! Now, God tells Jeremiah to go to the men of Israel, and tell them about the house of Rechabites, how they have listened to the voice of a man, and yet, you men of Judah will not listen to the voice of God! What an indictment! Let us not be guilty of that either.

2) DIFFERENT TREATMENT- Jeremiah was unpopular because he said what God had him say, versus what the people, princes, and king wanted to hear. And he was mistreated because of it. In chapter 36, he had to hide for his life and the scroll that was written down with God's Words were burned. In chapter 37, he was thrown in prison, and the king secretly came to ask him: "Is there any word from the LORD?" He answers: "Where are now your prophets?" But, the king keeps him in prison until Jerusalem is conquered. He was pulled out of the slime pit in the prison's dungeon in chapter 38, but kept in the court of the prison till the city was taken. In chapter 39, the city of Jerusalem is taken by Nebu-zar-adan, the general of the army of King Nebuchadrezzar, King of Babylon. In chapter 40, the captives of Jerusalem were bound in chains and being taken out of the city of Jerusalem when Nebu-zar-adan, the general, saw Jeremiah in the line with chains on. He goes up to Jeremiah and says in verse 2, 3, "The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you." Wow! This general sees his actions as being obedience to the LORD, and ... he is speaking truth! Now, having been mistreated for so many years by the various kings of Judah, who did not like the Word of the LORD, notice what Nebu-zar-adan says in verse 4: "And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go." He freed him, and gave him a choice!! Do what you want to do Jeremiah. The next verse says he gave Jeremiah, food, a reward, and let him go!! Wow! Treated royally by the heathen and mistreated by God's people. Who would have thought? Let us be among the people of God who treat people right!!

Well, I've went off too long on each thought, but I like these thoughts. Hope to see you tomorrow friend and have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

JEREMIAH 25-34

2011-11-15T08:11:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I have a few appointments, a staff meeting, and then Financial Peace University tonight at Church. It will be a full day and a good day. I start out by reading ten chapters in Jeremiah. The Word of God is so full of truth that it is hard to pick what to write on. And since I have been blogging for over three years now, I don't want to pick the same thought or truth very often. This will be the 15th time I have gone through the Bible in these last three years. In each blog I try to get 3 to 5 thoughts to share. (Sometimes more, sometimes less) If I take a norm of three then that means that 45 truths have come out of each daily passage during these three years. If you were to put them all together, you would almost have a commentary on the Bible. At the least, and good covering of great truths found in each passage. Here are some truths for today to ponder:

1) WHAT GOD THINKS- Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us what God thinks about Jerusalem, even in the midst of judgment being pronounced upon them. "For I know the thoughts that i think toward you, saith the LORD thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." God wants to give us an "expected end". That means God has good in the end in store for us. Even when He has to chasten us, He does it to share with us a glorious end. Heaven!

2) GOD'S LOVE FOR ISRAEL- God loves Israel, and anyone who wants to side against it is going to side against God. God will take that nation down who sides against Israel. Here is some of what God says about Israel and the love He has for it: Jeremiah 31:3 "The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:37 "Thus saith the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that thy have done, saith the LORD." (If you could tell how big the universe is and what holds up the earth, then God would loose His love for Israel). Jeremiah 33:20,21 "Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, ..." (If you can stop day becoming night, and night becoming day... then I would stop my covenant with David and Israel) Wow! Do you see the great love that God has with Israel and how that will never stop.

3) A GOD WORTH BRAGGING ON- Truly God is worth bragging on, and no one has said too much good about Him. He deserves more than our best in praise and adoration of HIM! Jeremiah brags on God in Jeremiah 32. Here is a sample: vs. 17 "Ah LORD God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" vs. 18 "Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name," (vs. 19) Great in counsel, and mighty in work:..." Now God says in verse 27: "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" And God gives us this challenge in Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." Wow! What a great God we serve, and truly... He is worth bragging on!!! Do some of that today, okay?

Hope you have a blessed day dear friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

JEREMIAH

2011-11-14T10:40:00.001-08:00

We had a great day yesterday at Church! My how God blessed. Great crowd, souls saved, people baptized and three adults joining the Church. God blessed! What a joy to pastor such great people. I'm reading this Monday morning in Jeremiah, and here are some items to share:

1) MARRED... IN GOD'S HANDS- Jeremiah 18:4 "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." We often think of ourselves being marred when we leave the Potter's Hands (GOD), but here we see the vessel (people, Israel, us) was marred in the hand of the God. We can have areas of resistance to the Potter even when we are IN His hands. We can be serving God faithfully, and still have areas of our lives that do not bend to the will of the Potter. We become "marred". But, the good news is that the Potter doesn't leave us like that... He makes us again. If we cannot, or will not be what He wants us to be.... He can find another use for us, yes He can! When Jesus asked Peter "lovest thou me?" Jesus used the Greek work "agape" (the pure love of God); but, Peter answer: "thou knowest that I love thee" and used the word "phileo" (strong affection). The third time, Jesus asked "lovest thou me"; He used "phileo"..... He took the love that Peter had to offer!! What a God! Who loves us for what we are, for what we can become, and for what we fail to become. He loves us! What a God who when we are marred.... He makes us again!!!! Wow!

