The Truth

“Three Reasons People Make Bad Choices” PT 2.

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:35:23 CDT

I heard a message the other day that said God is always thinking about you. The thoughts He is thinking towards you are for good and not evil, not to harm you, but to prosper you and give you a hope and a future. Wow...the God of the universe is always thinking about us!! He is thinking thoughts to help us, prosper us. That thought alone should encourage us and keep us encouraged, instead of self-justifying our actions and placing the blame on others.

If I know God is always thinking about me, then I must learn to take responsibility. For some, it's not an easy task, but one that could be corrected for our good, if dealt with properly. No matter what you have done or are doing, God is still thinking thoughts on how to help and bless you; He's working to get you into the truth and to live better. Let's stay encouraged; knowing God Himself is our friend and helper.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Three Reasons People Make Bad Choices”

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:20:07 CDT

There are several reasons why people make bad decisions: self-justification, self-rationalization and self-defeating thinking. These types of thinking habits will continue the cycle of making bad choices. Here's a better insight:

Self-justification means a person who blames others for the issues in their life.
Self-rationalization means a person thinks they are exempt from doing something they know is right. They make excuses why it's ok for them not to do what they know is right.
Self-defeating thinking is the thought that I don't deserve anything good. They have self-worth issues. They will self-sabotage anything good from coming into their lives.

The cycle can stop if people would realize what category they fall into, if any. Recognize it then begin to deal with it and begin to do the right things. Take responsibility for your actions; stop making excuses and figure out why you might have low self-esteem and self-worth. It's all in how we think. Let's live better and begin to make better choices for our lives and be connected.

Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Pat Riley once said, There are only two options regarding commitment; you're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as a life in-between.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Courage or Cowardice?” Pt. II

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:08:40 CDT

Courage is about overcoming the unknown or stepping into the unknown. People are held back from their dreams at times because they lack the courage to step out. Sometimes, it's because they're afraid to fail. Everyone in life fails at some point. No one succeeds at everything. Failure can be a positive thing sometimes. It can teach you what not to do and what you should do the next time. If you haven't failed at something, you haven't lived life. You exist, but live below your potential. People who have accomplished quite a bit have had setbacks that they have learned from. The lesson is learned, and then they move forward and give it a go. Courage is that ingredient that will cause you to move forward, to get up, live and dream again. Whatever that step is for you, I encourage you to rise up and truly believe. Let's learn from our mistakes and go forward.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Courage or Cowardice?”

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:04:58 CDT

What does it take to be successful? Why does it seem to happen for others, but not you? No matter what happens in life, some people move forward while others stay stagnant. Why? The answer is courage. Being courageous means doing what you're fearful of. Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the conquest of it. It means doing it while afraid, until you're no longer afraid. This is why the successful and the happiest of people seem to overcome their fear and do the right thing. They take a calculated risk and see the benefits. If you knew you would never fail, what would you do? Courage is what makes faith work. Without courage, faith alone can be nothing more than a set of benefits. Learn to overcome your fear. Tremble your way to confidence. Without courage, nothing would be built, no one would take a risk, and most people wouldn't get married! Ha-ha! Courage makes the world go round. It takes courage to discover a new world and to believe God enough to actually do His Word.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Joy Beyond Measure”

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:59:08 CDT

Have you ever stopped to think about enjoying every day instead of complaining about each day? The word enjoy means, to have or experience joy; to get pleasure from, to have a good time. I know we won't enjoy everything that goes on in our lives, but we can receive pleasure from our lives every day that we have on this earth. It's amazing that we sometimes take for granted this gift we have called. One of the reasons we don't enjoy it more is an uncommunicated expectation of others and false expectations of how life is supposed to be. We have to rethink our attitudes towards things that go on and change the way we react to them. If every time you get some bad news it prevents you from enjoying life, then you have the ability to change that response and take responsibility to enjoy life every day. It's your call. Bad news is never the culprit; it's how you respond to it.

Think about how good life can be with just a small attitude adjustment. Don't get mad, angry or upset because of circumstances. Look at it as temporal and don't allow it to steal your joy.

“What If….”

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:38:25 CDT

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I’m looking forward to a fantastic 2012. As the New Year approaches, I want to encourage you to act on God’s Word, and to exercise your faith. I’ve learned from experience that it’s difficult to walk in faith without courage. Courage defined is: doing what you are afraid of, or doing what you fear. We should overcome fear, especially when it concerns God. Those are the “what-if” fears. What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail? What if I make a fool of myself? No matter your “what-if” is, you need courage to overcome it. When that happens, courage becomes confidence, and that will cause you to keep acting on the Word, regardless of your circumstance. God is real and we can become overcomers. Stay encouraged everyday of your life. Remember: Be strong and of good courage!! (Joshua 1:6) Happy New Year!!

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Putting Christ Back in Christmas”

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:18:10 CDT

It is that time of year again where we talk about Santa Claus, exchanging gifts, gathering with friends and family and eating lots of turkey. In reality, Christmas is about a risen Savior who came and gave His life for us so we could live life to the fullest. Let me encourage you to keep the focus on its original intent: Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Here’s a few ways we can keep “Christ” in Christmas:

Be kind and considerate to people.
Let them know that there is a hope, and life is worth living if we do it God’s way.
There is absolute truth, and as Christians, we believe the Bible to be absolutely true.

