How awesome is it that we have a God who pursues us?
Right from the beginning after the first sin God pursued his creation.
Genesis 3:8-9 - Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the Garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
God knew where they were, but he pursued them...he called out to Adam...Where are you? God wasn't distant, He was there with them. He came to them.
Genesis 4:6-7 - The the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
When God saw Cain was angry because his brothers offering was favored, God tried to counsel Cain. Why are you angry? God knew why Cain was angry but was trying to point out to Cain that his anger was a result of his (Cain's) actions...not God's.
God pursued Cain, try to reason with him, tried to show him the error of his way.
And He has continued to pursue and counsel us all through history and continues today.
Prior to me coming back to Him I was haunted by a specific question over and over. "Where is Joe?" I would hear this question continually, in the shower, while driving, at work, etc... I thought I was going crazy...but I now know that it was His pursuit of me. He was pursuing ME? How do I know? As soon as I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior...the questions changed. I was no longer haunted by that question.
He is pursuing all of us all the time. Even in our sin, our troubles, our unbelief...he is pursuing us and will continue to pursue until He comes back.
How is he pursuing you?
Where are you? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
What does it mean to repent?
The definition of repent is:
1. be sorry: to recognize the wrong in something you have done and be sorry about it
2. change ways: to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits
On Wikipedia it's described as "Repentance is a change of thought and action to correct a wrong and gain forgiveness from a person who is wronged. In religious contexts it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against God, and resolving to live according to religious law. It typically includes an admission of guilt, a promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible."
Are we called to repent?
Luke 15:7 - I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent.
Matthew 3:2 - Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
There are so many verses in the bible where we are called to repent or into repentance. How are you doing at repenting of your sin? When you realize your in sin do you repent immediately? Do you repent completely?
What sin in your life have you not yet repented from?
1. be sorry: to recognize the wrong in something you have done and be sorry about it
2. change ways: to feel regret about a sin or past actions and change your ways or habits
On Wikipedia it's described as "Repentance is a change of thought and action to correct a wrong and gain forgiveness from a person who is wronged. In religious contexts it usually refers to confession to God, ceasing sin against God, and resolving to live according to religious law. It typically includes an admission of guilt, a promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong where possible."
Are we called to repent?
Luke 15:7 - I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent.
Matthew 3:2 - Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
There are so many verses in the bible where we are called to repent or into repentance. How are you doing at repenting of your sin? When you realize your in sin do you repent immediately? Do you repent completely?
What sin in your life have you not yet repented from?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Do you feel like God has let you down?
I heard a very interesting question yesterday:
Do you feel like God has let you down in certain areas of your life? Be honest with yourself. Did something immediately pain your heart when you read that question? Have you felt like you deserved more success, less problems, more money, a bigger house, a better job, a better relationship with your spouse, a better sex life? Have you put expectations on your relationship with Jesus?
The follow up question dug even deeper. Do you allow yourself to sin in these areas? To make up on what you feel God hasn't delivered on? Do you take gaining what you were expecting into your own hands? If you were expecting business success, do you feel justified in cheating? Cheating people to get more money, cheating on your taxes? Do you tell white lies so others might think better of you? If you are struggling in your relationship with your wife, if your sex life isn't what you expected; do you feel you can justify divorce, adultery or pornography?
Do you think God defines success the same way we do? In Jeremiah 29:11 when God says "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", do you think He defines the word "prosper" as you do?
Jeremiah 9:23-24 - This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of this wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight"
Genesis 39:2 - The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
Joseph was a slave and yet he prospered. That doesn't sound very prosperous does it? It goes on to say in verse 3 "...and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did." He was a slave!
Are you a slave to your expectations of God and others? If you feel like God has let you down then it's time to drop the expectations you have placed on Him. You cannot love God, you cannot glorify God, you cannot worship God unconditionally when your expectations of Him get in the way.
Do you feel like God has let you down? Maybe the question should be: how have I let God down?
Do you feel like God has let you down in certain areas of your life? Be honest with yourself. Did something immediately pain your heart when you read that question? Have you felt like you deserved more success, less problems, more money, a bigger house, a better job, a better relationship with your spouse, a better sex life? Have you put expectations on your relationship with Jesus?
The follow up question dug even deeper. Do you allow yourself to sin in these areas? To make up on what you feel God hasn't delivered on? Do you take gaining what you were expecting into your own hands? If you were expecting business success, do you feel justified in cheating? Cheating people to get more money, cheating on your taxes? Do you tell white lies so others might think better of you? If you are struggling in your relationship with your wife, if your sex life isn't what you expected; do you feel you can justify divorce, adultery or pornography?
Do you think God defines success the same way we do? In Jeremiah 29:11 when God says "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future", do you think He defines the word "prosper" as you do?
Jeremiah 9:23-24 - This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of this wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight"
Genesis 39:2 - The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
Joseph was a slave and yet he prospered. That doesn't sound very prosperous does it? It goes on to say in verse 3 "...and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did." He was a slave!
Are you a slave to your expectations of God and others? If you feel like God has let you down then it's time to drop the expectations you have placed on Him. You cannot love God, you cannot glorify God, you cannot worship God unconditionally when your expectations of Him get in the way.
Do you feel like God has let you down? Maybe the question should be: how have I let God down?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What Jesus do you worship?
I think that for way too many of us, the image of Jesus is of this radiant perfect good looking man with children sitting in his lap that we don't relate to. I remember when I was young and my grandparents took me to church. I would go into the children's classes and we had the old flannel graph (remember those?) and we would talk about the stories of the bible. I've got to be honest I didn't get Jesus. I just remember I couldn't wait until the end when we got to sing and pick our own songs. My favorite, the one that I always picked...Onward Christian Soldiers. I could relate to that.