2) THE FIRE IN THE BONES- Jeremiah 20:9 "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." Heavenly heartburn! It was the same the disciples had on the way to Emaeus. They were walking home in defeat; the Savior was dead and buried. Strange things were told that they could not believe. But Jesus met them and talked with them along the way and when Christ departed, they asked each other: "Did not our hearts burn within us?" Oh yeah! We too can have that when we read His Word, when we are at Church, when we are praying, when we are fellowshipping with other Christians, etc. We cannot live the Christian life with much enthusiasm without this "fire in our bones". This is a work of the Holy Spirit. It is essential! We must have it! Otherwise our walk is boring, dull, without passion. Not what I'm wanting. I like to be passionate about the Savior. Dear LORD: Keep the fire burning!!!

I've got to stop, my battery is about to go depleted. Have a great day dear friend! Pastor Mike Mutchler

JEREMIAH 5-14

2011-11-13T08:37:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I sure love Sundays! I'm so looking forward to being with God's people today and teaching and preaching God's Word. I trust you love Sundays too! I read ten chapters in Jeremiah and here are three thoughts to share:

1) SPARED... FOR WHAT? In Jeremiah God is telling Israel why they are not being blessed. Why His judgments are falling upon them. In Jeremiah 7:9,10 it says: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not: And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?" God is saying will I deliver you to do all these things: stealing, murdering, adultery, swearing, lying, idol worship, etc.? NO! God will not deliver them to do evil. Nor will He deliver us to do evil as well. We must be delivered by God to do right, to worship Him, to obey Him! These things motivate God to deliver us. Oh how our nation needs to hear this. We need to hear this too!

2) WHAT TO GLORY IN- Jeremiah 9:23,24 says: "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD wich exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." God wants us to glory in the knowledge and the relationship that we have with Him. Wow... not our wealth, not our wisdom, not our might.... but, in HIM! Lord, teach me to glory in You, and You alone!

3) THE PROBLEM WITH SELF-REFORMATION- Jeremiah 13:23 speaks to the core of the problem with all self help groups. AA, NA, and all other groups that seek to turn us from our ways. Here is what the Bible says: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." The problem is that we cannot change what we are accustomed to doing without God's devine intervention. God has to help, God has to deliver! So that is why our efforts at change, and self reformation doesn't work. We need to cry out to God daily to help us be what HE wants us to be.

Well, my time is gone. Hope you have a great Sunday! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ISAIAH-JEREMIAH

2011-11-12T07:49:00.001-08:00

Today is Saturday, and I have a Mens Prayer Breakfast in a little while, so I just have some time to start typing away. I finished up Isaiah this morning, and read into Jeremiah. Here are a few choice thoughts out of so many I marked up this morning:

1) WHAT A TRADE- Isaiah 61:3, God offers to give: "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;" What a trade! God takes our junk and gives us His treasures; He takes our sins, and gives us His righteousness; He took our wrath on the cross, and gives us His reward in Heaven. Wow! What a trade!
2) WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE-Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." Doesn't that sound like: 1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." I'm thankful that in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, God promises the same reward for those who wait on Him and love Him! Heaven is truly a wonderful place beyond our descriptions and beyond our abilities to imagine. Wonderful! Cannot wait!
3) NOTICE THE CONTRAST-Isaiah 65:13,14 "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." God shares with us the contrast between His servant and the rest of the world. I'm so glad to see that He gives us food, drink, rejoicing, and a song! Let us praise His holy name!
4) GOD'S KNOWLEDGE OF US-Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God knows us! Before He created us, He knew us. David said it this way: Psalms 139:2 "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off." God knows us and still..... loves us! That my friend is the surprising thing of it all.... knowing us, He still loves us!
5) RETURN- Jeremiah chapters 3 and 4, is God pleading with Israel and Judah to return unto Him. He likens them to a wife who has divorced her husband and married another. It would be an pollution for her to then divorce that man and go back to her first husband; yet, God says "yet, return again to me, saith the LORD." (Jer. 3:1) Throughout these two chapters we see the words return, over and over. "Return, thou backsliding Israel"; "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings"; "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me:" I love this verse too: Hosea 6:1 "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up." God will accept us as we return to Him. He saved us, and sealed us, and will readily restore us to fellowship when we return unto Him!

Well, more than I had thought I could get to today. Hope you have a blessed Saturday! Blessings on you my friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

ISAIAH 41-50

2011-11-11T07:53:00.001-08:00

Today is Friday. I had a great day yesterday reading God's Word, working out, appointments, a special Veteran's Day luncheon and program by Grand View Christian Academy. Then in the evening, I went soul-winning and led three to Christ, and then spoke to a group of men meeting at Church getting trained for a job opportunity. I enjoyed the time. Today, I have just a little time since I am taking my grandson, Will, to an appointment downtown with a doctor. Will broke his wrist two months ago, but now it is healed and they want to look at it one more time. Here are some thoughts from Isaiah 41-50:

Isaiah 1-39 is about judgment, and Isaiah 40-66 is about redemption. Interesting? 39 chapters about judgment, 27 chapters about redemption. 39 books in the Old Testament about judgment; 27 books in the New Testament about redemption. Interesting?