Isn’t it amazing that we live in a day of “tolerance” and yet, the same people who accuse us of being “intolerant” are, in fact, intolerant themselves when it comes to our beliefs? These same folks want to get Christmas day off from work and give / receive gifts but don’t want to acknowledge the Savior of the world. Let me urge you to remember Jesus as the real reason for the season.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Cleaning Our Conscience in 3 Easy Steps”

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:18:07 CDT

In our society, we are witnessing more and more acts of violence without showing any remorse whatsoever, which begs the question, “How can someone do this?’ Today’s society has long since abandoned the written Word of God and as a result, the conscience has been affected negatively. It becomes hard and callused and left without the ability to feel regret. When this happens, people begin to act like animals living with no moral compass to do what’s right. We must never allow our hearts to be hardened. One way we can do this is to obey truth and not to give in to sin. Here are three steps to keeping our conscience pure and clean:

We have to make a clear decision to place the Word of God as our standard for living.
We should be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Confession and repentance act as detergent to clean our conscience (Hebrews 9:14, I John 1:9) so that we can live according to the Word of God.

Our conscience should be pliable, teachable and sensitive to the principles found in God’s Word. In doing so, we develop a pretty good guide to what is right and wrong, both morally and ethically.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“3 Benefits of Submitting to Authority”

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:47:34 CDT

Have you ever given thought about submitting to authority or honoring those who have authority over you? Those who follow Christ must be people who submit to His authority. Authority means listening to what your superior says, and carrying out those orders. How we submit to the authority God has placed in our lives and how we execute the authority given to us will determine how God uses us. The best way to properly submit to earthly authority is to learn how to submit to Heavenly authority. Peace and safety are found in obeying God's Word and acknowledging Him as the supreme authority in our lives. Here are three benefits to submitting to authority:

It pleases God and His Word commands it.
Protection. There are many rewards for good behavior. For example, obeying driving laws protects people from taking lives.
God-given authority is one of the best sources for direction. People who reject wisdom often begin behavior that is destructive.

Jesus was the ultimate example of submission and authority. Those who learn humility and service are prime candidates for leadership, so let's learn to excel in this area.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“3 Tips to Speaking Their Love Language”

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:50:56 CDT

Relationships are a very vital part of our existence. Having good relationships can be the difference between being optimistic and being discouraged about life. So, we should take an active approach to working on them.

Today, marriages are failing at an unprecedented rate for various reasons. One of those reasons is that we never learn how to love our spouse in the way they feel love. We tend to love someone the way we feel love. The problem with this is that the only one we are pleasing is ourselves. We must learn what blesses and pleases or makes them happy. Here are a few tips:

Take the time to know what blesses your spouse. Notice the little things.
Make an effort to ensure that what blesses them actually takes place. Don’t just make it “wishful thinking”.
Persevere. Make it an ongoing thing by being consistent. Keep at it, even if they don’t notice at first.

Let’s learn to love the ones closest to us with their “love language”. What we will discover is our marital relationship will be healthier and stronger.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

"3 Ways to Become More Thankful"

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:51:48 CDT

What if you flipped a coin every morning to determine how you felt the rest of the day? Would you really leave your emotions to chance? Or, would you make a decision and choose your attitude and how you approached the day? Here’s something to think about: Happenstance is a combination of the words “happen” and “circumstance”. It means, “A circumstance especially that is due to chance”. Happen defined is, “to occur by chance”. One meaning for the word Happy means “favored by luck or fortune”. Here are three keys to being more thankful:

In order to get the most out life, we should intentionally re-purpose our attitude to be appreciative for what we have, rather than to be “happy” about it.
Don’t let the situation dictate your attitude. You see, happiness depends on our circumstances, whereas thankfulness is an intentional choice, a conscious decision that you make. Let’s continue to strive to be more thankful in our lives.
Focus on what you do have, rather than what you don’t. Look for the good in things, not just the bad.

I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and become more appreciative in your life!!

“Not Your Ordinary Stuffing” Pt2

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:25:51 CDT

What you and I believe is of the utmost of importance. The reason for this is that what we believe determines what is possible or impossible in our lives. So it’s up to us to come to a place where we choose to take off the restrictions in our lives. When we were children, we saw endless possibilities until someone told us we can’t, or that it’s not possible. Then we began to put boundaries on our lives. Jesus said in Mark 9:23’ “if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”.

How many dreams have been left behind because we quit believing something is possible? Once you have decided to believe something or not, that’s when the world of possibilities opens up. What is impossible for one person may be possible for another. Why? Because it’s all about what you believe, not what someone else believes. Some thought it was impossible to go to the moon, but others who believed…well, we know how that one turned out.

“Not Your Ordinary Stuffing”

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:31:59 CDT

What does the term “stuffing” make you think of? With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, maybe you visualize the stuffing that goes into the turkey.

