Why New Year's Resolutions?

New Year's Resolutions are an age old tradition that has some origin roots as far back as the Mideastern Babylonian era (around 4-5,000 years ago).  Obviously, people have been ringing in the New Year with new promises and grandiose ideas of a new beginning for hundreds upon hundreds of years.  So what is so spectacular and significant about a New Year's resolution? 

Honestly, not much.  You stay up all night and watch the clock change, the ball drop and the confetti fly and then you go to bed on the first hour of the first day of a new year. Its only a day.  Its only a moment in time. What is the big deal?
The Big Deal is whatever YOU make of it!  You can have a new start in the middle of the year (you do not get a "do over" for the whole year but you can change whenever YOU commit to it and decide it is important .  When you decide it is time for change - then it is time for you to do something about it!
I think that may be some of the significance of a New Year's Resolution... You take some time and reflect upon the last year and all of its events and work through what you think should be different this next year. When I do it - I try to spend some time praying and asking God to remind me and to refocus me.
I want to be reminded of what went well, what didn't and what were good choices and what were bad ones. I want to learn from the good and the bad of my past and then make some course adjustments for the future.
That is how I refocus - small adjustments, incremental steps toward a long term goal.
That is what New Year's resolutions are made of... That is how you move forward, how you grow and how you develop as a better leader!  Not huge sweeping turns but personal evaluations and honest reflections to make small changes that will produce huge results when you stick with it over time.
That is why we make a New Year's Resolution or any other resolution!

Merry Christmas

Thanks God for sending Christ for me.

John 1:14 (NIV)¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Thank-you for Mary and Joseph who were obedient and trusting of your uncomfortable will for them...

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
²³ "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
²⁵ But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Luke 3:23 (NIV)
²³ ...He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,... 

Thank you for honoring the lowly to elevate the Son of God!

Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Thank-you for saving me!

John 3:16-17 (NIV)
¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

You can count the cost and ask Christ to rule in your heart today, too!

Luke 14:28-33 (NIV)
²⁸ "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
²⁹ For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,
³⁰ saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
³¹ "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.
³³ In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."

  Romans 10:9 (NIV) 

⁹ That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Do it this morning - Surrender to Jesus Christ, the ONLY Savior of the world.

D.T.R. - Every Day

A group of us guys are reading a book by Kyle Idleman called "not a fan".  It hits some areas of our lives (every area actually) that we need to address in our relationship to and with Jesus. 

Recently, we hit a chapter that challenged us to have the D.T.R. talk with ourselves about our relationship with Christ.
D.T.R. - Defining the Relationship:  setting the boundaries, setting the vision, addressing where this thing is going.  It's what the younger generation does when their friendships or the person to whom they are "talking" needs to know if this is going anywhere...
They have the D.T.R. talk.  
When a bunch of guys are sitting around drinking coffee and talking about what it means to have the talk with Jesus, we realize that this is a little weird but it also brought up a number of good points.
Every day we can redefine our relationship with Jesus.  In fact, every day we DO redefine our relationship with Jesus.  Every day we wake up and find hundreds of things  - good things - that we can easily place at the center of our existence instead of our Savior.  Truth be told - every day I easily find ways to place other things in front of my love relationship with Christ.  And yet - every day, He loves me and has only my best in mind for His glory.  How do I keep putting other things in front of Christ?

• I let my schedule derail my relationship with Christ.
• I let my family schedule do it, also.
• I let my desire for material things jump in front.
• I let my worry about the uncontrollable things take center stage.
• I let my sin nature creep onto the throne.
• I let my insecurities overtake my prayer life.
• I let my victories plant seeds of pride in my heart.
• I let my desire to make others happy overtake my sense of mission in making Christ happy first.

Some of these things are bad things and some are good things when placed in the right order with Christ at the center.  What do I know?
I know that, for me, and probably for you, it is critical that I roll out of bed in the morning and hit my knees and commit my day to Him.  Every day I must Define the Relationship, renew the commitment and set patterns and habits in place for this relationship to continue to grow.
What will you do?  It does get easier - as I look back at where I have been and where I am today - I see hope!  But I also see where I want to be - I have that vision for the future of what my life should look like with Jesus, so I press on and keep taking the little steps each day to make the relationship all that it should be - I am not a fan.  I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

Ready, Aim... Wait!

