Week of 11/26

Crusaders Devotional

11-26-12/ Monday

There were two old cowboys sitting on a horse corral fence, when the one wearing a bent and mudded Stetson hat said “I went riding today.” the second cowboy, skinny wearing a belt buckle the size of a Cadillac hub cap said “horseback?” Sure, said the first cowboy “she came back before me.” The horse dumbfounds him with plans of her own for the day. A buck here, a side kick there a just enough crow hop and into the sagebrush he goes. Now she’s heading back to the barn at Kentucky Derby speed and he’s out for a stroll instead of a ride. This story if not true ought to be. It reminds me of times when us Christens feel left alone on the trail by God.

In western culture and even in our churches we live with wealth, power and prestige. We can’t stand the thought of fear, weakness, failure and doubt. Life comes with these feelings, but our culture sees these traits of failure or worse lack of faith.

Think back to Jacob’s story (Genesis 32:24) his whole life was a struggle, but wrestling with an angel was a whole different matter. These two wrestled all night. Then the angel gave a crippling blow to Jacob that would last for the rest of Jacob’s life. It was only then did Jacob know what had happened. The angel was God himself.

“I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30). It was not just any angel that night but the Lord himself. Jacob received a new name “Israel”, but what’s most important is God blessed him there. (Genesis 32:29).

What I feel is to be learned is that our lives are never meant to be easy, very true if we wrestle with God and his will for our lives.

As Christians we will have problems but God is always with us. His blessing will always follow the struggle. Most of the time it can get dirty and confusing, real mature growing experiences will for sure involve struggle and pain.

Just as when Jacobs wrestles with God at the Jabbok that night, sometimes we may fight God’s will. As believers in Jesus Christ we may wrestle with God through the night but as in the past, come morning his blessing will come to us in his unending love and understanding.

We as Christians must continue to fight not only the secular world, but sometimes the demons within ourselves. HAVE NO FEAR, The Lord calls us more than conquers; he will not leave us muddy, afoot and on the trail. The barn we head for is glory.

Remember: In rodeo there are no substitutions, no special teams and definitely no time outs. Just like in life when we wrestle with the angel. Our blessing will come in the morning as well, if our faith holds.

Go with God and may he protect you.

In the name of your savior Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

Cowboy Pastor Ty Nazarenus

Week of 11/19

                                                       Crusader’s Devotional

                                                           11-19-12/Monday

Have you ever wondered why one man walks with Christ and another does not? Why one man is sad and another man happy? One man may be prosperous and yet another poor and miserable. The answer is pretty fundamental. It’s the way we think, our thoughts and even more so the way we believe. My Grandfather, a man of few words but many sayings once said “When pigs fly.” See I was trying to ride this gentle but unbroken filly with just a lead rope. I hit the ground faster than I could say, “Wished I hadn’t done that.”

 I do not known why this one saying stuck in my head but it has been there for about forty years now. In researching this saying, I found that it is called an idiom. Idioms are used to indicate that something is highly unlikely ever to happen or that it will never happen. It is a Scottish proverb. In fact, I have been so taken by these words that there is a flying pig in my kitchen, sadly only made of plaster but still a symbol to the thought that my whole live has been a pig in flight.  

I have been told what was possible for me and what was well out of my reach. I was considered by some as the black sheep of the family, the rebel, the one that was more bad than good. All this went in one ear and straight out the other. Do you know why? I believed in God, I knew that he believed in me even more. I had dreams that I knew were somehow going to come into being and when they did they were even more than I had dreamed, but in a totally different way than I had planed. Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lords purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21).

Throughout the bible we have instructions on our thoughts. Meditate on God’s word (read your bible), Give thanks in all circumstances. Take your thoughts captive (Control your thoughts). Always remind yourself of God’s promises and faithfulness when we meditate and pray.

Never listen to the hateful, frustrated, distorted and twisted person who’s spirit is out of tune with God’s will. He resents those who are peaceful, happy and loving. Most the time he will criticize, condemn those that have been kind to him. Sounds like the devil himself, the deceiver of truth.

There is nothing wrong with positive thinking as long as your thinking is on the positive power and promise of the Lord. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

 

Your pigs can fly to if only your courage is stronger than your fears. Have faith in the holy spirit and not in yourself. Give thanks for everything you have and forgiveness to everyone you know.

 

Remember: A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

 

                                            Grace to you and peace from God.