“Stuffing” from a psychological view is when a person continually “stuffs” their emotions until one day they blow up or have some type of breakdown. When we experience pain, we need to know it’s ok to grieve, to feel sadness, anger or disappointment. If we go through the whole spectrum of emotions, we shouldn’t feel as if we are weak or that we let someone else down. In fact, God has given us a wide array of emotions that we shouldn’t “stuff”. Those emotions and feelings never go away. On the other hand, you shouldn’t “pitch a tent” with those emotions, either. It’s not healthy to stay in one emotional state of mind for a long period of time. Experiencing sadness, anger or any other emotion from time to time is ok, especially if there is some pain or loss tied to it. Work through it, let it go and move on in life.

“Security Risk”

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:34:53 CDT

Every day, when we get up, most of us want to feel secure in our lives. We place our security in many different things. Some of us place it in people, so when someone lets us down, we become decimated. Some of us place it in our job, and yet, we’ve seen what looks like the most stable businesses go under. Whatever it is that we substitute for God becomes the thing that we serve. The Bible says not to put your trust in uncertain riches, which are here today and gone tomorrow. We need to become secure in who created us, the Earth and everything in it.

If we are secure in God and our relationship with Him, we will always be able to handle whatever comes our way. Placing your trust in the wrong things for the wrong reasons is the reason why so many people are living broken lives. If we choose to place our trust in God, He is faithful and reliable. Where is your security placed? Have we mistakenly placed it somewhere that is bound to fail, or in the One who will never fail? (Romans 10:9-10)

“Being an Iron Man in Life”

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:23:16 CDT

Life is a contact sport and if we are going to live it to some degree successfully, we are going to have to learn to play hurt. Cal Ripken, a great baseball player, was known as the Iron Man of baseball because of his string of consecutive games played. When asked how he did it, he said, You have to learn to play hurt. As we live life, people get hurt, disappointed and things don't go well. When this happens, people tend to shut down, quit or develop an attitude that is wrong and causes pain. At some point, all of us will experience setbacks, pain, and hurt; it's how we deal with it that will determine our success in the future. We shouldn't allow ourselves to become bitter or cynical about life. When we do, it only causes us to see life through a lens of hurt and with no hope. We need to learn to play hurt and realize that pain will heal and disappointments won't last forever. We should trust God to help us all the way through.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“The Genetics of Generosity”

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:28:24 CDT

“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” – Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)

I believe people become stagnant in their lives because they lack the understanding of generosity. We get stuck in life and we end up going through the motions. Life seems to get very boring and monotonous and we start looking for ways to fix it. It could be a job change or a spouse change for some. It’s a tragedy to make those kinds of decisions that adversely affects so many. Our lives would be more productive and exciting if we would become more generous. Generous is defined as, “being of noble birth. Such a person is generous in overlooking injury or insult, rising above pettiness or meanness. It also indicates a willingness to give, share, or to bestow favor”. Being generous will cause your life to be more fulfilled and to have greater purpose. Let’s work at becoming more generous in everything we do.

“Stagnation comes when we quit or aren’t doing things we know to do. It can cause us to shut down and cause us to think that only a change can make me feel better. The change needs for us to become more generous.” – Large, Large Living in a Small, Small World by Steve Smothermon”

The Debate Continues

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:19:33 CDT

Dear Legacy Family,

I'm hoping you can take a few moments out of your day tomorrow (Tuesday) from 9 - 9:55 am in order to be a part of a discussion that is very important to our church and our community.

As many of you are already aware, the ACLU - with the support of County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham - has set its sights on the church community and Legacy Church in particular.

Both the ACLU and Commissioner Grisham objected to the Sheriff's Department holding its most recent cadet graduation at our Central Campus auditorium - even though similar ceremonies have been held at both our church and at other community churches in the past.

Thanks to you and the common sense of the majority of the County Commission, Commissioner Grisham's bill to ban similar functions at church facilities in the future was defeated on a 3-2 vote (Commissioners De La Cruz, Johnson and Wiener opposed - Grisham and Hart-Stebbins in favor).

However, the debate continues.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), Commissioner Wiener will be a guest on the Bob Clark Show on 770 KKOB from 9 - 9:55 am to discuss this issue and the latest developments. I hope you will tune in - and call in - to the show and make your voice and opinion heard. The phone number to the radio show is 243-3333.

You can get a flavor of the where the ACLU stands by going to its website: http://aclu-nm.org/ I would also encourage you to contact our County Commissioners by phone at468-7000 or by e-mail at http://www.bernco.gov/county-commissioners/.

Thanks for your time, consideration and action.

God Bless,

“Cutting Ties”

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:06:38 CDT

Who you become is a direct result of who you choose to associate with. There's a moment in all of our lives where we have to choose who we want to be and what we want to become. It's during these moments in our lives when we start to notice people in our circle that aren't good for us. They will bring us down and become a bad influence, instead of uplifting and inspiring us. Whether it's a family member or a lifelong friend, we must choose not to be around them. If we want what is best for our lives, not to mention what God wants for us, there are some relationships that we must cut ties with. Bad character corrupts good morals.