1) FEAR NOT- In every endeavor for God... there is fear. There is fear because we know that in ourselves, we cannot do what God wants us to do. We are not enough. Many years ago, I knew God wanted me to leave Arkansas and come to Oregon to start a church. But that was a 2,300 mile move! I didn't know a single soul in Oregon, and had never been there. I had fear. I didn't know if I could do that. One day, I was reading in Isaiah 41, and read these verses: vs. 10- "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." and verses 13,14 "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee. Fear not, thou work Jacob, and ye men of Israel: I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer the Holy One of Israel." These verses spoke to me so powerfully! They took away my fear and replaced it with confidence! Not confidence in me, but in the Holy One of Israel, and my God! I knew God was speaking to my heart to take away my fear, and He did! Hope these same verses can help you through your times of fear.

2) FOR WHOSE SAKE? Isaiah 43:25 says: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." It is for Christ's sake that He forgives our sins. Not that we want to be brought back into fellowship with God, but that God loves us and wants us brought back into fellowship and so for God's sake, Christ died on the cross to redeem us to Himself. For God's sake, for His glory!

3) HOW GREAT IS GOD? Isaiah 44:28 says: "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." How remarkable was this when Isaiah spoke it! Assyria was the world superpower and on a journey of destruction and conquest. They had conquered nation after nation and were the most fierce warriors the world had ever seen. They were feared by reputation. But God says that their leader, Cyrus, will rebuild the city and especially the temple. (The book of Ezra is all about this.) But oh how amazing this prophecy had to seem at the time. Why would a heathen king think such a thing? Well, the answer lies in the fact that when God wills something, no one can stop it. Not even a heathen king. Cyrus was God's shepherd, His servant.... and so are we. Let us get about our Master's business!

Well, that's all I have time for today. Blessings on you friend! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ISAIAH 31-40

2011-11-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

Today is Thursday. We had a great crowd last night for our Midweek service. I think I was surprised at all of the people. We have been going through the Bible on Wednesdays and last night we looked at I & II Timothy. I have so enjoyed going through these books of the Bible. They are each wonderful and sixty-six complete! Today, I read ten chapters in Isaiah and here are a few comments about a few verses:

1) FALSE HOPE- Isaiah 31:1 reads: "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"

AND, in verse 3 it says: "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit." Now the principle here is that when we look anywhere else for help other than the LORD, we are look for "false hope". God may use agencies, friends, parents, employment, hospitals, and other avenues to direct help our way, but HE is the source of it all. When we depend upon those avenues, instead of the source, we will find them dried up. It is not the river bed that brings life, but the river! God has many conduits which He can use to bless us, but a conduit is worthless without something flowing through it! Let us never place our faith, our trust, in the conduit, but in the flow of God's goodness that comes through them. Let us look to the Holy One of Israel, our LORD, and our Savior!

2) GETTING READY FOR THE PURPOSE OF VISION- We see. We look. We see the blue skies, the green grass, the brown earth, the smiling faces of friends and family; but, the purpose of vision... is to see Him one day! Isaiah 33:17 says: 'Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off." ONE FINE DAY... we shall see HIM!! He who created our eyes, and He to whom our eyes were made to gaze upon. We shall see the KING in His beauty; and what beauty He possesses. He is the definition of Beauty! He is the awe of awesome! He is the One of Wonder! He is the Creator of Creation! He is LORD! Solomon called Him "altogether lovely". We will call Him KING of Kings and LORD of lords. We will cast our crowns at His feet and worship Him who lived forever and ever! What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. We shall behold Him, in all of His glory. Our eyes shall see and our minds will not be able to comprehend what is the height and the breath, and the depth of His greatness and love; so, our minds will defer to our spirit, who can alone have such greatness revealed and begin to comprehend. We will cry out praises, we will weep for joy, we will clap our hands and bow our heads. We will smile and not be able to stop smiling. We will see His smile as He looks to us with eyes of love. ONE DAY... our eyes shall see the KING in HIS beauty! Wow!!! Let me stop and praise Jesus a while.....

I've got more to write about, but I've got hit with this truth and must go and rejoice a while. Praise His name! Have a blessed and and get your eyes ready for that great day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ISAIAH 21-30

2011-11-09T07:47:00.001-08:00

Today is Wednesday. I get to preach in Chapel to the Elementary and the High School Chapel. I'm looking forward to doing that. Then I get to Walk Through the Bible tonight in our Wednesday night service. I'm walking through I & II Timothy tonight and I'm going to enjoy doing that. This morning, I read in Isaiah and here are a few thoughts:

1) PEACE IN A PERSON- Isaiah 26:3 says: "Thous wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." then verse 4 says: "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:" Peace is found, not in the absence of turmoil, but in the trust of the Sovereign God our LORD. He knows best, and He allowed every situation to happen for a purpose, and He can be trusted; so enjoy Peace in His Presence!

Focusing on our heavenly Father, takes the focus off of all our problems and puts the focus on the source of solution.... our Savior! Praise the LORD!!

2) WHAT AND WHEN? As I read Isaiah 28:9, it was a revelation of teaching the youth. This verse tells us what we should be teaching them and when to start the teaching. Notice what it says: "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts." Wow! We are to teach knowledge and doctrine to the young ones who have just been weaned! Usually we think doctrine is reserved for High School and above, but not God. He says they should be taught from the very young. Ok, LORD.... You know best! I think I need to start writing out a new curriculum for Sunday School now that deals with knowledge and doctrine for the very young. I've got a new project awaiting me now.