                                    In the name of Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

                                              Cowboy Pastor Ty Nazarenus

Week Of 11/12

                                                      CRUSADERS DEVOTIONAL

                                                              11-12-12/MONDAY

Last Tuesday night a small group of Crusaders and I went up north to Weld County at Spicer’s arena to watch a few Crusaders participate in a barrel racing event. What an event it was, there was about seventy competitors in all. The Crusaders competing were either fairly new to the sport or on a horse that was. But you never would have known it. The courage and grit they rode with, I couldn’t have been more proud even if they were running in the Pro Rodeo National Finals. I tell ya, I watched all the girls run since they were kids. I was lucky enough to once again watch the next up and coming group start their memories. They lead the charge with no fear, no apprehension and left no doubt horse and rider teamed as one. Telling the truth it put a lump in my throat. I feel as if all the girls are mine, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for them, or anything that could stop me from helping them achieve their goals. To see them take on the challenge of the things that surly will confront them later in life was the true winning. To not bat an eye while the Devil himself tries to lie, filling heads with doubt and fear not knowing what will happen showed their faith in the good Lord above. All the time they thought it was just a barrel race. The Devil loves deception and God loves disguises. I saw God that night.

Seeing the new riders reminded me of “baby Christians”. In the sense of birth and development the spirit is no different than the physical. We have to be born spiritually just as we are born physically. We can see all around us in nature that things grow, develop and mature in God’s purpose, they have purpose.

Christian Infants often fuss over fairness and the excepted apologies of another. Wrongs they may have suffered, their own personal wants and desires. Paul compares spiritual infancy to worldly behavior .A infant is more concerned with argument than action. Jealously, strife and backstabbing are the occupations of the spiritual baby.

Have you ever watched a baby? They whine and cry over what they can not have, what they must do or not do, or worst yet whine over what they must have. Sometimes Christians act in this matter. It’s easier to pry than pray, accuse than lose, grumble then go and much easier to argue then to act.

A Christian “baby” will only grow as much as he purposefully reads and obeys, then applies the word of God to his or her life. Growth is completely up to the believer. There are Christians who have been saved many years but are still spiritually babies. Like a fat cat in the house, who has to be hand feed the word of God, would not last one week as a barn cat. These fat cat Christians can not understand the deeper truths of the word or the actions and demands of the heavenly Father. What does a “baby Christian” need for growth? The word of God and the truths of the bible. Having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is not a religion, its pure freedom.

                    Remember the rodeo saying “Pain is guaranteed, suffering is up to you.” So, dust yourself off, grow up and get back in the saddle. It’s the only way to get there from here and its one heck of a ride.

                                     We pray with courage and faith that his will be done.

                        .           In the name of our savior Jesus Christ of The Nazarene.

                                                        Cowboy Pastor Ty Nazarenus 

                                       

 

                       

Week of 11-05-12

CRUSADERS DEVOTIONAL

11-05-12/MONDAY

I have an eighteen year old Ford pick-up. I’m starting to hear thumps and clanks here and there. It’s time to take her into the shop for some T.L.C. See this truck has dents, rust and the paints bad. You have to roll down the driver’s window in order to get out because there is no inside door handle. The passenger door must be unlocked from inside because the outside key lock does not work.

I used to use it to harrow the arena before I owned a tractor. It has never not started rather it be in the dead of winter or overheat on the hottest summers days. It’s strange to think of a machine in this was but it has been loyal to me. Years ago I would have simply went out and bought a new truck. Yet, something about this truck has endured itself to me. Flawed but always willing to do the next job. I’m content with the flaws keeping in mind its dependability. 

Maybe, I’m thinking that how the Lord looks at us. Love is not blind but love sees more than the flaws. True contentment is grateful for the blessings that God has given us not worrying about your worldly desires. The Devil loves distractions. The commercials we see on the television ads telling us how happy and complete are lives would be if we only had this latest product. Spending our hard earned money on “keeping up with the Jones”, spending our time at work to get ahead for our families that we never see. Washing the car instead of throwing the ball with our kids. Are we all totally missing the target?

We, right now need to enjoy the good things not looking to the future good things or longing for the past good things but enjoy what lies right in front of us. The state of happiness and satisfaction is the art of living in the now. Thankful for the often overlooked blessings of each day.

The Lord promises to give us anything we want, provided it is of his will and contentment definitely something that is in his will. That is were we must place our trust, “Of his will”. Anything other than that is simply other than that. Only a fool would endlessly pursue pleasure, when it ultimately is unsatisfying. Be content with yourself and all that God has given you. Find that peace and so much more will be given.

Remember: Contentment is the realization that life in itself  is a gift not a right.

                          May God your heavenly father bless and hold you well.

                          In the name of our savior Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

                                           Cowboy pastor Ty Nazarenus