The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog



March 13, 2022

On the 4th of July we celebrate our nation’s independence. On December 7th we remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII. 9/11 will ever be remembered for the lives lost in New York City, Washington D.C. & Shanksville, PA. The Day of Pentecost is the Church’s D-Day, the day the tide turned. Until then the disciples were a relatively small group of believers meeting together, trusting in the risen Christ but pretty much dead in the water. But, beginning on the Day of Pentecost, the church went on the offensive and people were swept into the Kingdom by the thousands.

We need to be aware of what the Holy Spirit did on that day, and has been doing ever since. We need to be open to what He wants to do in and through us. Pentecost separates the spectators from the participants.

Many professional athletes attended this year’s Super Bowl. It was a very competitive and entertaining game. Many of those athletes in the stands would have preferred to be playing in the game. In those luxury booths they had expensive snacks, comfortable seats, free Wi-Fi, and porters at their beck and call. Out on the field big men were smashing into one another, they were sweating, bleeding, panting. Still, how many of the athletes in the stands would have preferred playing in the Super Bowl rather than watching it? I’d have to say nearly 100% of them. Don’t be a fan of ministry, be a participant.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

March 6, 2022

The enemy crept up on us slowly at first. We hardly noticed how much he devoured. But now he’s consuming vast stretches of territory at a time. We are in the fight of our lives for our own freedom to worship God as well as that of our children and grandchildren.

Satan has gained control of the narrative through the media and social media. We, and our beliefs, are on the outside looking in. Social norms are now abnormal. Christians are losing their jobs right and left. Criminals are going free and faithful citizens are being locked up. This is serious. How do we defend ourselves? It starts on our knees and must include fasting as well as prayer. We are no match for our enemy but we can incite God to act on our behalf as we humble ourselves before Him. Aren’t you sick of where our nation is headed? Do something: fast & pray. Ask God to save us. Ask God to arise and defeat those who are fighting against all that is right and holy. Stop expecting someone else to do something. Now is the time. Today is the day. Storm heaven. Discipline your flesh.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

February 20, 2022

Ever strain at opening a jar but the lid just won’t budge? Sooner or later you stop kidding yourself and you look for something that will help, like gripping it with a dish towel, hitting it with the back end of a butter knife or you ask someone stronger to help you.

Ever strain at solving a problem in life but it just won’t budge? There is something about fasting that gets the attention of God better than praying alone. Certainly, it helps us to focus on what it is we’d like the Lord to do for us but somehow it helps Him focus on it too. Often, we pray for things so casually that when the Lord does respond we don’t even pause to thank Him. With fasting we have “some skin (or fat as the case may be) in the game”. We become more vested in the need that must be addressed. When the mountain finally moves it is a great relief to us mentally, spiritually and physically.

Paul taught us that when we are weak, He is strong. The weaker we become through fasting, the more He asserts His strength into the situation. We don’t manipulate God, we invite Him into our struggles, laying aside our might in preference to His.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

February 13, 2022

God is smarter than we are. When Adam and Eve allowed themselves to question God’s motives toward them everything got derailed. It has never been His intent to keep anything good away from us. He has ever worked to bless us. Included in that work is the rules He set down for living.

If you love your kids, you’ll teach them to look both ways before crossing the street, to wash behind their ears, and not to trust strangers. You didn’t make those rules up just to mess with them or prove that you’re in charge. In fact, if they do venture out into traffic you run out at the risk of your own life to save them. That’s why they should trust you, because you love them. That’s why we should trust God, because He loves us.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

February 6, 2022

The Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It also teaches that the lack of money is often the result of living foolishly. Blaming the economy or other people when we neglect the wisdom given to us through God’s Word to develop marketable skills, tithe our income (giving 10% of our earnings to the Lord’s work), spend sparingly, save & invest consistently, and give generously is the roadmap to financial ruin. The Lord Himself promises to put holes in the pockets of those who disobey His directives and to increase the savings of those who obey.

Personally, I’m amazed at how much money people are unable to live on. I’ve counseled a number of couples through the years who make two or three times as much money as I do who have nothing but debt to show for it. As disastrous as their disobedience to God’s Word has been, most of them just can’t take that “leap of faith” in order to land in the Lord’s secure arms. Remember, the 1st step to getting out of a hole is to stop digging. Turn your finances over to the Lord and start reaping a harvest instead of losing your shirt.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

January 30, 2022

Monday, December 27, 2021 was our first measurable snowfall of the season. We’d just finished prayer, Cheryl looked up and said, “It’s snowing!” Ray, Cheryl, and I stood there enjoying the scene as though we were all ten year old’s. Large flakes fell from the sky and quickly covered the ground. In no time at all it was a winter wonderland. So much in life comes to us as a surprise. Even with all our technology, experience, and know-it-all-ness, it’s the simple, unexpected delights that fill us with wonder and awe.