Two short stories of my first year trying my hand at bow hunting for white tail deer:

Story #1 - Opening Day

There I sat (yes, "sat") watching for a deer to come through as the sun arose through the trees.  It was clearing up and I could see a good distance.  Suddenly behind me in the woods, I heard something making its way through the undergrowth. I looked and it was a good sized four or six pointer - I could not tell for sure and I am pretty new at this.  WOW!  In the first hour of my first day of bow hunting I see a buck coming along!  I slowly stood,  slowly reached for my bow while keeping an eye on where he was and where he was headed the whole time.
He walked behind a tree and I realized, as I anticipated drawing back the string, that I still had a mitten top covering my hand,.  I slowly reached down to pull it off and he came through and stopped and looked my way - BROADSIDE at 25 yards!
I waited... he looked away...I finished and prepared to draw... he looked back... I froze... he ran off.
Disappointment set in.  I missed the opportunity because I was not ready to take the shot.

Story #2 - Several weeks later...

In another location, I was again waiting as the sun arose and praising God for the beauty of the sunrise while anxiously watching the woods for signs of movement. I saw it!  Slowly moving through the woods about 60 yards away was a deer and the closer it came I realized it was a buck!  Maybe today was the day!

I was already standing... I was not going to let that happen again.  As soon as I saw him at 60 yards, I made the patient effort to get the bow ready and my hands clear. I was ready to draw with the bow raised! It came toward me.  I watched it walk behind a tree and past some undergrowth so I drew back and took aim toward where he would emerge.

He came right into my sight!  Moment of truth... I saw that I was looking straight on into his chest.  Questions popped into my head... is this a good shot or not?  I do not know - I was always told to look for a broadside shot.  I waited - he stared directly in my direction... it seemed like eternity but no more than 30 seconds passed while I questioned my judgment. I thought I was ready but I still did not KNOW if this was right.  I hesitated even though he was right there in my sights.  It was simply a release of the bow with a flick of my finger.
I hesitated.. he ran off.

Again, disappointment set in.  I knew it was a shot worth taking at 20 yards but I hesitated. Again, I missed another opportunity because I was sill not ready to take the shot. 

Are you ready?  This parable by Jesus reminds us of the penalty of missed opportunity to be prepared.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV) 

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'  "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'  "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'  "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'  "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. "

Have you heard the message of salvation about what God tells us about believing in His Son, Jesus, in faith and about making Him the Master of our lives?  What are you waiting for?   You are like me and my bow hunting.., you know what to do and you just are not doing it!  Make a decision - have the courage to trust Jesus with your whole life!  He does not fix all of your problems but He does walk through them with yo and promises that if you take the steps to be ready  - when He comes you are going with Him!

Anticipation

This year I took up bow hunting for white tailed deer.  I just started hunting three seasons ago and have used a shot gun and a muzzle loader.  Both seasons are just two weeks long and I have found that I really enjoy being outdoors watching the sun come up or go down, seeing the woods come awake for the day or settle down for the night, enjoying the stillness or the little creature activity and carefully, expectantly watching for deer.

actual picture from my deer stand this year!

So, I took up bow hunting to spend more time in the woods and increase my chances - or so I thought.  Often what I see is this...  lots of trees, lots of open areas and lots of "no deer".  But here is what is strange.  

I wait expectantly.
I seriously know that there are deer out there and I truthfully expect them to come past me EVERY time I am out.
I will watch for several hours.  Trying to barely move. Letting my eyes rove around the known trails and letting my peripheral vision pick up the motion of that one deer that is going to come out.
I do things to occupy my mind - things like working on the latest problem that I am facing in life. Things like reviewing the verses that I am trying to commit to memory.  Things like praying for the people in my life and for the direction of our church.
My mind does a million things while I watch.
But...
I am always alert to see what is coming and I am always anticipating a deer to step into view at any moment.
I have hunted more this year than the last two years combined.  In all of those days, I have only taken two shots with my bow at two different deer in a six week long season.  I have seen many deer but in archery season you have to have them a lot closer than in firearms season. So I wait for them to get in close.  Expecting them to come this way at any moment. In the many mornings and evenings that I have been out (and a few afternoons) I have climbed into that tree stand and begun to immediately look around for what I KNOW is coming. I have not doubted.  I have not questioned whether they will show - I always expect them to show - even when I see nothing - my mind still looks with that anticipation that "today is the day"!
I thought to myself just the other day...

