Happy New 'Today'

As with most New Year’s traditions in America, most of us will not begin celebrating the coming of the new year until this Thursday evening. In our home we will start the festivities around 6 or 7 p.m. These will include board games, a movie or two, and of course quite a bit of various finger-food items. As the evening draws closer to midnight, we will tune in to watch the ‘ball drop’ in Time Square. When midnight arrives there is screaming, yelling, kissing, and celebration of all kinds…because there is now a ‘new’ year to look forward to.

What will that new year bring? We don’t know…we really don’t have any guarantees. Oh sure, we definitively hope for less stress, better financial security, and good health. From a realist standpoint, however, there is nothing magical in January 1^st that is going to wipe everything clean of 2009. It’s simply just another day.

Isaiah 43:19

For I am about to do something new.
 See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
 I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Here’s the good news. God wants you to know that He is on the brink of doing something ‘new.’ The gears are already in motion. Plans are being made…and you’re in them! There is nothing mystical about the dawn of 2010, but there is something very real and powerful in what God is planning right now!

What is it that you long for to be new in 2010? Are you trusting Jesus for it? This week, may you put less trust in New Year’s Day and more trust in the one who created that day before it is even here. May you also be willing and excited to receive the ‘new’ that God is working on this very moment.

CHRISTmas...the anti-ordinary

Luke 2:11 (from the Message) reads:

"A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master."

For the week of Christmas, I thought I'd share a thought from 'The Applause of Heaven' by Max Lucado. Max writes:

An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who loves to hook an "extra" on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed. The sheep would have been forgotten, and the shepherds would have slept the night away. But God dances amidst the common. And that night he did a waltz.

Here's what I would challenge you this week. Is your day to day, week to week routine so mundane and 'ordinary' that nothing really distinguishes one from the other? Is it difficult to pinpoint the last time that God used you to do something for him? Or for that matter, are you still able to hear his voice when the request is made?

God will use us on a daily basis, even in spite of our seemingly mundane lives. So as we celebrate and recognize the physical birth of Christ among us this week, pray for and expect God to add an 'extra' into the mix of our ordinary. No matter where you may be and who you are with this Christmas, may it be peaceful...reflective...and extra-ordinary!

Outcast -or- Outlove ?

For this week's Brain Gum, I would like to direct you to a pastor's blog whom I follow on Twitter. His name is Perry Noble and he pastors a church in S. Carolina. He writes about an incident that happened at their church this last week.

I wanted to share it with you.

Comments, questions, and open discussion are encouraged on this one...either via Facebook, Twitter or email.

This week, may God richly bless you...and may those around you also be as blessed!

Do you see what I see?

In keeping with the Christmas season, I want to revisit the shepherds and their experience that is recorded in Luke 2. The Bible tells us that they were already nearby and pretty much minding their own business when angel appears to them. He tells them that their Savior is about to be born. If this were not enough for these guys to swallow, then a massive Heavenly party shows up on the scene. Then the shepherds decide to go see for themselves. They quickly spread the word regarding what had been told them and about the baby Jesus.

Luke 2:20 reads…

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

What catches my attention in this story is what happened after they had returned to their fields. They were so thankful that they had actually experienced everything the angel had told them before. These shepherds were blessed beyond the norm. Yes, of coarse because they got to witness the birthplace of Jesus. They also experienced a very timely fulfillment of a message from God.

So many times in our Christian walk we experience some form of assurance from God, yet actually seeing it through to fruition rarely occurs in our timing. It is hard to have patience, trust, and remain encouraged while waiting for what seems like forever to see the hand of God move. The benefits, however, are well worth the wait…as these shepherds would tell you!

This week, may you be able to endure God’s timeline in your life. For then you will ‘glorify and praise’ Him.

You have a 'friend request' from God

"The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one." (Joan Baez)

In our current world of mobile technology and online networking, it is literally possible to have conversations with tens or even hundreds of people a day. Whether its email, cell phone, texting, Facebook, Skype, or Twitter…our connectability with others has become virtually unlimited. In fact, I’m Facebook chatting with a friend as I’m writing this blog. There are some definite drawbacks, however, to take notice of.

