I live in a town where, maybe more so than most places, "time is money." Though Nashville is known as Music City, USA, the music industry comes in at #2! The leading industry here being health care with over 300 health care companies located here. Some of the other leading industries are insurance, finance, publishing, and the automotive industry following Nissan's move of their headquarters from California to Nashville in 2006. If goals aren't met on time, deadlines met, if you can't play a song perfect in the first or maybe second pass, in this town, you need to find a new way of life, or take some time to refine your craft! And in many cases, deadlines are a matter of life and death! Time is a precious commodity in ANY market; any facet of life. Time is important with your family. Time certainly is important as well to earn an income with blocks being spent at work.
Just as important as time is timing. I see it in my own life constantly! I'm in the right place at the right time. Or you see someone involved in a tragedy and they're described as being "in the wrong place at the wrong time." The timing in which we act defines the success of our future as much as being on time with our goals, deadlines, and schedules.
An examination, or a reflection, of time and timing can give clarity to a series of events. Just watch crime dramas on TV, whether real or not, and in every case, one of the first goals in the case is to establish a timeline. Investigators want to know exactly what time the accident happened, what time the murder occurred, what time the person was last seen or heard from; all of which will help put certain people in certain places to help solve the case. Business leaders look back on the timing of product releases and schedules to better plan the coming year's timelines and to streamline productivity. When planning out vacations, one may choose to plan times to see certain attractions at their destinations, or schedules that allow them to make sure there is time to "get it all in."
Scripture gives us some valuable insight into time and timing that I just want you to see so that the coming days, weeks, and months might be better spent for you and those about whom you care most. There are a number of verses to which we could look, but for now, let's just look at Ephesians 5:15-17 (click on the scripture reference and the verse will open for you).
I once read a book by Pastor/Leader/Author, Andy Stanley, titled THE BEST QUESTION EVER. I highly recommend it! There is much more to the book than the revelation of the question, but he leads the reader to conclude that the best question ever (based on the above scripture passage in Ephesians) is, "In light of my past experiences, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?" If we're wise about our past, present, and future, those three will line up with God's will for our lives. And it is His desire that we know His will! It says so in the above scripture! So wise decisions involve knowing God's will, having a vision for your future based on that will, and acting accordingly in a manner that you can accomplish that will!
Every day there should be something that we learn that we didn't already know. There should be a book, a YouTube video, a conversation, a blog (like this one! :-) ), a periodical, a class with which we engage on a regular basis that takes our knowledge just a little farther or deeper than it was before. The very moment we stop learning, our potential of our effectiveness in this world is over. The ways in which God can use us become immediately limited not for our lack of ability, but because of our lack of caring. We are never too old, too young, too rich, too poor, too dumb, or too smart to learn. There's never "enough."
We have taken "enough" and "content" and made them interchangeable. I don't believe God ever designed them to be. Yet we have said that we will be content when we have enough. We will know we have enough when we are content. God desires for us to be content with what He has given without being covetous for what He has not. But to say that He has an "enough" line on His blessing for our lives, or that our hearts have a line that reads "don't fill over this point" doesn't describe the Heavenly Father I've come to know who withholds nothing, not even the very life of His only Son, from those whom He loves and love Him in return.
And in Christian circles, we rightfully teach that God desires for us to experience contentment over happiness. Happiness is fleeting; it's here today and gone tomorrow. Contentment can be permanent and can result in happiness more than the continued pursuit of the latter. Temporal happiness can't result in sustained contentment, but sustained contentment can produce repeated periods of true happiness. It is possible to be content, yet not have enough.
We make time for what we want. Show me your calendar, I'll show you your personal priorities. Don't have time to read or take a class? Don't have time to get healthy and exercise? Don't have time to serve your church in some capacity or even go to church? Don't have time to play with your kids? In every case, SURE you do! You've got 24 hours in a day just like everyone else. You just 1) don't manage your time well, or 2) don't make time because it's not a priority to you and you just don't care. One or the other is true. Maybe both.
But even if you know the plan and you're doing the best to schedule it out, timing is JUST as important as making the time. Read 1 Samuel 8:4-22 (click on the scripture reference and the verse will open for you). Israel wanted a king in order to be like other nations. Until this point, they'd only had a "judge" of whom Samuel was one. Judges were the voice of God to His people, Israel, for a certain period time (crisis, trial, decisions, etc) and would then return to the way of life once the messages had been delivered or the season had passed. A king would be permanent and the lineage would be passed down to future generations. God planned on a king. That king was David, of whose lineage Jesus would one day be born. But the timing wasn't yet. And so Israel asked and received their king before the time God had ordained. His name was Saul. He was a coward, disobedient, and fulfilled every one of the warnings that we just read which Samuel had delivered. Timing is everything.