Jesus has told me - PROMISED me - that He will come like a thief in the night and that I should EXPECT to see Him returning and calling me (and every believer in Christ  - dead and alive) to meet Him in the air and return to heaven with Him.  

Do I live each day as though I am anticipating His return to call my name?

Do I anxiously await His return and live as though He will catch me living to His glory?

Do I look up to the sky to see if the clouds are rolling back or if He is breaking through?

Why can I sit in a tree for hours with that joyful anticipation of seeing a deer arrive on the scene and I have trouble contemplating and even anticipating the return of the One who saved me from my sin and changed my life forever?

Don't let yourself be so caught up in the everyday problems that you cannot take a few moments and watch the sky, think about your Savior's return and live like you anticipate His trumpet call at any moment. It is coming.  Maybe sooner than we want to think or believe.  

Sunrise photo from my stand - what if it where Christ's return?

I feel  like as believers we should be anticipating the return of Christ and live as though He is coming soon.  I feel like while we are anticipating that event we should be sharing our faith like crazy and hoping to bring as many into heaven with us as possible!

Are you anticipating or fearing the return of Christ?

Pull the Trigger

Three years ago a friend asked me about my hobbies and I told him about things that I do to stay busy but none are really "hobbies" - in reality, they sounded more like chores when I listed them. He said, "We're gonna have to take you deer hunting this season."  I said, "OK".
So, we went out and shot his gun - I found I could hit a target relatively accurately.
I found some cold weather gear to try to stay warm. I certainly did not "look" the part but I would be warm.
We set up a tree stand - never saw one before until then... We talked forever about deer...
Then... firearm season began and so we went hunting.

Sidebar: The term "hunting" is to men as the term "shopping" is to women.  Think about it.

Firearm season lasted two weeks and a day.  We went out several times and did not see anything to shoot at until the last day and almost the last possible minute.  The sun had set and we had another 30 minutes to see something.  Suddenly, out of the woods walks a large doe and she just walks right into view and presents us with a broadside shot!  The adrenaline began to flow. My friend whispered, "get ready"... so I did - I raised my gun, sighted down the barrel, watched her walk behind a tree and then out again.
I was about to pull the trigger as she walked and my friend (sitting next to me in the stand) grunted a noise that I had never ever heard come from his mouth before and I just about jumped out of my skin... however, I held still and as he grunted the deer came to a halt and looked around.
BANG!  I pulled the trigger and down she went.
He whispered again, "Hold still, wait and watch.  She is gonna get up and you may have to take another shot."  So I held... and held... and held... finally he said, "Well, she must not be going anywhere."
We sat a little longer and then went down to field dress her. (another story for another time)
Later, sitting at his house drinking a cup of coffee he says to me, "I am proud of you."  I was puzzled by that so I asked him why he was proud of me.  Was it that I had actually hit something?  Was it that I had dropped it in place with one shot?  I was truly curious.
His answer, "That you actually pulled the trigger."   Really?  What were we doing all this time?  We practiced, we talked about where to shoot them, what to aim at, how quiet we had to be, how still I was going to have to sit, etc.   We talked about deer walking patterns, herding habits, eating habits, what to look for in placing a tree stand, shooting lanes, etiquette (yes, there is hunting etiquette), what to wear, etc.
I asked, "Why were we doing all of this if I was not supposed to pull the trigger?"
His answer (wildly profound), "Greg, you would be shocked at the number of people that do all that we did and invest lots of money to look the part and when it gets down to it - they cannot and will not pull the trigger."
When it gets down to it - do you know what you are supposed to be doing as a professed "follower" of Jesus and yet you do not seem to have what it takes to "pull the trigger"?  It takes courage and a step of faith to live out what we know in our head and want to live with our hearts and lives.
When it comes to your spiritual life - stop thinking and PULL the TRIGGER!  

