Trust and belief go together. If you don't trust something or someone, you'll be apprehensive about it or them. You're apprehension is based on your unfamiliararity. The more you believe in someone or something, the more carefree, confident you are. The first time you take off on a rope swing, you're a little tentative. You pull on the rope a few times to test its strength. You jump off gingerly preparing yourself for the fall in case the rope breaks. You get a little more energetic with each jump. After several successful attemps, you're running full steam trying to maimize the effect of your jump.
That's how faith works. Letting go initially is a real risk. Since you've never known what God can do in your life, you're tentative about letting Him have everything. That's why I always encourage people first coming to faith in Christ to trust God as much as they know how. Deeper trust comes from an expanded experience with God. The more you believe in Him and His ability to intercede in your life, the greater the trust. As your trust develops, your belief deepens.
When you don't know Christ very well, it sometimes causes hesitation to follow or even skepticism to what He teaches. But the more you know Him, the more you find His teachings and commands to be true, then the more your are willing to put your life in His hands. The more you release yourself into His hands, the more assured you become in life, the more content you are within yourself.
God wants you to test His rope. Give it a good tug. Take the leap. He fully expects you to jump gingerly at first. His rope won't break. The more you swing, the more enthusiasticly you'll want to jump. Where in your life do you need to get off the branch, the ledge and go for it with God? You'll never know what God can do until you grab the rope and give it run.
God, I'm listening for your voice. I want to go where you want to take me. I'm following you. I'm placing myself fully into your hands. I want to experience life in you to the fullest. I'm ready for the swing of my life. Here goes, God. I'm jumping!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Daily Reflections on Mt. 9:35-38 (Eyes)
The print was getting to hard to read. I'd stand on stage with my thinline Bible and try to read the scripture. It was almost embarrassing as I stumbled through the words. I switched to my larger print Bible, but after speaking for five services a Sunday, my arm got so sore holding it up. I'd be getting cramps in my arm by the last service. You try holding out 5 lbs for 3 and 1/2 hours a day.
I finally broke down and bought a cheap pair of reading glasses. Unfortunately, before I could wear them "in the pulpit" one of my girls knocked them off the kitchen bar and stepped on them when she went to pick them up. She inadvertently broke off an ear piece. Being the cheapskate I am, I wore them anyway with only one ear piece. Needless to say, the audience that Sunday had a good laugh at my expense. In the crowd that day, my now eye doctor met me at the door informing me of my appointment with her the next day.
After my eye test, she said to me, "As we mature (words not normally directed at me) our vision sometimes deteriorates." "Let's try some corrective lenses to get you seeing clearly again," were the next words from her lips. Corrective lenses? Seeing clearly? My experience in the eye doctors office opened my eyes in more than one way. Not only was I able to read God's Word more clearly, I could see God's will more clearly as well.
As we mature in Christ or the longer we hang with only "church" people, the dimmer our vision gets toward the needs of people around us every day. It's not that we're completely blind, it's that everything gets a little blurred. We are so involved in living our own life, fulfilling our "church duties or responsibilities" that we lose sight of the needs of people in the world.
In my quest to be "spiritual," I cannot ignore the needs of people who are struggling through life right next to me. It's important to keep my eyes on Jesus, to celebrate personally and corporately in praise and worship and to dig into God's Word. However, Jesus calls me out of my pew, out of my Bible study, out of my prayer closet, out of my rich fellowship to the "harvest field." In a parallel passage Jesus says, "Lift up your eyes...." In other words, "take a look around, see what I'm seeing. Can't you see how great the needs are? We need more people making a difference in the lives of their neighbors and communities."
God, I need constant vision correction. Help me to see with your eyes, to feel with your heart, to act with your passion. Give me the wisdom and insight and strength to work in your field.