If the enemy can't disrupt the plans, he will try to disrupt the timing with which they are to be carried out. Normally, this is in the form of rushing rather than waiting too long. Israel rushed on receiving a king. Churches rush into building buildings too soon without proper resources. Companies rush to be the first to get certain products on the market and they fail due to not taking the time to properly test them. Right now in the news we see where child "stars" fall to addictions and other troubles due to not having the time to mature and develop properly on the front end prior to having that depth of responsibility.
Seven months ago, I was challenged to do a five year plan for my life. I had no clue where to start! It had been over 15 years since the last one! So I prayed and God began to reveal some things that He wanted to do in me over the next five years. To say I'm excited is an understatement!!! But if I had time to list what God had done (and there's NO WAY I could have done this one my own - not talking coincidence!) in these last seven months, it would BLOW YOUR MIND!!!
Try it. Pray FIRST! Start with next week. Then this month. Then break the next six months down with monthly goals for each one. Then one six month block for the final six of this year. After that, do six month blocks for next year, or maybe the next two years. Finally, use year long blocks to round out your five year plan. God gives us our dreams and He wants to see them realized in even bigger ways that we can imagine ourselves. His thoughts and ways are higher for us, remember?
A realistic view of where you are must precede a look into where you are going in your dream! This is the only way we can fulfill our verses from Ephesians and make wise choices about our lives. But once you have established that reality check (and I went so far as to list where I am on paper before writing down where I wanted to go), then I believe if God is in your dream (and your five year plan to start realizing it), this is what your DREAM should look like:
D - Destinations: Note that this is plural. Mile markers measure successes.
R - Resources: God doesn't do handouts. He gave you abilities to attain it.
E - Enterprise: God expects initiative and self motivation. MAKE TIME!
A - Aspirations: "Enough" doesn't exist. LEARN consistently!
M - Ministry: Serve others. God won't give to you what He can't get through you!
If you would like help with your five year plan, contact me using the form on this page (the form doesn't show on mobile devices). I will be glad to help any way I can. But I can't do it for you. Neither will I send you mine. I will, however, answer your specific questions and do my best to help guide you in the right direction on how to do the plan. What the details are of the plan is completely up to you and God!
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. Most of you should choose the NAME/URL option and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
...and that's the way I WANT IT!!!!
I remember in the late 90's when I was serving a church in Ohio. My Pastor there introduced me to the teachings of Dr. John C. Maxwell. Maxwell has written numerous best-selling books on the subject of leadership, with his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership being one of my favorites to this very day. Back then, Maxwell was Pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, CA, and did a monthly mentoring club via cassette/CD called The Injoy Life Club, appropriately named for his company, Injoy. This club sent leadership lessons to church leaders each month along with lesson notes for you to fill in the blanks.
In one of these lessons, John stated that he had not originally planned on being a pastor, but instead had a degree in counseling. His story goes that he was so excited to be able to help those in need of hope, that he went into his first few counseling sessions with great enthusiasm! But when they would report back to him the next week for the next session and he asked them how things were going, the response was mostly that things were going the same as they had been the week before! Didn't he give good advice? Of course, he did! Sound and Biblical advice. Was there follow-up? Yes. So you what was the issue?!? The same one that exists today. Those people didn't WANT to change! They either loved the drama, or wanted the magic pill that made everything better with one single dose!
You know the people I'm talking about! They're the people who always find themselves in the middle of some kind of situation. They're mad at someone or someone else is mad at them. They've been done wrong by a friend (usually former friend) or someone is causing a crisis type dilemma. One thing is for certain, it is almost NEVER their fault!!! Always quick to point out the faults in others while ignoring their own, they normally have some level of delusion of grandeur that has blinded them to the real truth of the circumstance. I was counted among these people! But thank God, I've been DELIVERED!!! :-) Seriously, about five minutes of conversation and the negativity starts to boil out, IF it takes that long! So you get the picture. Maybe you got a better picture when you looked in the mirror! Just sayin'.
So how do we overcome this?
1. Speak Biblical truth. This is where 99% of us will do EXACTLY...nothing. We will be the ones about whom Dr. Maxwell remembered. We may say that we're going to do it, but then it drops from the priority list quicker than last year's New Year Resolutions! But you have GOT to start speaking OUT LOUD the things you WANT to be, not the things you think you ARE! The Bible tells us who we are in Christ. You've heard me talk about how I say some Biblical truth each day that is taken straight from scripture. They are taped to my bathroom mirror at home so I see them every day to remind me. If you would like a copy, click here and you will be directed to my blog where I listed them. Print them off! Use them!