3) OUR FOUNDATION IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST- Isaiah 28:16 says: "Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." All over the Bible, this truth is firmly established. Jesus Christ is our foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11 "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Acts 4:11 "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" 1 Peter 2:6 "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." These are but a few of the verses, but it shows that all of the apostles knew that Jesus Christ was the foundation of their salvation, and the foundation of the church. Let us always look to our Founder, our Foundation, our Father, and our Founding Principles (the Bible)!
Well, hope you have a great day dear friend! Blessings be upon you!!
Pastor Mike Mutchler

ISAIAH 11-20

2011-11-08T07:34:00.001-08:00

Today is Tuesday. I had a good day yesterday. We had a lengthy staff meeting, but got a lot accomplished and talked a lot about some plans we have for next year. We have some things we would like to accomplish as a Church, and it will prove to be exciting and a great challenge. It will broaden our ministry to help reach Portland and it's surrounding areas for Christ. Today, I read ten chapters in Isaiah and here are a few items to share:

1) THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD- Isaiah 11:2 says: "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." When the Spirit of the LORD shows up, He brings with Him: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. What a blessing to have the Holy Spirit show up. As we look to Him and yield ourselves, we can expect these wonderful attributes of the Holy Spirit to flow through us. May we yield everyday to the precious Holy Spirit.

2) HOW GOD OPERATES- Isaiah 14:24 "The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:" Whatever the LORD thinks comes to pass, and whatever the LORD purposes, shall stand. It is just that certain with God. This is how He operates. He just has to think... and it happens. He plans, and it unfolds exactly as He has planned. What a God we serve!

3) NAKED AND BAREFOOT- I'm so glad that I'm not an Old Testament prophet. Isaiah was one and had to not only preach the Word of God, but illustrate it. In Isaiah 20:3, it reads: 'And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;" Now this prophecy didn't even concern Israel, but Egypt and Ethiopia! He had to walk around naked and barefoot for three years! Wow! Thank you Jesus for calling me to be a New Testament preacher!

Well, I've got an early meeting this morning and must get to it soon. May God bless you my friends. Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor of Grand View Baptist Church.

ISAIAH

2011-11-07T07:43:00.001-08:00

Today is Monday. My what a wonderful day we had at Church yesterday! Blessings after blessings. Another great crowd of people and several getting saved, baptized, and some joining the Church as well. The spirit of the service was spirit-filled attention, participation, and excitement. What a sponge to learn are the great people I pastor. All praise goes to the LORD Almighty. Wonderful are His ways; Oh how we love Him! Well, I could just start praising the LORD and keep going on for another hour or so. But, I read the ten chapters of Isaiah and have a few thoughts to share with you this day my friend. Here are my simple thoughts about God's complex Word:

1) WHO GOD BRINGS TO THE BARGAINING TABLE- We are very familiar with Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." These two colors I have been told are not possible to get out of white cloth once it has been introduced. It is irremovable, and yet this is exactly what God is saying He will do! But, to whom is He speaking? He is speaking to sinners, yes. But what sinners! Chapter One of Isaiah describes the children of Israel in very unflattering terms: "laden with iniquity"; "evildoers"; "children that are corrupters"; "forsaken the LORD"; "whole head is sick"; "whole heart faint"; "wounds"; "bruises"; "putrifying sores"; "become a harlot!"; "murderers";.... well, these are but a few of the descriptive terms concerning this sinful nation. AND, now consider this.... this is the people God invites to His bargaining table to reason together with Him and have their sins forgiven IF they will but look to Him. What a wonderful God of mercy and grace!!!! Wow!

2) WOE!! Isaiah 5:20 says: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; taht put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Here is where American society is today. Protecting a baby is evil, protecting a whale is good! Denouncing homosexuality is evil, denouncing those who oppose it is good! Discipline of children is evil, catering to their own destruction is good! Woe!! That is what God says about it. Woe!! Dear friend, no matter what the world has to say about evil and good, don't get them mixed up. Stick with what God calls evil as evil, and what God calls good as good.

3) MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ- Yes, that is a mouthful. But, how would you like it to be the name of your son? God told Isaiah to name his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Isaiah and his wife, the prophetess, had a son in Isaiah 8:1-3, and God said to name him this name. Now, the name means: "hast ye, haste ye to the spoil". God tells him to name his son this, because before His son can say: Dada (My father) and Mama (my mother) (vs. 4) That other nations will have raced to the spoil of Assyria because of their sin. Now Assyria is the world power at this time, and yet.... God says it is going to fall fast! Before the child can speak, the sentence of judgment will be carried out. So, the prophecy of Maher-shalal-hash-baz!

Well, I have more to say, but no more time to say it. Blessing upon you my friends! Pastor Mike Mutchler

SONG OF SOLOMON

2011-11-06T08:41:00.001-08:00

Today is Sunday! I'm looking forward to the day the LORD has for me and the good people of Grand View Baptist Church. What we have been experiencing is nothing short of miraculous. What a wonderful time we have been having each and every Sunday. I read the Song of Solomon today, and I have a few things I marked up to share. Here they are:

1) REPETITIVE PHRASES- In the Song of Solomon, there are several repetitive phrases that I had not noticed before. Let me share some of them with you:

"Thou art fair:" is mentioned four times in 1:15,16; 4:1; "Behold, thou art fir, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes." (1:15) "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes..." (4:1)

"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please." (2:7) Now, (3:5) "I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please." Same!

