Read John 10:10
Ever get winded? You know what I mean - winded, going up a flight of stairs, trying to catch the elevator, hurrying to get anywhere. Sometimes we're in such a hurry to get where we're going we get winded and realize we're not in the shape we want to be in and so we wonder what it's going to take to turn it around where we're no longer winded, out of breath and stressed because we're not in the shape we'd like to be in.
Transfer this thought to our faith - ever get winded? Tired of trying and doing and relying on what we've got inside us instead of Jesus. All I want is Jesus, Give Me Jesus and I'll be ok; in fact, more than ok I'll be energized with life, passion, energy, purpose, enthusiasm, and the abundant living that I was created to have.
Friends, we can all have this abundant life. The secret is this ask, simply ask for God to give us more Jesus. John 10:10 tells us we have an enemy that will make us winded, zap us of our strength, come against us to steal, kill and destroy what God is doing in our lives and how He's using us to live for Him. But that's not the end of the story. Jesus, the greatest communicator ever, says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
Let's be people who accept this, own this and then live this. Want to make a difference, change this generation, inspire the next? Then take hold of God's truths, this truth that we have Jesus and more Jesus means more life. Pray this prayer this week. Father God, give me Jesus, more Jesus in my life this day, this week, this month and this year. Then and only then will we have influence with this one life we've been given.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Go Outside
Read Acts 2:47
We are so often associated with same - the same people, places and things. Yet as followers of Jesus we're called to go outside ourselves and into this world so that others will have the opportunity to hear and respond to the message of the cross where Jesus sacrificed His life.
The questions is why? Why are we to do this? The simple answer is we are in a battle with the spiritual forces of this world that do not want anyone, let alone any more people coming to faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross where His sacrifice paid once and for all time the penalty for our sins so that all who believe and place their faith and trust in Jesus' forgiveness and leadership in their lives might be now in a right relationship with God the Father.
So who are you in relationship with so that the family of God, that is the church of God may grow like we see in Acts 2:47? We are called to be intentional as we share the grace we have received with those who have yet to receive God's grace. Will people we talk with about faith always receive this good news? No but that's not the point. The point is what are we doing to go outside, even outside our own comfort zones to let this good news be heard among our family and friends.
Pray this week who you can be talking with about your faith so that they might be able to take one step closer to coming to faith in Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
We are so often associated with same - the same people, places and things. Yet as followers of Jesus we're called to go outside ourselves and into this world so that others will have the opportunity to hear and respond to the message of the cross where Jesus sacrificed His life.
The questions is why? Why are we to do this? The simple answer is we are in a battle with the spiritual forces of this world that do not want anyone, let alone any more people coming to faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross where His sacrifice paid once and for all time the penalty for our sins so that all who believe and place their faith and trust in Jesus' forgiveness and leadership in their lives might be now in a right relationship with God the Father.
So who are you in relationship with so that the family of God, that is the church of God may grow like we see in Acts 2:47? We are called to be intentional as we share the grace we have received with those who have yet to receive God's grace. Will people we talk with about faith always receive this good news? No but that's not the point. The point is what are we doing to go outside, even outside our own comfort zones to let this good news be heard among our family and friends.
Pray this week who you can be talking with about your faith so that they might be able to take one step closer to coming to faith in Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Go on to maturity...
Read Hebrews 6:1-3
Hebrews 6 begins by telling us to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Then God shares what's considered elementary teachings - repentance, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. When I look at this list I'd think this is not an elementary list. What do you think?
The interesting thing about chapter six is that it's connected with the end of Hebrews 5 where we're told solid food is needed and not milk. Milk is the food for infants while solid food is for the mature. The solid food being talked about is the teaching about righteousness and for the mature who are able to discern and have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Listen the word of God is so important we need both milk and solid food. But using this illustration milk is for babies while solid food is for maturing disciples of Christ. Imagine still eating baby food you can only grow so much until you need food that is right for physical growth. It's the same thing with spiritual growth - we need to chew on the word of God as our food that will assist us and guide us so that we can grow in our faith.