So what Jesus do you worship? The Jesus who came to be the perfect man the last Adam the one to show us how it should be done, the Jesus that told us to love our neighbor, to turn the other cheek to love our enemies...the Jesus who was kind and caring. Or is it the Jesus who sharply rebuked the Pharisees and religious leaders and turned the over tables in the temple in anger. Maybe it's the Jesus who is God; who ascended to the throne, who comes back someday with a sword of lightning in his mouth on a mighty steed and a blood dipped robe and defeats his enemies.
He is all of these things and more. We can't pick and choose the parts we like and ignore the rest. Jesus is everything, this world is all about Jesus. The bible is all about Jesus. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the one and only way to the Father, Jesus is the Savior, Jesus is the one to rule them all. It's all about His glory, all things will be made to glorify Jesus. In the end every knee will bow...every knee.
So, what Jesus do you worship?
So what Jesus do you worship? The Jesus who came to be the perfect man the last Adam the one to show us how it should be done, the Jesus that told us to love our neighbor, to turn the other cheek to love our enemies...the Jesus who was kind and caring. Or is it the Jesus who sharply rebuked the Pharisees and religious leaders and turned the over tables in the temple in anger. Maybe it's the Jesus who is God; who ascended to the throne, who comes back someday with a sword of lightning in his mouth on a mighty steed and a blood dipped robe and defeats his enemies.
He is all of these things and more. We can't pick and choose the parts we like and ignore the rest. Jesus is everything, this world is all about Jesus. The bible is all about Jesus. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the one and only way to the Father, Jesus is the Savior, Jesus is the one to rule them all. It's all about His glory, all things will be made to glorify Jesus. In the end every knee will bow...every knee.
So, what Jesus do you worship?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's all about Jesus
It's all about Jesus
It's not about me
He's done the heavy lifting
just so I can be
Jesus is...Love
Jesus is...Mercy
Jesus is...Grace
Jesus is...Sufficient
Jesus is...God
Jesus is...God
He is the only perfect human.
He is the only human to defeat death.
He is the only one we should put our HOPE in.
He is the only one we should put our TRUST in.
He is the only one that can SAVE us.
Glorify Him!
Glorify Him!
John 1:1-5 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
John 1:10-14 - He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.
Without Jesus there is nothing, it is all about Jesus and he is sufficient. But we need to believe and need to strive to be like He was when He came in human form. His life on earth is the only life we should use as a model, He is the only person we should long to be like. He is the only idol we should have.
Is He #1 in your life?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Philippians 3:12-16 - Pressing on Toward the Goal
Philippians 3:12-16 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Emphasis added)
When Paul writes Philippians he is in prison and nearing the end of his life on earth. Given everything that Paul has been through, the sacrifices he has made, the suffering he has endured in following and teaching about Jesus...he is still humble and confesses that he has not already obtained the prize or been made perfect. If there is anybody at a point in their life that might look back and say..."look what I have done, I deserve what Jesus has for me"...it's Paul. But he doesn't and he knows his journey is not over yet.
"but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." - For me this is an amazing statement. First given all that Paul has done that he has to continue to press on, second because he reminds us that Jesus took hold of us...he choose us. We often talk about the day we accepted Jesus into our lives and it is a day for celebration. But what's more amazing is that Jesus choose us.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." - When I read "forgetting what is behind" two things come to mind. First, to forget what is behind requires forgiveness; until we can truly forgive we cannot forget. Second, we can't rest on what we have done in our past. We can't set back and think our past accomplishments are enough or sufficient. We are better off forgetting those and focusing on what is ahead...focusing on Jesus and not on our works.
Our lives and our walk with Jesus is a journey. A journey that is not easy, a journey that is hard, tough and full of suffering. But it's a journey with an amazing prize at the end. A journey worth taking. Let's continue to press on toward the goal together just as Paul continued to press on until the very end.
When Paul writes Philippians he is in prison and nearing the end of his life on earth. Given everything that Paul has been through, the sacrifices he has made, the suffering he has endured in following and teaching about Jesus...he is still humble and confesses that he has not already obtained the prize or been made perfect. If there is anybody at a point in their life that might look back and say..."look what I have done, I deserve what Jesus has for me"...it's Paul. But he doesn't and he knows his journey is not over yet.
"but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." - For me this is an amazing statement. First given all that Paul has done that he has to continue to press on, second because he reminds us that Jesus took hold of us...he choose us. We often talk about the day we accepted Jesus into our lives and it is a day for celebration. But what's more amazing is that Jesus choose us.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." - When I read "forgetting what is behind" two things come to mind. First, to forget what is behind requires forgiveness; until we can truly forgive we cannot forget. Second, we can't rest on what we have done in our past. We can't set back and think our past accomplishments are enough or sufficient. We are better off forgetting those and focusing on what is ahead...focusing on Jesus and not on our works.
Our lives and our walk with Jesus is a journey. A journey that is not easy, a journey that is hard, tough and full of suffering. But it's a journey with an amazing prize at the end. A journey worth taking. Let's continue to press on toward the goal together just as Paul continued to press on until the very end.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving
Psalm 100:4 -Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Showing thanksgiving and praise should be a daily occurrence in the lives of Christians regardless of our circumstances. Whether in dire need, suffering or in abundance we need to keep Jesus first and foremost in our lives.
Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Today let's celebrate with thanksgiving and praise with our friends and family.
Lord Jesus, I pray for all who read these words. I lift them to You and ask for Your continued work in their life. No matter their circumstances I pray they find peace and comfort in Your presence in their lives. I pray for a renewing of hearts, forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships. Lord as I pray that Your will, will be done in our lives and no matter what we will praise and bring thanksgiving to You. In Jesus's name. Amen!
Showing thanksgiving and praise should be a daily occurrence in the lives of Christians regardless of our circumstances. Whether in dire need, suffering or in abundance we need to keep Jesus first and foremost in our lives.
Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Today let's celebrate with thanksgiving and praise with our friends and family.