There are some people who don't want to hang out or go to church with Christians; they just want to apply pressure for them to go to parties or clubs and influence them to do the wrong thing. Take the pencil for example. In order to be effective, it has to be sharpened. The wood around the lead has to be shaved off to expose what's inside. If we are to be useful in God's hand, some things in our lives need to be shaved off. Let's choose to do what is right in God's eyes and not hang around individuals who bring us down or cause us to stumble. Let's choose God's way.

“Rock-Steady Faith”

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:47:50 CDT

In our society, people have misplaced their belief in God and forgot how gracious and good He really is. God gets blamed for things that would embarrass the devil himself. How would you feel if you were falsely accused? None of us would tolerate that, yet God constantly gets accused of not caring because something happened to us that was negative, or we didn't get what we wanted. Our faith must be deeper and stronger than that. Our faith shouldn't be based on circumstances, but on God's promise that He is true to His word. We have to stand up and live what we believe now more than ever. If you believe in God's Word, believe all of it, not just the parts you like. Don't be moved by every little thing that goes wrong, but try to be a person of substance who's not easily sidetracked. Today, and every day, let's be appreciative of all the good things we have. Let's focus on what is going right in our lives; only then will your view of life change for the better.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“The Encouraging Effect”

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:07:47 CDT

Today, as you go about your business, I want you to think about encouraging others. If you cannot see the good in yourself, it will be difficult to see the good in someone else. Esteem is important on so many levels. It is important to think well of yourself and to believe there's good within you. It's easy to see the shortcomings within ourselves, but what about the good inside all of us? How much attention do we give the good in our lives? We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. On the other hand, we shouldn't think less of ourselves either. For us, we need to see the best in others. We should see their potential and what they can become if they apply themselves. It's equally important that we see and embrace the good in ourselves and our own potential. Some people might say that there's no one to encourage me so start encouraging others and esteeming them. Concentrate on the good in someone else and see if you don't have someone do the same for you.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Submission and Authority”

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:42:04 CDT

Honoring those in authority is in our best interest. People at times don't want to honor any kind of authority. They resist and buck the system wherever they are. It's interesting to watch this. Those who honor and respect the authority over them seem to get farther down the road than those who don't. Now if the authority is asking you to do something wrong or immoral, we have the right to say no, but we should be respectful nonetheless.

The rules of driving are meant to protect us, not to harm us, yet I believe some rules are ungodly, like the speed limit (just kidding). Really, I'm glad we have the rule of driving on one side of the road. I'm glad it's not optional, because I don't want to get into a head-on collision. Without rules and authority we would have utter chaos.

God has set up rules to make our lives better, so that if we follow them, He can bless us. Let's take another look at the benefits of having authority in our lives and thank God for His protection and His love.

Just a Thought,

PSS

Legacychurch.com

“Ultimate Victory”

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:07:30 CDT

Simply put, the definition of winning is this: to rise up each time you fall. Everyone has setbacks and times when they made the wrong decision. Winning is about stepping out with great hope and anticipation for success, no matter what the endeavor is. When things start to fall apart and unravel, what do you do? Do you blame someone or something else? Is it God; society; your skin color; your upbringing? You should never play the blame game. As Christians, we should get up and start over. Success comes from getting up each time you fall or get knocked down. Successful people don’t quit, or become bitter or stop trying altogether. Remember the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, and try again.”

Victory may come after several attempts, but no matter what you are going through, never play the blame game. Will yourself up, and let go of any negative unproductive talk. Thoughts like, “No one cares; I’ll never make it; everyone is against me,” will hinder your progress. Rise up and start believing that this time, you WILL succeed, and it WILL work out and you WILL be victorious!

“An Overly-Critical Critic”

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:37:01 CDT

In our quest for excellence, we must guard ourselves from being critical people. They are the people who are either jealous or uninformed. They usually say things that have no impact whatsoever on the truth. A person who is constantly critical of others, their jobs or their spouse is one who constantly compares themselves to others. It’s a trap to allow them in your life. If you do, you’ll be one unhappy camper. We should strive for excellence, work hard, and try to see the best in every situation. That way, getting sidelined by obstacles won’t happen to us.

Mediocre people tend to be subdued by obstacles in life, but excellence always rises above them. Listen, in times of adversity you don’t have an obstacle to deal with, you have a choice to make: be critical or strive to be the best. Do my words bring life or death? It’s hard to find people who have a spirit of excellence. In order to be a success in life, don’t be critical; just strive to do the best you can.

Pastor Steve Smothermon
Legacy Church
www.LegacyChurch.com

“Verbal Assassination”

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:48:00 CDT

Life is what you make it, no matter what the circumstances. All of us make our own choices. The Bible talks about how the tongue has the ability to speak life or death into a person's life. We can always talk negative and let things come out of our mouth that will constantly be a hindrance to us, or we can speak life with positive words which can affect our lives in good ways. The words we speak can either heal or hurt. We get to select what we speak. Even when I say things like, I'm no good or I'm never going to make it, it actually makes me feel bad about myself. My outlook on life suffers as well. But when I begin to speak positively, and I remind myself of who I am in Christ and Whose I am, I feel better and I view life from a better perspective. We make these choices everyday. Start reminding yourself of God's promises to you; talk more positive and get away from bad news. Start talking about what is right in life and don't focus on the wrong stuff. Think on things that are good.