2. Speak practical truth. My pastor, Danny Chambers, recently spoke of a speaker he heard once who challenged the audience to put the phrase "and that's the way I WANT it!" right after everything they would say about themselves. It teaches you to pay attention to the way you speak!
"I'm sick...and that's the way I want it!"
"I had a bad day at work...and that's the way I want it!"
"I didn't get that contract at work...and that's the way I want it!"
If we start speaking the way God speaks about us and sings over us, we would start to see changes in our lives! I HAVE!!! Ask anyone that knows me and is close to me right now! There is POWER in words!!!!
3. Expect goodness. But when trouble comes, recognize it for what it is. Read by clicking here what scripture says in John 16:33. That's not an option. We should EXPECT goodness, but recognize trouble as just an attack to distract or discourage us. Your biggest breakthroughs are often preceded by your biggest breakdowns. Pastor Danny says, "The size of your challenge is usually an indication of the size of your future!"
4. Worship in your pain. David did. Click here. David had just had to pretend to be insane and Abimilech had sent him away. And he starts exalting the name of Christ. Worship does two things in our pain. First, it takes the focus OFF of our pain and puts it ON Christ. When we focus on other things, we can't focus on present trials. And second, it creates an attitude of hopeful expectation for God to step in and work. These are the ways He responds best!!! Write this down: "What you magnify will mess you up or lift you up!" Are you magnifying Christ, or do your words magnify your problem?
Most people win or lose their battles on the battlefield that's between their ears - their minds. What you entertain there will manifest into speech. What you speak manifests into your life and who you are. BE CAREFUL! BE WISE!!!
I could go on and on here with what God has taught me. But this is enough for now. I have a feeling you may need to start practicing putting "and I want it that way" after everything you say about yourself. Know that I'm praying for you as you get this and read it and hopefully start applying it.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. If not, simply choose NAME/URL and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
In one of these lessons, John stated that he had not originally planned on being a pastor, but instead had a degree in counseling. His story goes that he was so excited to be able to help those in need of hope, that he went into his first few counseling sessions with great enthusiasm! But when they would report back to him the next week for the next session and he asked them how things were going, the response was mostly that things were going the same as they had been the week before! Didn't he give good advice? Of course, he did! Sound and Biblical advice. Was there follow-up? Yes. So you what was the issue?!? The same one that exists today. Those people didn't WANT to change! They either loved the drama, or wanted the magic pill that made everything better with one single dose!
You know the people I'm talking about! They're the people who always find themselves in the middle of some kind of situation. They're mad at someone or someone else is mad at them. They've been done wrong by a friend (usually former friend) or someone is causing a crisis type dilemma. One thing is for certain, it is almost NEVER their fault!!! Always quick to point out the faults in others while ignoring their own, they normally have some level of delusion of grandeur that has blinded them to the real truth of the circumstance. I was counted among these people! But thank God, I've been DELIVERED!!! :-) Seriously, about five minutes of conversation and the negativity starts to boil out, IF it takes that long! So you get the picture. Maybe you got a better picture when you looked in the mirror! Just sayin'.
So how do we overcome this?
1. Speak Biblical truth. This is where 99% of us will do EXACTLY...nothing. We will be the ones about whom Dr. Maxwell remembered. We may say that we're going to do it, but then it drops from the priority list quicker than last year's New Year Resolutions! But you have GOT to start speaking OUT LOUD the things you WANT to be, not the things you think you ARE! The Bible tells us who we are in Christ. You've heard me talk about how I say some Biblical truth each day that is taken straight from scripture. They are taped to my bathroom mirror at home so I see them every day to remind me. If you would like a copy, click here and you will be directed to my blog where I listed them. Print them off! Use them!
2. Speak practical truth. My pastor, Danny Chambers, recently spoke of a speaker he heard once who challenged the audience to put the phrase "and that's the way I WANT it!" right after everything they would say about themselves. It teaches you to pay attention to the way you speak!
"I'm sick...and that's the way I want it!"
"I had a bad day at work...and that's the way I want it!"
"I didn't get that contract at work...and that's the way I want it!"
If we start speaking the way God speaks about us and sings over us, we would start to see changes in our lives! I HAVE!!! Ask anyone that knows me and is close to me right now! There is POWER in words!!!!
3. Expect goodness. But when trouble comes, recognize it for what it is. Read by clicking here what scripture says in John 16:33. That's not an option. We should EXPECT goodness, but recognize trouble as just an attack to distract or discourage us. Your biggest breakthroughs are often preceded by your biggest breakdowns. Pastor Danny says, "The size of your challenge is usually an indication of the size of your future!"