"I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, not awake my love, until he please." Similar

"I sought him" 3:1,2; 5:6

"I sought him, but I found him not" 3:1,2

"I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem" 2:7; 3:5; 5:8; 8:4

"my sister, my spouse" 4:9,10,12; 5:1

"I am my beloved's" 6:3; 7:10

"Return" Mentioned four times in 6:13 "Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return,..."

Solomon uses repetitive phrases to drive home a truth. God's Word is what we need to hear and read over and over so that it sticks with us! We need to hear it many, many times. I have never noticed the many repetitive phrases in this book of only 8 chapters.

2) LOVE- Song of Solomon 8:7- "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." Solomon longed for love, and yet he seemed to have so little of it. Having sought for pleasure from every source and only come up with the conclusion of "all is vanity and vexation spirit" Eccl. 2:26 and Eccl. 12:8 "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity."

Solomon even said: "Therefore I hated life" Eccl. 2:17 and "Yea, I hated all my labour" Eccl. 2:18. He valued love, but never had it. He longed for what his father and mother had. David and Bathsheba. Now, here what he says in Ecclesiastes 9:9 about love: "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in they labour which thou takest under the sun." He sang the praises of love, and wrote Song of Solomon about love... but never had it. He had loves... but not love. Stick with your mate and love them!

Well, so much for today. Have a blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

ECCLESIASTES

2011-11-05T07:27:00.001-07:00

Today is Saturday. It is in the morning and soon I must be going to our mens Bible Study. Here are a few items to share:

1) WHAT TRIPPED UP SOLOMON? According to Ecclesiastes 2:3-8, this is what tripped up Solomon. WINE (vs. 3); WORK (vs. 5); WEALTH (vs. 7); and WOMEN (this is implied in that he had 300 wives and 700 concubines). Now Satan has only a few worn out tools to use against men, and these four are the same ones he uses over and over again. Let us not fall prey to these traps Satan lays out for men. Let us "walk circumspectly, not as unwise".

2) WHEN YOU GO, LISTEN! Eccl. 5:1 says: "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil." We go to listen to the preaching and teaching of God's Word and we go to listen to God speak to our hearts! Go to listen.

3) LOVE YOUR WIFE- here is strange advice from a man who never had one wife to love, but he speaks out of his experience in not finding that one true love. He says in Eccl. 9:9 "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun." As long as you are alive... love and live joyfully with your wife everyday, and all of your days. What very good advice!

Well, time is short on Saturday's so I've got to go for now. Pastor Mike Mutchler

PROVERBS

2011-11-04T09:05:00.001-07:00

Today is Friday. Mrs. Vicky is gone to a ladies conference where she is speaking in Spanaway, Washington. About 15 of our ladies traveled the three hours to get there too. They will have a great time I'm sure. Last night, we had soul-winning and I lead a 16 year old teen boy to Christ. He sure wanted to go to Heaven when he died and I had the great joy of showing him how. He prayed and trusted Jesus Christ. On Fridays, we take off. This is the first year we have ever done that and I'm getting where I love Fridays! It is nice to have a day to get caught up on rest and get errands ran. Today, I'm in Proverbs 21-31. I went 11 chapters to finish up the book of Proverbs. Now each verse could be commented on, but I'm going to have the hard task of just picking out a few to comment on. Here they are:

1) OUR SOVEREIGN GOD IS IN CONTROL- In Proverbs 21:1 (I didn't get far into the reading before I had something to comment on did I?) "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." We see presidents and other world leaders make decisions that affect millions of other people, and yet.... God is still in control. God does not endorse their decisions, but God allows it to happen so that His plan might be carried out. God is sovereign, and He IS in control. He uses the free will of man to bring about His eternal plan. Don't fret dear friend..... it is all going to work out... just do your part and reach others for Christ!

2) GET OUT OF DEBT! This is my new theme for today's economy. Get out of debt! Proverbs 22:7 says: "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." So many are servants to Visa and Mastercard that they cannot serve Christ in their tithes and offerings. Now, I believe that it is a heart issue that neglects to put Christ first. But, even it you pay your tithes and offerings and have "manageable debt", that "debt" still makes you a servant to the lender. Pay it down, pay it off! Put away an emergency fund of $1,000.00 first. Then start a snowball debt reduction plan to pay debt off fast. (look it up) Then put away a few month's income. (this can take a while, but use what you paid on your debts to do this) Then invest and have your money work for you. It is God's way. It will work.

3) EVERY WORD IS PURE! Proverbs 30:5,6 says: "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." This is why I stick with the old and trusted King James Bible. It is a word for word translation, believing that "every word of God is pure". These new "translations" are not translations at all. They put God's holy word into their thoughts and paraphrase the whole Bible. Since they do not believe that "every word of God is pure", they have no problem changing the words and thought of Scripture. They don't mind paraphrasing into their own words because it is not sacred to them. It is to me! And to the LORD. Stick with the KJV and be assured that "every word of God is pure".

