Enough

ENOUGH
 By: Pastor Randy Hahne Jr.
 
Do you ever feel like you are not enough? Sometimes we think things like: I am not enough. I am not patient enough. I am not there enough for my friends. I am not enough for my wife/husband. I feel like I do not do enough. I am not a good enough mom/dad. I am too much of all the wrong things and not enough of the right things. I am not a good enough Christian. I know I could be praying more, reading more and going to church more. These feelings of “not enough” are so paralyzing. They come from a variety of places: Self-condemnation, lies from the enemy, comparing ourselves to others, our past (abuse), or the opinions of what others believe we should be. Think about this, when is a person enough and who sets the standard for being enough? I do not recall I have ever met a person who believed they were too good of a dad/mom, they volunteered too much, or they felt like they mastered the art of being patient enough. If “enough” cannot be defined, we all could be beating ourselves up over a standard that is unachievable in our own minds. We need to be set free from feeling like we are not enough. Here is the irony, the way to cure the “not good enoughs” is to realize that you are not enough. There is great freedom when you realize you do not have to keep trying to be enough. Furthermore, the only way to remedy the “not good enoughs” is to truly find our worth, value, and identity in Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18). Like Paul, we have these desires to do good but find ourselves falling short in some area. Here is the good news as we work our way through this struggle. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We wear ourselves out by trying to be “enough” for everyone else. Let’s remind ourselves that we must remain in him and allow him to do the work through us because he (Christ) is enough. Our bodies and minds grow tired and weary but he is our strength and portion forever (Psalm 73:26). Remaining in Christ is the promise of renewed strength and much fruit. Separating ourselves from the Vine is the assurance we will burn ourselves out by trying to do things in our own strength. Today, let go of the chains of “not good enough” and embrace the reality that Jesus is enough for you—he succeeds where we fail!


The Fruit of Listening

The Fruit of Listening
By:  Pastor Randy Hahne

Have you ever walked away from a conversation with someone and thought, “Wow, that was a great conversation.”? Thinking back on that conversation, it was probably a good conversation because they listened and you had the opportunity to express what was really on your heart. When we have the opportunity to truly express what’s on our hearts and minds—we feel valued!

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

Now the order to this verse is critical. Being quick to listen and slow to speak helps build a positive culture. Being quick to speak and slow to listen is detrimental for any environment. The order matters. It matters in your life, your workplace, your place of worship, etc.

Think about this for a second: Everything you think makes sense to you. Everything you say makes sense to you. Everything you believe makes sense to you. Now think about this: Everything everyone thinks makes sense to them. Everything everyone says makes sense to them. Everything everyone believes makes sense to them. Because these statements are true, you can now see why there would be breakdown when we choose to speak first and not listen.

Here is the truth of the matter, if we are quick to speak and slow to listen; it will lead to saying and doing things we’ll eventually regret. It is possible to be completely right but handle it in an unrighteous way. Rightness handled in an unrighteous way is toxic to your culture. At the end of the day, God is more concerned about your righteousness than your rightness. Today, choose to listen first and then speak—if it is even necessary.



The Fruit of the Spirit and Politics

The Fruit of the Spirit and Politics

Pastor Randy Hahne 

 

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians with the hope of offering wisdom and clarity between the Christian Jews and the Christian Gentiles. This was no small issue to the early church; therefore, Paul used aggressive language to address the racial hostility with the hope of restoring unity between these two groups. Paul knew that the issue had to be addressed because fractions tends to spread to more people.

 

In today’s political climate, there is a tendency to lose ourselves when we are faced with the opposite of what we believe. In other words, we have seem to lost what it means to disagree in an agreeable manner when it comes to politics. As Christians, operating out of the Fruit of the Spirit does not go by the wayside when it comes to things we disagree with. However, these are times when the Fruit of the Spirit should be on display in our lives. Notice the fruit is not some abstract thought but rather its actions displayed towards others. These actions are not only displayed towards others we agree with but with those we disagree with.

 

As we re-read Paul’s list to the early church we must consider what it looks like in today’s context. What does it look like to be patient and kind towards someone who is of a different political party? What does it look like to practice gentleness and self-control when your view is attacked online? These are just some questions to consider as we all move forward in this political climate.

 

Remember, you cannot control the actions of others but you can control yours. You cannot control what others say but you can control what comes out of your mouth. You cannot control what others post on social media but you can control what your fingers type.



Future Grace

Future Grace
By:  Pastor Randy Hahne

When we think about our future and what possible trials could come our way, we tend to focus on our inadequacies. For example, when we think about something tragic happening to our family we often say, “There is no way I could go through that!” Thinking this way is quite natural because until we actually do face impossible circumstances we really do not know how we are going to respond. As we think about future trials, we become aware of how human we are and the limitations of our flesh.

