Cross posted from Christian Republic
God has blessings waiting to pour all over you. Yet, if you’re like me, you might spend some time wondering why they haven’t been poured out yet. The idea occurred to me that my life is like a big project, and those blessings are dedicated for the project and nothing else.
If I were to undertake a project to build a hospital, but wanted to spend some of the budget on a grand party, would I be able to complete the hospital properly, having misused resources? Would I have enough for the ICU, the neo natal ward, the delivery rooms? No, probably not.
I think it’s easy to pose the same question to my overall life.
God knit me in my mother’s womb so that I could fulfill a destiny He set out before me. That destiny did not include becoming a rock star, although I tried. It did not include becoming a professional football player, although I chased that as well. In fact, it didn’t include flying fighter jets, orbiting the earth in a space shuttle or owning a nightclub… all of which I dreamed of doing at one point or another. And, almost as if I were visibly veering off course, God did not bless me in any of those endeavors except so that those experiences could help me down the trail he already blazed for me.
However, once I did correct my course and start walking in the light, the blessings began pouring out. My marriage blossomed into a wonderfully strong union, with God at the center. My son was born, healthy and happy. My family grows closer to God daily and by default closer to one another. And, most importantly, I learn more about walking with the Lord and how to bring others along for the journey each and every day.
What used to burden my heart is now trivial. What once caused strife in my soul I now shrug off. The worldly things I yearned for, and agonized over when I couldn’t possess them, are devalued, because they do not honor God. In the grand scheme, cars, houses, toys and celebrity mean nothing if you aren’t serving Him.
So, by changing my focus from worldly things to the Kingdom of God, I have laid claim to my blessings and rest assured that He will dispense them to me as needed. If I have a financial shortfall one month, God is faithful and I receive a refund from something I never knew I had coming. If hardship comes my way, He soothes my soul and calms my spirit, so that I can see it as an opportunity to grow, instead of one to wither. With these seemingly miraculous divine interventions, I’ve learned that faith is a two way street. I have faith in Him, He has faith in me. How awesome!
With that knowledge comes a peaceful freedom unlike anything I’ve ever known. And, I’d like you to have it as well.
How can you claim your blessings, you ask? Here’re a few simple steps to claim what’s rightfully yours.
1) Discover your God honoring goal and dedicate your life to achieving it. You might need to seek advisement on this from your local church and you’ll certainly need to pray on it daily until you achieve clear vision.
2) Pray that He equips you to achieve this goal. Where God guides, God provides, but you must ask so that He knows you truly want it.
3) Pray for wisdom to achieve this goal in a way that honors the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Anything less is a waste of resources and you just might need those to build a hospital.
4) Pray for perseverance to overcome the troubles that will come. Know that God is at your side, He’s got your back and nothing on earth can defeat His plan.
5) Pray for His protection. If you truly are on a mission from God, the evil one wants nothing more than to derail you. As your successes mount, so will the attacks from those who despise the Lord. But, have faith, He holds the key to the vault of your blessings, and he wants you to have them.
6) Pray simply because you love the Lord. Bask in that love, letting it wash over you like a gentle breeze on a warm summer’s day. Be still and know that His blessings are yours.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Up The Wall
Cross posted from Christian Republic.
When I was a kid, we had a wall in our house with short, horizontal dashes scrawled on it in pencil. Right beside these tell-tale marks were dates and initials. These dashes were milestones of our growth. Every time I’d stand with my back to the wall, waiting anxiously for my mother to draw a new line to illustrate my new height, I’d stretch to my tallest so that my growth would be maximized. Strangely enough, these were the only days I recall noticing I’d grown.
As Christ followers, we grow every day in our new lives. However, just like children, we don’t always notice that growth, even though others around us might. Sometimes, it takes a point where our backs are against the wall, where we need to stretch to our tallest in order to measure our growth in Christ.
Why can’t we stretch to our tallest every moment of every day? Is it the weight of our world that pushes our shoulders down, compresses our spine and lowers our gaze? Or is it the evil one, knowing you grow towards that which you focus on, like a flower blooming towards the sun? If you stare at the ground, how can you grow towards Christ?
While you may have not been tall enough in your faith last week to reach for something Godly, don’t let that prevent you from reaching out today. In fact, I encourage you to consider every day as a measuring day. Where we all stretch to our tallest, rising up the wall in faith.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
With God, all things are possible. While you may think it’s impossible to grasp what was once out of reach, God knows better and is simply waiting for you to stretch yourself. So, don’t wait for the next time your back is against the wall, reach for the sky today, leaving tomorrow to itself.