I finally broke down and bought a cheap pair of reading glasses. Unfortunately, before I could wear them "in the pulpit" one of my girls knocked them off the kitchen bar and stepped on them when she went to pick them up. She inadvertently broke off an ear piece. Being the cheapskate I am, I wore them anyway with only one ear piece. Needless to say, the audience that Sunday had a good laugh at my expense. In the crowd that day, my now eye doctor met me at the door informing me of my appointment with her the next day.
After my eye test, she said to me, "As we mature (words not normally directed at me) our vision sometimes deteriorates." "Let's try some corrective lenses to get you seeing clearly again," were the next words from her lips. Corrective lenses? Seeing clearly? My experience in the eye doctors office opened my eyes in more than one way. Not only was I able to read God's Word more clearly, I could see God's will more clearly as well.
As we mature in Christ or the longer we hang with only "church" people, the dimmer our vision gets toward the needs of people around us every day. It's not that we're completely blind, it's that everything gets a little blurred. We are so involved in living our own life, fulfilling our "church duties or responsibilities" that we lose sight of the needs of people in the world.
In my quest to be "spiritual," I cannot ignore the needs of people who are struggling through life right next to me. It's important to keep my eyes on Jesus, to celebrate personally and corporately in praise and worship and to dig into God's Word. However, Jesus calls me out of my pew, out of my Bible study, out of my prayer closet, out of my rich fellowship to the "harvest field." In a parallel passage Jesus says, "Lift up your eyes...." In other words, "take a look around, see what I'm seeing. Can't you see how great the needs are? We need more people making a difference in the lives of their neighbors and communities."
God, I need constant vision correction. Help me to see with your eyes, to feel with your heart, to act with your passion. Give me the wisdom and insight and strength to work in your field.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Daily Reflections on 1 Cor. 15:57-58 (Struggling)
"Oh victory in Jesus...." I loved that song growing up. It was fun to sing. I love the idea of being a winner. "And I repented of my sin and won the victory." Well, if I won the victory, how come I still face all these battles? Why is life so hard? What happened to, "come to Jesus and everything will good in your life?" Cause it seem I'm struggling just as hard if not harder than before I accepted Christ. Seems like the "abundant life" I got in Christ was abundant challenges and trials.
After reading through Paul's misadventures in the faith, including beatings, stonings, imprisonments, harassment, etc. somehow my idea of victory in Jesus has changed. If Paul can talk about victory in Christ after enduring all that, there must be something deeper. Understanding what "victory in Jesus" means involves a wider perspective. It implies we're in a spiritual battle that's bigger than us.
Every day of my life I'm engaged in the battle whether I know it or not. Some days the fighting is more intense than others but it's there nonetheless. Paul assures us that no matter what we face in life that if we will stand firm in the power of Christ and His resurrection we will win in the end. Nothing I do for Christ and His Kingdom will go unrewarded in eternity. In fact, the only things that have lasting value are the things we do for Christ and His Kingdom.
The battle requires all of our being. You can't go half-heartedly into battle and expect to win. It means giving everything, heart, soul, mind and strength. "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time will be no more, and the morning breaks eternal bright and fair, when the saints of earth shall gather over on the other shore, when the roll is called up yonder I'll be there." Victorious Christian living means engaging in life here and now with the assurance of victory for eternity.
God, some days it's really hard to stay focused on your victory. Some days I just want to give up or just stay in bed. Some days, I'm just really complacent and other days totally oblivious. Help me to live each day by your power. Give me the confidence and assurance to face each challenge and trial and opportunity. Thanks for plunging me to victory beneath your cleansing flood.
After reading through Paul's misadventures in the faith, including beatings, stonings, imprisonments, harassment, etc. somehow my idea of victory in Jesus has changed. If Paul can talk about victory in Christ after enduring all that, there must be something deeper. Understanding what "victory in Jesus" means involves a wider perspective. It implies we're in a spiritual battle that's bigger than us.