With most of this online networking, we lose so much of the voice tone, body language, and sharing of emotions. If there’s a problem in a relationship, we’ve grown to take the ‘easy’ route and simply email our concerns and frustrations to the offending party. If the issue is too uncomfortable to deal with, we then simply ignore emails and texts as if there were a technical problem.

Now let’s turn this around to examine this dynamic between us and God. Do you suppose that many of us tend to treat our relationship with Jesus in the same manner at times? Sure, we may Skype him via video chat when we REALLY need him, but most of the time it might just be a simple prayer text or wall post on Facebook that he might happen to notice. Check out this Bible Tweet…

Romans 5:11 reads:

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (NLT)

Jesus intentionally made us (you and I) friends of God! It doesn’t stop there though. This is not the same reference as the kind of friend you went through school with. Looking deeper into this text, especially at the Greek translation, the issue of atonement comes into play. You see, we are not just BFFs with God the Father, Jesus made us RIGHT with him. He ‘fixed’ our relationship. All God asks of us is to actively enjoy growing close to him!

This week, may you NOT miss out on some personal time with God. Invite him to Starbucks and chat over a hot latte. Ask him to go for a walk with you in the park. Whatever it is, may you discover the joy in that ‘wonderful new relationship’ this week. He’s got his cell phone on….and he’s not screening his calls!

Those Crazy Blessings!

It’s Thanksgiving time, and for our family one additional thought comes to mind other than turkey. ‘Black Friday!’ That’s right…we are some of those fanatical people that will do almost anything for a good deal. We are usually up and out the door between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. standing in line with a couple hundred like-minded (crazy) souls. My wife and I, however, differ a bit in what we enjoy about this annual holiday scurry. She is all about strategically planning her ‘attack’ on the retail front, while I simply tag along enjoying observing society in full throttle. I know it sounds sick, and it probably is…but we really enjoy it!

This year we had an idea that would add a fun little twist to our adventure. If you have ever been out when the stores open on black Friday you know that emotions, time of day, desperation, and frustration can be a challenge for anyone. Back-pew Betsy easily transforms into fire-breathing Fran. This led us to think that there are probably endless opportunities to bless total strangers who are having a really bad day.

I’m sure you’ve heard of random acts of kindness? It’s when you simply do something nice, spontaneously meet a need, for a total stranger. Well, we decided as a family that this was going to be our objective on Black Friday this year while out finding our bargains. We are taking a portion of our Christmas funds and dividing it six ways, then keeping our eyes open for windows of opportunity to meet a need for someone this Christmas season.

Matthew 14:13-14 tells us of Christ’s character after receiving news that his cousin

had just been killed.

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

In this account, Jesus not only takes note of a need but sets his own needs aside long enough to bless someone else. How could he do this after having just learned of John’s death? Because he was moved with compassion for others. Here’s my encouragement for you this week. May you strive to notice a need between now and Sunday, and then act on it. And may you be blessed from being a blessing to a neighbor in need.

Church Trends Open Discussion

Barna Group (2005)

Trends related to the American church

1) Barna noted that most local churches essentially ignore three critical spiritual dimensions: ministry to children, ministry to families, and prayer.

2) Congregations are rapidly incorporating new technologies into their activities. The integration of these applications into the church’s normal process conveys an image of cultural sensitivity and relevance to those who are trying to determine if the church has something valid to offer.

3) The slow demise of the African-American church community. There is an intriguing - and unfortunate - correlation between the economic rise of the African-American population and the deterioration of its faith in Christ.

4) The "changing of the guard among the leaders of the leaders." Referring to the individuals whom the media and general public, as well as pastors, perceive to be the leading spokespersons for the Christian Church in the U.S.

Trends related to people of faith

1) Evangelicals are by far the most active in evangelism, most likely to read the Bible, to pray, to attend church services, to volunteer at a church, and to engage in a small group during the week, and give away almost three times as much money as do other Americans.

2) American Christians are biblically illiterate. Although most of them contend that the Bible contains truth and is worth knowing, and most of them argue that they know all of the relevant truths and principles, the Barna research shows otherwise.

3) The rise of revolutionaries. Revolutionaries are individuals who are deeply committed to Christ, and want more of God in their lives. Frustrated by churches in the attempts to satisfy that longing, these individuals have crafted entirely new spiritual environments that draw them closer to God and other believers, without the help of a conventional church.