4. Worship in your pain. David did. Click here. David had just had to pretend to be insane and Abimilech had sent him away. And he starts exalting the name of Christ. Worship does two things in our pain. First, it takes the focus OFF of our pain and puts it ON Christ. When we focus on other things, we can't focus on present trials. And second, it creates an attitude of hopeful expectation for God to step in and work. These are the ways He responds best!!! Write this down: "What you magnify will mess you up or lift you up!" Are you magnifying Christ, or do your words magnify your problem?
Most people win or lose their battles on the battlefield that's between their ears - their minds. What you entertain there will manifest into speech. What you speak manifests into your life and who you are. BE CAREFUL! BE WISE!!!
I could go on and on here with what God has taught me. But this is enough for now. I have a feeling you may need to start practicing putting "and I want it that way" after everything you say about yourself. Know that I'm praying for you as you get this and read it and hopefully start applying it.
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. If not, simply choose NAME/URL and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Sunday, January 12, 2014
An Idea
I've seen a couple of sci-fi movies recently. It got me thinking. What if when we were born, the doctor took us away from our parents and we never saw them again until after we died? It's quite the morbid thought, isn't it? What if during our lives, we got a letter from them once a week, but somebody else had to read it to us? And what if when they would read it, they'd only read it in small little parts, maybe even just single sentences? We would never know much about our parents! We would only hear parts of how they felt about us. They would be little more than figments of our imagination. We would read things about parenting in history books and the idea seemed like a good one, but it would never happen in OUR lives! Any similarity between us and the people who gave life to us would be the sum total of extreme distance and dumb luck. Parents would be nothing more than an IDEA.
Yet I've just painted a picture of the average Christian. How? Just think about it. By the time we make a decision to follow Christ, we are old enough to make decisions. Therefore, there have been learned self dependency patterns in many areas of our lives. It's hard to make the turn from a tangible parent or guardian, to that of an unseen being who has become our "Heavenly Father." Then we hear words describing Him like holy, righteous, supreme, omniscient, judge, and we wonder exactly how close we can get to someone like that!
So we treat our spiritual lives much like that sic-fi picture I painted in my head. We look at a relationship with Jesus as nothing more than an idea. We don't really try to get too close because first, we don't really know how, and second, what if He sees all the ugly parts that aren't cleaned up yet? It's the equivalent of your parents finding your diary already open to the page with your biggest secret! So we keep everything at arm's length. We go to church because we need that in our lives. It's why we made the choice to follow Christ in the first place. Sometimes it fills a curiosity, but mostly it's probably social. The pastor MUST live a much closer life to God than WE ever could, so we'll just go and hear what He has to say and let him "read the letter" from our Father.
See where I'm going with this? How can we expect to KNOW our Father, which is exactly what He desires, if we only let someone else read His letter to us? There's no relational heart to heart intimacy there! And when people ask us about Him, it becomes like telling them about our great, great grandfather. We know he existed. We know we're related to him. But we've only seen few pictures, if any, and might know something about his life. But as far as if we take after him, or apply any of his life lessons to our lives, or know much about his character, we couldn't even begin to speak to those things!
Oh but we have a "relationship" with Jesus, right? No. The majority of us have an IDEA about Jesus. We know who He was/is. We know what He did on the cross and that He came back to life three days later. We know what we were taught in Sunday School or what we've heard the pastor tell us on Sunday mornings, but that's about it. When you hear things about God, do you know His character well enough that you can discern truth from untruth based on your knowledge of who He is and has been to you in your life?
I know that I'm my parents' son. You know how? First, I am a spitting image of my mom, just in male form. I have expressions like my dad. My hands look like his and my index finger is slightly crooked at the first joint right below the nail, just like his. I cough and sound just like my mom. I walk with my palms facing backward instead of inward, just like my mom and her family. I have my paternal grandfather's hair line and big hands. I scrape ice cream from the bottom of a bowl just like my dad, which Michelle points out all the time! I know these things because I've spent time with them. I've seen their actions. And I've emulated them in many ways.
So I ask us ALL this question? Other than knowing you made a decision to follow Christ, how do you know you're a child of God? Have you caught yourself emulating Him in some way? Do you look on others differently than you ever did or thought you would? Do you see yourself smiling at things you know would make Him smile or does your heart break at things you know would break His? When you hear the name, Jesus, does it warm you? Have you ever caught Him smiling at you, saying He's proud of you, or thought that maybe you heard the song He sings over you? Scripture is only where it begins. It is the guideline. Nothing happens outside of the guidelines it sets, but there's so much MORE! There's the part that's meant for you and only you!