Let's go on to maturity by building on the foundation of our faith that was our first spiritual food and go on to meatier matters. Let's leave the elementary teachings as we relate with God and when we meet with one another in community, learning the importance of spiritual growth as we grow in our love and knowledge of God.
Hebrews 6 begins by telling us to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Then God shares what's considered elementary teachings - repentance, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. When I look at this list I'd think this is not an elementary list. What do you think?
The interesting thing about chapter six is that it's connected with the end of Hebrews 5 where we're told solid food is needed and not milk. Milk is the food for infants while solid food is for the mature. The solid food being talked about is the teaching about righteousness and for the mature who are able to discern and have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Listen the word of God is so important we need both milk and solid food. But using this illustration milk is for babies while solid food is for maturing disciples of Christ. Imagine still eating baby food you can only grow so much until you need food that is right for physical growth. It's the same thing with spiritual growth - we need to chew on the word of God as our food that will assist us and guide us so that we can grow in our faith.
Let's go on to maturity by building on the foundation of our faith that was our first spiritual food and go on to meatier matters. Let's leave the elementary teachings as we relate with God and when we meet with one another in community, learning the importance of spiritual growth as we grow in our love and knowledge of God.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Tough Times...
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Paul writes his second letter to Timothy and we see some very strong words written to this young pastor and what will be faced as the end times come. He writes there will be times, terrible times in the last days when people will put themselves first, love money, show pride and be abusive, ungrateful and unholy. He says they will be unforgiving, slanderous, not lovers of the good and having a form of godliness but in reality they will be denying its power. Then he says - have nothing to do with them.
How does this work? How can we tell when to say enough or to press on and continue trying to reach this lost world. I believe Paul wants Timothy to understand when facing such opposition to the truth you can tell when you're just wasting your time because there's this on-going denial of God and His truth.
Approach passages like this with caution - be sure we're studying it to make sure we're not operating on what we think is truth but instead on what God says is true. Read passages like this with prayer and ask God to reveal how He wants you to respond. Verse 17 says God wants us to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Read, study, pray and live the words of God.
Hebrews 4:3 warns the message we hear may be of no value if we do not combine it with faith. Combine the word of God with the life God wants you to live by faith and tough times will be managed with the Holy Spirit's direction. Tough times are a part of life, but God's word will last so lean into His truth to deal with whatever you're facing today.
Paul writes his second letter to Timothy and we see some very strong words written to this young pastor and what will be faced as the end times come. He writes there will be times, terrible times in the last days when people will put themselves first, love money, show pride and be abusive, ungrateful and unholy. He says they will be unforgiving, slanderous, not lovers of the good and having a form of godliness but in reality they will be denying its power. Then he says - have nothing to do with them.
How does this work? How can we tell when to say enough or to press on and continue trying to reach this lost world. I believe Paul wants Timothy to understand when facing such opposition to the truth you can tell when you're just wasting your time because there's this on-going denial of God and His truth.
Approach passages like this with caution - be sure we're studying it to make sure we're not operating on what we think is truth but instead on what God says is true. Read passages like this with prayer and ask God to reveal how He wants you to respond. Verse 17 says God wants us to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Read, study, pray and live the words of God.
Hebrews 4:3 warns the message we hear may be of no value if we do not combine it with faith. Combine the word of God with the life God wants you to live by faith and tough times will be managed with the Holy Spirit's direction. Tough times are a part of life, but God's word will last so lean into His truth to deal with whatever you're facing today.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
God is...Healer
Read Psalm 91
Ever face such a tough time that you were in real need of a pick me up? Sure we all have right. Well, what does it for you? Is it time spent with an encouraging friend, trip to the local Friendly's for some comfort dessert or is it time alone to reflect on what's going on? Whatever it is - all of us are faced with tough times, when things don't go as we would prefer. So it's in these times I believe God wants us coming to Him and receiving the assurance that He and He alone is all we need.
The other week while serving in ministry we worshiped God together in song and the song Healer was one of those songs that just gave that peace that surpasses all understanding. It hit my heart and reminded me it's all in God's hands. Ever need that kind of reminder?