"Procrastinators Unite!"

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:32:14 CDT

Procrastination perpetuates the status quo and you end up losing ground. Procrastination means to put off doing something unpleasant or burdensome until a future time. We tend to put things off that we don't like or want to do, even if they're important to us. Procrastination is one of the top causes of stress, and can eventually lead to mental and physical health problems.

One way we can eliminate the need to put things off is to change our thinking from, I hate doing (fill in the blank) and doing it at the last minute, to thinking and talking differently about it. When you constantly say you don't like to do something when you know it has to be done, you have to change the way you see it. For example, all of us have something we don't like to do, but do it anyway. If we started to say we like doing it, and begin to affirm this in our minds and speak it out loud, the way we feel about it will change. Then the feelings towards stuff we dislike doing and would rather put off until later will soon change and this will help you spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

www.legacychurch.com

Mastering Insecurities

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:18:12 CDT

All of us have insecurities, but the question is, “How do we overcome them?” An insecurity is an inward fear manifesting outwardly. Insecurity is one of the most common reasons so many fail in life. It gets the best of them and then people don’t produce or they can become overbearing and controlling. It can even paralyze them, their relationships and their emotions.

The solution for our insecurities is humility. We need to be willing to recognize them and admit what they are. Only then are we ready to deal with them. If we push them aside, ignore them, or remain in denial we will only aid them in overcoming us. We must be willing to confront them; it’s mastering them that will make us healthy in every way. “What you fail to master in your life will eventually master you.” – Author unknown

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

www.legacychurch.com

Nothing is Impossible

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:33:56 CDT

These next two weeks will be a time of great excitement at Legacy Church! We launch our new campus on the east side of our community (4701 Montgomery) tonight at 6:30. I am so proud to pastor a group of people that truly believe God can do anything through them. We started this journey when God gave me a thought almost 4 years ago. I remember wondering if anyone else would get on board, or if people would think I was crazy. Thankfully, many of you believed God and now we are on the cusp of being able to reach all of Albuquerque with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

There is nothing that is impossible to people who truly believe God, (Mark 9:23). We are privileged to see this passage come to life before our very eyes. I believe the sky is the limit when it comes to reaching people for the cause of Christ. I cannot wait to hear the stories of lives that have been changed through the ministry of our East Campus.

As we are reminded of the greatness of God, I pray you can apply this to your life. Regardless of the obstacles that are in your way, the promise of God is enough to not only sustain you, but to allow you to reach goals you never thought possible! Winston Churchill once gave a great speech that simply read, Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up. I encourage you to remember this as you endeavor to achieve the great things God has already set up for you (Eph 2:10).

I hope to see you at our East Campus soon. Our service times are Tuesday at 6:30 P.M., Saturday at 5:30 P.M., and Sunday at 11:00 A.M. We will also have 2 nights of Open House at our East Campus. The first one will be Thursday at 6 P.M, and the second one will be Friday at 6 P.M. See you there!

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

www.legacychurch.com

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:28:28 CDT

Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt like you've been doing all the right things? You've been spending time in God's Word and praying, you've been kind to people and serving God. Then, all of a sudden, something happens and things start to fall apart and you begin asking God "Why" since you've been "doing all the right things."

We have a promise from God that says "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land," (Isa.1:19). So we are to expect that God will take care of us and will provide for us, as we are willing and obedient to His word. It doesn't mean we won't go through hard times.

God gave us eternal life and grace to live according to His Word, but He doesn't owe us anything. What happens with a lot of people is that they get into the mindset of, "God, I've been good, I did a good deed, I served you, so now you owe me," This is what causes people to stumble and fall; the thought that God didn't help you even though you've been so good.

It's a trap. Serve the Lord because it is the right thing to do and because you are thankful He saved you. Don't serve the Lord just to get something. He will help, guide and protect us. He doesn't owe us anything, because He will honor His Word.

Just a thought. God bless.

PSS

The Compassionate Heart

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:12:21 CDT

As we look at the world we live in and see the corruption, the lies the ill will and a culture and government that is out of control, we must maintain a heart of compassion towards our fellow man. Compassion says, "How can I help, and what can I do?" Not to be confused with sympathy, which basically says "I feel bad / sorry for you." Compassion is sincere concern and is what motivates people to be generous. Compassion is what's lacking in our culture. We lack the "How can I help," attitude.

Today, people don't want help; they just want someone to agree with them so that they can feel better about whatever they may be doing. But to have compassion on someone comes from a generous heart that is not concerned about what someone might think of them, but is concerned with someone doing better. We should all work on having more compassion towards people. Why? Because they are worth it.

Just a thought. God bless.

PSS

A Word’s Worth

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:17:59 CDT

Have you ever given much thought about what it means to keep your word, your commitments and your promises? One of the reasons I believe we don't trust (have any confidence) is because we say and commit to things and then think nothing of breaking them. We develop a sense of distrust because it starts with us. If we don't keep our word, why should we expect anyone else to keep his or hers? If our words aren't sincere, why should we believe anyone else's is sincere? We tend to put high standards on others, but excuse ourselves from the same standards.