When I was a kid, we had a wall in our house with short, horizontal dashes scrawled on it in pencil. Right beside these tell-tale marks were dates and initials. These dashes were milestones of our growth. Every time I’d stand with my back to the wall, waiting anxiously for my mother to draw a new line to illustrate my new height, I’d stretch to my tallest so that my growth would be maximized. Strangely enough, these were the only days I recall noticing I’d grown.
As Christ followers, we grow every day in our new lives. However, just like children, we don’t always notice that growth, even though others around us might. Sometimes, it takes a point where our backs are against the wall, where we need to stretch to our tallest in order to measure our growth in Christ.
Why can’t we stretch to our tallest every moment of every day? Is it the weight of our world that pushes our shoulders down, compresses our spine and lowers our gaze? Or is it the evil one, knowing you grow towards that which you focus on, like a flower blooming towards the sun? If you stare at the ground, how can you grow towards Christ?
While you may have not been tall enough in your faith last week to reach for something Godly, don’t let that prevent you from reaching out today. In fact, I encourage you to consider every day as a measuring day. Where we all stretch to our tallest, rising up the wall in faith.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
With God, all things are possible. While you may think it’s impossible to grasp what was once out of reach, God knows better and is simply waiting for you to stretch yourself. So, don’t wait for the next time your back is against the wall, reach for the sky today, leaving tomorrow to itself.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Resurrection Day!
No matter where you are or what you're doing, I pray the Holy Spirit blesses you greatly today.
Also, here's my latest post on CR.
Have a great day and remember what He did for us, always.
Also, here's my latest post on CR.
Have a great day and remember what He did for us, always.
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Choice - by Max Lucado
Another devotional I want to share with everyone. I used to ache for a career like George Lucas or James Cameron, now, I yearn to walk the path trod by Max Lucado. This is why:
The Choice
by Max Lucado
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground.
All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched.
"You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose."
All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice."
Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.
An angel spoke, "But what if he ... "
"What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you."
Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow.
"There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter."
The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth.
"Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation."
"Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter."
A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?"
The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness."
The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths.
"This is the result of choice?" the angel asked.
"Yes."
"They will forget you?"
"Yes."
"They will reject you?"
"Yes."
"They will never come back?"
"Some will. Most won't."
"What will it take to make them listen?"
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him.
With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler of a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it.
He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear.
"Will you go down there?" the angel asked.
"I will."
"Is there no other way?"
"There is not."
"Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?"
"It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love."
He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.
Men clad in soldiers' garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.
Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.
Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly. "I will stay."
All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.
"It must be done ... ," he said, and withdrew.
But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)
He wrenched at tomorrow's agony.The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful ... "
The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love."
They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.
But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.
Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:
"It looks like ... it appears so much like ... it is him!"
The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside—at the soul.
Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it's our choice.
Monday, March 22, 2010
NO FEAR
John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; (43) for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Remember those old tee shirts in the ‘90s that proclaimed “NO FEAR”? I always found that an odd thing to have to announce to the world. If no one surmised a person was afraid, why the need for that person to announce that they weren’t? It’s like telling someone you’re cool. If you have to tell people, odds are you aren’t.
Since the clothing line was so widely embraced here in the United States, it’s a plausible assumption that fear grips the hearts of everyone who endorsed the product.
Actually, it’s a fact that fear exists in all of us to varying degrees and those shirts were merely symptomatic of that fear.
I often act out of emotion.
Love for my wife and child keeps me working when I’d rather not.
Love of God gets me to Church on days I’d rather stay home.
Love of friends motivates me to keep in contact, even when thousands of miles separate us.
Love of many keeps me praying for others.
But what about fear?
I contemplate my actions and how they will affect my future, for fear of bringing harm to my wife, spiritually, emotionally or financially.
I’ve tried to take better care of myself since my son was born out of a fear that he might have to grow up without an earthly father, as I did.
Worst of all, I often fear sharing the gospel.
What if people ridicule me?
What it I’m labeled a “bible thumping nut job”?
What if I’m lumped in with the Catholic priests who molest children? Or the zealots like Joseph Kony who pervert the word to give themselves power over other humans?
While those are real thoughts, the one that hamstrings my efforts the most is the fear that people will simply stop listening. How can I communicate God’s love if the person on the other end won’t answer the phone? It’s a question I’ve wrestled with for years now. Unfortunately, it’s a wrestling match I’m having with the evil one and so far, he’s winning.
My fear has turned to inaction.
One of my favorite new quotes is from Max Lucado’s book, Fearless:
"The worship of safety emasculates greatness"
It’s almost as if the safety I’m worshipping is the ability to keep the ear of people I touch in my everyday life. But, by holding on to that, I’ve fallen into inaction. And, don’t believe otherwise, inaction is in and of itself, action… in my case, one motivated by fear.
