The Importance of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is so important. We all need to learn to forgive. Not just because we are called to spirituality, but because the effects of unforgiveness effect our physical and mental health. Unforgiveness will also create problems with those around us. 

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15 ESV)

It's obvious how unforgiveness affects our walk with our Heavenly Father. But other scripture point to other issues:

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; (Hebrews 12:14, 15 ESV)

Where does bitterness come from? It comes from unforgiveness, it comes from holding on to the offenses others have perpetrated against you or others. Unforgiveness feeds anger and anger becomes bitterness. Are you bitter toward any one? You need to forgive. 

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/forgiveness/MH00131

What are the benefits of forgiving someone?

Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for compassion, kindness and peace. Forgiveness can lead to:

-- Healthier relationships

-- Greater spiritual and psychological well-being

-- Less anxiety, stress and hostility

-- Lower blood pressure

-- Fewer symptoms of depression

-- Lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse

Less anxiety, lower blood pressure...emotional and physical problems made better through forgiveness.

Who do you need to forgive today?

Community

Community is so important. It's been an important part of my life the last couple of years. The last few months has strained my connection to community and I can feel and see the consequences in my life. The last few months I have found myself isolating more and more. I have gone to church less frequently, my small group has taken a break, I have communicated with close friends less and less. Through it all I find my connection to The Lord less constant and that I have moments of clarity and then moments of confusion.

I share this not to point out what is happening in my life, but to highlight the importance of community in our life. Our community provides more than we know. It gives us a level of support and encouragement. It puts us around other like minded people. It provides for us a place where we learn to apply what we learn from Jesus. We learn how to truly love, forgive, show grace and give mercy. 

We are called to community. We are wired for community. Jesus uses community for his sanctifying work in our lives. It's through community that we grow closer to Him. 

I feel that God brought me to this dry place in community to remind me how important it is. To bring my focus back to something that has been so important to me. Something I'm called to share with others. 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24, 25 ESV)

Habits

Have you ever noticed how habit forming we humans are? Just today for example, I put my cell phone and keys in the opposite pockets that I normally do...it drove me crazy...I felt out of sorts, just not right. As soon as I realized it, I switched them and felt better.

I wonder what others habits I have that are so automatic...that I would only notice them when I just happen to not follow the habit? There are probably many. Given habits can be either good or bad, it really got me thinking. 

What other habits do I have? What habits do I have that hinder or get in the way with my relationship with God? What habits do I have that help or enhance my relationship with God?

I know regardless of what habits I have, both good or bad that I am loved by God, that I am His. Nothing will change that. But, because of His love for me...I want to do better, I want to stop the bad and increase the good...not because it changes His love for me...but because I want to honor Him in all I do...

Temenos at Home

Our goal for our Warrior at Heart Ministry men's camp is to create what we call a "temenos" environment. Temenos is a greek word and we define it as a safe place, a sanctuary. It's a place where warriors can take off their armor without fear of retribution or attack. In our culture it's a place were we can let our walls down, where we can be open and transparent without fear of backlash. A place that could be described with words like open, non-judgmental, transparent, honest, caring, grace and mercy.

What has really been on my mind lately is how do we bring temenos to the rest of our lives? More specifically how do we bring temenos to our homes?

What would a "Temenos Home" look or feel like? It would be a place where your wife can share anything. Where children aren't afraid of talking to mom and dad about anything. Where love, grace and mercy reign. A home that can be described with the same words used above.

How do we create that at home? I think it starts by living it ourselves. It starts by us changing how we react, change how we communicate with our family. It won't be easy. Odds are it's not going to feel safe for you, let alone the rest of the family. But the longer you can stay in the temenos zone, the more those around you are going to want to hang out there with you.

Worshiping in Suffering

The other day I was in a worship service and what should have been an awesome time with God turned into a miserable time of me complaining to God. We were packed in this room, our chairs were super close and my legs and hips were just killing me. Instead of enjoying my time with the Lord, I couldn't wait for it to be over. When it was over, I was feeling empty, feeling like I really missed out on something great.

