In my family, each year before we open presents we all sit down and read the Christmas story to remind us of what the Holiday of Christmas is really all about. One of my favorite parts is found in Luke 2 verses 13 and 14 which says: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Look at those words closely, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” You see; when we give glory to God in your life – He brings you peace. That’s so amazing because before you can have change in your life, you have to have peace on the inside. Nothing changes on the outside until you change on the inside. Peace always precedes a miracle and Peace always precedes a breakthrough.

Lets take a practical look at it. When you’ve got no money in the bank and you don’t know how you’re going to pay the bills, and yet you’re calm and you praise God anyway, you’re about to get a raise, you’re about to see a breakthrough. When your body hurts and the doctors give you a bad report, yet you speak the word and praise God for who He is; you’re about to be healed. God is preparing you for a miracle.

Peace is remaining calm and steadfast in the midst of a crisis. It shows the Devil that you trust in what God and His word say, not the report of the world. True peace is created through your faith. It’s an inward confidence that speaks to a problem and declares, “Yes the problem is there, BUT GOD’S WORD SAYS…” speaking a scripture of faith to battle against that negative circumstance.

In John 14:27 Jesus said that He gives us peace. The only true peace there is – a peace that the world can’t give and the world can’t take away. So encourage you, glorify God by seeking after Him and His word, study and meditate on it and in the midst of these trying times you can have peace and see miracles in your life.

Here at Church on the Rock we believe in you and we believe in your dreams. We know that God has a plan and a purpose for your life, and it’s BIG. But often times we lose faith in ourselves and our ability to reach those dreams because of a lack of self-esteem.

You see, the picture that we have in our mind of ourselves, the thoughts and feelings we have about us personally – those images change the way we look at the world around us. A poor self-esteem will hinder your potential and a poor self-esteem will give you a poor life. That’s why it’s so important for us to see ourselves, not as the world sees us, but the way God sees us!

I encourage you; get in the word of God. Read the Bible and see all the things God has to say about you. You might say to yourself “I can’t ever seem to get ahead here at my job. I’m just not good enough for that promotion.” – but God, the creator of heaven and earth, says differently. In Deuteronomy 28:13 He says He will “make you the head, and not the tail; and you are above only, and not beneath” Maybe you’re having trouble kicking a bad habit and you might think “I’ll never beat this, this is just how things are going to be.” But God tells you in Philippians 4:13 “You can do ALL things through Christ who gives you strength”

The true picture of who you are isn’t found in a magazine, a photo album, or a textbook. Who you are is found in the word. So by meditating on the scriptures and speaking them throughout you day, your self esteem will be transformed and you will be on your way to reaching your full potential.

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A few weeks ago we hosted our Live Online Bible study where we answered questions from people just like you – and the response was overwhelming. Because of time we were only able to answer a handful of questions, so we’ve decided to answer even more of those questions here on our blog.

During our Bible Study Michelle submitted this question: “I have a friend that has been hurting for along time and attends your church. She tried for long time to get to talk to you and they kept telling her she needed an appointment. She is so depressed and suicidal now that she just wants to give up. She is going through a lot and I just want to know what I should tell her to encourage her of when her own church family doesn’t seem to help her?”

First off Michelle, I just want you to know that we are praying for your friend and believing for her healing from depression. Secondly, Kim and I, along with our incredible staff are always willing to help people like your friend, people facing difficult and hopeless times. When possible we meet with members of the congregation to help them find hope in the midst of confusion, stress, or pain. However if the responsibilities of Pastoring Church on the Rock make us unavailable to meet, we have numerous staff  members who would love to sit down with our people and help them in anyway possible. If you’re friend would like a meeting, have her simply call our church office at (636)-240-7775 and our receptionist will put her in contact with a member of our staff.

Finally Michelle, I would encourage your friend to begin thanking God for the breakthrough that she wants to see in her life.  You see, praise changes things. Acts Chapter 16 tells the story of when Paul and Silas were imprisoned for casting a demon out of a possessed woman. Now they could’ve been mad, they could’ve been depressed, they could’ve been angry with God- but were they?  Acts 16:25-26 shows us how they responded, and more importantly, how God responded to their response – it reads “But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.”

Wow! Paul and Silas’ praise set them free – but not only for themselves, look closely, it says “everyone’s shackles were unfastened.” So not only can your praise life affect your own life, but the life of others around you. That’s so powerful.