Lord Jesus, I pray for all who read these words. I lift them to You and ask for Your continued work in their life. No matter their circumstances I pray they find peace and comfort in Your presence in their lives. I pray for a renewing of hearts, forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships. Lord as I pray that Your will, will be done in our lives and no matter what we will praise and bring thanksgiving to You. In Jesus's name. Amen!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
God is with you.
When you look at the circumstances you are in, are you confident that God is with you?
I know people right now that are going through some of worst times of their lives and I know people going through some of the best times of their lives and many in between. Who is God with? Those suffering or those who appear to be receiving blessing? He is with both.
When I look back on my life during the times I have struggled I've many times cried out to God and asked why He wasn't with me. I perceived that in struggle that He wasn't with me. When I look at some of the best times of my life, I was sure that He was with me.
He is with us always and in every circumstance we face; both good and bad. But we don't act like it...do we? When things are bad we become depressed, angry, we withdraw, we go to those old familiar vices for comfort...instead of relying on God who is right there walking with us.
We were never promised a life without troubles:
John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We will have trouble, we will have tough circumstances in this life. If we put our hope, our trust and our confidence in Him, we can find peace during trying times. Finding peace during trouble is the difference between being that shining light on the hill that draws others to you and to Him and being a loud banging gong that pushes others away from you and possibly from Him.
My question for you today: What would somebody in my/your circumstances do if they were absolutely confident that God was with them?
I know people right now that are going through some of worst times of their lives and I know people going through some of the best times of their lives and many in between. Who is God with? Those suffering or those who appear to be receiving blessing? He is with both.
When I look back on my life during the times I have struggled I've many times cried out to God and asked why He wasn't with me. I perceived that in struggle that He wasn't with me. When I look at some of the best times of my life, I was sure that He was with me.
He is with us always and in every circumstance we face; both good and bad. But we don't act like it...do we? When things are bad we become depressed, angry, we withdraw, we go to those old familiar vices for comfort...instead of relying on God who is right there walking with us.
We were never promised a life without troubles:
John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
We will have trouble, we will have tough circumstances in this life. If we put our hope, our trust and our confidence in Him, we can find peace during trying times. Finding peace during trouble is the difference between being that shining light on the hill that draws others to you and to Him and being a loud banging gong that pushes others away from you and possibly from Him.
My question for you today: What would somebody in my/your circumstances do if they were absolutely confident that God was with them?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ephesians 5:25 - Jesus gave us a model of how to treat our wives.
I think that Jesus gave us a model of what our role should be in our marriage and with our family.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up to her (emphasis added)
What does that mean? What did Jesus do for us…his church? How did he love his church?
- He loved – unconditionally, no matter what we have done
- He led – He was a great leader
- He taught – He was a great teacher…he invented parables
- He solved problems - He was a master problem solver
- He showed us the path to God – our spiritual leader
- He took responsibility for our sin; not the blame but he shouldered the responsibility
- He forgave us
- And finally He died for us so that we may live
This is the model that Jesus gave us. This is what we are to be for our wife and family; what Jesus was to His church.
In my marriage:
- I have not always loved the way I should love
- I have not led the way I should lead
- I have not taught the way I should teach
- I have not solved problems the right way
- I have not always been the spiritual leader
- I have not always took the responsibility that I should have
My marriage is far from perfect; I don’t know anyone who has that perfect marriage. But we have a model to follow, a blueprint to study and we can keep working on it.
Men what are your priorities?
I think they should be:
- Jesus – your relationship with God
- Spouse – your marriage
- Children
- Job – providing for the family
- Ministry – serving, feeding, taking care of His people
- Everything else
Jesus has to be #1 – If we can’t get this one right, everything else suffers…
Our wives cannot be #1 – and I know for some of us they are; going to our wife for affirmation, confirmation makes them god in our life. Affirmation and confirmation need to come from God. If we give our spouse this power, at some point we will be crushed.
Our kids cannot come before God or our wife – and for some of us they are. Do you put the kid’s schedules ahead of yours…do you skip your study and prayer time with God, do you skip date nights with the wife because of the kids?
Our careers cannot come before God, our wives or our kids – and for some of us it does.
Becoming the man Jesus called us to be in our marriages and in our families mean these are the priorities…And if we follow the model that Jesus gives us...we should be right in line with these priorities.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Stuck in the Middle
Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.
Another translation says: "...the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."
My question today is: are you one of these men? Are you grabbing onto and seizing the kingdom of heaven that Jesus who died for us on the cross gave us a right to? Are you crucifying your sin to Jesus daily so you can walk in full glory with your Lord? Have you walked away from the fear of man and boldly into the fear of the Lord? Are you living boldy for Christ being an example worthy of the violent death Jesus suffered on the cross?
Or are you still in that same place you have always been? Are you still making excuses for your sin and not taking responsibility? Do you warm the chair at church or a Warrior at Heart meeting and then walk back into your worldly life and live in fear of being ridiculed, fear of what others might think if you boldly go where your called to go?
I'm guessing most of you are exactly where I am...caught in the middle.
One of my favorite Casting Crowns songs is called "Caught in the Middle". In it Mark Hall the writer defines where we are exactly. The line that haunts me is this one "Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control"
The lyrics to Caught in the Middle:
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle
Another translation says: "...the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."
My question today is: are you one of these men? Are you grabbing onto and seizing the kingdom of heaven that Jesus who died for us on the cross gave us a right to? Are you crucifying your sin to Jesus daily so you can walk in full glory with your Lord? Have you walked away from the fear of man and boldly into the fear of the Lord? Are you living boldy for Christ being an example worthy of the violent death Jesus suffered on the cross?
Or are you still in that same place you have always been? Are you still making excuses for your sin and not taking responsibility? Do you warm the chair at church or a Warrior at Heart meeting and then walk back into your worldly life and live in fear of being ridiculed, fear of what others might think if you boldly go where your called to go?