My eyes are tearing even as I type this, because I have seen His love, His protection, His grace in my life SO strong in the last two years in spite of who I am, not because of who I am! I still mess up. I'll never be the son that I'd have liked to have been, yet I still hear God say He's proud of me. I've felt him sit beside me as my mom used to do when I was little, and put His hand on my back and console me. I've heard Him warn me when I'm about to step out of line, and I've felt His discipline when I didn't listen. I know how He reacts to others because I know how He has reacted to me! This is how I know I'm a child of His!
Yes, I made a decision when I was 11 years old to follow Christ. But it is the RELATIONSHIP that's made the difference, not so much the choice. The choice was my recognition of the need of a Savior, the relationship is my recognition of the need of a Friend, a Guide, a Counselor, and a Father, among so many other things. The choice was a change in direction, the relationship is a companion along the journey. See the difference?
I'm not speaking to you as someone who has it all figured out! Actually, the deeper you go in the relationship, the more amazed you are at the depth of its potential! In my experience, I've seen that God has so much more for me than what I'd ever imagined!!! I've seen Him work in ways that are completely outside the realm of my own understanding. In my life, it's pretty much been the equivalent of Elijah calling down fire from heaven!
So where do you begin if you want this kind of relationship with the Father? Well, as I said before, scripture is the guideline. The Bible is where it starts. Find a version that is easy for you to read and understand. Then talk to Him. Yes, out loud. Talk as you're driving. Nobody is there to look at you weird. :-) But after you talk, LISTEN. He'll speak in your thoughts, in things you see, in what you hear. He will amaze you! He's only waiting on you to ask Him. He responds to the voice of His children, just like He expects us to respond to His voice.
Today, right now, move past an idea. Get to know your Father. See if one day, you don't feel the warmth of His smile, or the comfort of His still, small voice. See if you don't have someone who follows Christ too recognize in you the "family resemblance." I only wish I could explain the difference it's made in me!!! And I've not even scratched the surface!!!
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
3. You must also choose a selection from the COMMENT AS drop down list. If you have a Google+ ID, AIM, or other you wish to use, choose that. If not, simply choose NAME/URL and leave your name in the space provided. You do NOT need to leave a URL unless you wish.
4. Click the PUBLISH button. THAT'S IT!!!
THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Yet I've just painted a picture of the average Christian. How? Just think about it. By the time we make a decision to follow Christ, we are old enough to make decisions. Therefore, there have been learned self dependency patterns in many areas of our lives. It's hard to make the turn from a tangible parent or guardian, to that of an unseen being who has become our "Heavenly Father." Then we hear words describing Him like holy, righteous, supreme, omniscient, judge, and we wonder exactly how close we can get to someone like that!
So we treat our spiritual lives much like that sic-fi picture I painted in my head. We look at a relationship with Jesus as nothing more than an idea. We don't really try to get too close because first, we don't really know how, and second, what if He sees all the ugly parts that aren't cleaned up yet? It's the equivalent of your parents finding your diary already open to the page with your biggest secret! So we keep everything at arm's length. We go to church because we need that in our lives. It's why we made the choice to follow Christ in the first place. Sometimes it fills a curiosity, but mostly it's probably social. The pastor MUST live a much closer life to God than WE ever could, so we'll just go and hear what He has to say and let him "read the letter" from our Father.
See where I'm going with this? How can we expect to KNOW our Father, which is exactly what He desires, if we only let someone else read His letter to us? There's no relational heart to heart intimacy there! And when people ask us about Him, it becomes like telling them about our great, great grandfather. We know he existed. We know we're related to him. But we've only seen few pictures, if any, and might know something about his life. But as far as if we take after him, or apply any of his life lessons to our lives, or know much about his character, we couldn't even begin to speak to those things!
Oh but we have a "relationship" with Jesus, right? No. The majority of us have an IDEA about Jesus. We know who He was/is. We know what He did on the cross and that He came back to life three days later. We know what we were taught in Sunday School or what we've heard the pastor tell us on Sunday mornings, but that's about it. When you hear things about God, do you know His character well enough that you can discern truth from untruth based on your knowledge of who He is and has been to you in your life?
I know that I'm my parents' son. You know how? First, I am a spitting image of my mom, just in male form. I have expressions like my dad. My hands look like his and my index finger is slightly crooked at the first joint right below the nail, just like his. I cough and sound just like my mom. I walk with my palms facing backward instead of inward, just like my mom and her family. I have my paternal grandfather's hair line and big hands. I scrape ice cream from the bottom of a bowl just like my dad, which Michelle points out all the time! I know these things because I've spent time with them. I've seen their actions. And I've emulated them in many ways.