4) The faith trajectory of the young adult generations (the Baby Busters and the Mosaics). Overall, they are interested in matters of faith, but they have few assumptions about what a life of faith must entail.


These trends should easily evoke multiple thoughts and insights in believers. What are yours?

Searching for Hope

Psalm 25:21 reads:

"May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you."

For this week simply meditate on this verse each day. Ask yourself what you need protection from...and where you get your hope.

My Unplanned Life

Let me start off by asking you a question. Have you ever had life simply not go your way? Maybe an emergency or an unexpected situation pops up! Don’t you love it? I mean, come on…don’t we deserve to have these things submit a request to our day-planner like everything else?

The fact of the matter is life is going to continue moving straight ahead whether we are keeping up or not. Some of the things that tend to catch us off guard are as simple as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet other times it is a direct result of an untimely or unwise choice we made. God is not necessarily there placing some obstacles in our path and removing others. He is there guiding us throughout the journey. Sometimes he gets our attention by shouting our name, and other times he simply whispers. Either way, his intention is to draw you to himself…to keep you focused and not distracted. The closer we see and feel him near us, the more insignificant life’s trials appear. The contrary is also very true. If we are not walking, talking, and fellowshipping intimately with our creator the small negatives in life can virtually blind us of his presence.
Check out the verse below…

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

You see, Jesus never promised us that life would always be a bed of roses. He did, however, conquer the thorns, broken glass, fiery coals, and anything else that could otherwise tear us apart. This week, may you know the person of Jesus each day. May you also trust him enough to share your happiest moments…and your most devastating struggles with him. He longs to be there for both.

Love Comes Even Closer

Psalm 34:18 reads:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

As believers, we know that he is always there for us. We can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, especially the more active and mindful we are in our time of prayer and reflecting on the Word of God. This verse, however, offers something extra special. When God’s children are brokenhearted, barely hanging on during life’s lowest moments, he is ‘intentionally’ close to us. Not only is he close, but he takes action in those weak times and holds on to us until the storm passes.

God is not in any way obligated to rescue you. It is not in his job description. He is accountable only to himself. This week may you be reminded of this, and that God is actively close simply because he actively loves!

Who Do You Think You Are?

Who do you think you are? Are you a businessman? A teacher? Construction worker? Parent? Too many times we tend to define ourselves by our occupation or position in life. We do this with good intensions…but also because it’s easy. What I’m getting at is this. It’s almost effortless to describe ‘what’ we are, but proclaiming ‘who’ we are is something entirely different. Here’s an example of the uniqueness of the two:

I am a proud father of four great kids, a loving husband, and pastor who is passionate to see God’s joy and hope in the lives of people.

I am also a child of divorce, abuse, and poor choices who has come to accept that God loved me even when I willingly ran from Him.

The first is very superficial, like the nutrition label on a box of cereal. The second, however, is coming to grips with who God says that I am…no one else!
Oh sure, we could all probably sit down and differentiate the two if given the challenge. But when we are going through our daily life journey, which of the two self-descriptions is really at the forefront of our mind? Exactly!

But to all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
John 1:12-13

You are God’s kid, and He’s your Daddy in Heaven. This week, may you accept your true place in His family. May you also be continually aware of God’s hope and plan for your life.

What Are You More Confident Of?

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 reads:

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

Next, take a look at how The Message phrases it:

“Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.”

I simply love that! Cultivate God-confidence. Reading this reminded me of a ropes course I went through years ago as a youth worker. The pinnacle of the course was to climb to the top of a 50 ft. wooden pole and walk across a similar beam another 50 ft….with NO nets underneath. Now, there’s God-confidence and there’s obedience in life for all of us. Both were obvious to me in this course. My willingness to do the challenge was the obedience factor, and the body harness and repelling rope were my God-confidence. You see, I had confidence in the rope and the guide on the ground that had my well-being in their hands. But that confidence would have been completely useless had I not taken that first step of the climb.

This week, spend some time thinking about any obedience issues that you may have been struggling with between you and God. Then ask yourself this question:
“Am I unwilling to obey Him in this area of my life because I’m totally relying on my own self-confidence and not trusting Him wholeheartedly?” May you be bold enough to ask God this question, and honest enough to take action.