I Know I Was But So Were You

A friend shared this passage with me not too long ago and it struck me to the core.  I realized that this was a very harsh statement by the Apostle Paul and I thought... "whoa... that is about as clear as it can be and yet it hurts to read."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV) 
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

It amazes me that when we "rank" the levels of sin and try to decide which things are worse than others yet this passage clearly puts us all on the same level... If the end result is heaven or hell.  If the end result is eternity WITH God or eternity APART from God then someone that places anything in his heart before God   [idolater] or someone that is habitually drunk or even lives a greedy lifestyle or someone that says something mean against someone else are all going to lose!  I may think one is worse than the other but ultimately they all result in the SAME negative reward.
So I read this and wonder.  How am I doing at being a part of planting seeds and watering seeds that allow for God to cause the gospel message to come alive in the hearts of these type of people that I know?  Secondly, I ask myself, How many of these people do I know?
Am I avoiding these types of people because I do not like being around them?

Maybe - just maybe - I see them and am reminded of myself... before... and I do not like being reminded of who I once was....

In fact, the very next verse in that passage smacks me upside the head with a 2 x 4 statement!

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

I was an idolater, I was sexually immoral in my thoughts, I was a thief. I was greedy. I was a slanderer.
I was many more things, too.  All of which were focused on myself and my desires and not focused upon pleasing God with my life.

But PRAISE THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE AND HIS ONLY SON, JESUS!  By His name, I now am:

• washed - my sin was not just covered over or hidden or overlooked - It was washed away!
• sanctified - my life is now set apart to serve God and Him alone!  
• justified - my standing before God was made right through the name of Jesus and now I am seen as innocent  - my guilt has been removed!

I know that I was a lot of bad things (and so are you or so were you) but in the name of the Lamb of God and through the blood of that Lamb that was shed for me, I was made clean when I  made the decision to surrender myself to the Only One who can wash it all away and change me.  

I know I WAS but so were you.  

Do you want a change?  Ask, in the name of Jesus Christ, to be changed today.  So you, too, can say "I WAS... but I no longer am. Now I am washed, set apart and made right before God."

A Better Life

It seems like we are always looking for something better than what we have.

I got a smart phone a while back... 16 months ago or so.  I loved it and now it is slow and takes forever to do what I "need" it to do. I want something better. 

I had a great vehicle - it was totaled in an accident and so I had to go looking for a different vehicle and knew that I could not do a "new" car so I looked for something comparable.  Instead, I spent more than I had to get something that I convinced myself was better and needed.  It was better than what I had. Truly, I like it and it really is better but I question how necessary it was.

I had a Starbucks gift card that I found out I could register and then track the drinks I bought and eventually get something better with which to purchase my Starbucks - a GOLD CARD.  What is better?  I can get a free drink every 15 drinks I buy. I get all kinds of little perks that make my Starbucks status better than other average non-Gold Card holders.  (problem: I have to keep it loaded with money - it does not load itself!)

We always want something better.  So, I was reading Hebrews yesterday (yes, I read the whole book at one sitting - I like to do that sometimes because it helps me see the broader perspective of the writer) and I began to notice the word "better" time and time again.  (this is in the NIV 1984 version)
The writer is challenging the readers (the Hebrews) to avoid "settling" for what they had, what they used to treasure, what they used to measure themselves by, and how they lived.  He continually compares what was to what will be and notes that what will be is always better!

• Better things - fruit of our salvation (Heb. 6:9)
• Better hope than the hope that was in the works of the law (Heb. 7:19)
• Better covenant - the covenant of grace through Christ's work (Heb. 7:22 )
• Better promises - resulting from the ministry of Jesus (Heb. 8:6)
• Better sacrifices - to accomplish the purification of the heavenly elements of the temple (Heb. 9:23)
• Better possessions  - the treasures in heaven awaiting you compared to what you have lost or have given up on earth (Heb. 10:34)
• Better sacrifice  - Abel's sacrifice was better than Cain's - due to faith and heart condition (Heb. 11:4)
• Better country - the "promised land" of Israel vs. the "promised land" of the presence of God (Heb. 11:16)
• Better resurrection -  result of torture and suffering on behalf of their faith (Heb. 11:35)
• Something better - as a part of the reward which is a part of God's plan for a faithful life (Heb. 11:40)
• Better word -  The truth of the value of Christ's blood over the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24)

 All of these comparisons to what we value here on earth to what we receive as the hope of heaven really do not compare.  The troubles of this life are all worth it when compared to the glory of heaven and living in the presence of our Savior. It brings home these words of Jesus in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 13:44  - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 19:21 -  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

 Never settle for what is here... the earthly "better" things.  Never let your heart get attached to them.  Guard your heart because it is the spring of life! Only settle for the "better" life of eternity!