Every day of my life I'm engaged in the battle whether I know it or not. Some days the fighting is more intense than others but it's there nonetheless. Paul assures us that no matter what we face in life that if we will stand firm in the power of Christ and His resurrection we will win in the end. Nothing I do for Christ and His Kingdom will go unrewarded in eternity. In fact, the only things that have lasting value are the things we do for Christ and His Kingdom.
The battle requires all of our being. You can't go half-heartedly into battle and expect to win. It means giving everything, heart, soul, mind and strength. "When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time will be no more, and the morning breaks eternal bright and fair, when the saints of earth shall gather over on the other shore, when the roll is called up yonder I'll be there." Victorious Christian living means engaging in life here and now with the assurance of victory for eternity.
God, some days it's really hard to stay focused on your victory. Some days I just want to give up or just stay in bed. Some days, I'm just really complacent and other days totally oblivious. Help me to live each day by your power. Give me the confidence and assurance to face each challenge and trial and opportunity. Thanks for plunging me to victory beneath your cleansing flood.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Daily Reflections on Lk. 14:15-24 (It's Party Time)
It's why I answered the call to plant a church. Nobody wanted to come to the party. Everyone was too busy doing their own thing, concerned abut their own stuff, only interested their own self-gratification. Others outside in the streets, the bars, the neighborhood, those hurting and searching and wandering were basically ignored. "We got enough to deal with on our own to worry about THEM."
The church I served before I left to plant a church is a great church. God touched hundreds of lives and ministries to others were springing up from within. I love those people dearly. But the larger a church grows, the more it can turn inward and lose sight of the needs of those outside of Christ. I found myself, as senior pastor, being pressed into purely administration, maintenance, and only preaching/teaching. My passion is extending God's love to those outside of God's family. Nothing thrills me more than sharing with, encouraging and offering hope to those stumbling through the darkness of a lost world.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came as a shepherd to the shepherdless, as a hope to the hopeless, as a hand to the outcast and downcast, as a way out to the imprisoned, as good news to the poor, as vision for the blind, as freedom for the oppressed and enslaved. Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the only way to God.
Jesus' desire was the same as His Father's, that all men and women would come to repentance (change your way of thinking to God's way of thinking) and become a part of His family. Join the banquet feast. Come to the party. For several years I've had a picture/painting in my office of an endless banquet table that is elegantly set, but all of the seats are empty. It's a constant reminder of God's unending invitation to those who've not yet accepted God's offer. It's so easy to get caught up with other things of seeming importance in life as a believer, a pastor, a church that we forget that God wants His table full, not a few full people at His table becoming lethargic and sleepy after another big meal.
God, I confess I've enjoyed eating at your table, stuffing and gorging myself on your word, the fellowship, etc. Forgive me for my lack of passion and action. I know you want your table full. Give me the insight and wisdom and passion to go to the highways and byways to extend your good news and invitation. God help me GO and not sit in my church waiting for people to come to me or my church. I want to party with the angels who celebrate when a person comes to faith in Christ.
The church I served before I left to plant a church is a great church. God touched hundreds of lives and ministries to others were springing up from within. I love those people dearly. But the larger a church grows, the more it can turn inward and lose sight of the needs of those outside of Christ. I found myself, as senior pastor, being pressed into purely administration, maintenance, and only preaching/teaching. My passion is extending God's love to those outside of God's family. Nothing thrills me more than sharing with, encouraging and offering hope to those stumbling through the darkness of a lost world.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came as a shepherd to the shepherdless, as a hope to the hopeless, as a hand to the outcast and downcast, as a way out to the imprisoned, as good news to the poor, as vision for the blind, as freedom for the oppressed and enslaved. Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the only way to God.
Jesus' desire was the same as His Father's, that all men and women would come to repentance (change your way of thinking to God's way of thinking) and become a part of His family. Join the banquet feast. Come to the party. For several years I've had a picture/painting in my office of an endless banquet table that is elegantly set, but all of the seats are empty. It's a constant reminder of God's unending invitation to those who've not yet accepted God's offer. It's so easy to get caught up with other things of seeming importance in life as a believer, a pastor, a church that we forget that God wants His table full, not a few full people at His table becoming lethargic and sleepy after another big meal.