I'm guessing most of you are exactly where I am...caught in the middle.
One of my favorite Casting Crowns songs is called "Caught in the Middle". In it Mark Hall the writer defines where we are exactly. The line that haunts me is this one "Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control"
The lyrics to Caught in the Middle:
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control
Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle
Friday, November 6, 2009
Mark 8:34-38
Mark 8:34-38 - Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
What a passage. There is so much meaning that I know that I don't comprehend it all.
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
He is calling us to crucify our earthly flesh, our earthly desires. Crucify as in to put to death. Death meaning as they exist no more, that they no longer live in us. This would seem to be a single action and when we crucify our flesh; that from that point forward we would no longer have our sinful nature. For me then the question is; have I not fully crucified my earthly flesh? Because I still have my sinful nature. Or is this an action that l must do each and every day? Am I to pick up the cross each and every day and crucify my earthly flesh over and over and over again? Either I am not good at the crucify bit or we are to continually work on it for our entire life.
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
We've all heard and read the first question. I want to focus on the second. What can a man give in exchange for his soul? This is Jesus blowing a huge hole in the whole "works" to be saved doctrine. It doesn't matter how good we think we are, how much time and effort or money we put into the Church, helping the poor, etc... These things do not save our soul. Only the acceptance of the amazing gift of Jesus saves our soul. The "works" we do, the money we give the time and effort...these are the things we do because Jesus saved us. These are the things we do to help promote the gospel so that others can know Jesus as well.
"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Do you water down the gospel, the Word of God because you find it offensive? Are you letting the influence of this world change the meaning of the word of God? Do you think that the adulterous and sinful generation that Jesus talks about is long past? Just look around at the world we live in. If we are watering down the truth, by denying sin is sin, by saying it's ok to do one thing or the other when the Bible is clear...Jesus is and will be ashamed of you when he comes again.
There is only one thing, one person who matters. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Put Him first and foremost in your life, follow his commands; so on that day you will hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
What a passage. There is so much meaning that I know that I don't comprehend it all.
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
He is calling us to crucify our earthly flesh, our earthly desires. Crucify as in to put to death. Death meaning as they exist no more, that they no longer live in us. This would seem to be a single action and when we crucify our flesh; that from that point forward we would no longer have our sinful nature. For me then the question is; have I not fully crucified my earthly flesh? Because I still have my sinful nature. Or is this an action that l must do each and every day? Am I to pick up the cross each and every day and crucify my earthly flesh over and over and over again? Either I am not good at the crucify bit or we are to continually work on it for our entire life.
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
We've all heard and read the first question. I want to focus on the second. What can a man give in exchange for his soul? This is Jesus blowing a huge hole in the whole "works" to be saved doctrine. It doesn't matter how good we think we are, how much time and effort or money we put into the Church, helping the poor, etc... These things do not save our soul. Only the acceptance of the amazing gift of Jesus saves our soul. The "works" we do, the money we give the time and effort...these are the things we do because Jesus saved us. These are the things we do to help promote the gospel so that others can know Jesus as well.
"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Do you water down the gospel, the Word of God because you find it offensive? Are you letting the influence of this world change the meaning of the word of God? Do you think that the adulterous and sinful generation that Jesus talks about is long past? Just look around at the world we live in. If we are watering down the truth, by denying sin is sin, by saying it's ok to do one thing or the other when the Bible is clear...Jesus is and will be ashamed of you when he comes again.
There is only one thing, one person who matters. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Put Him first and foremost in your life, follow his commands; so on that day you will hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Satan's Strongholds
What strong holds are you giving Satan in your life?
- Unforgiven sin?
- Unrepentant sin?
- Withheld forgiveness of a sin/offense committed against you
- Resentment?
- Bitterness?
- Anger towards someone or something?
- Pride?
- Idolatry? Are you putting money, sex, food, hunting, cars, career ahead of God in your life?
- Fear?
All of these things can and will be used against you by Satan. These strongholds allow Satan to bring condemnation against you.
Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Condemnation comes from Satan not from Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:4 - The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Through Jesus we can demolish the strongholds that Satan has in our lives. To do it we must give these up to Jesus. We must ask for forgiveness, we must repent of our sin, we must offer forgiveness, we must give up bitterness, resentment, hate and anger. We have to put Jesus first in our lives and worship Him only.
Lord I pray that you would enter our hearts, that you would reveal truth. That you would search our hearts and that you would point out the strongholds we give Satan and show us how to release those through and to You. In the mighty and glorious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Real Husbands? - 1 Peter 3:7
Are you the husband your being called to be?
1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Are you being considerate to your wife? All the time? Do you even know what it means to be considerate? The definition I found for considerate is having or showing regard for others and their feelings; being thoughtful. Coming home from work plopping on the chair, turning on the game and expecting dinner to be served to you is not being considerate.
Do you treat your wife with respect? All the time? What do you say about your wife when your with the guys? How do you talk about women in general? Do you honor your wife at all times? Do you know what it means to respect and honor her? Do you look lustfully at other women? Have you looked at pornography lately? Have you abused your wife either physically or mentally?
Does she know or believe that you really love her?
Do you know who's daughter she is? She is God's daughter. Do you think that God likes the way you are treating His daughter? God knows all and sees all...he knows how you treat his daughter. He knows your heart and your intentions.
Did you notice the last few words of the verse? "...so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
Do you think if you are mistreating your wife that God is listening to your prayers? Do you think that if you are not honoring, respecting and being considerate to your wife that God will answer your prayers?
I wonder...
1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Are you being considerate to your wife? All the time? Do you even know what it means to be considerate? The definition I found for considerate is having or showing regard for others and their feelings; being thoughtful. Coming home from work plopping on the chair, turning on the game and expecting dinner to be served to you is not being considerate.