Out with the Old

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 

I was reminded yesterday of how far God has brought me in my transformation from the old me to the new me. It was sobering. 
I received an unsolicited message from someone that I had deeply wounded by my words almost 35 years ago.  
WHAT? 
35 years ago?  "Whose problem is THAT?", you may be asking.
Well, it was not mine until it came to my attention... and then I had a decision.  Do I "own" it or just ignore it and leave it lie?
I read this message several times and even thought back to so many things: 

• who I was then
• where I was in Christ then
• how young and impetuous I was
• all that was going on in my life as a 12 and 13 year old
• what my heart must have been feeling

So many thought rushed through my mind and then I realized - I HAVE to own this.  I have to address THIS injustice from my youth!

For those of you who know me now and maybe did not know me then - I was a self-centered, angry, arrogant and prideful kid who was watching his "family" fall apart for a second time in under five years. 

My responses to all of that were not the right responses but at the time I did not really know how to express what I was feeling so i was mean to those that I decided were "less important" than me.  I was meanly sarcastic, I looked for people to make fun of, I embarrassed people to make myself look better than them. I had said the "prayer of salvation" but as of that point I do not think that the love of God had pierced my heart like it has today. 

In fact, I can point back to several events from that time through the end of my college years where I knew God was drawing me in to His chest and breaking my heart to reshape it in a new way!

However, that certainly does not mean that I am excused from my past behaviors or that there are no consequences from them.  I do know that I am forgiven (both by God and even by many of the individuals whom I have scarred) but forgiveness does not remove consequences.

So when I read and re-read this message, it broke my heart. It reminded me of the journey upon which I find myself and know that as I look toward the goal of the prize for which I have been called, I also look back and see some of the carnage that I have left in my wake.  I am NOT who I was.  I am NOT who I want to be.  But, I am on a journey of living each moment in the presence of the Almighty God and if He chooses to wreck me.. then so be it...it will be for His glory.  If He chooses to bless me... then so be it... but let me be blessed for His glory alone. I am confident of this - He is still at work in me and I can take comfort in knowing that there is NO BETTER PLACE to be than in the HAND of the ONLY FEARSOME and ALL-POWERFUL God of the UNIVERSE!

 So... what did I do?
The only thing that I knew to do - 

(what do I always say? "The right thing to do is often the hardest thing to do, but in the end, God blesses") 

- I apologized for my actions and words that scarred someone deeply almost 35 years ago that I just now discovered I had done. It was the only right thing to do.  

God is not finished with me yet - nor is He finished with YOU 

(you're still breathing right? cuz if you are still breathing than God is not finished with you yet).

Keep the faith, press on, do not let past actions, words, sins and behaviors wrap you up, define you or discourage you!  Face them, welcome them so that you can lay them at the feet of the only One that can make you whole again.  Ask God to give you strength to trust Him each day with all that comes your way.
I am so glad that the New Management in my life is having a "clearance event" to get rid of the old and transform it into something new and beautiful. Be glad, also!

I am Totally Self-Sufficient!

You know the one thing that we want seems to be self-sufficiency.  We do not want to have to depend upon anyone else.  We seem to hate the idea of needing someone or something.  As I watch TV or a movie I so often see people striving for this goal of financial independence because the will make life so much easier.  As I talk to people it seems like that "raise" or "a few more hours" will be all I need to "get ahead".

• No one LIKES the idea of being forced to depend upon another person.  
• No one LIKES the fact that we need something that we cannot provide for ourselves.  
• No one LIKES the truth that even when someone feels like they reach that point -

(you know, the point where I have all the money I need, a large savings account for a buffer, the cars I WANT, the vacation dreams coming true, the house paid off, the investments for the future, the technology I desire, the food on the table and now worries about where anything comes from) - that point...