So, I’m turning over a new leaf.
Another quote I’ve always loved goes like this “If you never try, you’ve already failed.”
Better to try and not succeed, than to sit on the sidelines, pretending I can get in the game tomorrow or the next day. Especially when there will come a day that has no tomorrow and if that day is today, what will I tell God when he asks me why I lived in fear?
Remember those old tee shirts in the ‘90s that proclaimed “NO FEAR”? I always found that an odd thing to have to announce to the world. If no one surmised a person was afraid, why the need for that person to announce that they weren’t? It’s like telling someone you’re cool. If you have to tell people, odds are you aren’t.
Since the clothing line was so widely embraced here in the United States, it’s a plausible assumption that fear grips the hearts of everyone who endorsed the product.
Actually, it’s a fact that fear exists in all of us to varying degrees and those shirts were merely symptomatic of that fear.
I often act out of emotion.
Love for my wife and child keeps me working when I’d rather not.
Love of God gets me to Church on days I’d rather stay home.
Love of friends motivates me to keep in contact, even when thousands of miles separate us.
Love of many keeps me praying for others.
But what about fear?
I contemplate my actions and how they will affect my future, for fear of bringing harm to my wife, spiritually, emotionally or financially.
I’ve tried to take better care of myself since my son was born out of a fear that he might have to grow up without an earthly father, as I did.
Worst of all, I often fear sharing the gospel.
What if people ridicule me?
What it I’m labeled a “bible thumping nut job”?
What if I’m lumped in with the Catholic priests who molest children? Or the zealots like Joseph Kony who pervert the word to give themselves power over other humans?
While those are real thoughts, the one that hamstrings my efforts the most is the fear that people will simply stop listening. How can I communicate God’s love if the person on the other end won’t answer the phone? It’s a question I’ve wrestled with for years now. Unfortunately, it’s a wrestling match I’m having with the evil one and so far, he’s winning.
My fear has turned to inaction.
One of my favorite new quotes is from Max Lucado’s book, Fearless:
"The worship of safety emasculates greatness"
It’s almost as if the safety I’m worshipping is the ability to keep the ear of people I touch in my everyday life. But, by holding on to that, I’ve fallen into inaction. And, don’t believe otherwise, inaction is in and of itself, action… in my case, one motivated by fear.
So, I’m turning over a new leaf.
Another quote I’ve always loved goes like this “If you never try, you’ve already failed.”
Better to try and not succeed, than to sit on the sidelines, pretending I can get in the game tomorrow or the next day. Especially when there will come a day that has no tomorrow and if that day is today, what will I tell God when he asks me why I lived in fear?
Not Ashamed
This is today's "Answers for Each Day" devotional from Pastor Bayless Conley sent via www.crosswalk.com. The disciples were beaten, imprisoned and put to death for confessing the name of Jesus, yet far too often many of us (myself included) won't bring it up because we're afraid of something as silly as ridicule or due to fear of not being accepted/liked or because we want to fit in.
One fact I've learned over the last several decades: No one can fit in with everyone, but everyone can fit in with Christ.
NOT ASHAMED
I have a question to ask you today. Has there ever been a time when you were afraid to confess the name of Jesus? In John 9:20-23, we have the example of the parents whose son had been born blind but was healed by Jesus.
Look at their response when asked who healed their son,
His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
How many Christians have held their tongue when they should have been giving praise to the name of Jesus? Praise for answered prayer, for the miracles He has done, but they were intimidated by unbelievers?
I was coming back from Africa when a Muslim man on the plane put a blanket on the floor, got down on his face and began to pray. This man was not ashamed at all about kneeling down on the plane in front of everyone.
I thought, "Oh, Jesus! How many times have Your people kept silent because they were afraid of what someone might think of them?"
Throw off the shackles of fear and timidity, and boldly take your stand for Christ!
says, The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
-Bayless Conley
John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; (43) for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Five Lives
If you knew you were going to leave this world in twenty four hours and ascend into Heaven, what would you do with the rest of your life here on Earth? It's a question often asked.
Spend time with family, say goodbye to loved ones, maybe scratch a few items off my “bucket list”? These are the first things that used to come to mind when I thought about this… until recently.
Have you ever had one of those times when there seems to be a conflux of information, all flowing together to send you a message? That’s happened recently in my life and totally changed my perspective on the question.
This picture has come together as jigsaw pieces found in recent devotionals, messages at our Church and conversations with the Godly guys in my men’s group. When it all coalesces, I can’t help but realize God is trying to teach me something. And, thankfully, I’m learning.
If I knew I was going to leave this life in twenty four hours and ascend into Heaven, what would I do with the rest of my time here on Earth?