The next day was another time of worship and I had situated myself to be more comfortable. I was really enjoying the moment and I heard God say "so you can worship me now that your comfortable, but you couldn't worship me when you were suffering?" ... OUCH. He was so right. In my minor suffering I was so consumed with me and what I was feeling, what I was going through that I didn't worship God.

Shortly after that 2 Corinthians 23-27 was read:

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked

Now I don't mean to take Paul's words out of context or away from the point he was trying to make in the text. But what I saw in my head as I listened to this list of things that Paul suffered...was a picture of Paul praising and thanking God constantly through it all. Giving God glory no matter his circumstance.

I am so thankful for this lesson that the Lord so gracious shared with me. I'm thankful that He pointed out to me how no matter the circumstance I need to focus on Him. Brothers, we will face many trials, we will have to deal with suffering...some of us are going through a season of it now. I encourage you to be steadfast in the Lord, focus on Him and worship continually through it all. Don't waste your suffering, use it to come closer to the Lord.

Lists

I'm a person who likes lists. Give me a list of things to do, or a list of groceries needed and I'll work that list and get things done. When that list is done, give me a new list. I find control in a list well defined, self worth in a list well followed, accomplishment in a list completed. I like to compare my list to others list...how far are they compared to me, are they ahead of me, behind me...have they even started yet?

My favorite verses and books of the Bible are those that seemingly give me a list. Those defining what I should do and what I shouldn't do. I've made lists from verses in Titus: blameless, not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, hospitable, loves what is good, self controlled, upright, holy, etc...

Having a list puts me in control. The problem with that is that Jesus has something else in mind. Jesus isn't interested in my list of things I am doing or not doing. Jesus is interested in my HEART. When I give him my heart, I mean truly give my heart to Jesus, HE does the work. He changes my heart...which alters and sets my behavior.


Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

Colossians 3:10 - ...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

2 Corinthians 4:16 - Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Titus 3:5 - ...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Today I encourage you to give your heart fully committed to Jesus, give up your religious lists, and let HIM do the work in you. When we do...we truly find freedom and that is truly the good news.

Being Prepared

One of my favorite verses, a verse I've clung to the last couple years is 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction."

Where I'm being challenged by the Lord today is what does "prepared" really mean? For me, being prepared meant that I was spending time reading the Bible, spending time praying and writing in my journal, attending church, reading books by other Godly men, listening to sermons on podcast, learning from every stream I could find to learn from. All good things to do.

The last couple months, I've slacked in the things I was doing that would match my idea of "prepared". I still did everything, but just not as much, sometimes going a few days without having my normal routine.

What's interesting, as I look back at the last couple months, I'm finding that through this time...God still used me. I also realized that even though I wasn't doing some things as much, I was still praying, and in some cases praying more than I had before. I realized that by reducing the "noise" of everything I was doing to be "prepared", that I was able to hear from Him more clearly and often. 

For me, today, what it means to be "prepared" has changed. Being "prepared" is about my heart not about what I can learn and cram into my head. Being prepared is being in submission to the Lord, hearing and doing what He is asking me to do.

Are you prepared? What does "being prepared" mean to you?

Hold onto hope...

Hebrews 10:23-24 - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

No matter your situation, no matter the struggles you are going through...HOLD onto HOPE! Our Lord is faithful and trustworthy, He loves you and wants the best for you. Focus on Him and his promises.

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

There is power is helping others. When I focus on spurring on others, when I focus on refreshing others my problems diminish and my hope is strengthened.

What are you focused on?

To often I catch myself being so focused on my current circumstances that I stop looking to Him. When I'm focusing on what's happening in my life I get more selfish, I become more self reliant... My circumstances begin to dictate my attitude, my focus intensifies and then I just go deeper into depression over what's happening in my life. I focus on the negative, and can't see the positive.

But when I focus on Him, when I change my focus from me to Him, what he has done, what he is calling me to...when I change my 'me' centered focus to a God centered focus, everything changes...everything in me that is. My circumstances don't change, the bad things still happen...but how I feel about those 'things' change tremendously. Suddenly the problems become much smaller, they become bearable and eventually get resolved or just go away.