 NO ONE WANTS TO FACE THE TRUTH THAT IF THEY REACH THAT POINT - THEY ARE STILL NOT SATISFIED!

Why?  Because we are chasing the wrong thing!  No one can ever be self-sufficient.  It is not possible.
Oops... one exception:

Today's Name of God... El Shaddai.

• El - "The one who comes before", "to be strong" (this Hebrew word describes One who is The Strong One)  That is a great start to a name!  
• Shaddai - this comes from the root words "sha" and "dai".   "Sha" meaning "the one who" and "dai" meaning "is sufficient"

Put it together - God is El Shaddai - He is the One who comes before all else and is the Strong One that is sufficient.  

I love that we can just say the phrase and realize that maybe something is missing on the end... sufficient for what.  

Truthfully, it is open-ended.  Sufficient FOR everything! Sufficient IN everything!  

• El Shaddai needs NO ONE!  
• El Shaddai wants for nothing!
• El Shaddai is self-sufficient!
• El Shaddai has no NEED that He cannot meet on His own!

As I read in the book of Job this morning, I was struck by the strength of Job's trust in God and the admission that God is in control.  He is the one who "gives and takes away" but regardless of the condition he was in Job says "Blessed be the name of the Lord."  

Here is a man that saw God in the right way and KNEW that if his trust was in the self-sufficient strong God of the universe then his current condition could be endured since his trust was not in himself, his own sufficiency or his own power and possessions (which were all stripped away).  

Job had every opportunity to say that he was self-sufficient and yet he was considered a righteous man that feared God and avoided evil in every area of his life.  He never placed his trust in what he had or who he was but rather he gave it all to The Strong One Who Is Sufficient!

 I know people at Osceola Grace that know God in this way.  They depend upon Him each minute of every day to make it through.  They do not place their trust in people, family, possession, wealth, position or religion but only in Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Stop depending upon your own ability to be sufficient and admit that you are not!  Only God.  El Shaddai!

More to "Seeing" than Watching

Psalm 139 tells us "O Lord, You have searched me and you know me."  It is an interesting reminder that God searches our hearts.  He can see and discern what is inside of us - good and bad!  Verse 4 of that Psalm goes on to say, "Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord."

Depending upon on your typical responses to people - this can be a good thing or a bad thing.  God sees the response before we utter it!  But as we are tuned in to his Spirit (as it says at the end of Gal. 5 to "keep in step with the Spirit") we can be sure to encourage when encouragement is needed and we can be sure to exhort, challenge or come alongside someone when that is the need and when we see people the way that God sees them!

However, on the other hand, if we tend to be critical and to not be in tune with the Spirit then He also sees our normal and natural response to situations which may not be so positive.  

I love that God tells us In Hebrews 4:12 that as we read His Word, it reveals to us our internal motives. It shows us who we really are and then we have a choice with what we will do with that revelation.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. ..."

He sees our actions and He discerns our motives.  

He strengthens the heart of those who have made a firm commitment to live to glorify God.

I want a strong heart!

Make this your prayer today:

"O Lord, as you search me and as you watch my actions would you show me how to be completely committed to you?  I want to love you with all of my heart, soul and mind. I want my thoughts, my words and my actions that follow to be pleasing to you and to bring glory to you.  Use me to plant seeds that will bring someone a step closer to the cross today."

  

Someone is Watching YOU!

This morning I enjoyed sitting in my favorite chair with a cup of steaming hot coffee reading the story of Hagar (Abram's wife's servant) and Sarai (Abram's wife).  Not that it is that exciting of a story or that I enjoyed the unfolding of the story because it is really a sad story in several ways.  Sarai was aging and knew that Abram wanted a child (a son, to be more specific).  For some reason unknown to Sarai, she has never been able to conceive so she insists that he take Hagar as a wife and try to have a child with her.  

He agrees (his first mistake) and she conceives and is quite "proud" of this seeming to flaunt it to Sarai (Hagar's first mistake). Sarai then blames Abram - even though this was her brain child to start with - and treats Hagar so badly that she flees into the desert to get away. 