"McFaith"

Have you ever wondered what it will be like in Heaven? Many of us find ourselves asking questions like:

- Will there be food in Heaven?
- Will we need to sleep?
- Will we get to see Jesus every day?
- What will be the clothing style?

One of my favorite BlueFishTV clips is both comical and sad at the same time.

Check out this short clip!

Now, read Revelations 21:21-27 below.

The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

What an amazing sight that will be! And as believers, we should desire for those who are still lost around us to have the same destination as us. This week, may you communicate hope to someone who desperately needs it.

Advocate on the Hill

Psalm 32:8 reads:

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

Imagine, if you will, that you are driving on a 4-lane highway traveling at 70 mph. As you approach a hill, substantial fog sets in and visibility is significantly impaired almost suddenly. You have two lanes to choose to be in as you advance the crest of the climb, not knowing if there is slower traffic in either lane on the other side. Would it be nice, in that very moment, to have a friend standing on the other side of the hill? They would already know what the traffic looks like ahead of you, and could give you adequate warning.

Read the above verse again. God is that friend on the other side. He sees and knows what’s coming at us. He desperately wants to guide us in the absolute best path for our life. This is why it is so critical that we maintain a constant, daily, open line of communication with our God. He is our advocate…our biggest fan. Let’s bring Him along for the ride.

Do You Love "You?"

Matthew 22:37-40 reads:

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these

two commandments.”

Most of us have heard these words before, and we usually summarize it as ‘love God, love others.’ It’s how we love others, however, that we often miss.
The Message words it this way: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' This calls for some serious self-reflection. In what areas do you truly love yourself, and are there areas that are somewhat undesirable? Here’s a great quote from

well-known author, Norman Vincent Peale:

“It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship.”

Simply put, we cannot be any more pleasant or caring to others than we can be to ourselves. Limiting our potential…potentially limits how much God will use us.
This week, may you truly love and believe in yourself so you

can be the love of God to your neighbor.

Daddy's Lap

Proverbs 18:10 reads:

The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.


Names. Everybody’s got one. We either like what our parents named us, or we wish that we could change our name to something else…and some do! Onomatology is the study of names. Do you know what your name means? Mine (Brent) is from a Celtic word meaning ‘from the hill.’ Now, maybe I tend to read into things like this a little too much, but a couple questions come to mind. First, what ‘hill’ is being referred to? And second, what was the first Brent doing on that hill? See…random thoughts.

For those of us who believe in God and have given our lives over to Him, the scripture passage above offers tremendous hope and security. What’s in a name? Simply put…the name of God is our home base…our safe zone…our Daddy’s lap. Additionally, when we take a look at all of God’s names in the Bible it quickly becomes apparent that He is much more than that. He really is our everything.
So for this week, may you find safety, rest, and comfort sitting on the knee of your Heavenly Father. May you also feel His strong, loving arms embrace you as your child-like grin touches His heart.

The Last Word

Proverbs 16:1-3 from The Message reads:

“Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place.”


Do you believe that today…does God truly have the last word? Have you ever put tons of energy and effort into getting certain plans just the way you want them…only to have God mess it all up? “How dare he! How could he do that with all my good intensions?” But here’s the problem with our ‘good intensions’ most of the time. We have zero guarantee that any of it will succeed! Usually, the problem ends up being that we simply did not consult with God via prayer and reading of the Word in order to receive his blessing first. Once we have that we can be assured that we’re on the right track.
Now look at the other half of the above verses. Then, read this quote below by speaker and author, Leondard Sweet from his book, “Soul Tsunami.”

"The church is bursting at the seams with rationality, decency, order, dignity, and predictability. What it needs is the holy intoxications of foolishness, humor, craziness, outrageousness, creative disorder, and passion."

In relation to the church, God’s church, do you see any correlation between the Proverbs passage and Pastor Sweet’s statement? If so, what is it? Please email me or comment on the blog with your thoughts.
This week, may your plans be beautifully painted on the canvas of your ‘to do’ list…and may you allow God to hold the brush.

Who's The Boss?

Colossians 3:23 reads:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Labor Day…a time set aside for workers to rest and look back on their efforts and accomplishments. For some Americans, it’s the last extended weekend to get caught up on yard work and cleaning. For others, it’s the final opportunity to get out of town for a quick vacation before winter comes. Yet for others, it’s simply one more day to sleep in before the busy work week begins.