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"

Today I encourage you to take heart, focus on what Jesus has done for you, what Jesus has promised you. Find peace in today's hustle and bustle world by making Him the center yours.

Annoying Circumstances...

This last weekend was NightVision 2011 and the family and I really enjoyed it. Hanging out with family and friends hearing some great music, it was definitely a good time.

At one point though I found myself distracted, irritated. I was annoyed with a circumstance of our surroundings, I wasn't focusing on the blessing of being at a huge FREE christian concert. I was focusing on some little insignificant thing, and for a while was missing the whole point of even being there.

Has that ever happened to you?

Luckily God got a hold of me and pointed out what I was doing, I gave the annoying circumstance to Him and started focusing on Him again.

The following day while ushering at church, God showed me another example of this same thing, I noticed a man sitting out in the lobby during worship looking frustrated. I approached him and found that his frustration was about worship, like me the day before, he was letting things that annoyed him about how things were handled in church keep him from worshipping the God he loves.

So today I wonder...What is going on in your life that is keeping you from focusing on God? Where in your life have you let minor, insignificant circumstances keep you from worshiping, praying, or accepting what Jesus has planned for you?

Lord, today I ask that you would reveal to us where we have been distracted and deceived, where we have let OUR attitudes, beliefs and traditions get in the way of what You have for us. Lord reveal to us YOUR attitudes and beliefs, instill in our hearts YOUR love, grace and mercy. Help us to remove that which hinders so that we can freely come before You and worship you the way You deserve to be worshipped. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Amen.

Confident of your own righteousness?

Luke 18:9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

I tell you that this man, rather than the other went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

I think the way that Luke introduces this parable is key. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness". We as humans tend to want to control our own destiny, we read the Bible, we inquire of our pastors and we ask "What do I need to do?" We build a to do list and focus on checking the things we need to do to be righteous off the list. We focus on our behavior and our actions. Then we compare how we are doing to others. It seems that as Christians that at different points in our lives we have been both the tax collector and the pharisee.

Where are you today? Are you the tax collector or the pharisee?

Are you depending on your own righteousness or are you depending on Jesus's righteousness?

Jesus has done ALL the work to justify us, He has done ALL the work to make us righteous, He has done ALL the work necessary for us to come before the Father clean as snow.

We need to stop focusing on us and what we need to do. We need to focus on HIM and what He has already done. When we focus on Him and what He has done instead of on us and what we need to do, we change…not by our power…but His.

Grace at work...

I heard a story from a pastor, he had been walking with a man who struggled with porn. When the man thought that God loved him less when he was looking at porn, and loved him more when he wasn't...he was stuck in it and continued in his sin. He felt defenseless and powerless against it. But when he finally understood that by God's grace, God loved him just the same no matter what he did or didn't do...he suddenly was able to stop looking at porn. The sin no longer had power over his life.

Knowing He loves us regardless, no less and no more based on our actions is so important. Will God discipline us? Yes…but does that mean that he loves us less? No! (see Hebrews 12:1-12)  As parents, when we discipline our children, do we do it because we love them less? No, we do it because we love them and want better for them.

He loves YOU! He sent His Son for YOU! He wants better for YOU!

He is the same yesterday, today and forever, just as His love for us is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Lord, please help us grasp the depth of Your love for us today. Lord you know our hearts so much more than we do…and yet you love us. Help us to get that, embrace that. Show us Your grace at work in our lives today, help us to recognize it in the little things around us all day long. Amen!

One way unconditional love...

How do you define grace?

I've heard it defined as "unmerited favor" by some. It sounds good, something we all need.

Recently though I've heard it defined as "one way unconditional love".

After hearing this new definition, "unmerited favor" sounds so insignificant; like when I hold the door open for a stranger...more of a courtesy.

But "one way unconditional love" sounds like so much more, doesn't it? 

I can show unmerited favor, by holding a door open for a stranger, by giving a few dollars to a homeless person on the street. But can I show them "one way unconditional love"?

The same "one way unconditional love" that Jesus has given to me...to all of us.