So I ask us ALL this question? Other than knowing you made a decision to follow Christ, how do you know you're a child of God? Have you caught yourself emulating Him in some way? Do you look on others differently than you ever did or thought you would? Do you see yourself smiling at things you know would make Him smile or does your heart break at things you know would break His? When you hear the name, Jesus, does it warm you? Have you ever caught Him smiling at you, saying He's proud of you, or thought that maybe you heard the song He sings over you? Scripture is only where it begins. It is the guideline. Nothing happens outside of the guidelines it sets, but there's so much MORE! There's the part that's meant for you and only you!
My eyes are tearing even as I type this, because I have seen His love, His protection, His grace in my life SO strong in the last two years in spite of who I am, not because of who I am! I still mess up. I'll never be the son that I'd have liked to have been, yet I still hear God say He's proud of me. I've felt him sit beside me as my mom used to do when I was little, and put His hand on my back and console me. I've heard Him warn me when I'm about to step out of line, and I've felt His discipline when I didn't listen. I know how He reacts to others because I know how He has reacted to me! This is how I know I'm a child of His!
Yes, I made a decision when I was 11 years old to follow Christ. But it is the RELATIONSHIP that's made the difference, not so much the choice. The choice was my recognition of the need of a Savior, the relationship is my recognition of the need of a Friend, a Guide, a Counselor, and a Father, among so many other things. The choice was a change in direction, the relationship is a companion along the journey. See the difference?
I'm not speaking to you as someone who has it all figured out! Actually, the deeper you go in the relationship, the more amazed you are at the depth of its potential! In my experience, I've seen that God has so much more for me than what I'd ever imagined!!! I've seen Him work in ways that are completely outside the realm of my own understanding. In my life, it's pretty much been the equivalent of Elijah calling down fire from heaven!
So where do you begin if you want this kind of relationship with the Father? Well, as I said before, scripture is the guideline. The Bible is where it starts. Find a version that is easy for you to read and understand. Then talk to Him. Yes, out loud. Talk as you're driving. Nobody is there to look at you weird. :-) But after you talk, LISTEN. He'll speak in your thoughts, in things you see, in what you hear. He will amaze you! He's only waiting on you to ask Him. He responds to the voice of His children, just like He expects us to respond to His voice.
Today, right now, move past an idea. Get to know your Father. See if one day, you don't feel the warmth of His smile, or the comfort of His still, small voice. See if you don't have someone who follows Christ too recognize in you the "family resemblance." I only wish I could explain the difference it's made in me!!! And I've not even scratched the surface!!!
Don't forget to use the social media just below here to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. I welcome your comments! PLEASE leave one!!! Here's how:
1. Click on the words "No Comment" or " (#) Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph)
2. Write your comment in the box provided.
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THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
4 Lessons I Learned in 2013 That You Need to Learn Too
2013 brought so many things, and almost all of it good!!! I could tell you story after story of the way God showed His mighty awesomeness in our lives over the last 12-18 months! But there are two things wrong with that scenario. First, I'm really wanting to concentrate on the year that is, as I type this, in its fading moments. Second, the LAST thing I want is for this blog to have the tone of a bad Christmas letter!
So instead of reliving moments in my life that have nothing to do with you, my reader, I want to instead leave you with some life lessons that I've learned (or RElearned) that I hope will make a lasting difference in your lives as well. I honestly don't know that I could create an exhaustive list, but I'm going to pray and ask God to remind me of the ones that need to be included here. He knows who will be reading this and what all of you need to hear most.
1. God adores us. My friend, Debby Berry, says this all the time. Two years ago, because of decisions I had made personally, I called Debby. At the time, I would've said it was coincidence. From what I know now, it was a Divine appointment! She was the first person who drilled that into my head. I'd never heard it put that way before. A few months later, I remember laying in the altar of Gateway Church in Texas and God speaking to me so clearly saying, "You just need to let me love on you. Cast every worry on me. Nothing matters except that you let me love you." Since those conversations, I now wake up knowing that my Father in heaven ADORES me!!! Not for what I've done, mind you! That would disappoint even the holders of low standards! But because He made me, died for me, and still sees in me what He made me to be and knows my potential for His kingdom. And the same is true for YOU! Say it with me, "God adores me." Feels good, huh? Thanks, Debby, for that simple, yet life-changing lesson.
