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Reset with Bonnie Sala We all need a daily reset! Bonnie Sala shares 2-minutes of truth and grace from God’s Word.

10/06/2025

Everyone Matters to Jesus

Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News ..." (Acts 10:34-36a).

Everyone loves a vacation! Hearing about what one man does on his vacation may surprise you.

Bob is a gentle, friendly looking man. Every year, he takes a vacation at the beach. But he's not there to soak up the sun. For 17 years, Bob has gone to the beach to enjoy conversations with complete strangers, talking with anyone interested in hearing about Jesus. "To Bob, it doesn't matter who the person is, young, old, single, married, what nationality, ethnicity or religious affiliation ... Bob knows that everyone matters to Jesus—that Jesus loves them ... that Jesus died ... to pay for their sin. Bob wants them to receive forgiveness, knowing the love of Jesus for them and wants them to experience new and eternal life with God through Jesus Christ as a son or daughter of God."[1]

Bob beautifully reflects God's heart for every person. When Jesus was on earth His first followers were Jews. So people assumed that, in order to follow Jesus, a person needed to become Jewish and then follow Jesus. But God spoke to one of Jesus's disciples named Peter in a dream, explaining that no one race of people was any better than another—that everyone matters to Him. This is how Peter explained it: "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News" (Acts 10:34-36a).

It is like Bob says: you matter to Jesus. Jesus died to pay for your sin, wants to completely forgive you, longs for you to live in His love both now and forever. Because everyone matters to Jesus.

[1] Mission Hills Church 03.23.25 9:30am. YouTube, uploaded by Mission Hills Church, 23 Mar. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/live/e86hYiK0hmA?feature=shared. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/everyone-matters-to-jesus/

09/06/2025

Think You're Too Young to Be Generous?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 NIV

What is your heart set on? Getting an education, buying a home or starting a business?

Every morning Lina goes through a stack of photographs that sit on her kitchen table, pausing to pray for each person in the well-worn pictures. She's never met these people, but she's prayed for them for years. The men and women in the photos live all over the world and the goal of each of their lives is to share the message of Jesus's love with their own people.

Lina prays, but she's done more than that. Now widowed and in her late 80s, Lina has decided that there really isn't anything else she needs in life. She has begun to systematically give her remaining money to help the people in the photos share the gospel. It's where her heart is—what her heart beats for. Jesus talked about this very thing. He said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21 NIV).

"Well, that lady is old," you might think. She's had all the experiences of life, owned things and now she has extra to give away. I'll give ... if I have money left over when I'm old." But you'd be wrong about Lina. For decades, Lina and her husband built their lives around what God says about money and our priorities. When the Bible says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce," (Proverbs 3:9) they did just that, year after year. When they read, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never fail you, I will never abandon you,'" (Hebrews 13:5) they believed it. With all their hearts ... and their resources, year in and year out.

What do the things you treasure tell about where your heart is?

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/think-youre-too-young-to-be-generous/

06/06/2025

Seeing Others (Even Frustrating Ones) Through God's Eyes

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

What is wrong with people? Ever spat that out of your mouth in frustration?

It's easy to justify our frustration with others. Daniel prided himself on being hardworking and expected the same from everyone else. "People should give their all," he reasoned to himself. When people didn't do what he thought they should, it was incredibly frustrating to Daniel and he judged them harshly—calling them lazy, inconsiderate, unreliable. One day, he read these words of Jesus: "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged" (Matthew 7:2). Daniel felt a pang of conviction. That night, his humbled prayer was, "God, I want You to be merciful to me. Help me be more merciful and understanding with others."

For you, maybe it's the rude coworker or careless driver or quirky family member. When it comes to others, God says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). The more we dwell on what irritates us about people, the less room we have for kindness. God made a lot of very different types of people for His world. They're not all going to think or act like me or how I think they should.

What if instead of filling our minds with frustration, we trained them to reflect God's grace? While God is high and holy, the Bible says He lives with humble people (Isaiah 57:15). One wise pastor once wrote, "[God is] saying, 'I dwell in your thoughts. Make your thoughts a sanctuary in which I can dwell.'"[1] If frustration has taken over your thinking, pause and ask: "Do I know their full story?" Instead of, "They're so inconsiderate," consider, "Maybe they're struggling today. God, help me see others with Your love."

[1] A. W. Tozer, compiled by James L. Snyder, Tozer on Worship and Entertainment (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1998), 10-11.

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/seeing-others-even-frustrating-ones-through-gods-eyes/

30/05/2025

Can I Really Pray About That?

Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

A parking place. A scored goal. Getting a bargain. What do they have in common? They're all things you can pray for!

What parent hasn't sat on the sidelines of a sporting event, silently but fervently praying that their child will run in the right direction or do well when the ball comes their way? Can we really pray about things like that—issues that aren't of life-or-death importance? The Bible says, "Yes! Yes, you can, and you should."

Scripture encourages us with these words: "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6). Backing up that instruction to pray about everything, the Bible gives us stories of people praying to be able to have children (1 Samuel 1) and to find wives (Genesis 24:12-14). We even see people praying for superhuman strength, (Judges 16:28-30) for it to rain, (1 Kings 17,18) and for the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:12-13).

Here are some things we all need, that God specifically welcomes us to ask Him for:

- His will and plan for our lives (1 John 5:14)
- Our daily needs (Matthew 6:11)
- Forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
- Protection (Psalm 91:14-15)
- Physical, spiritual and emotional healing (James 5:14-15, Psalm 147:3)

God welcomes you to talk with Him so specifically in prayer because He cares for you so personally. Jesus said, "... not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows" (Matthew 10:29b-31).

When we pray about everything, God explains what the result will be. He says, "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Philippians 4:7). So, do you need your bus to be on time today, to have a difficult conversation or to find something you've lost? Start praying!

Listen at: https://www.guidelines.org/sermons/can-i-really-pray-about-that/

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