As I contemplated these thoughts on Monday, I began to think “What if Labor Day was a time for us to think about all the things we do for God?” Have you ever just taken a moment to consider all the time, creativity, and energy you’ve put into doing the Lord’s work? And can your daily ‘job’ possibly be doing the Lord’s work?

My encouragement for you this week is this: (1) Be bold enough to honestly ask God how He wants to use you. (2) Look for at least one chance to impact someone’s life each day…whether it’s covering 63 cents the person ahead of you is short at the store or tipping the waiter more than they deserve.

This week, may you see your labor and your activities as God sees them…opportunities to be a reflection of Jesus.

Remember your Anniversary?

Jeremiah 1:5 reads:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

The reason this is getting posted a day late is that yesterday Cailey and I celebrated our wedding Anniversary. I thought that was a pretty good excuse for this week. Anyway, we had a great time celebrating 18+ years together. We took time to look back over the years and see how our relationship had grown and changed since the time we first met in high school. Then I made the observation that in just two more years we will have spent more of our lives together than before we met. But before 1988 our relationship was non-existent. We have no history prior to that year. Then I thought, well…our parents and siblings have those relationships prior to when we met. Only one person, however, precedes even our parents…and that’s God!

Before I ever had a chance to cry for my parents to comfort me, my God in Heaven knew everything about me. I believe this is why He longs to have a close relationship with us. He knows us so well, and He wants us to know Him too!

This week, may you take some time to remember your ‘Anniversary’ date: the moment that you began your relationship with God. And may you also see how it has changed over time. Wherever you are, He is still right there…waiting to reminisce with you…and to grow into tomorrow together!

Why don’t you take Him to coffee soon…maybe He will buy :)

Cast a Smile

John 16:33 (from the Message) reads:

I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world.

Here are some of Jesus’ last intimate words with His disciples. When He said these words it was in the context of His approaching arrest and death. The disciples were instructed how they were going to mourn, and how joy would also soon return to them. That ‘joy’ Jesus spoke of is directly tied to His resurrection.

Simplified a bit more, this verse can be read as this: “Your challenges are also my challenges. Your enemies are my enemies. And your sadness is my sadness. But I have triumphed over it all, therefore, so have you.”

This week, may you stand up…gaze heavenward…cast a smile toward His face…and know that Jesus defeated it all for YOU!

Do You Feel The Love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reads:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Wow! A lot of what Love is and isn’t. This passage is famously referenced in the context of marriage, but its intent is much more general than that. Paul is clearly speaking about our character as believers in Jesus Christ. It’s how we behave/react with each other in certain circumstances, and our attitude and feelings inside of us that often times drive our behavior.

Jesus came to be with us in human form unselfishly and purely out of love for us. This is how we now have the gift of grace in our lives. It seems to me that when we can fully embrace the above text, we can then feel the heartbeat of Christ toward each other.

This week, may you be able to love…as well as allow yourself to be loved. May you also not lose your hope in God. He’s still hoping in you!

The Nature of God

Isaiah 2:22 reads:

“Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”

What good are we? That sounds a bit harsh, don’t you think? Frail in comparison to God…yes. Good for nothing…I’m not sure.

After taking a second glance at this statement within the context of the rest of the chapter, however, it’s clear what the real issue is here. It’s not so much about whether or not we are worth anything good. It’s simply that we are not to be praised, worshipped, or elevated to a position equal with God.

That might have made you laugh a little, but we all fall into this trap of idolatry once in a while and to varying degrees. Just think, do you know anyone who has ever…
…placed all their potential for happiness in the success of a sports team?
…blamed the health or death of their marriage on the shoulders of their counselor?
…looked solely to the person of a Pastor/church leader for their own spiritual growth?
…counted on the government to take care of all their problems?

Have you ever been one of these people? I have! And I’ll tell you this…people come and go in our lives. They may bless us, and they may also hurt us. But our God in Heaven will never give us a viable reason to mistrust Him….NEVER!

This week, may you dwell on this. Refrain from putting all your hope in people…in your teachers, your politicians, your parents, your pastors, your spouse, your best friend, or your church. They will come up short now and then, but your God; well, that’s simply not His nature. May you experience life with people, and trust your life to God!

