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The Word : 1 Thessalonians 5:11

1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Golfers have their caddies and even surfers have their coaches. In life and in ministry we need those really good friends who speak truth and encouragement and life when we need it most.

In this month's Personal Story, we read about Poi, someone who has been a great encouragement to Bryan over the years. Bryan recalls times in his life when the Lord led Poi to call and encourage him -- times when Poi's words were exactly the encouragement Bryan needed.

Sometimes we think people like this are just naturals. "It's just their personality!" we tell ourselves.

Yet, Poi shares that this was not at all how he was before he became a Christian. He described his life before Christ as being "like a hurricane", one where he damaged other's lives. When Poi got saved he believed the Lord said to him "I didn't make you for that. I made you to encourage others and to build others up."

And that calling on his life, Poi says, made all the difference in the world. Ever since then, Poi's life has been characterized by encouragement.

This reminds me that God created us all to be encouragers. It's his game plan for believers to live victorious lives in this dark world. We need each other!

If you have an encourager in your life, stop and thank God for them now. Reach out to let them know the difference they have made in your life. And then consider: Is there someone you can encourage today? A simple call or visit can make all the difference in someone's day. Stay tuned to God's leading, and never miss a chance to fulfill your purpose as an encourager in the world today.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Philippians 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13-14 "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.”

I have been reminded lately of how important it is to let go of the former things, and strive forth towards those things in front of us. God has prepared in advance good works for us (Ephesians 2:10), and to fully move towards them we need to make the choice not to be living in the past. Each day is a new opportunity, full of divine appointments waiting for us! Past hurts and failures should be forgiven and forgotten, washed in the blood of Jesus! Past victories on the other hand are important to remember, but only as reminders that God was able to do it then and he can do it again today or tomorrow! Past victories should remind us how good and how powerful our God is as we look ahead!
What might be lying ahead for you in this New Year? If your past is holding you back in any way, it is time to experience God’s grace and let it go. Let’s press on into 2018 with our eyes on Jesus, and a hopeful expectancy of all He has ahead for us.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

Bryan Jennings at Branches Church

I also hope you can listen to this message I gave Sunday at the Branches Church in San Clemente! The message about Naaman in 2 Kings 5 is titled: GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN JOINING YOUR PROGRAM, BUT GOOD NEWS HIS PROGRAM IS BETTER THAN YOURS!

CLICK HERE to listen online

The Word: The Gift of All Gifts

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." -1 John 3:16-18

The longer I walk with Jesus the more I appreciate the gift he has given us. He was willing to be born into this very imperfect world and the Bible says he came on a mission to serve not to be served! Before I knew who God was I always wondered if God might be evil or play tricks on us, however I was so thankful to find out he is absolutely perfect and is love. We have so jacked up the word love. Study the scriptures about love and you will quickly see it is an action word. God says if you love me then obey my commands. It was love that compelled Jesus to be born into this world with the mission to lay his life down in our place! Jesus you are simply amazing and we want to say Happy Birthday this Christmas and thank you for showing us how to serve, how to love, how to lay our lives down for others, and thank you God for being the gift of all gifts because without you no gift matters.

The Word : Romans 11:36

“Everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory”  -ROMANS 11:36 (NLT)

God has given us everything we have, and we were made to glorify Him with all of it. When we use our gifts, talents, possessions, and relationships to bring Him glory, it is amazing what He does with it all. Yet, when we allow these same things or people or work to become our main focus, it is amazing how things begin to fall apart.

God does not want to share the throne of your heart. He loves you with a jealous love, and He knows that your life will be the best when He is at the center. Therefore, He will allow circumstances to correct you...relationships to fail you... and life to lack peace when He is not at the center.

Yet God is also a patient God, slow to anger and abounding in love. So when we make adjustments, turn our focus back to Him and get our priorities in alignment with His, He is quick to shower us with His mercy and grace. Let's not waste a minute putting anything but God on the throne of our hearts. Making Him #1 is for our best and for His glory.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word: Isaiah 43:19

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland." -Isaiah 43:19

God is always doing a new thing, the question is — are we a part of what He is doing? When we step out in faith, willing to serve God wherever He calls us, we can be sure that an adventure is ahead. Everyone who has gone on a WOW mission trip returns with stories of exciting adventures, unexpected challenges, and moments that tested their faith. Yet every story also ends with a reminder that God is always doing a new thing.

It says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." This verse is such a humble reminder that even our greatest visions or dreams will not be as good as God’s. His ways are rarely what we expect, though always, in the end, they are the best.
“If you are facing a crossroads…a decision or situation that requires faith to take the next step, meditate on God’s Word and be encouraged by the testimony of others who have stepped out in faith. Whatever circumstances you face, being in God’s will is the safest place to be.
God is doing a new thing. Will you be a part of what He is doing?