Well, so much for today. I'm going to get another cup of coffee! Blessings on you friend.

Pastor Mike Mutchler

Proverbs 11-20

2011-11-02T22:34:00.001-07:00

Today is Thursday. I have an early breakfast meeting in downtown Portland today and I have to leave early, so I am posting this on Wednesday night. I hope you have a wonderful day.

1) NO STRENGTH IN NUMBERS FOR THE WICKED- We know that the Bible teaches that with the righteous there is strength with numbers. That is why we are told to go out in twos, worship at least in threes, etc. But the wicked are not so. In Proverbs 16:5 it reads: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." That phrase "though hand join in hand", means that if the wicked joined hands with all of the together, it could not stay off the judgment of God. Their numbers don't matter to God!
2) WE PLAN-GOD EXECUTES- In Proverbs 16:9, it says: "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." We devise, God directs! Now this truth is found throughout the Bible. In verse 33 it reads: "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD." We cast the lot (dice), but God makes it come up whatever He wills. This is not talking about gambling, but in ancient times they cast lots to see the will of the LORD about a matter. This truth works for everyone. Notice Proverbs 21:1 "the king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." God even directs Kings and Presidents! We devise, God executes!
3) DECEIVED-Anyone who drinks alcohol is deceived. Proverbs 20:1 clearly says: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Whether mildly or strongly alcohol, it is deception to those who drink! Also the bible tells us in Proverbs 23:29-32 "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." These are the reasons whoever uses alcoholic beverages is not wise, but has been deceived! Stay away dear friend.
Well, my time has come and gone. Much more to share, but no time to type anything more. May God richly bless!
Pastor Mike Mutchler

Proverbs 1-10

2011-11-02T06:58:00.001-07:00

Today is Wednesday. I am looking forward to the service tonight as I Walk Through The Bible each Wednesday of this year. I think our people have enjoyed getting a birds eye look at each book of the Bible. I am in Proverbs and I have a few items to share with you. Here they are:

1) HONOUR THE LORD- In Proverbs 3:9,10 it reads: "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase." So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine." How do we honor God? We honor Him by tithing our increase to Him. God tells us in His Word what honors Him and then it tells us that IF we honor Him, then He will honor us by giving back to us plenty! I just do not understand a Christian that does not choose to honor God in a way of God's choosing.

2) WISDOM- Proverbs 4:7 says: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." We must pursue wisdom and understanding at all cost. It is the principal thing. It must be had. It must be grasped. Whatever the cost, whatever the effort, whatever the sacrifice.... we must get it!! Make God's wisdom a pursuit of your life. Make it a life-long pursuit!

3) THE APPLE OF THE EYE- The apple of the eye is the reflection in the pupil of our eye. It is the reflection of whatever we are focusing on. The Bible tells us that we are the apple of God's eye. He is focusing on us. In Proverbs 7:2, we read: "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." We are the apple of God's eye, and His Word should be the apple of our eye! We are His, and His Word is ours! What a great little truth.

4) I LOVE THEM- Here, Wisdom is talking. Wisdom is going to let us in on a wonderful secret. Here it is: Proverbs 8:17 "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Wisdom loves those who love her, and wisdom can be found by anyone willing to seek her early. Early in the morning, when all else is quiet, wisdom is waiting.... waiting to meet with you. This morning.... every morning. She will love you if you love her enough to seek her early each morning. Will you? The choice is ours to make.

Well, a full day awaits me. May God bless you my friend. Pastor Mike Mutchler

PSALMS 141-150

2011-11-01T07:47:00.001-07:00

Today is Tuesday. I enjoyed getting a lot accomplished on Monday and it was rewarding. I made a hospital visit, had a two hour staff meeting in outlining the church budget, and then also wrote seven visitor letters by hand. We had many more visitors, but I got a start on it. I also met with a new member who wants to volunteer her time cleaning in the church. She will take on the third floor as her weekly cleaning duties. I know she will do great. I've got my coffee right beside of me, and I'm enjoying it. I've finished up Psalms, and here are a few thoughts:

1) SPIRITUAL OVERLOAD- Have you ever become overwhelmed? David was a man after God's own heart, and he did. Chances are, we have been there too. Psalms 142:3 says: "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path." Psalms 143:7 says: "Here me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit." Notice that in the first verse his spirit was overwhelmed, but in the second verse, his spirit was failing. To be overwhelmed is to be stressed out, but for our spirit to fail is much worse. It means we had a spiritual overload and had a short circuit. (meltdown) Not one that produced anger, but one that melted all hope. Have you ever felt "hopeless"? Well, sure you have! I have been at the end of my rope. I have had problems I had no answers for. I have had days where my one goal was to see the next day. When you don't have an answer, then realize that God will bring you through. We must live one day at a time and let the grace of God carry us thorough. His mercy is new every morning, and what we lack today will be available tomorrow! Now here is how David responds: Psalms 143:8 "Cause me to hear thy lovingkind- ness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know thy way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." verse 10 "Teach me to do thy will" verse 11 "for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble" and verse 12 ends with this thought: "... for I am thy servant." He waited on God knowing he was God's child. We are too!!