Do you treat your wife with respect? All the time? What do you say about your wife when your with the guys? How do you talk about women in general? Do you honor your wife at all times? Do you know what it means to respect and honor her? Do you look lustfully at other women? Have you looked at pornography lately? Have you abused your wife either physically or mentally?
Does she know or believe that you really love her?
Do you know who's daughter she is? She is God's daughter. Do you think that God likes the way you are treating His daughter? God knows all and sees all...he knows how you treat his daughter. He knows your heart and your intentions.
Did you notice the last few words of the verse? "...so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
Do you think if you are mistreating your wife that God is listening to your prayers? Do you think that if you are not honoring, respecting and being considerate to your wife that God will answer your prayers?
I wonder...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Psalms 37:4
Psalms 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
I really like this Psalm. To know that our Lord loves us such that He would be concerned about the desires of our heart. Howard Thurman said “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
What makes you come alive? Do you really know? Or do you just have an idea but your not real sure? The reason I'm pushing here is that us humans are not very good predictors of what will make us happy, what will make us come alive. To a certain extent we need to experience things in life to find out if they make us come alive or not. We often fall in love with the "idea" of something only later to find we really didn't like that something.
I'm the kind of person who would get so caught up in trying to figure out what makes me come alive, what my hearts desires are; that I would forget about the first part of the verse.
What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord? When I look at these words I see two possible interpretations; that I find delight in the Lord, or that I make myself a delight to the Lord. What does it mean to you?
I looked up the word delight and one of the definitions is "something that gives great pleasure". Does being in the Lord give you great pleasure? If the Lord is looking at your life are you bringing Him great pleasure? I like the idea of this being a two way street. I should both delight in the Lord and what he is doing in my life and want to be a delight to the Lord by how I live my life.
I think that if we focus on "delight yourself in the Lord", the Lord will reveal our true hearts desires in time.
What do you think?
I really like this Psalm. To know that our Lord loves us such that He would be concerned about the desires of our heart. Howard Thurman said “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
What makes you come alive? Do you really know? Or do you just have an idea but your not real sure? The reason I'm pushing here is that us humans are not very good predictors of what will make us happy, what will make us come alive. To a certain extent we need to experience things in life to find out if they make us come alive or not. We often fall in love with the "idea" of something only later to find we really didn't like that something.
I'm the kind of person who would get so caught up in trying to figure out what makes me come alive, what my hearts desires are; that I would forget about the first part of the verse.
What does it mean to delight yourself in the Lord? When I look at these words I see two possible interpretations; that I find delight in the Lord, or that I make myself a delight to the Lord. What does it mean to you?
I looked up the word delight and one of the definitions is "something that gives great pleasure". Does being in the Lord give you great pleasure? If the Lord is looking at your life are you bringing Him great pleasure? I like the idea of this being a two way street. I should both delight in the Lord and what he is doing in my life and want to be a delight to the Lord by how I live my life.
I think that if we focus on "delight yourself in the Lord", the Lord will reveal our true hearts desires in time.
What do you think?
Monday, November 2, 2009
He has a plan. - Jeremiah 29:11-14
Jeremiah 29:11-14 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity."
The LORD has a plan for each and everyone of our lives. The Lord is declaring through Jeremiah that He already knows His plans.
Things to think about:
The LORD has a plan for each and everyone of our lives. The Lord is declaring through Jeremiah that He already knows His plans.
Things to think about:
- Plans to prosper you and not harm you. - Prosper? I wonder what he meant here? One definition I found was simply "to make happy". I think many of us translate "prosper" to our material money. I don't think that is what he had in mind.
- Plans to give you hope and a future. - Is the hope he is talking about Jesus and the future everlasting life?
- Then you will call on me... - Given our sin how can we call on the Father? Only through Jesus.
- You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - What does that look like? How many times in your life have you ever done anything with all your heart?
When I look at times when I've done something with all my heart, there have been other areas in my life that suffered. When the company I work for was a start up, I put my heart into it. I worked whatever hours were needed to get done what needed done. My family suffered for it. When I have put my heart completely into Warrior at Heart, my family and my job have suffered for it. When I put my heart completely into my family...then everything else suffers.
Given these examples in my life and the fact that I want to find a balance in all things...I wonder can I give my heart fully to anyone thing? Maybe the answer to finding balance is really giving my heart fully to the One; the One who can help me with all the rest.
Lord I pray that we can learn to give it all to You so that Your plans in our lives can be fulfilled.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Can we comprehend the love of Jesus?
There are a lot of verses in the Bible about love and Jesus and some of my favorites are in 1 John.
1 John 3:16 - 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.
1 John 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:7-12 - Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us us, we also ought to Love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.
So do we really know what love is? Do we know how to give true unconditional love?
In our culture the word love has become so over used and so temporary. We constantly hear things like: I love my new car, I love Mexican food, I love this, I love that. But that love is not the LOVE that Jesus showed for us when He died on the cross. That love is not the LOVE that God showed when he sent Jesus to live with us.
Do we really know what love is? What on this earth right now at this time in our culture can even come close to comparing? Love of your spouse? It should, but we live in a culture where over 50% experience divorce. That couldn't have been love like Jesus LOVED. Love of a child? It should, but how do we then explain the millions of orphans in the world?
I know what love feels like to me and I know who I love...but can I even dare compare that to the LOVE of Jesus? The LOVE of Father God who sent Jesus to wash us clean so that we can come home one day?
Can we comprehend the love of Jesus?
1 John 3:16 - 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.
1 John 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:7-12 - Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us us, we also ought to Love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.
So do we really know what love is? Do we know how to give true unconditional love?
In our culture the word love has become so over used and so temporary. We constantly hear things like: I love my new car, I love Mexican food, I love this, I love that. But that love is not the LOVE that Jesus showed for us when He died on the cross. That love is not the LOVE that God showed when he sent Jesus to live with us.