God, I confess I've enjoyed eating at your table, stuffing and gorging myself on your word, the fellowship, etc. Forgive me for my lack of passion and action. I know you want your table full. Give me the insight and wisdom and passion to go to the highways and byways to extend your good news and invitation. God help me GO and not sit in my church waiting for people to come to me or my church. I want to party with the angels who celebrate when a person comes to faith in Christ.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Daily Reflections on Phil. 4:4-7 (Worry)
When you first read today's passage the little tune by Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," might come to mind. The thought seems almost as ridiculous as the song. Rejoice always? Right! Don't be anxious about anything? Right! How? Paul obviously must not have faced the same things I face. Telling people not to worry is like telling water not to run downhill.
I fight a little blood pressure problem and have rightly been accused of having "white coat" blood pressure (that means when they take my pressure in the doctor's office it always goes up). When I was first diagnosed and monitored they'd take my blood pressure and it would be high, so they would make me lie down in a dark room and tell me not to think about my pressure. They'd come back in twenty minutes or so and my blood pressure would be ten points higher. A friend of mine said he would quote the 23rd Psalm to make his go down. I tried it and mine still went up. How spiritual am I?
Let's face it, we all worry about something. We all face situations that seem overwhelming or unbearable. Anxiety and worry are a part of life. But do they have to be? Anxiety and worry occur when things are out of our control. We bite our nails, fidget, wring our hands, sweat, shake, pace, become full of nervous energy when we lose our ability to manipulate our environment or make something happen.
Rejoicing in the Lord isn't about walking around with an empty mind and a fake smile plastered to our face. Rejoicing in the Lord is more about resting in Him, trusting Him, finding our confidence in Him. It's being aware that the Lord is near and He's in control. Things may be out of my control, but they are certainly not out of God's control. So I release my anxiety to Him through prayer, petition, and praise. I can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I can sit in the presence of my enemies or an unforeseen future because God is with me. That gives me confidence and peace as I walk through the uncertainties of life.
God, I'm rejoicing in you today. I choose you to focus on you and not circumstances or challenges. You created life to enjoy in you and I plan to do that today. God, I can't control every circumstance in life any more than I can control the weather, but you can. Even the wind and the waves obey your command. God, I want to live today by your peace and let tomorrow take care of itself.
I fight a little blood pressure problem and have rightly been accused of having "white coat" blood pressure (that means when they take my pressure in the doctor's office it always goes up). When I was first diagnosed and monitored they'd take my blood pressure and it would be high, so they would make me lie down in a dark room and tell me not to think about my pressure. They'd come back in twenty minutes or so and my blood pressure would be ten points higher. A friend of mine said he would quote the 23rd Psalm to make his go down. I tried it and mine still went up. How spiritual am I?
Let's face it, we all worry about something. We all face situations that seem overwhelming or unbearable. Anxiety and worry are a part of life. But do they have to be? Anxiety and worry occur when things are out of our control. We bite our nails, fidget, wring our hands, sweat, shake, pace, become full of nervous energy when we lose our ability to manipulate our environment or make something happen.
Rejoicing in the Lord isn't about walking around with an empty mind and a fake smile plastered to our face. Rejoicing in the Lord is more about resting in Him, trusting Him, finding our confidence in Him. It's being aware that the Lord is near and He's in control. Things may be out of my control, but they are certainly not out of God's control. So I release my anxiety to Him through prayer, petition, and praise. I can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I can sit in the presence of my enemies or an unforeseen future because God is with me. That gives me confidence and peace as I walk through the uncertainties of life.