The Bible talks about swearing to your own hurt. In other words, when you give your word, or make a commitment or promise, you should keep it. But in a society that embraces self and selfishness, it's hard to be the one whose word becomes their lord. More importantly, when we keep our word to ourselves, it will elevate our own self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem. It will begin to help us in every area. We will be more disciplined in our commitments, and won't give our word to do something without counting the cost. We will become more Christ-like because God always keeps His word no matter what the situation or circumstance. Overall, it will bless our lives and enrich those lives around us.

Just a thought. God bless.

PSS

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:13:13 CDT

Deception and fake expectations are some of the leading causes as to why Christians fail and backslide. With deception, people start believing a lie, possibly to justify their actions or they are really being "duped". Whatever the reason, believing something that is not true has horrible effects on people and their entire lives. It leads them down a path of destruction, one that for some, there is no return.

The Bible says that the devil is a liar and his whole goal is to remove you from the church and place you in a group that will have certain characteristics to them: 1.) They'll want to isolate you so you won't go to anyone and discuss what you are being told. These folks only want to control everything you're hearing. They work hard to point out everyone else's flaws, but never their own. 2.) They're usually the victims of something; the ones who got hurt, and then the "real" them comes out. 3.) They have to continually feed you lies until you come with them and become filled with hatred and bitterness. They never see anyone come to Christ; they just go after a target. These people really don't care about people; they just want to get back at someone. They want trophies. They're the wolves in sheep's clothing.

Anyone involved with these types of groups should repent quickly and never have anything to do with them ever again. There will be no peace because they grieve the Holy Spirit by spreading lies and deceit. "In the last days many will be deceived..." Protect yourself and be careful who you associate with and what you are listening to.

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

Making Changes

Tue, 31 May 2011 00:32:09 CDT

There is a pain associated with making changes in our lives. Change of any kind can be quite agonizing and can affect us mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Some shifts just happen, like the loss of a loved one, losing a job, or going through a divorce, just to name a few. I have been around people who have lost a loved one and observed the adjustments they've had to make. I watched their pain as they deal with situations and the choices they have to make. It needs to be something we take a closer look at and count the cost, especially since 70% of us resist change when it comes. What I mean by that is, what will it cost us for making (or not making) changes and adjustments and what benefit / harm will it bring me? Let's be open to making changes in our lives and making the tough decision that will ultimately benefit our families and us.

Just a thought. God bless.

PSS

Dealing With Difficult People

Mon, 23 May 2011 09:03:37 CDT

Have you ever thought about the proper way to deal with difficult people? You know the ones: they're hard to get along with, they always seem to have issues and they also seem to cause you problems. All of us know or have at least one in our life. It could be your boss, your co-worker, an employee or family member. One way to help them is to befriend them. Talk with them and find out what happened in their lives to cause them to act in a way that affects others so adversely. Most of the time you'll find out they have been hurt or they walk in fear because of something that has happened to them. Being kind and understanding will help bridge the gap and put that person at ease so they won't always be so defensive. To fight back or argue with them will only feed their insecurities; it won't help them to relax and let their guard down. Most people I've met like this are hurting and one thing I know: hurting people hurt people. So let's try to understand where difficult people are coming from and help them.

Just a Thought. God bless.

PSS

Hope Deferred

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:12:46 CDT

Have you ever been frustrated with a person or some circumstance? Today, we see more and more people experiencing this emotion. Frustration is a state of tension that occurs as a result of some goal-directed behavior that is being thwarted or postponed. It is also the equivalent of disappointment, impediment and failure. The root cause of frustration is insecurity and is the outcome of persistent emotional imbalance in one's life. This bafflement is the feeling that comes when you believe you are being stopped from reaching your goals. All of us have experienced this at one time or another, but then we get our bearings straight and move ahead. For some people, it stops them every time. It begins to anger you to the point of complete discouragement. It causes us to think irrationally, take things out of perspective and begins to focus in on someone or something and blames them for our lack of success. It is something we can control, by being patient and realizing that setbacks can later on produce greater success if we handle them properly. So, when you start to feel frustration coming on, take a deep breath, take a step back and allow yourself to keep it in perspective. Understand this: if your plan gets altered it's not the end of the world. It just means you have another opportunity to succeed.

Just A Thought. God bless.

PSS

Changing Direction

Mon, 02 May 2011 15:10:25 CDT

Have you ever been caught in a downward spiral? Does it seem like nothing's going right? It usually starts with the belief that you are not good at something or that you never get a break. Then, to top it off, it seems as though the results you want just aren't happening.

People who are consistently unhappy are that way because they've been without the results they want for so long they just give up and quit living this precious life. We have to quit dwelling on the negative and start thinking about the successes and what we've done well. "What has worked out for me?" Begin to see and believe that "you can" instead of finding reasons why "you can't". How we think of ourselves determines how well we do in life. When I coached my children, the one thing I had them always repeat was "I can." Why? Because once you believe it, the world and the way you view it will change drastically as you live it.