Do we really know what love is? What on this earth right now at this time in our culture can even come close to comparing? Love of your spouse? It should, but we live in a culture where over 50% experience divorce. That couldn't have been love like Jesus LOVED. Love of a child? It should, but how do we then explain the millions of orphans in the world?
I know what love feels like to me and I know who I love...but can I even dare compare that to the LOVE of Jesus? The LOVE of Father God who sent Jesus to wash us clean so that we can come home one day?
Can we comprehend the love of Jesus?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Humility and Leadership
In my previous entry about True Humility I left you with this verse:
1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
How does this connect with Leadership? First of all let me say that I believe that we all have a certain level of leadership ability inherited from our creator.
1 Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God is the greatest leader of all time and we were created in his image. So I believe we all have leadership ability. Leadership ability that is hindered to a certain degree in each of us by our fear of man. Those with what appears to be natural leadership abilities have a less degree of this fear. If we start to replace the fear of man with the fear of the Lord our leadership abilities grow.
Now back to 1 Peter 5:6 and the first part "humble yourselves, therefore under God's mighty hand"; Peter is telling us to practice true humility as I described in my previous entry. Then to me the exciting part: "that he may lift you up in due time." I feel that he is always working on us, always preparing us...but we need to do our part. Our part is walking humbly with him and when the time is right that God is going to lift us up and use us in a mighty way.
"In due time" - Notice what I said above? I said "when the time is right". I think we sometimes get a glimpse of God's calling in our life, a glimpse that God gives us to begin a time of preparation in our lives. But as leaders we tend to get that glimpse and take off ahead of God and often miss a big part of that preparation. It's important for us to realize the difference between God's calling on our life and God's timing in our life. You may know God's calling on your life right now. If so, are you walking in true humility with Him? Or are you letting your pride in that calling take you off ahead of God's timing?
1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
How does this connect with Leadership? First of all let me say that I believe that we all have a certain level of leadership ability inherited from our creator.
1 Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
God is the greatest leader of all time and we were created in his image. So I believe we all have leadership ability. Leadership ability that is hindered to a certain degree in each of us by our fear of man. Those with what appears to be natural leadership abilities have a less degree of this fear. If we start to replace the fear of man with the fear of the Lord our leadership abilities grow.
Now back to 1 Peter 5:6 and the first part "humble yourselves, therefore under God's mighty hand"; Peter is telling us to practice true humility as I described in my previous entry. Then to me the exciting part: "that he may lift you up in due time." I feel that he is always working on us, always preparing us...but we need to do our part. Our part is walking humbly with him and when the time is right that God is going to lift us up and use us in a mighty way.
"In due time" - Notice what I said above? I said "when the time is right". I think we sometimes get a glimpse of God's calling in our life, a glimpse that God gives us to begin a time of preparation in our lives. But as leaders we tend to get that glimpse and take off ahead of God and often miss a big part of that preparation. It's important for us to realize the difference between God's calling on our life and God's timing in our life. You may know God's calling on your life right now. If so, are you walking in true humility with Him? Or are you letting your pride in that calling take you off ahead of God's timing?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
True Humility
Here lately I've really be convicted around the idea of Humility. To me the basic definition of humility is the opposite of pride. I've always considered myself a very humble person, in fact I've taken pride in my humbleness. To me this seems counter productive. You see there is a "true" humility and a "false" humility. Me considering myself a very humble person comes from a "false" humility. I purposely made less of my talents, gifts and accomplishments to receive praise, affirmation and admiration of others. Then when I was given what I was so desperately seeking...I acted humble, not worthy...what a poser.
So where does "true" humility come from? True humility comes from the fear of the Lord and results in knowing your place in His story and being content with it.
Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4 - Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.
"True" humility is rewarded by the Lord, "false" humility which comes from pride (in my case a passive aggressive pride) is sin.
So how are you doing with humility? Take this little quiz...or better yet let those around you answer these questions on your behalf:
1. Are you teachable?
2. How do you respond to correction or rebuke?
3. Do you repent quickly and completely?
4. Are you considerate of other people?
5. Do you serve and receive service well?
6. Are you consistently aware of Grace in your life?
7. Do you disagree…agreeably?
8. How much attention and affirmation do you require?
Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Jesus is the ultimate example of "true" humility. For God to come to the earth in human form, to live a poor carpenters life to serve those He came to die for, to save. Jesus is Humility.
For a preview of my next posting regarding Humility and Leadership consider this verse:
1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
So where does "true" humility come from? True humility comes from the fear of the Lord and results in knowing your place in His story and being content with it.
Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4 - Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.
"True" humility is rewarded by the Lord, "false" humility which comes from pride (in my case a passive aggressive pride) is sin.
So how are you doing with humility? Take this little quiz...or better yet let those around you answer these questions on your behalf:
1. Are you teachable?
2. How do you respond to correction or rebuke?
3. Do you repent quickly and completely?
4. Are you considerate of other people?
5. Do you serve and receive service well?
6. Are you consistently aware of Grace in your life?
7. Do you disagree…agreeably?
8. How much attention and affirmation do you require?
Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Jesus is the ultimate example of "true" humility. For God to come to the earth in human form, to live a poor carpenters life to serve those He came to die for, to save. Jesus is Humility.
For a preview of my next posting regarding Humility and Leadership consider this verse:
1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Friendship - Redefined?
I recently heard a sermon by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church where he redefined what a true friend really is. His definition:
"A friend is a trust worthy peer with whom we mutually choose to lovingly live with, seeking unique access and service for God's glory and your mutual good."
This last weekend at the Warrior at Heart retreat, I noticed a pattern that prompted me to share this definition. What I noticed is that many of us have been hurt buy those we considered to be friends. Further, once we are hurt by someone we consider to be a friend we then define and equate all further friendships based on that original hurt. We fear that each subsequent relationship will end the same way and guard ourselves. We withdraw and with each failed relationship we get worse at having them.