Grace is one of the most important tools in the Christian's tool box, one of the most powerful, dangerous and scandalous tools. Grace can change a life immediately and completely...for the better when applied correctly, for the worse when not applied at all.

One way unconditional love has no "but's", no conditions...but we constantly set conditions...don't we? In a world where justice reigns supreme, grace defined as one way unconditional love is so much harder than unmerited favor.

Where are you setting conditions on your love, or on your grace towards others? Who are you merely showing unmerited favor and withholding true one way unconditional love?

Romans 3:23-24 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Lord today we pray that you would search our hearts and reveal to us where we are putting conditions on grace. Help us Lord to understand grace as You define it, help us to apply it as You apply it. In Jesus name, Amen.

Given Freely...

Romans 3:21-24 - But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (emphasis added)

Simply put, our righteousness was given to us when we placed our faith in Jesus and we are all justified freely by His grace.

So why are you trying to earn what Jesus has given to you freely?

Are you living a life trying to earn the gift that Jesus gave you? Are you trying your best to "stay" in His grace?

We are saved, but not by anything we did. Jesus did all the heavy lifting.

Turn your focus to Jesus, to the Gospel...concentrate on these things. The good news is that Jesus paid it all. And when we understand that, we are truly set free.

Keep it simple.

Sometimes it just feels like we make it too complicated. We tend to make a mess of the good news that our Lord is calling us to believe, live and share. It's like we have convinced ourselves that the 'good news' can't really be that good.

Luke 18:17 - Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. (also Mark 10:15)

Today let us un-complicate it, make it simple...

Jesus loves you more than you can fathom.

He doesn't care where you are at, what you have done...HE LOVES YOU!

Today let's love him back by praising him with every breath and glorifying him in our every action and word.

When we make it simple, it's not only "good" news...it's "life changing" news!

Focus on the gospel!

Do you focus too much on you and your performance than you do on Jesus, on the gospel?

I know that I do. I put too much stock in ME and not enough in HIM. I tend to focus on what I am doing, where I am at, what I am failing at, what I am successful at...all in the mindset of earning and not losing what Jesus did for me on the cross.

But when I look back at the successes in my life, those times when I overcame great obstacles, gave up sin in my life, made improvements...it was at a time when I was focusing on what Jesus did, instead of what I've done or am doing. When I focus on what Jesus did for me, when I get a glimpse the pain he endured for me and my sin...that is when I am transformed, that is when I am changed. When I'm focused on Him, He changes me, He transforms me, He makes me a better man.

Colossians 1:13-14 - For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He has rescued us, brought us into His kingdom...we are redeemed, forgiven, justified and when we focus on the life and work of Jesus...we are transformed from the inside out. When we focus on the life and work of Jesus we are changed not by our actions, our work or our obedience...but by His.

The other day I heard this quote from Timothy Keller "The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A to Z of Christianity."

The gospel of Jesus Christ our savior is the beginning, middle and ending, it is everything. Focus on what Jesus did for you, and you will be changed. 

Focus on what Jesus did for you...and don't stop until you meet him face to face.

Go do it!

Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." - Isaiah 6:8

How many times have you been in church and heard a call to help or serve from the pastor...and decided that it wasn't you who they were looking for, it wasn't your calling, it wasn't what the Lord wanted you to do, or that you  just didn't have the time?

If you have spent much time in church you have probably done this many, many times. Something  I have heard before and have found to be true is the 80/20 rule as it applies to church. That 20% of the people do 80% of the work (or more). If this is truly the case, that means that a lot more people than not take the stance that it's not them that are being called to help or serve.

Several years ago, I attended my first Warrior at Heart Camp, at the end of that camp the question went out..."if any one would be interested in helping". My hand shot up and I got involved. Getting involved has been one of the best things I have ever done. It has helped me in my walk with the Lord, it has helped me grow  spiritually, it has given me confidence and brought out leadership abilities in me...that I never knew I had.

Where is God calling you to serve? Why aren't you doing it yet?

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

That's not a question...that is not a request.

In Matthew 28:19 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is telling you what he wants you to do.

Now go do it!

The importance of decisions...