Now when I consider that question, the first thing I think of is “who will I fail?”
There are people in my life that I have the unique ability to touch in a way only I can. You have them too; maybe they’re your spouse or a child, parent, a good friend, co-worker, neighbor or business associate. We’re all originals, one-off people unlike anything else God has ever made. With that comes the aforementioned unique ability to touch certain people as only you or I can.
What will I do when I’m in front of God and He asks me “What about them?” Make no mistake; I’ll immediately know whom He means.
My best friend from childhood.
Mother.
Step Father.
My agent.
My cousin.
While I’ve tried to talk to each of them about God, tried to share the gospel, it’s fallen on unhearing ears. I won’t say “deaf” because they know I’m trying, but they don’t really hear what I’m saying.
When someone I truly love asks me to do something, I do my best to make it happen.
Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
I truly love Jesus, and He’s asked me to come, follow Him and fish for souls. So, I’ll keep trying.
To answer the original question: I’d spend the last hours praying for God to soften the hearts of those I can uniquely touch, so that before I left this life, those five lives might be shown the way so they could follow me as I follow Him.
In the meantime, I’ll keep trying, and continue to cast my nets in front of everyone else I encounter. At least, I aspire to do those things. But, I’m human and will stumble and fall for sure.
Father God,
Your plan for this world, our lives and eternity is the most amazing story ever told.
I admit my fishing skills are poor, my focus wanders and I’ve yet to fill my nets. This is more from lack of trying than lack of opportunity. Please forgive me, Father.
Thank you for continuing to cover my inequities with grace, even though I’ve done nothing to earn it, nor anything to deserve it. And thank you for giving me the chance to help save you’ve placed in my life.
Please keep me on track, Father. Place your hand of protection on my efforts to fish for souls, guarding this mission from both worldly and unholy assaults. You’ve called us all to this mission Father, please remind us frequently that this is what you’ve asked us to do and enable us to have the opportunities to open eyes, hearts and minds, so that your seed can be planted, nurtured and grown.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
(Cross posted from www.christianrepublic.co.za)
Spend time with family, say goodbye to loved ones, maybe scratch a few items off my “bucket list”? These are the first things that used to come to mind when I thought about this… until recently.
Have you ever had one of those times when there seems to be a conflux of information, all flowing together to send you a message? That’s happened recently in my life and totally changed my perspective on the question.
This picture has come together as jigsaw pieces found in recent devotionals, messages at our Church and conversations with the Godly guys in my men’s group. When it all coalesces, I can’t help but realize God is trying to teach me something. And, thankfully, I’m learning.
If I knew I was going to leave this life in twenty four hours and ascend into Heaven, what would I do with the rest of my time here on Earth?
Now when I consider that question, the first thing I think of is “who will I fail?”
There are people in my life that I have the unique ability to touch in a way only I can. You have them too; maybe they’re your spouse or a child, parent, a good friend, co-worker, neighbor or business associate. We’re all originals, one-off people unlike anything else God has ever made. With that comes the aforementioned unique ability to touch certain people as only you or I can.
What will I do when I’m in front of God and He asks me “What about them?” Make no mistake; I’ll immediately know whom He means.
My best friend from childhood.
Mother.
Step Father.
My agent.
My cousin.
While I’ve tried to talk to each of them about God, tried to share the gospel, it’s fallen on unhearing ears. I won’t say “deaf” because they know I’m trying, but they don’t really hear what I’m saying.
When someone I truly love asks me to do something, I do my best to make it happen.
Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
I truly love Jesus, and He’s asked me to come, follow Him and fish for souls. So, I’ll keep trying.
To answer the original question: I’d spend the last hours praying for God to soften the hearts of those I can uniquely touch, so that before I left this life, those five lives might be shown the way so they could follow me as I follow Him.
In the meantime, I’ll keep trying, and continue to cast my nets in front of everyone else I encounter. At least, I aspire to do those things. But, I’m human and will stumble and fall for sure.
Father God,
Your plan for this world, our lives and eternity is the most amazing story ever told.
I admit my fishing skills are poor, my focus wanders and I’ve yet to fill my nets. This is more from lack of trying than lack of opportunity. Please forgive me, Father.
Thank you for continuing to cover my inequities with grace, even though I’ve done nothing to earn it, nor anything to deserve it. And thank you for giving me the chance to help save you’ve placed in my life.
Please keep me on track, Father. Place your hand of protection on my efforts to fish for souls, guarding this mission from both worldly and unholy assaults. You’ve called us all to this mission Father, please remind us frequently that this is what you’ve asked us to do and enable us to have the opportunities to open eyes, hearts and minds, so that your seed can be planted, nurtured and grown.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
(Cross posted from www.christianrepublic.co.za)
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