If you think about the definition above and look at those you have considered friends...how many of those have you had in your life? I'm guessing very few if any; and if you had one you probably still do. If you have had someone in your life that fits the above definition do you really think of that person as just a "friend"? The word friend is so over used in our culture these days.
We need these types' of friends in our lives. We need those who no matter what will have our back. We need those we can trust and those who know how to lovingly correct us when we are wrong. We need those who love us unconditionally despite our faults and who always intend good for our lives. Those who we fully feel and treat the same way. Some scriptures for thought:
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses
Proverbs 27:9 - Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 - If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
I pray that we all are blessed with a couple of these true friends in our lives.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Priorities
I’ve been thinking about life priorities lately and thought I would share at least what I think the top 5 priorities should be in all of our lives:
1. God
2. Spouse
3. Children
4. Job
5. Ministry
Starting at the top, priority #1 is God and our walk with God. God should be first in our lives always. He is the creator of all things and His commandments are clear. We are to love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul. No other person, place or thing is to come before God. If you place something before God, that is considered an idol and you are an in idolatry. He wants to be first in your life and He wants to walk with you daily. Not just when you think you need Him; but daily 24/7.
Priority #2 is your spouse. Your spouse completes you and you complete them. It is written in the Bible that you leave your parents and you become one flesh; meaning that together you are complete in God. If you are at odds with your spouse or you are not putting your spouse right after God; then you’re probably at odds with what God wants in your life. Marriage is a beautiful blessing given by our Creator but it requires each partner to be focused on serving the other as we would serve God.
Priority #3 is your children. If you have children your job is to raise them right in the Lord. How do you raise them right? Start with getting things right in the first two priorities. If you have a good relationship with God and a good relationship with your spouse raising your children will be much easier. In 1 Timothy 3:4 Paul says “He must mange his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.” This verse is Paul describing an overseer in the church; but we are all called to be part of the church body and be examples to those around us.
Priority #4 is your job. Unfortunately we live in times where we need to make money to provide for our families. If we are not providing for our families then things will not be good with our spouse or our children and to be honest God. We are to be God honoring is all that we do; even if we do not like what we do. God put you into a job and it’s your job to do that job with gladness of heart as unto God; until He puts you into another job somewhere else.
Priority #5 is ministry. This is where we volunteer and help God’s people. Don’t confuse this with #1 above. Priority #1 is about your personal walk with God; you reading the Word, journaling, praying and listening to God. Ministry is serving others. But this cannot come at the expense of your spouse, children or job. We are to be good stewards over everything the Lord gives us and I don’t want to stand in front of Him at the end trying to balance ministry with a failed marriage and family.
If you are keeping these priorities you probably won’t have much time left over. But if we keep these five priorities God will bless us with much more.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
I Need a Savior
When I woke up the other day the first words through my mind that made sense were "I need a Savior". This isn't the first time I've woke to these words. I know they are from a song, but I can't really remember the rest of the song...but these words have stuck with me.
But it's so true. I do need a Savior. Why? Because without a Savior I am lost, I'm just a man and I make mistakes, I need a Savior if I'm going to get out of this physical life the right way. So what does having a Savior give me? Eternal life, relationship with the Father, forgiveness of my sins, a part in the larger story, love, mercy, grace, kindness, direction and on and on.
As I look at that list I realize that I don't just need a Savior, I want a Savior. I want those things in my life. You see we all need a Savior. The problem is that we all don't want a Savior.
Does God want us to follow Him or does he need us to follow Him? He wants us to follow Him. He is the God of the universe, He doesn't need anything. But He wants us because He loves us.
So the question isn't do you need a Savior? We know the answer to that...The question is do you want a Savior? Because the Savior wants YOU!
But it's so true. I do need a Savior. Why? Because without a Savior I am lost, I'm just a man and I make mistakes, I need a Savior if I'm going to get out of this physical life the right way. So what does having a Savior give me? Eternal life, relationship with the Father, forgiveness of my sins, a part in the larger story, love, mercy, grace, kindness, direction and on and on.
As I look at that list I realize that I don't just need a Savior, I want a Savior. I want those things in my life. You see we all need a Savior. The problem is that we all don't want a Savior.
Does God want us to follow Him or does he need us to follow Him? He wants us to follow Him. He is the God of the universe, He doesn't need anything. But He wants us because He loves us.
So the question isn't do you need a Savior? We know the answer to that...The question is do you want a Savior? Because the Savior wants YOU!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Rough Couple Weeks
It's been a rough couple weeks for me spiritually. So busy and so tired that I haven't carved out my normal time for God through prayer or reading the Word. I can really tell the difference as my attitude the last few days has gone down hill.
I like to look for analogies in different things and noticed one in my life the last couple weekends. Each weekend (mainly on Saturday) I'd get up have breakfast with the family and then we would be off on our Saturday errands (shopping mostly). Part way through the day I would become very thirsty (realizing I haven't had any water all day), of course it would be while driving or in a store where there is no good source to quench the thirst. It would be all I could think about, dominating me and my thoughts...then we would get home, unload the groceries or whatever and before I knew it I hadn't thought about my thirst and we are pulling away from the house and I'm still thirsty. I didn't think once about it when it was convenient to get a nice cool drink of water.
I think for many of us this is how our relationship with God goes. When things are going on and we start to feel stressed about the problems in our lives we start to think about Him and ask Him for help. He is all we can think about for a bit; then we get distracted and we don't think about Him for a while...or until we realize we are thirsty for Him again.
In both of these cases the answer seems so simple. If we drink here and there through out our day we don't become thirsty. If we give moments to God here and there through out our day then we remain in Him and don't have to go searching when times aren't good.
Where my analogy falls apart...while a glass of water might not always be available; God is always available. His love for us is so great that He is always there. What happens when we don't spend these little moments with Him is that WE drift and become less connected to Him. But by His mighty grace and the precious gift of Jesus no matter how much we drift; he always will take his children back...we just need to start giving Him those moments again.