God, I'm rejoicing in you today. I choose you to focus on you and not circumstances or challenges. You created life to enjoy in you and I plan to do that today. God, I can't control every circumstance in life any more than I can control the weather, but you can. Even the wind and the waves obey your command. God, I want to live today by your peace and let tomorrow take care of itself.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Daily Reflections on Acts 9:26-31 (Suspicious Minds)
Suspicion and skepticism is the order of the day! We question the intent and motives of virtually everyone with whom we do business or even interact. It's everywhere in our society. And unfortunately it's crept into the American church. Perhaps the national scandals have contributed to the cynicism in and around the church, from the sexual abuse of boys by priests, to the drug use and homosexual rendezvous of Ted Haggard, to the Jim and Tammy Faye Bakers and Jimmy Swaggerts. It's no wonder the church is disrepute with the world.
But it isn't just the high profile cases that are giving the church a bad name. The personal agendas, power struggles, and disputes in local churches are ripping apart the growth and development of the church in America. Research by a friend of mine found that there is not one county in the US that has a greater percentage of believers today than it did just 10 years ago. At the current rate of decline, only 12% of the nation will consider themselves a "Christian" by the year 2050.
Division, fights, splits, disunity, wrong motives, gossip, selfishness, personality conflicts and personal animosity are wrecking the church. It's not the church that Jesus established. That's part of the problem. It's gone from being Christ's church to MY church. Isn't Christ supposed to be the head of the church, every church? Not the pastor or bishop or governing board or denominational head quarters or ladies group or the guy with the most money or influence or been there the longest.
When the apostles in this passage dealt with the controversy surrounding Paul and sent him home to Tarsus for a season of growth, the text here says the church enjoyed a time of peace. It also says the Holy Spirit could then strengthen and encourage the church which in turn led to growth in the number of people accepting Christ and becoming a part of God's family and growth in living in the fear/respect of the Lord. Peace led to more than just a succession of hostilities. It led to more people being drawn to and accepting Christ and a deeper spiritual walk with God.
Isn't it time we drop all the personal opinions and agendas, dealt with the personality conflicts, bickering, backbiting, finger pointing and selfishness? I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a season of peace. I'm ready to be encouraged and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I'm ready to grow as a church in a deeper intimacy with God. I'm ready to see hundreds, thousands of lives come to know Christ in their life.
God, help me be an instrument of your peace, not a source of controversy and consternation. Help me lead through your Spirit. I want to sense your presence deeper each day. I want to be a vessel that extends your good news. I want our church to model you, grow in you, serve like you, submit like you, love like you, offer hope like you.
But it isn't just the high profile cases that are giving the church a bad name. The personal agendas, power struggles, and disputes in local churches are ripping apart the growth and development of the church in America. Research by a friend of mine found that there is not one county in the US that has a greater percentage of believers today than it did just 10 years ago. At the current rate of decline, only 12% of the nation will consider themselves a "Christian" by the year 2050.
Division, fights, splits, disunity, wrong motives, gossip, selfishness, personality conflicts and personal animosity are wrecking the church. It's not the church that Jesus established. That's part of the problem. It's gone from being Christ's church to MY church. Isn't Christ supposed to be the head of the church, every church? Not the pastor or bishop or governing board or denominational head quarters or ladies group or the guy with the most money or influence or been there the longest.
When the apostles in this passage dealt with the controversy surrounding Paul and sent him home to Tarsus for a season of growth, the text here says the church enjoyed a time of peace. It also says the Holy Spirit could then strengthen and encourage the church which in turn led to growth in the number of people accepting Christ and becoming a part of God's family and growth in living in the fear/respect of the Lord. Peace led to more than just a succession of hostilities. It led to more people being drawn to and accepting Christ and a deeper spiritual walk with God.
Isn't it time we drop all the personal opinions and agendas, dealt with the personality conflicts, bickering, backbiting, finger pointing and selfishness? I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a season of peace. I'm ready to be encouraged and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I'm ready to grow as a church in a deeper intimacy with God. I'm ready to see hundreds, thousands of lives come to know Christ in their life.