2. We don't deserve to be happy. Now before my fan mail starts crashing this server, hear me out. See, I tried that. Here's what I found. Happiness can be achieved only for fleeting moments at a time. It is not a sustainable state. But humanity gives a daily valiant effort at making it such and trying to convince the world that it's possible! Ok. So, I challenge you. Name ONE person that has sustained happiness. Not asking for a top ten list, not even three. Just one. Singular. YOU CAN'T! Because nobody has!!! Most people have for a time, but then it fades away like morning dew. Scripture tells us that we will face trials. Ever known anyone to jump up and scream, "YAY!!! Another TRIAL!!!! I'm so happy life tests me like this. BRING IT!!!" Me either. Not being serious, anyway. God was guaranteeing times of unhappiness. He knew they would come with frequency. He wants two things for us: joy & contentment. The first is from Him through Jesus. That kind of joy is sustainable. The second comes from experiencing the joy of knowing Christ. And when you add them together, you know what results? Happiness. Again, not sustained. But certainly more common and longer lasting than any we would hope to find in our own pursuits. So seek Jesus first. Then rest in the contentment that He brings. There, you will find the happiness you seek.
3. The importance of your spouse choice. Married people, don't cut me off here! I have come to realize full well that I love Michelle, my wife, more than the day I married her. Now there are a LOT of reasons why that this blog has no hope of provision for naming, but that's not the point. Whether you're dating or married, distractions happen. Distractions hinder the decision making process. Focus is key. Keep your eyes where they should be, and everything else will follow suit. Feel me? When distractions come, be strong in your resolve. Have accountability in your life of some sort. There is no wake up call that will hit you as hard as realizing too late that you made a mistake you can't take back. Nobody's perfect. I get that. But you have no idea the power of the devil where this is concerned, and you'd be wise to wise up! Pray over who you date AND who you marry. And NEVER STOP!!!
4. Speak truth into your life out loud daily!!! I grew up Southern Baptist. This is not something we did or that I was ever taught in Sunday School growing up. And I'm not talking about "prosperity gospel," at least what I always heard that phrase meant anyway. I'm not telling you to start claiming a Mercedes Benz and expect it in your driveway! But I am saying that we speak ourselves into the situations in which we find ourselves. My Pastor, Danny Chambers, said, "Who you are is who you've been saying you are for the last two years." I believe that. I've heard believers in Jesus say, "I can't... I won't... God didn't...." They'll talk about being a "realist" about their lives and situations. They've forgotten whose they are! I have a list of statements hanging on my bathroom mirror that Jamie Brandenburg, a buddy of mine here in Nashville, gave me. All of them are based on scripture and are just statements about who we are in Christ. I wrote them in a recent blog for you to be able to have and use. You can see them by clicking here. Go and print then off. Tweak them if you want. Add, subtract, it's your life you're speaking truth into. Make it your own! But you will see HUGE results if you do!!! I'm giving you personal testimony to that fact!!! Life is all about perspective, and saying things like this out loud daily helps keep a right perspective in our lives. Another quote by Pastor Danny says, "The Israelites looked at Goliath and said, 'He's so big we can't KILL him!' David looked at Goliath and said, 'He's so big I can't MISS him!'" It's all in perspective.
As I said early on, this isn't an exhaustive list. I think 4 is doable for anyone in any situation. Most of you will think that this was a nice blog and just close it. No, I'm not going to ask you to do a chain letter! I just want you to experience all God has for you. Just USE what Ive given you! If it doesn't work, I give you permission to call me a liar. But if it does, and I truly believe it will, then you can share it at your discretion. And no, your love of Jesus won't be affected if you don't! :-) I'm greatly annoyed by those emails and posts!
I welcome your comments! PLEASE click on the words "No Comment" or "Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph) and post a comment of your own. You must also choose a profile from the drop down list, or just choose "anonymous" from the list and type your name at the end of your comment in the actual comment box. Clicking the PUBLISH button posts your comment and you're good to go! Use the social media links there to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
So instead of reliving moments in my life that have nothing to do with you, my reader, I want to instead leave you with some life lessons that I've learned (or RElearned) that I hope will make a lasting difference in your lives as well. I honestly don't know that I could create an exhaustive list, but I'm going to pray and ask God to remind me of the ones that need to be included here. He knows who will be reading this and what all of you need to hear most.