2) UNSEARCHABLE- Psalms 145:3 says: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." Yesterday we mentioned that "praise" is to ascribe great worth to. Here David reminds us that God's greatness is unsearchable. That is why we can praise Him every morning, and not even have to be repetitious. Verse 1,2 read: "I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." We can do this because God's greatness is "unsearchable". It has no end. We cannot exhaust the greatness of God, thus we can praise Him again and again, for ever and ever! In verse 5,6 we see his greatness again: "I will speak of thy glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness." Here is an example of praise! Speaking of God's majesty, honour, acts, and greatness. Let us do the same!

3) BOW DOWN- Psalms 145:14 reads: "... and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." and Psalms 146:8 reads: "... the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down." When we humble ourselves before the LORD, then HE shall pick us up!! Keep lowly. Bow down before God and man, and let Christ exalt you in His due time. (This is a biblical formula for success.)

4) INFINITE- Along the same lines as "unsearchable" is "infinite". Psalms 147:5 "Great is our LORD, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." His greatness is unsearchable, and His understanding is infinite. (has no end) No wonder David ends the Psalms with Psalms 150:6 "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD, Praise ye the LORD." Wow! Let me get started in Praising my God!! Join me?

Have a wonderful day of praising the LORD all day long, all life long, all eternity long! Pastor Mike Mutchler

PSALMS 131-140

2011-10-31T08:12:00.001-07:00

Today is Monday. What a wonderful, wonderful day we had yesterday at church. Wow! God was so very good to us. We had a huge crowd of people. Many were saved, six were baptized, and three families joined the church. What a blessing! Such a very good time. We had scores of visitors, and many said they would be back. God is just doing a work in our midst. He is so good to us. It would be my prayer that it just gets better and better. I'm still in Psalms, but only for today and tomorrow and then Proverbs... here I come. Here are some thoughts to share with you:

1) I'M CONTENT- Psalms 131:2 says: "my soul is even as a weaned child." A weaned child is a content child. No hunger, just peaceful. Happy with the world and all that is going on. Our souls need to be just like that. Not a care in the world, knowing only that God takes care of us. Resting in the arms of our Savior. What a blessing!

2) PRAISE- The whole book of Psalms is about praising the LORD. In Psalms 135:1 it reads: "Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD." Praise is mentioned three times in this one verse. Now, what is praise? Praise is ascribing "worth" to someone or something. When we praise the LORD, we are letting God know that we believe He is worth more than anyone, and anything. We are telling God how wonderful He is when we praise Him! Let us brag on God. Let us spend time each day just telling God how great He is. This is praise, and this is what God desires from us.... praise!

3) THE LORD WILL PERFECT US- In Psalms 138:8, it reads: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:" The word "perfect" means that God will finish what He started. That truth is found throughout the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Jude 1:24 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," God will finish what He has started in our lives. Our job is to stay pliable and completely yielded to His hand and His will for our lives. The LORD will perfect.... Praises!

Well, I'm done for now. Hope you have a wonderful, blessed day! Pastor Mike Mutchler

PSALMS 121-130

2011-10-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

Yes, it's Sunday! It's sprinkling outside, but I believe it will clear off before noon. Then it will allow for a wonderful day with the helicopter candy drop for the children. It is a Big day on the buses and Church attendance should be way up. Looking for a great day in the LORD! Hope you are too. I've read ten chapters in Psalms this morning, and here are a few short thoughts for today:

1) OUR SOURCE OF HELP- Psalms 121:1,2 says: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." God is our source of help! Our job is to look to Him in time of need, His job is to help us. He will do His job, if we will do our job. Psalms 124:8 says: "Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." The closer we walk to Him, the more He will delight in helping us, for in Psalms 125:4 it reads: "Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts." So God wants to be our source and stands ready to be our source of help. We just need to stay close to Him and call out in our times of need. Psalms 120:1 says: "In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me." Now that can be our experience as well. Look to God dear friend!

2) TO "WAIT" MEANS TO "SERVE"- When we consider waiting on the LORD, we can get a mental image of just sitting around for an answer, but the Bible's idea of "waiting" means to serve. We have a gas attendant wait on us. (at least in Oregon, where you cannot pump your own gas.) We have an usher wait on us and shows us to our seat. We have a retail clerk wait on us and ring up our purchases. So it is in the Bible. To help us better understand that, we look at Psalms 123:2 "Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and 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." The analogy is beautiful. The servant is not listening to the voice of the master's command; but rather, he is looking to see if there is anything that the master needs. It is the look of expectation and desire to please! Oh how we need that look when we look at God. Let us not be found sitting around, but standing with our eyes focused on the Master, ready, willing, and able to jump and fulfill that which we are impressed the master needs. Our MASTER is GOD!

3) NO ONE- That's the answer. Now, here is the question: Psalms 130:3 "If thou, O LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?"

No one would stand. Thank the LORD that He forgives our sins and our iniquities are removed far from us. Psalms 103:12 says: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Praises!! Don't let us ever be tempted to be proud or holier than thou, because we are not "holier than thou", we are "just as corrupt as thou", but forgiven by the wonderful grace of Jesus Christ! Praise be His holy name!