Just a thought, God bless.
PSS

H.O.P.E. - He Offers Peace Eternally

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:35:47 CDT

As we reflect on this weekend, and watch the whole world stop and take a moment to recognize what most call, "Easter," a better term to use would be, "Resurrection Sunday." This is the day we honor the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection from the dead. He gives everyone who willfully believes in Him eternal life and hope. Do you know that without hope we have no ambition, no vision, no future and no peace? We just fall into fear and anxiety, which, in turn, makes us selfish and self-centered.

A lack of hope in our life, our heart and mind, robs us of true life. People without hope have difficulty functioning in their daily lives. They have trouble thinking, remembering and making decisions. They become nervous, they don't go out much, and they become afraid of doing things. They also believe that what they think and feel is more important than what others think and feel. Because they lack hope, they believe the world revolves around them and others are only here to meet their needs. They become people who are selfish and stingy.

Listen, we can never give up living and hoping for the best or for things to get better. We can have a down moment, but we can never quit hoping. Colossians 1:27 says, "Jesus is the hope of glory." So as you go through this week, keep hope alive. Things can and will change, but nothing will rob you of your hope.

Just a Thought. God bless.

PSS

How Valuable Are Your Values?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:56:22 CDT

Our values, the things that make us who we are, dictate how we act, how we live and deal with others. It really is our belief system. For instance, I value honesty and respect. In fact, I've told my staff, when dealing with people always treat them with kindness and respect. Why are they part of my value system? Because I believe God and His Word are the guides to my life. So obviously, I wouldn't marry anyone who didn't share the same values. Our values are what make us who we are. When someone violates your values, you go into a "values crisis." That's why some get hurt, while others get mad.

It's important to make friends and partnerships of like-minded people who share the same or similar values. Respecting others is a high value. Why? Because I believe people are God's greatest creative works. When someone shows me disrespect or one of my staff doesn't show respect to those who come into our offices, I go into a "values crisis," which causes me to react and deal with it very quickly. Today, think about what your values are. Meditate on what is important to you in your life, and how it affects your life each and every day.

Just a thought. God bless.

PSS

Why Eagles Don't Hang Out With Pigeons

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:43:48 CDT

Relationships really define who we are. We are whom we associate with, like the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." We tend to gravitate towards people who are like-minded. Eagles hang out with eagles, pigeons hang with pigeons and vultures hang with vultures. There are three kinds of relationships I believe all of us should have:

Relationships with people we look up to. Someone who has done more and who is more successful than we are, someone who speaks into our lives.

Relationships that are on the same plane as we are; our peers, those we socialize with and respect.

Those whom we mentor. Those who are younger than ourselves, who are working hard to make it, and have less experience in life.

We need all three types of relationships to be healthy. It keeps us going; it keeps us reaching forward and at the same time, keeps us balanced. Then, we can give away what we have learned to someone else. This will enable us, with more discretion, to pick and choose whom we hang out with. It will also cause us to change the way we think about ourselves. It is important to see how we view ourselves because that will determine how we act, live and interact. Let's step out and begin to cultivate new and better relationships; those that lift us up and not bring us down.

Just A Thought, God bless. PSS

Why You Do What You Do

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:03:33 CDT

Do you ever just get tired? Sometimes we're tired because we don't get enough rest or because we're sick. That's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about being tired of living or dealing with unpleasant circumstances. Maybe you're even tired of doing good, beneficial things. Today, there are a lot of people who feel this way. The Bible says, "not to grow weary in well doing." That means that we have to keep ourselves fresh and keep the vision alive as to why we do what we're doing.

Let's say you're a mother or housewife and you start getting tired of taking care of everyone, including your husband. Take a moment to stop and meditate on why you are doing that. Think about what God has called and equipped you to do. Be grateful you have children and a husband that love you. Think about the ones you love the most and how you are blessing them. Recast the vision of why you do what you do over and over again in your heart and mind. (You can pick any topic and do this exercise). Why? Because when you grow weary and tired it is because we either lack vision, or have forgotten it. People get burned out because they forget the reasons behind their actions. We have to continually remind ourselves about the "whys". When you do, energy will come back and strength will replace the weariness.

Just A Thought, God bless. PSS

Be Popular or Be Right?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:25:01 CDT

Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do. However, there are still some people who may cut corners and slack off when no one is looking. For example, people who have a "sick day" may call in sick because they have a day to use, even though they may not feel sick at all. Then there are people who talk behind other people's backs, and refuse to deal with them personally. It will pay off in the long run if you do the right thing, even in the presence of those around us who won't. If you have ought with your brother, then you should go to them and deal with the issue before too many people get involved. We should also be careful when listening to someone tell a story. Remember, there's always another side to it. I once dealt with a man who always wanted to tell his story to anyone foolish enough to listen. However, this same man had many opportunities to tell his story in front of those who knew it. This is not right, it isn't honest. Our culture cries out for honesty. It covers the truth with political correctness, or justifies its behavior instead of taking responsibility and confronting the issue with the attitude of making things right. In life, truthfulness and integrity still count for something. When you know to do right, do it. Later on down the road, it will pay off and eventually cause you to get ahead and sleep at night. What is right isn't always popular, and what is popular, isn't always right. Just a Thought, God bless. PSS