Is God Avoiding You?

Matthew 7:7 reads:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

First, check out this YouTube link:
Erwin McManus teaching


Then, try to answer these two questions:
1) What causes us at times to think that God is avoiding us?
2) Is there something in your life that you are not honestly asking God for wisdom in, seeking His direction, or knocking …truly anticipating opportunity to open? If so, what is it and how should your approach to the situation change?

This week, may you diligently search out the heart of God in your life…and may you then be courageous enough to listen to the beat of His heart.

Emergency vs. Consistency

Romans 12:12 reads:

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

What a great word of instruction from Paul. It seems to me that Paul’s intent would be for this to be a daily application no matter what is going on. Yet, wouldn’t you agree that many times we approach passages like this as an emergency verse? Think of this. What if it were possible for us to go two or three weeks without food or water, yet feel virtually healthy? Then suddenly, and without warning, we experience this incredible hunger. We find ourselves eating and drinking vast quantities of food, as if to make up for lost nutrition. Now, we all know that this scenario is highly unlikely and unhealthy. Why then do we tend to consider scripture like this? We can last extended periods of time not feeding on God’s Word and still feel perfectly fine spiritually. It’s when difficulties in life come our way that we instantly feel that loss of spiritual nourishment, and diminished strength to endure.
My prayer for you this week has three parts:
1) May you remain confident in your hope in Jesus.
2) Whether trouble sneaks up on you or hits you like a ton of bricks, may you have patience and persistence to carry you through.
3) With whatever is going on in your personal life, workplace, family, or church…keep on praying!
Today, are you experiencing anger? Keep on praying.
Are you hurting? Keep on praying.
Are you confused? Keep on praying.
Are you comfortable in Gods arms? Keep on praying.

Reach for the Sky!

Genesis 11:4 reads:

“Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies-a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.”

This was a shrine to the people…..NOT to God. The intent was to pat themselves on the back as well as to make a name for themselves; so that they would be known throughout the land. The people would be known for thousands of years for the structural marvel that they had created all on their own. God, however, wasn’t involved in their plans at all and construction was never completed.

Let me ask you a question. How much do you tend to include the creator of the universe in your life monuments? 30%?... 50%?... 75%? And is it the smaller monuments, the biggest ones, or all of them? I guess there’s even a bigger question than this that must be posed. At the end of the day do you long for personal accolades on your accomplishments, or do you sincerely hope that Christ’s name is elevated because of your efforts. Oh, don’t get me wrong. We all need reasonable amounts of acknowledgment now and then to maintain a healthy self-worth and motivation for tomorrow. You see, I guess it boils down to this. There are things that all of us can accomplish on our own and without direct intervention from God…but why would we want that? Why would any of us desire substandard results when our heavenly Father is standing right there saying,

“Let me help you. Please, just ask me.”

This week, may you long to see the possibilities in your life through God’s eyes and not your own. May you also not remain content with substandard results. Build that monument (whatever it may be) into the clouds…then place “Thanks to God” on a plaque at the entrance.

God Says I Am ____________!

2 Timothy 2:13 reads:

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

The fact is that our faith level is going to fluctuate through the course of our life. The hope is for that faith to increase more overall than decrease as we mature in our walk with Jesus. This is merely an expectation and a hope within us as believers…not a guarantee. The example or standard, however, which we strive for never changes. This is a guarantee. Jesus promises us that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He cannot deny who he is, but we surely can.
Think for a minute and be completely honest with yourself. Have you ever thought you were more that you really are? Or even on the other side, believing you are much less of a person than everyone else sees in you? I would argue that at times we all find ourselves somewhere between these two ends of self-evaluation to some degree. How we view ourselves is very important, but its much more significant to know how God sees us. He cannot deny who he is, therefore he also cannot deny who we are. He created us...he formed us…he formed you!This week, may you come to know more about yourself according to who God says you are. May you also be able to accept where you are in your faith journey today, and the growth that God has planned for you tomorrow.