Just as Paul and Silas were in bondage in that jail – others are bound up by the mental chains of depression. It’s incredible to know that we serve a God who is big enough to free us from any situation. We must simply seek Him and give Him praise for what He has done, and for what He is about to do.  And remember the words of 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.”

During our live online Bible Study this past Tuesday we had lots of people submit some great questions for us to answer. James, one of our incredible viewers wrote in and asked “Pastor, I am a business owner. What book would you recommend for me to help with balancing God, my family and my company?” Well, here are just a few that I highly recommend.

1. Make Today Count by John Maxwell

2. How to Reach Your Life Goals by Peter J. Daniels

3. The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset by John Maxwell

4. Good to Great by Jim Collins

5. Encouragement Changes Everything by John Maxwell

6. How to be Motivated all the time by Peter J Daniels

7. 25 Ways to Win with People by John Maxwell

This is just a short list that will help you advance as a business owner, however there are plenty more great titles out there to help you in this area. What’s truly exciting is the fact that people like our friend James have realized the wealth of knowledge that comes through books. You may never get to meet some of the great speakers and authors of our day, but by reading their books you are being mentored by them through the pages. One of my mentors Charlie “Tremendous” Jones used to say “You’ll be the same person in 5 years that you are today except for the BOOKS that you read and the people that you meet.” Leaders are Readers, so I encourage you all to become life long learners.  Develop your mind, work harder on yourself then you do on your job. Be a good steward of the mind God has blessed you with and invest in it by reading and learning from good books.

Here at Church on the Rock we believe this is the Year of the Harvest.  This year God wants to bring exciting new blessings into your life. However, if in the tests and trials of life I’m tense or if I’m tight then I can’t take what God has for me. You see God does not release revelation in an environment of agitation. Being aggravated, agitated, tense or ticked off, hinders the Holy Spirit. That’s why it’s so important for us to relax in God. When we relax in Him, He sends revelation to us.

So how do I relax in God? How do I put aside the stress, the worry, and the anxiety? With God’s help it’s actually a lot easier than you might expect. You relax in God through – QUIETNESS and CONFIDENCE. Isaiah 30:15 says “…In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength.” The Bible doesn’t say that you’re saved by the hustle and the bustle; it says that you’ll be saved in Quietness, and that Confidence would be your strength.

When we work so hard and try our best to make things work by our own strength without the direction and quiet confidence from God, it’s like a car with the motor running but it’s going no where. Eventually we all get caught up in the stresses of everyday life. Going to work, taking care of the kids, paying the bills – we get so consumed by the day to day that we forget to take time to get alone and get quiet with God. It’s a life of Burnout, but fortunately Jesus gave us an answer.

Matthew chapter 9 tells the story of Jesus seeing the multitude, a stressed, worried and dejected crowd. Jesus looked upon them and saw a need in the people. Not for food, or money, or shelter – Jesus saw their need for a shepherd. Those people, just like us, simply needed to take their eyes of themselves and place their eyes on God. Jesus knew that when we focus on Him we see His heart, we see His will, and we gain His peace. Focusing on Jesus lets us relax in Him.

Through that quiet time alone with God, in prayer, worship and seeking Him through his Word, you will find that you have gained a quiet peace on the inside.  You will notice that those worries and fears don’t bother you like they once did. As you find quiet peace on the inside, you’ll begin to reflect a powerful confidence on the outside. Not simply a confidence in yourself, but a confidence in God and His plan for your life!

So when in your quiet time you find that confidence in God, confidence in yourself, and confidence in your future – you will finally come to find that you now have a firm boldness and confidence to face any conflict that may come your way. And with that quietness and confidence that comes from God alone, you’ll be able to relax as you stand in the face of adversity and boldly declare Romans 8:31 “If God is for me, who would dare to be against me?”

[View this video on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJXFIyKSpF8]

This weekend we celebrate the freedom of our nation, but God wants you to have an even greater freedom, a freedom you can only find in Him.

And don’t forget to visit our church website [http://cotr.org] where you can watch our services LIVE every Sunday at 11am central. God bless you, and have a wonderful week.

[View this video on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qxRyz64T1k]

When you talk with God, there’s always hope. God has a plan and a purpose for your life. So take a minute and watch this short video about the importance of prayer in your life.

And don’t forget to visit our church website [http://cotr.org] where you can watch our services LIVE every Sunday at 11am central. God bless you, and have a wonderful week.

[View this video on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ieFNriMtY]

Church on the Rock [http://cotr.org] has just launched a brand new iPhone App! Watch as Pastor Blunt describes how you can use this app as a tool for your life and the lives of others.