The Power of Hope

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:51:36 CDT

If there's one thing we must hang on to and never let go of in this day and age, it's hope. Hope is so powerful that when people lose it, they give up, quit or even take their own lives. A friend of mine once said that hope is the thermostat; it sets the goal, and hope is the anchor of our soul. Hope is that force, if you will, that gets you through the moment so you are not overwhelmed. It keeps the dream in your heart alive when others have said "no". Hope keeps you living everyday and processing life. It gives you energy to do what you would ordinarily quit doing. People don't necessarily need more faith during certain times; they need hope. You can be down, having a bad day, dealing with unpleasant circumstances, and hope is the thing that keeps you going, keeps you believing that "this too shall pass" and things can and will get better. Hope is more than wishful thinking; it is wrapped up in the greatness of God. Note Dodie Osteen; "Never lose your hope, for faith is the substance of things hoped for!" Hebrews 11:1

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

The Difference Between Setbacks and Comebacks

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:53:27 CDT

How do you deal with things in your life when they don't go according to plan? If you're like me, I've had many setbacks and many situations that haven't worked out like I thought they should or even planned for. What do we do? How do we deal with them and move on? The answer lies in how you view them. Do you see them as a permanent or temporary setback? Most of the things we deal with are temporary. We need to realize how deep pain can go and that the feeling of failure will go away at some point. Please know this: that it won't last forever and you can and will move beyond it and heal from whatever is hurting or discouraging you. It's the attitude in which you live your life that will make the difference. Is it the attitude that the "sky is always falling" or is it the attitude that "I know this thing is not good for me, but it will pass. I am strong and I will overcome!" Learn to develop the attitude of never quitting and never allowing a moment, occurrence, setback or disappointment to define you for very long. The Bible says "all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." We need to realize that we CAN and WILL overcome if we just keep moving forward and believing in God and His Word. Life may disappoint from time to time, but God will NEVER disappoint; He will never leave you, not ever.

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

Navigating Through Self-Doubt

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:22:17 CDT

We are all constantly changing, whether it is physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Sometimes it's for the worse; sometimes it's for the better. How we change is mostly up to us. It's how we choose to deal with what life throws at us, because stress and emotional trauma can also affect us mentally and physically. It's important that we deal with situations as they come up, rather than to let them go. The more things pile up on us, the more susceptible we are to breaking down or feeling so overwhelmed we don't do anything and just shut down. Most of the worrying that people do is just wasted time because the fact is most of those things never occur. We must change the way we process issues instead of making them worse. We have been given a "will" and that "will", combined with the power of the Holy Spirit, can help us successfully navigate through anything. What we do at times is sabotage ourselves by drowning in the feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy instead of dealing with the issues as they arise. We should always be reminded that God's Word says we "should cast all our cares upon Him who cares for you," (I Peter 5:17) and never quit hoping for a better outcome.

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS

Responding Properly to Compliments

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:52:55 CDT

I was just reading an article written by Lou Tice about receiving compliments. A lot of people today receive criticism as rejection and truth. Even though it hurts at times, we receive it and even if it's not valid or right, we'll meditate on it and allow it to bother us. A compliment, on the other hand, is defined as "an expression of praise or admiration." So, what's the best way to receive a sincere compliment? We should receive it graciously and respond accordingly. A negative example would be if someone compliments us and we respond to it unfavorably by putting ourselves down, or using phrases like, "I just got lucky." What if someone compliments you on what you are wearing or how you look, and you respond with, "This old thing?" The bottom line is that we need to respond properly to a sincere compliment and if you don't know what to say, saying, "thank you," shows respect for both yourself and the one giving the compliment. When you reject a compliment by bad-mouthing yourself, you are showing little or no respect to the one who gave it. Let's not be deceived when it comes to giving and receiving compliments. When a person is giving a sincere compliment, isn't that a person showing loving support to the one they are giving the compliment to? Let's learn to receive from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when it comes to the words of affirmation we call compliments. Pastor Steve Smothermon Legacy Church www.LifeatLegacy.com

Living For The Moment vs. Living For a Lifetime

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:52:31 CDT

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:54:16 CDT

You and I cannot allow what we don't understand to change what we know to be true. Disappointment means: 1.) To fail to fulfill the expectations or wishes of; 2.) To defeat the fulfillment of hopes, plans, etc.; 3.) Thwart, frustrate, sadden, disillusion, or dishearten. Disappointment will cause you to question everything you believe in, including yourself. It is the thing that will lead to discouragement and self-doubt. If we strive to develop the right attitude when disappointment comes, (and believe me, it will come at some point) we will be able to grow through it. It can strengthen our faith and cause us to be more dependent in God's ability OR it will cause us to shrink back. When we accept the fact that we will encounter disappointment in our lives, we will never allow it to cripple us and become negative or critical. We will look at it and know it will pass. We can and will recover from it. Be on guard to disallow temporary setbacks to become a full-time setback.

Just a thought, God bless.

PSS