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word: Matthew 28:19

"Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."- Matthew 28:19  (The Message)

Before Jesus left the earth, He spoke some clear words to his disciples. We call it, "The Great Commission." Perhaps, we've heard His words before. In fact, we might have heard them enough to have begun to take them for granted. Do we really think that Matthew 28:19 is personally spoken for us, and is still applicable today? Our answer should be, "Yes." If it is not, then we're missing out on our greatest calling and the most exciting experience we could know.

The WOW Surf Camps this summer got very practical as Kyle set out to make disciples of the young leaders and the even-younger surf campers. Kyle's simple obedience to the Great Commission brought about incredible fruit: New believers, baptisms, enthusiastic new leaders, and a whole lot of people on fire to continue to share the Gospel in their own communities. This is one example of spiritual multiplication: Where disciples go into the world and make new disciples! It is God's plan for the whole world, given to you and me.

The questions we need to ask ourselves: Will we be a part of the Great Commission? Who can we pray for today? Are we looking for opportunities and practicing how to share the Gospel in a clear, simple way?

Let's be ready to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15) and prayerfully consider what our next step might be as we fulfill the Great Commission in our corners of the world. Spiritual multiplication starts with one of us, and then one other. Go out and make disciples - today.​

The Word : Psalm 133:1

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!" - Psalm 133:1

Thinking about Buck Waters story and how many years he has partnered with Walking on Water to share the Gospel all over the world reminds me of the amazing blessing of the Body of Christ. When believers work together, even across the globe, it is incredible what can be done! We share one Father; we are all united in one mission to share His love with the world.

It is so awesome to think of the family we have with Christians all over the world.
I have been traveling recently, and one thing I always find in my travels is the incredible connection between Christians. When you meet another believer, there is an immediate and unmistakable bond. You might meet someone from a different country, and hardly share a word of spoken language, but when you discover that you share faith in Jesus, you sense you are with family. I find that is great evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Our unity as believers is a great evangelistic tool. John 13:35 reminds us that everyone will know that we are disciples if we love one another. We have unlimited opportunities to team up with others to reach others for Christ. Whether it’s in our own neighborhood, or across the world, let’s look for ways to join together and share God’s love now.

The Word: Ephesians 3:20-21

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

For those of us who have read these verses a lot, there may be a tendency to skim over them. But let's slow down and just consider what Ephesians 3:20-21 really says: It tells us that no matter how much we might dream, God's dreams for us are even bigger. Bigger than all we can ask or imagine? Yes! And even more: We don't have to muster up the power to fulfill the dreams, because it is His power that is at work within us.

Did you get all that? Mind. Blowing.

We can ask. We can dream. But if we trust God with our life, His plans will be beyond our greatest imagination. We would be crazy to skim over such good news.

Roger Thompson's story reminds me of these verses because we get to look back and see a picture of Roger's faith, and God's faithfulness; how Roger walked humbly through his life, serving God in each thing God put before him. With each dream he had, he sought God's will...and all the while God was dreaming up even greater things than Roger could ask for.

As Christians we are called to walk faithfully: Today, and tomorrow, and the next day. We can dream and we can ask, but we need not worry about the rest. God's dreams are bigger than ours, and it is His power that will fulfill His purposes in our life...to His glory. Amen!

Written by Monica Swanson, monicaswanson.com

The Word : Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:14

Corey Colapinto's surfing has been admired for years, and he has grown an impressive following across social media channels, YouTube, etc.  So when Corey became a Christian last year, and began to share his faith boldly, there was no denying the change.   Quoting Scripture, or Christian writers like C.S. Lewis on his Instagram feed, and putting most of his surfing videos to worship music, Corey points all who love his surfing to the God who loves them.

Corey could have become a Christian quietly, letting his actions show the world his relationship with Jesus, but he didn't.  Instead he chose to do what Jesus told us to do: he put his light up on a hill.

Jesus was pretty clear on this topic, painting great visuals for us to know how we ought to live out our Christian life.  He said we should be like salt, which makes things tasty.  (Matthew 5:13) We should be light, that cannot be hidden.  In fact he said we should put our light as on a lamp stand, "giving light to all who are in the house."  (Matt: 5:14-15)

Many of us have been Christians for a long time, and if we're honest, we can take our faith for granted.  We may find security in our salvation, and enjoy fellowship with other believers.  But how many of us can honestly say we are salt and light?  How many of us look for opportunities in our every day spheres of influence to point others to Jesus?

Let's be inspired by Corey Colapinto and consider Jesus' words as we live out our faith today:  “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  (Matthew 5:16)

Written by Monica Swanson, monicaswanson.com