1. God adores us. My friend, Debby Berry, says this all the time. Two years ago, because of decisions I had made personally, I called Debby. At the time, I would've said it was coincidence. From what I know now, it was a Divine appointment! She was the first person who drilled that into my head. I'd never heard it put that way before. A few months later, I remember laying in the altar of Gateway Church in Texas and God speaking to me so clearly saying, "You just need to let me love on you. Cast every worry on me. Nothing matters except that you let me love you." Since those conversations, I now wake up knowing that my Father in heaven ADORES me!!! Not for what I've done, mind you! That would disappoint even the holders of low standards! But because He made me, died for me, and still sees in me what He made me to be and knows my potential for His kingdom. And the same is true for YOU! Say it with me, "God adores me." Feels good, huh? Thanks, Debby, for that simple, yet life-changing lesson.
2. We don't deserve to be happy. Now before my fan mail starts crashing this server, hear me out. See, I tried that. Here's what I found. Happiness can be achieved only for fleeting moments at a time. It is not a sustainable state. But humanity gives a daily valiant effort at making it such and trying to convince the world that it's possible! Ok. So, I challenge you. Name ONE person that has sustained happiness. Not asking for a top ten list, not even three. Just one. Singular. YOU CAN'T! Because nobody has!!! Most people have for a time, but then it fades away like morning dew. Scripture tells us that we will face trials. Ever known anyone to jump up and scream, "YAY!!! Another TRIAL!!!! I'm so happy life tests me like this. BRING IT!!!" Me either. Not being serious, anyway. God was guaranteeing times of unhappiness. He knew they would come with frequency. He wants two things for us: joy & contentment. The first is from Him through Jesus. That kind of joy is sustainable. The second comes from experiencing the joy of knowing Christ. And when you add them together, you know what results? Happiness. Again, not sustained. But certainly more common and longer lasting than any we would hope to find in our own pursuits. So seek Jesus first. Then rest in the contentment that He brings. There, you will find the happiness you seek.
3. The importance of your spouse choice. Married people, don't cut me off here! I have come to realize full well that I love Michelle, my wife, more than the day I married her. Now there are a LOT of reasons why that this blog has no hope of provision for naming, but that's not the point. Whether you're dating or married, distractions happen. Distractions hinder the decision making process. Focus is key. Keep your eyes where they should be, and everything else will follow suit. Feel me? When distractions come, be strong in your resolve. Have accountability in your life of some sort. There is no wake up call that will hit you as hard as realizing too late that you made a mistake you can't take back. Nobody's perfect. I get that. But you have no idea the power of the devil where this is concerned, and you'd be wise to wise up! Pray over who you date AND who you marry. And NEVER STOP!!!
4. Speak truth into your life out loud daily!!! I grew up Southern Baptist. This is not something we did or that I was ever taught in Sunday School growing up. And I'm not talking about "prosperity gospel," at least what I always heard that phrase meant anyway. I'm not telling you to start claiming a Mercedes Benz and expect it in your driveway! But I am saying that we speak ourselves into the situations in which we find ourselves. My Pastor, Danny Chambers, said, "Who you are is who you've been saying you are for the last two years." I believe that. I've heard believers in Jesus say, "I can't... I won't... God didn't...." They'll talk about being a "realist" about their lives and situations. They've forgotten whose they are! I have a list of statements hanging on my bathroom mirror that Jamie Brandenburg, a buddy of mine here in Nashville, gave me. All of them are based on scripture and are just statements about who we are in Christ. I wrote them in a recent blog for you to be able to have and use. You can see them by clicking here. Go and print then off. Tweak them if you want. Add, subtract, it's your life you're speaking truth into. Make it your own! But you will see HUGE results if you do!!! I'm giving you personal testimony to that fact!!! Life is all about perspective, and saying things like this out loud daily helps keep a right perspective in our lives. Another quote by Pastor Danny says, "The Israelites looked at Goliath and said, 'He's so big we can't KILL him!' David looked at Goliath and said, 'He's so big I can't MISS him!'" It's all in perspective.
As I said early on, this isn't an exhaustive list. I think 4 is doable for anyone in any situation. Most of you will think that this was a nice blog and just close it. No, I'm not going to ask you to do a chain letter! I just want you to experience all God has for you. Just USE what Ive given you! If it doesn't work, I give you permission to call me a liar. But if it does, and I truly believe it will, then you can share it at your discretion. And no, your love of Jesus won't be affected if you don't! :-) I'm greatly annoyed by those emails and posts!
I welcome your comments! PLEASE click on the words "No Comment" or "Comment" (whichever is listed just to the right of the posting time directly below this paragraph) and post a comment of your own. You must also choose a profile from the drop down list, or just choose "anonymous" from the list and type your name at the end of your comment in the actual comment box. Clicking the PUBLISH button posts your comment and you're good to go! Use the social media links there to share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ accounts directly. THANK YOU for stopping by! Till next time...
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