When will it snow? When will you graduate, get a promotion, get married, move, retire…? It’s nice to know when but it’s also nice to be surprised. Waiting is a key ingredient to receiving all the good things God loves to pour out on us humans. We, of course, want to know when those blessings will come. The Lord reserves the right to bless us in His own good time. It is for us to follow His will; it is for Him to choose how and when He will reward our faithfulness. Here’s a hint: it always takes longer to get rewarded than we think it should but no one ever regretted waiting on the Lord.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

January 23, 2022

The other day I walked my dog to the park and back, about 1½ miles through residential neighborhoods and along a few busy streets, without putting her leash on her. She’s not one to “heel” but she will obey when I tell her which way to go or to stop. She enjoys being off the leash but her freedom is directly linked to her obedience. My commands are for her safety. Disobedience could be disastrous. Therefore, I’m careful not to allow her more independence than she can handle. Yet, the more trustworthy she proves herself to be, the more freedom she enjoys.

Our freedom in Christ works much the same way. His commands are for my safety. The more I prove my faithfulness to follow His will, the more He enjoys leading me through joyful experiences. Some believers need strict laws and harsh discipline lest they ruin their lives through sinful actions and attitudes. If you let The Master be your Master, if you trust Him, if you obey Him, you’ll find a life worth living filled with many delights along the way.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

January 16, 2022

In this walk of faith which is more important: obedience or grace? The answer is yes; two sides of the same coin, inseverable. We need to stop forgiving ourselves for willful, continual sin. There’s a world of difference between having our sins forgiven by God and dismissing our misconduct offhand. None of us is perfect but all of us can try to do what’s right.

On the other hand, punishing ourselves with guilt after we’ve taken our sin to the cross is equally destructive. It’s not our prerogative to dismiss our misbehavior nor our job to work out a system of penance. Seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

January 2, 2022

I saw a T-shirt in the store the other day that said, “Who made the rules?” My immediate response was, “God.” Sadly, the world doesn’t know who made the rules or why the rules are what they are. They don’t even know the rules! They used to post a version of them on government buildings, in courtrooms, parks, etc. but decided to remove them from public view. Now they’re claiming they don’t exist! That leaves a void, a vacuum that is being filled with the most ridiculous nonsense. Police are treated like criminals and criminals are treated like heroes. Thieves are protected while store owners are demonized. Children are being lied to about their own bodies and it’s being called education.

Somebody needs to find those rules and post them once again before the whole world goes mad! Fortunately, they’re still listed plain and clear in the pages of our Bibles. If only we could get people to read it, trust it, obey it!

-Pastor Joel Everhart

December 26, 2021

In today’s study we discover some rather startling truths. For example: Did you know that you may need to “run for your life” even though you are under divine protection? Hardships, opposition, stress, etc. can all be part of God’s plan!

We need to stop thinking we’ve missed God’s will whenever things aren’t going smoothly or we’re experiencing turbulence. The truth is, we might be exactly where we’re supposed to be. When Paul experienced a hurricane and shipwreck on his way to Rome, God promised him that not a single person onboard would be lost. However, the ship itself would be destroyed. God parted the sea for the Israelites, stilled the storm for the disciples, but Paul had to swim for his life.

Being blessed doesn’t necessarily mean an easy life. In fact, it could quite possibly mean the exact opposite! Still, blessed is better than lost. Keep following Jesus.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

December 19, 2021

Every birth has a story: where the mother was when her water broke, how far it was from the hospital, how long labor took, complications, etc. It makes you wonder why anyone ever has a 2nd child. But then there’s the child. Apparently, they’re worth all the pain, inconvenience, and drama. Going home from the hospital with a new baby is a joy few things in this world can match.

Always when we come to the Christmas story we talk about the journey to Bethlehem, birth in a stable, the shepherds, angels, Magi, etc. and rightly so. But dare we forget that before the night was over Joseph and Mary held baby Jesus in their arms? What’s that worth? How cool is that? Even after a lifetime of drama and having her own soul pierced with sorrow at His death, I believe Mary would tell us it was a privilege to hold Him, to raise Him, to love Him.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

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