However, there is something true that remains in all our future trials—future grace! As the Apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord, he was reminded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This promise is not just true in that moment but it will be true in the future as well. So today, as you think about your day and your tomorrow, know that whatever comes your way there will be sufficient grace to face it. Again, we often burden our minds with anxiety and fear as we think about what could possibly go wrong. Today, may you rejoice in the reality that when trials arrive in your life—future grace already exists in that moment. It will not be late or early, it will be there the exact second you need it. As you think about the future, may your hearts abound with peace, joy, and hope! 



A New Beginning

A New Beginning
By: Pastor Randy Hahne
 
I cannot believe Easter is just around the corner! It will be a day of Easter egg hunts, spending time with family, and worshipping our Risen Savior. We also embrace that this day represents something profound for all of us—a new beginning! It is not an overstatement to say we all have hurts, habits, or hang-ups. Sometimes we allow them to keep us from progressing forward in our life. As we think about a new beginning for our life we must first consider a few questions: “Am I going to let my past failures prevent me from starting over? Am I afraid to change? If I change, what do I fear will happen as a result of that change?”

 

Let’s consider this passage as we compare our life to a race, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

 

There are two things I want to point out in this passage: First, God has a particular race, a unique plan, for each of us. His plan for our life is good. It does not included a life full of dependencies, addictions, hurts, or hang-ups. Second, we need to be willing to get rid of all the unnecessary baggage and past failures that keep us stuck and weigh us down. In other words, what are the things in your life that keep tripping you up?

 

The baggage that keeps us from moving forward comes in various forms. Some of us may be carrying loads of bitterness over an offense. Some may be bound by a long battle with addiction. Some are carrying the emotional weight of being abused. Some carry the guilt of missed opportunities. Some may be struggling with the idea of how could God ever forgive what they did? This is precisely why Easter represents a new beginning. Jesus goes to the cross for our mistakes, guilt, and shame. Through the resurrection he defeats everything we allow to defeat us. His victory becomes our victory. He destroys the chains that keep us from making life transformative progress in our lives Here is the truth, God does love you and has made a way for you to experience a new beginning.

 

Let me close with this final passage. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of it. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-15). We cannot allow our past mistakes and missed opportunities keep us from straining toward what is ahead. As we approach this Easter season, embrace His grace and press on!
 
By: Pastor Randy Hahne


I’m Coming Back

I’m Coming Back

By: Randy Hahne

 

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ So Peter and the other disciples started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” (John 20:1-9).

 

This was an amazing moment of discovery for the disciples. Just a couple of days before, Jesus was placed in this very tomb and now he is gone. All that is left is some folded linen. Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the cloth, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the cloth was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes. The disciples also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely!

 

Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded cloth, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded cloth had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was set perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now, if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that cloth and toss it onto the table.

 

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded cloth meant, ‘I’m done’. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his cloth, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because it meant, “I’m coming back!” This was the very message Jesus was telling his disciples. This is exactly what Easter is about! Jesus came back from the dead. If Jesus did not come back there would be no newness of life, we would still be in our sin, and we would have no eternal hope.

 

As you sit down this Easter to eat your meal, remember the folded cloth. Remember Jesus came back to rescue you from sin and death. And remember, Jesus will come back again to receive those who are his!

 

 



Where is God?

The tragedies of life cause us to ask the question, “Where is God?” In the times of uncertainty and loss, we say things like “Well, it must be God’s plan” or “You’ll just have to trust God’s plan.” When we say these things we believe that God brought the misfortune upon us. Accepting the belief that God is behind our pain or perhaps his divine plan brought upon the tragedy is detrimental to our knowledge of God; therefore, it must be avoided. I want to encourage you during our most painful moments we have to look at the mission and heart of God through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

 

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

 

God’s love and will was put on display through the ministry of Jesus. Christ’s ministry was one of compassion, restoration, and redemption. In our brokenness, Jesus is the one who binds us up. While we grieve and mourn, Jesus is the one who comforts us. Christ takes our complete destruction, the moments where we feel there is nothing left, and he gives us a crown of beauty. In our moments of despair, he is the one who will clothe us with a garment of praise that will cause us to lift our voice in thanksgiving. Notice, Christ is not the one that caused the brokenness, despair, and captivity, but rather He is the one who comforts, gives strength, and releases us when those moments come!

 

Where is God? God is right there in the midst of the pain, brokenness, and grief. What is his plan? The destruction of his children is not his plan. But when destruction happens, his plan is to take the broken glass (the glass we feel is good for nothing) and make a beautiful stained-glass window that displays his glory.
 
By:  Pastor Randy Hahne