If you find yourself recently, maybe even today in one of those places we're talking about here, listen to this song HEALER and see if God's peace can encourage and comfort you.
Ever face such a tough time that you were in real need of a pick me up? Sure we all have right. Well, what does it for you? Is it time spent with an encouraging friend, trip to the local Friendly's for some comfort dessert or is it time alone to reflect on what's going on? Whatever it is - all of us are faced with tough times, when things don't go as we would prefer. So it's in these times I believe God wants us coming to Him and receiving the assurance that He and He alone is all we need.
The other week while serving in ministry we worshiped God together in song and the song Healer was one of those songs that just gave that peace that surpasses all understanding. It hit my heart and reminded me it's all in God's hands. Ever need that kind of reminder?
If you find yourself recently, maybe even today in one of those places we're talking about here, listen to this song HEALER and see if God's peace can encourage and comfort you.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
God is...Higher
Read Isaiah 55
We don't like to admit it, but our way isn't always the best way. Some might say they know the way but when you follow their "short-cut", their directions you wind up lost and off-course for awhile. Some might say they have a better way to finish that home improvement project but you know someone who's tried it their way before and wound up running into more problems than anticipate. And some of us might say we have a better way to handle that relationship, our finances, even our life's purpose, but Isaiah tells us God's ways, His thoughts are higher, better than ours.
So we have this battle within us to fight our way versus God's way. And what gets in my way is my way. Think about that for a moment; we are called as Christians to be Christ followers. But so often we think, feel and act as if it's God who should be the one following.
Let's remember Isaiah's words that as far as the heavens are above the earth so are God's ways higher than our ways.
We don't like to admit it, but our way isn't always the best way. Some might say they know the way but when you follow their "short-cut", their directions you wind up lost and off-course for awhile. Some might say they have a better way to finish that home improvement project but you know someone who's tried it their way before and wound up running into more problems than anticipate. And some of us might say we have a better way to handle that relationship, our finances, even our life's purpose, but Isaiah tells us God's ways, His thoughts are higher, better than ours.
So we have this battle within us to fight our way versus God's way. And what gets in my way is my way. Think about that for a moment; we are called as Christians to be Christ followers. But so often we think, feel and act as if it's God who should be the one following.
Let's remember Isaiah's words that as far as the heavens are above the earth so are God's ways higher than our ways.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
God is...Holy
Read 1 Peter 1:13-14
This idea that God is Holy - how do you initiallly resond to this thought? Is it something easy to believe and accept, difficult or kind of a little bit of both?
Sometimes this thought of holiness is tough to take because when we come to understand God's standard we see that God is perfect in every way. And we realize that's impossible for us. Most of us, when we read this can feel defeated thinking the best we can do progress not perfection. But look at 1 Peter again. There's a strong contrast between verse 13 and 14. Peter's saying our cooperation, that's obedience, should no longer conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance, that is separated and not knowing God. But now that we have come into a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, now live holy lives using His example as our guide and allowing His Spirit to provide the power to live holy lives.
Be holy, because I m holy. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. It's not impossible because God calls us to live holy lives and empowers us to live holy lives. God never asks what He doesn't provide us with the ability to accomplish. He is a good, loving, and holy God.
This idea that God is Holy - how do you initiallly resond to this thought? Is it something easy to believe and accept, difficult or kind of a little bit of both?
Sometimes this thought of holiness is tough to take because when we come to understand God's standard we see that God is perfect in every way. And we realize that's impossible for us. Most of us, when we read this can feel defeated thinking the best we can do progress not perfection. But look at 1 Peter again. There's a strong contrast between verse 13 and 14. Peter's saying our cooperation, that's obedience, should no longer conform to the evil desires we had when we lived in ignorance, that is separated and not knowing God. But now that we have come into a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, now live holy lives using His example as our guide and allowing His Spirit to provide the power to live holy lives.
Be holy, because I m holy. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No. It's not impossible because God calls us to live holy lives and empowers us to live holy lives. God never asks what He doesn't provide us with the ability to accomplish. He is a good, loving, and holy God.
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