Each day we are faced with many decisions. Some minor, some major. Some are important to make, some might not need to be made. But we are making them constantly.

Should I do this or that? How should I do this or that?

One of my favorite quotes (and I can't remember where I first saw it) is "Life is a series of decisions and then living with the consequences of each."

We will make wrong decisions and we will make right decisions. The question is...will we learn from the decisions we make, both right and wrong?

Many decisions we make are far more important than we give them credit. Some of our decisions set a mental precedent or pattern in our decision making which affects our future decisions. Some little decisions start a snow ball down a hill and result in us making the wrong decision on a very important matter. The decision to give into something just once, starts a pattern. It makes the next decision to give in easier. The next decision is even easier, and comes quicker. Before we know it we are down a road we didn't want to go.

The decisions we make are important. In Exodus 28 the Lord has them fashion a breastpeice for making decisions. This breast-piece was made with precious stones, gold and had the names of the sons of Israel engraved on it.

Exodus 28:29 - "Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breast-piece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord."

While our decisions don't carry the same weight of Aaron's, what names would be engraved on your breast-piece of decision? Your spouse, your children, your mother, father, extended family? What is the weight of your decisions on you and those around you. What precedents, what habits have you fallen into that are affecting your legacy, the future generations of your family?

Do what it says...

What habits have you established that helps you in your walk with the Lord?

Prayer, silence and solitude?

Reading, listening and memorizing scriptures from the Word?

Journaling?

Participating in community? (Church attendance, small groups, meetings)

Listening to sermons online or through podcasts?

Reading books about or related to your Christian walk?

There are so many things we can be doing to help us walk a better walk.

And while all these things are helpful, they are not the most important part...

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

We can do all that I listed above, we can come to to have a great knowledge about the Word...but if we do not do what it says...does it even matter?

All of the knowledge in the world is useless in the hands of a person who will not use it.

2 Corinthians 6:3 - We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

When we who claim to be Christians do not apply the Word of God to our lives, when we don't live our lives different...we become a stumbling block, an obstacle to others. We are not perfect, we are all broken and sinful and we will mess up; but when we apply the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the context of a life changed by it...others are changed by it.

Lord I pray that you would reveal to us areas where we know the truth, but are not applying that truth to our lives. I pray that we would be a people who not only knows about You, but intimately knows You and shows that by living a life that is changed by You. Amen.

Giving up the Ultimate for the Immediate

Genesis 25:29-34

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished." Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

"Look, I am about to die." Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Esau gives up the Ultimate for the Immediate

In this story, Esau gives up his birthright for a bowl of stew. If you don't understand the concept of the birthright you might not get how absurd this was. To be the first born and have the birthright meant that you would receive the larger share of the inheritance when your father died. In addition the son with the birthright would become the family patriarch, in charge of taking care of the family. The birthright was a big deal.

Esau gave that up for a bowl of stew? Really? Do you really believe that Esau was about to die? Do you think that Esau was in bad enough shape that he couldn't wait for a while...that he didn't have the energy to make a sandwich? If Esau wouldn't have sold his birthright would the it be said 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau' instead of 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob'?

Esau gave up the Ultimate for the Immediate. He gave up what would have been a huge blessing for an immediate desire...to eat.

Where in your life are you giving up the Ultimate blessing for a short term Immediate desire?

If we are honest, don't we do this a lot? We live in a culture that tells us we don't need to wait. That we need to live for the moment and we should give in to our desires when we have them.

So we give in to our immediate desires and go into debt, give into our immediate desires not worrying about the consequences, go to our immediate desires for comfort and acceptance. We give up the ultimate blessing when we give into our immediate sexual desires and have premarital sex, turn to pornography or an affair.

When we feed our need for the immediate, what Ultimate blessing are we given up in the future? It's something we need to consider.

Lord, I pray that you would reveal to us those areas of our lives where we let the immediate get in the way of the ultimate. Reveal those areas that we give into, which cause distance in our relationship with You. Lord walk with us today and help us to keep the ultimate prize in focus and give us strength to ignore the temptation of the immediate desires that trip us up. In the name of Jesus, Amen!