Well, so much for today! Have a blessed Sunday. I know I'm excited about it! Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor of Grand View Baptist Church

PSALMS 111-120

2011-10-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

Today is Saturday. I will be at the Men's meeting soon with a devotion and then I will have a day to finally prepare for Sunday. All is in the works and much labor is going forth today by our good bus workers to see that we have a great crowd on Sunday. I'm in Psalms again, and here are some thoughts:

1) HIS HEART IS FIXED- Psalms 112:7 says: "... his heart is fixed; trusting in the LORD." We see this "fixed heart" in two other places in Psalms. Psalms 57:7 "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." and in Psalms 108:1 "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." verse 8 says: "His heart is established". The same concept. Having a fixed heart on God is important because circumstances will seek to move our hearts around and we need to be fixed upon the LORD.

2) DUMB IDOLS- Psalms 115:4-7 "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat." Yes, these are dumb idols, but even dumber is the ones who worship them. We too see in our society those who worship the idols of sports, pleasure, money, possessions, fame, and the list goes on and on. Let us never be found to be raising anything in our lives to that of an idol. God does not like idols, and God is a jealous God who only wants our worship. He will not share His glory with another. These idols had all of the features, but none of the abilities. Only our God is God!

3) O HAPPY DAY! Psalms 118:24 says: "This is the day which the LORD hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it." Let today be a happy day because the LORD made this day. He made it and we will determine by His grace to rejoice in it. It is His day to see His creation rejoicing in Him! I'm going to do my best to do my part in rejoicing in this day and being glad in it! Join me please.

4) END WELL- Psalms 119:112 says: "I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end." Here we see that David's goal is to perform God's statutes to the end. That ought to be a driving force in our lives as well. I'm 57 years old. As I grow older, I have such a strong desire to finish well. Not great, not famed, but well. I have no personal ambitions that have not already been exceeded by God. I have seen far more accomplished than I ever dreamed possible, and especially considering God had me to work with. I do want to finish well. I want to go out the same way I came in. I want to finish strong this ministry, this life, this marriage, this influence that God has give me. Let us all decide to finish well.

This is all I have time to type my friend. May God's blessings be upon you and remember........tomorrow..... is SUNDAY!!! Yeah!

Pastor Mike Mutchler

PSALMS 101-110

2011-10-28T10:16:00.001-07:00

Today is Friday! Wonderful! Why? I take Fridays off. Yes, I have today for myself and my wife. What a blessing. All of these 27 years, I have never had a day I've taken off until a few years ago we started taking Fridays off during the summer months. Then when school started this year, we added hours to Monday through Thursday and took Fridays off. What a blessing! Now Saturday is always a day of preparation for Sunday with Men's Prayer Breakfast, counseling with people, and final planning for Sunday. Now, I love Fridays! I slept in an extra hour and enjoyed every minute of it. It is a time to catch up with some much needed sleep. After typing this blog, I will go to the gym for an hour or so and push myself to do more than normal. I try to work up a sore on Fridays. Push myself in lifting, running, etc. I'm reading again in Psalms, which I love! Here are some thoughts:

1) LIFELONG MINDSET- Psalms 104:33 says: "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." This is a mindset of praise and worship of God for a lifetime. This is the mindset I want, and the mindset I work at. To live ones life for Christ and to sing to my God and worship Him. How greatly that is needed of us. We are not here to have God do everything for us, we are here to acknowledge that God is everything! Let us life our lives in praise to the KING of Kings and LORD of lords. As long as I live, let me praise thy holy name. I have been singing the chorus, "My Jesus I Love Thee" over and over each day. I am reminded how I sang it as a 16 year old riding my bike, singing out to God. Little did I know that a 16 year old wrote the song as a poem. William Ralph Featherston, 1864 (so long ago!) The third stanza reads:

    I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
    And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
    And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
    If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Now this speaks to me of Psalms 104:33.... making the love for Jesus a lifelong mindset... or should I say Heart Set!

2) WOW! I never ever noticed this before. In Psalms 105:37, it reads: "He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes." Here David is telling the story of God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt, and though they were slaves, God gave them the silver and gold of Egypt. (this was to be used for the tabernacle) But that last phrase is like wow! "there was not one feeble person among their tribes." There were over 3 1/2 million people and none of them were feeble! Wow! God promised health to His people, but here we see an excellent example of it. They were in good health... all of them!

3) VALIANTLY- Psalms 108:13 says: "Through God we shall do valiantly:" Any man who is a man who is manly, wants to be valiant. That is a trait that speaks of being a man's man. Valiant! It is the knight in shining armour. It is the hero of the day. It is the man who wins the day and conquers adversity. Well, here we see that it is through God that we shall do valiantly. Not though our abilities, or toughness of character, but through our God. If we but follow our LORD, He will cause us to do valiantly! Let us follow the LORD!

4) SHOW THEM GOD- A few days ago, I spoke about "shew me a token of good". Here in Psalms 110:26,27 we see a very similar thought:

"help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it." Here again David is asking for help, and asking that the help comes from the LORD in such a way that everyone around him knows that it is the LORD who has helped him. The LORD did it! What a desire. That God gets the credit for whatever is done so that the glory reflects to God, and not to us. Praise His name! Wonderful!

Well, I've got to go for now. May God's blessings be upon you. It's my day off, but I've already taken and made 6 phone calls while typing this blog today. Busy, busy, but happy! Pastor Mike Mutchler