It's Really Quite Simple

Matthew 19:16-18a reads:

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to

get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Which ones? Did something in Jesus' tone or facial expression hint that we could have a buffet approach to this? Jesus simply answers, "Obey the commandments." I think this is why so many non-believers in our current society have a hard time accepting forgiveness and life from Christ...its too simple! The gospel message is simply too easy. Corporate America teaches us that the harder we apply ourselves at work the higher up we go in the pay and position. I read the Matthew text above and think, "this guy just wants to know the least he can do to earn a place in Heaven." And then I think about Jesus..."He chose to go above and beyond...He gave everything possible." He gave His very life and gained nothing...except the hope of one day having us come back to Him.

This week, may you feel His spirit's tugging. And may you truly desire to give it all back to Him...expecting nothing in return.

The Mind of God

Colossians 2:1-3 reads:

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The apostle Paul is writing this to the church in Laodicea, but also to other believers in general. It’s a note of encouragement and instruction. As I read this passage, three elements jumped out at me. (1) ‘Strong ties of love’ are what encourages and strengthens a church. It is not Christ’s desire for there to be disunity within the body. (2) Confidence in understanding God’s plan is possible. Notice that Paul says understand and not know. There is a huge difference between the two. To know God’s plans is to be able to tap into the future. It would also take the mystery out of this text. Understanding God’s plans for us is saying, “God, I’m no were near close to understanding what you are up to right now, but I trust you entirely because I know Christ’s love for me.” (3) To know Jesus is to have unrestricted access to His ‘wisdom and knowledge.’ The key word in this text, however, is hidden. If we truly desire to know the things of God’s heart…His will for our lives…and what He is up to, we must search. Take just a moment to place yourself in the shoes of a 4-year-old child searching for eggs on Easter. Remember that excitement, that energy and joy? I believe that’s the attitude Christ desires for each of us to embrace

when exploring Him.
This week, may you enjoy seeking out the mind of God and not regard it as tedious or senseless. And if you’re wondering why He requires so much of us…just remember that every healthy relationship takes spending time together

and effort from both parties.

Hope in The Father

Romans 5:5 reads:
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Yesterday was Fathers’ Day…and I promised my daughter a game of Skip-Bo with me and each of the boys a couple games of Halo. Now, I had hoped that with it being my day that I would rise as the supreme gamer that night. NOT! Two games of Skip-Bo and I lost both of them. Then, my oldest son (who I can never beat) defeated me in two rounds.
It’s a good thing that my joy and salvation were not contingent upon my success that night. I’m so glad that my Father in Heaven doesn’t intend for trivial things like these to disappoint us to such a degree that we lose our hope and joy for the day. Although we may allow this negative effect on us at times, it is usually the result of putting too much hope in things that don’t have spiritual relevance.
How’s your joy doing this week? Take a minute to do a self-inventory…what are you putting your hope in? This week, may your joy be rooted in placing hope in Jesus instead of your own abilities. May you also be reminded of Romans 5:5, that hope in Him ‘will not lead to disappointment.’

“I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God.” Robert E. Lee

What's Your Spiritual Point of View

Philippians 4:8b reads:

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Think about this. When we get to sleep in, its sunny and clear out, and our finances are in order its pretty easy to view life as a bed of roses. On the other hand, its not quite the same when we can't fix the car, in-laws are breathing down your neck, and you have absolutely no energy to deal with any of it.
In the above text, Paul is encouraging us to take charge over our thoughts. Not only that, but focusing on things that are 'worthy of praise' is simply recognizing God's blessings in our lives...His actual involvement! Whether things are going great or really rough, intensionally locate God's hand in the middle of it. This is what keeps us grounded and attentive to His will for us.
Today, may you feel His hand on your circumstance. And may you also allow God and His ways to take priority in your life.

Celebrate

Philippians 3:1 reads:

“Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.”

Paul gives us two critical points in this one verse. First, no matter what’s going on…rejoice in the Lord. In other words, celebrate the fact that we have a loving relationship with Jesus. Second, the reason for this is to defend our faith. Choosing to have joy in any and all circumstances protects and builds up our faith in Christ.
When we find ourselves in a difficult situation, consciously looking at it through Jesus’ perspective changes how react to it altogether. Equally as difficult is doing the same when everything in life is seemingly trouble-free. Making ourselves acknowledge Jesus in the easy times reminds us to thank Him for how well things are going. After all, isn’t He responsible for all the good things in our life anyway?

Rejoice…and solidify your faith!