I like to look for analogies in different things and noticed one in my life the last couple weekends. Each weekend (mainly on Saturday) I'd get up have breakfast with the family and then we would be off on our Saturday errands (shopping mostly). Part way through the day I would become very thirsty (realizing I haven't had any water all day), of course it would be while driving or in a store where there is no good source to quench the thirst. It would be all I could think about, dominating me and my thoughts...then we would get home, unload the groceries or whatever and before I knew it I hadn't thought about my thirst and we are pulling away from the house and I'm still thirsty. I didn't think once about it when it was convenient to get a nice cool drink of water.
I think for many of us this is how our relationship with God goes. When things are going on and we start to feel stressed about the problems in our lives we start to think about Him and ask Him for help. He is all we can think about for a bit; then we get distracted and we don't think about Him for a while...or until we realize we are thirsty for Him again.
In both of these cases the answer seems so simple. If we drink here and there through out our day we don't become thirsty. If we give moments to God here and there through out our day then we remain in Him and don't have to go searching when times aren't good.
Where my analogy falls apart...while a glass of water might not always be available; God is always available. His love for us is so great that He is always there. What happens when we don't spend these little moments with Him is that WE drift and become less connected to Him. But by His mighty grace and the precious gift of Jesus no matter how much we drift; he always will take his children back...we just need to start giving Him those moments again.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Warrior at Heart Retreat - August 2009
We just returned from our August Retreat this last weekend. As with any retreat or conference type event when you get back you start looking at what went well, what didn't go so well, what can we make better, etc... I have to be honest I was actually beating my self up about how things went for me over the weekend.
But a few days into this week and I am now seeing the fruit that the weekend has produced. I've received awsome emails, saw multiple men who attended the retreat and were affected mightily, I've seen mens hearts changed.
I think we sometimes forget that God is in control. While something we do or are involved with may not seem like it was very good in our eyes, God is looking at it from a whole different perspective. And if we are listening to Him, he will show us just how affective He has made it.
You see for me...I saw areas where I can improve in how I handle things at our Warrior at Heart Retreats. I started beating myself up, but God said no, "It is what it is because it's exactly what I needed it to be at this time and in this place."
We need to remember that God can work anything and everything to His benefit and if anything was any different the fruit of what happened would be different. God is in control and He is good.
But a few days into this week and I am now seeing the fruit that the weekend has produced. I've received awsome emails, saw multiple men who attended the retreat and were affected mightily, I've seen mens hearts changed.
I think we sometimes forget that God is in control. While something we do or are involved with may not seem like it was very good in our eyes, God is looking at it from a whole different perspective. And if we are listening to Him, he will show us just how affective He has made it.
You see for me...I saw areas where I can improve in how I handle things at our Warrior at Heart Retreats. I started beating myself up, but God said no, "It is what it is because it's exactly what I needed it to be at this time and in this place."
We need to remember that God can work anything and everything to His benefit and if anything was any different the fruit of what happened would be different. God is in control and He is good.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Are you guarding your heart?
One of my favorite verses and one I have committed to memory is Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." A wellspring is a plentiful source or supply. The author of Proverbs is telling us that our heart is the plentiful source and supply of life...and above all else we do, to guard it.
The condition of our heart is so important to our lives. Our heart is what we live from it is the source of our happiness, our joy, love, peace and our anger, hate, self doubt and depression. As our heart goes...our life goes.
This is why it's so important to guard and care for our hearts. How do we do this?
I think for each of us it is a bit different. For me I do things like:
The condition of our heart is so important to our lives. Our heart is what we live from it is the source of our happiness, our joy, love, peace and our anger, hate, self doubt and depression. As our heart goes...our life goes.
This is why it's so important to guard and care for our hearts. How do we do this?
I think for each of us it is a bit different. For me I do things like:
- Stay grounded in the Word of God. In a world filled with lots of junk it's nice to be reminded daily of the awesome love, mercy and grace afforded to us by our Father and our savior Jesus.
- Guard my Eyes - What we see can have a direct affect on our heart. As a former porn addict I have to be hyper-sensitive to what I watch and see. It's even hard just watching your normal TV shows anymore. In Job 31:1 Job makes a covenant with his eyes to not look lustfully at a girl. If during his time he had problems with this...well given today's standards we are in trouble.
- Guard my Ears - I've got to really monitor what I hear; certain music, talk shows, etc... cause my heart to turn the wrong way. I start to fill anger and hate. I have to turn to K-Love or listening to my iPod to things that keep me focused on the things beyond this world.
- Guard my Mouth - The tongue is a double edged sword...it can build people up or tear them down. When we say something and mean it in our heart it can really hurt and can be very difficult to recover from. For me when I slip and somebody is hurt, it affects my heart greatly because I being most own worst critic can cause damage to my own heart.
- Capture Thoughts - Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. Any thought that is not obedient to Christ needs to be captured and not turned into action. I don't know about the rest of you...but this is hard for me because I have a very active imagination.
- Forgive - If I quickly forgive someone who wrongs me then I do not dwell on the wrong done and I don't have any cause to worry about retribution. Forgiveness is something that we don't nearly have enough of in our world...this really seems to be related to a lack of love of our fellow man.
These are the big things that came to mind for me. I'm sure you have others...please share.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Hello
Welcome to my new blog. I've got so many thoughts but can't seem to figure out how to start with this first posting. I'm part of a great ministry called Warrior at Heart Ministry (www.waheart.com) based in Grand Junction, CO. Being involved in this ministry has changed my life more profoundly then any other event or series of events.
I hope with this blog that I am able to share things that have happened, lessons that I've learned and thoughtful messages that will make sense and be thought provoking.
Thanks for checking it out.
I hope with this blog that I am able to share things that have happened, lessons that I've learned and thoughtful messages that will make sense and be thought provoking.
Thanks for checking it out.
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