God, help me be an instrument of your peace, not a source of controversy and consternation. Help me lead through your Spirit. I want to sense your presence deeper each day. I want to be a vessel that extends your good news. I want our church to model you, grow in you, serve like you, submit like you, love like you, offer hope like you.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Daily Reflections on Eph. 4:31-5:2 (Playing God)
Temper tantrums! We throw them when we don't get our way. We learned them as a child. Don't get what we want, we scream, holler, cry, demand, stamp and stomp until we prevail. Kids can be very dramatic in their antics and somewhat boisterous. As we age, we get more sophisticated in our temper tantrums. The antics change, but our heart actually darkens. Instead of just throwing a simple temper tantrum and being done with it, we hold onto it, nurture it, rehearse it again and again in our mind.
The longer we hold onto it, the deeper the bitterness and stronger the anger and animosity grows. It gets played out in passive aggression, continual confrontation, growing hatred, defensive attitudes, slanderous words and general frustration. It leads to road rage (even when we're not behind the wheel), tension, suspicion, sleepless nights and upset stomachs.
The solution? Get rid of it. That doesn't mean you get your revenge or demand an apology. Paul says you get rid of it by imitating God. This is one time you get to play God. And if you're gonna play God, you have to act like God by repaying malice with kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love. As Jesus hung on the cross and the crowd ridiculed Him, instead of blasting them into oblivion, He ask the Father to forgive them. His love kept Him on the cross.
My problem, when I play God, I have this tendency to come at it as judge, jury, and executioner. If it were me on the cross, I would have given them a taste of my power and caused them a little discomfort of their own. "Okay, I'm gonna endure this cross thing for you, but I wouldn't have to you know." Let them experience a little fear of God!
However, if I want to free myself, I've got to release the hurt and bitterness and anger. As long as we hold onto those feelings, we allow the other person and their actions to control us and our thoughts and influence our actions and affect all our relationships. It steals our joy of life.
Holding on also diminishes our relationship with God. It sucks the life out of our intimacy with Him. Instead of enjoying our time with God, we find ourselves whining and complaining all the time. It's hard for us to frolic in the love and grace of His forgiveness and mercy. Offering grace and forgiveness causes us to experience the fullness of God's forgiveness.
God, help me to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving like you. Thanks for your forgiveness and grace and mercy and love. Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for me.
The longer we hold onto it, the deeper the bitterness and stronger the anger and animosity grows. It gets played out in passive aggression, continual confrontation, growing hatred, defensive attitudes, slanderous words and general frustration. It leads to road rage (even when we're not behind the wheel), tension, suspicion, sleepless nights and upset stomachs.
The solution? Get rid of it. That doesn't mean you get your revenge or demand an apology. Paul says you get rid of it by imitating God. This is one time you get to play God. And if you're gonna play God, you have to act like God by repaying malice with kindness, compassion, forgiveness and love. As Jesus hung on the cross and the crowd ridiculed Him, instead of blasting them into oblivion, He ask the Father to forgive them. His love kept Him on the cross.
My problem, when I play God, I have this tendency to come at it as judge, jury, and executioner. If it were me on the cross, I would have given them a taste of my power and caused them a little discomfort of their own. "Okay, I'm gonna endure this cross thing for you, but I wouldn't have to you know." Let them experience a little fear of God!
However, if I want to free myself, I've got to release the hurt and bitterness and anger. As long as we hold onto those feelings, we allow the other person and their actions to control us and our thoughts and influence our actions and affect all our relationships. It steals our joy of life.
Holding on also diminishes our relationship with God. It sucks the life out of our intimacy with Him. Instead of enjoying our time with God, we find ourselves whining and complaining all the time. It's hard for us to frolic in the love and grace of His forgiveness and mercy. Offering grace and forgiveness causes us to experience the fullness of God's forgiveness.
God, help me to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving like you. Thanks for your forgiveness and grace and mercy and love. Thank you Jesus for laying down your life for me.
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