Now, here is what I love about this story.  God comforts this woman in the desert by a spring because he sees her there and sends an angel to interact with her. 

What is so special about this whole thing?  

The way that the character of God is revealed in this story is what makes it special to me!

When the angel speaks to Hagar and she responds with saying, "You are the God who sees me".  In the English translation (NIV), we have added the "me" for clarification and the name that she speaks toward God is really "El Roi" - "The God who SEES". (Genesis 16:13)

Isn't that great!  HE SEES!

In my darkest hour - He sees!
In my finest hour - He sees!
In pain or pleasure - He sees!
In joy or sorrow - He sees!

Psalm 139 says that:  

when I sit or stand,
when I come in or leave,
when I try to hide or escape Him,
when I run away or to Him

He sees!

Every time I am reminded of this Name of God - it brings me comfort and confidence that whenever I feel alone, discouraged or defeated I can KNOW without a shadow of a doubt in my heart that my God sees me in whatever condition I find myself and He has already sent the exact thing that I need to bring me back to a place of worshipping in His presence.  I love it when that card, person, or email shows up at just the perfect time to remind me that God SEES!

The end of the story... the angel of God pronounces a great promise to Hagar and commands her to return to Sarai and submit to her.  Hagar obeys, praises God and is blessed with a child named Ishmael meaning "God Hears". (another blog for another day? maybe so)

Know this - God sees where yo are in this stage of life and wants you to willingly continue to worship Him and follow His word with the faith that He has already set things in motion to bring you encouragement!

It's Crazy How God Works!

I shared last how I committed to praying for the car in front of me when I was tempted to yell at them for driving too slow, right?  Well, last week was pretty amazing in this way.
Eight times last week I found myself behind drivers that were just plodding along at speeds well BELOW the speed limits.  However, I was reminded every time to pray for them and so I did.

• I prayed that God would touch their lives.
• I prayed that they would encounter and experience the love of God this day.
• I prayed that their hearts would be open to hear from God,
• and I prayed that they would be blessed by God in some way.

Then I thought about God - The first thing that I thought about (I must confess) was how infinite He was and I think that was prompted by how long I was feeling like it was going to take us to get our destination!
Here is the absolutely amazing praise that I offer up to My God in this post today...

Last week I spent eight times in worship of my God that I would have normally spent in sin by verbally berating other drivers.  God spoke to my heart and prompted me to practice what I have been preaching and to find one more way to live in His presence in another moment of my day.

 

I do not share this to boast about me or my accomplishments but to give praise and honor to My God for helping me address a very specific area of sin that I was ignoring and to replace it with a few more moments in His presence during my day.  What I have found to be incredible is that when I allow myself to be aware of the Spirit in my life, I actually open myself up to correcting sin and improving worship at the same time.

It is Philippians 4:8 in practice!  Praise be to God for His Holy Spirit being freed up to act in another area of my life - let Him do the same in your life today!  Pray for other drivers and see how that causes you to focus upon Him rather than freely feed our sinful nature! 

Symbols mean something!

In last week’s message, my challenge was to find (or create and adopt) a symbol or reminder that would jog your memory to “Think 3” things about God. 

In the same message, I confessed that I often get frustrated at the drivers that never seem to understand my urgency in getting someplace and that they always seem to be in front of me!

Well, I realized on Monday morning that I needed to practice what I preach.  First thing… I was taking my daughter to school and we were behind someone that was just creeping along.  Now it was icy and they were simply being safe while I wanted to keep moving.  So, it dawned on me that I could work at correcting a poor behavior of my own while praising God!

So, I adopted a symbol and reminder to “Think 3”.  

Now (and it has already happened several times this week) whenever someone is in front of me or pulls out in front of me and my sinful nature wants to dominate – I start first by praying for God’s blessing upon them and thanking God for the chance to reflect my thoughts upon Him.  Then, I think about what 3 important concepts of God do I need to remember and give Him praise.

It is strange how quickly that has changed my tension level in driving!  It is also somewhat humorous to me how many times this week I have had this opportunity. 

Choose a symbol - impress it in your mind and even share it with someone that may hold you accountable!