A Call to Humility

It’s interesting that discipline is something that no one really likes, yet everyone admires.

Really, we admire the fruit of the discipline far more than the act of the discipline that brought it about.

The work of discipline is what is done away from the spotlight, and yet, without, nothing on the other side of the proverbial curtain would be worth much.

Great athletic achievement, artistic expressions, musical excellence, etc. are all the fruit of a disciplined life at some point. Hours of practice, study, sacrifice, focused attention…

And though we see the fruit of it and applaud the work, we must realize that the star performer before us didn’t get that way by only being that way on stage, during the game, at the premier...right?

It’s a life of preparation and the discipline of mind and body that has brought about this great result.

And so for us, looking at spiritual things...when we see a person whose spiritual life we admire...the same is true. A life of discipline and the pursuit of godliness are what bring about the anointing and spiritual fruit that we all desire.

Not that any of us would pursue spiritual growth for the approval or admiration of others...our disciplines are for an audience of one...amen?

Let me begin by saying that I believe that humility is FOR everyone. Some would consider humility more of a character trait or virtue and not a discipline.

You’re not getting off the hook that easy. It is a discipline, a goal...something we must take responsibility for and pursue.

Granted it’s not popular in today’s culture. We put far more value on strength, power, drive...all good things, but also ingredients for pride and ultimately destruction, if not balanced with humility.

A humility that is born in us from a full appreciation for the sacrifice that Christ made for me.

A real understanding that everything I have, everything I am that is good is because of Christ.

Listen the more we understand what He did for us, the less room we have for pride. The more we see how Christ humbled himself for us, the more willing we become to serve others. Amen?!...

But we have to acknowledge that we are selfish people by
nature. And we need to remove that selfish attitude. How?

Again by realizing who you are in Christ, what he has done for you and promises to do for you...you don’t have to be selfish.

A heart of gratitude will lead to a humble, others-focused life.

And if we genuinely believe that God is for us and cares for us...we don’t have to worry about serving our own interests.

Then we can afford to focus our attention on meeting the needs of others and being a blessing to others because we have every confidence that Father God will spare nothing of His infinite resources to meet our needs and bless us.

Even as we struggle with the anxiety of feeling like if we don’t look out for ourselves, no one will...He says, “cast your cares on me”. Stay humble and trusting of my love.

Humility is a certainly a discipline...you can do it!

Times of Refreshing

1 John 1:9 says that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, if we CONFESS them to Him.

God is ready and willing to cleanse us, because He loves us and wants us to walk in close, right relationship with him.

And let’s face it...SIN greatly effects our ability to do that.

When we have unconfessed sin, our hearts are burdened with the guilt and shame of our actions. As much as we may want to come close to God, those feelings hinder us, don’t they? We can even try to read the Word or worship or fellowship, but it is all surface, because we are choosing to carry the sin, instead of confess it.

You try to pray, and all you can do is think about the sin, You try to read the Bible and you’re sure your Bible has been replaced with one written in hieroglyphics. You don’t even want to go to church. You may even find yourself avoiding Christian friends on the street or screening all your calls...it’s ugly!

WHY do we do this? On one hand we know full well that Jesus came intently to die on the cross so that we could be free from that bondage. What keeps us from running to the Cross when we sin? Whatever it is, we need to look honestly at that and ask God to remove it and be willing to do our part in that process. Amen?!

Not anyone of us enjoy those feelings of shame. We certainly do not like to feel distant from the Lord. I can’t think of a more lonely place that I’ve ever walked in, how about you? And as hard as I’ve tried to distract myself with other things, there is still an ache in my gut that reminds me that I have unfinished business with God. And then when I do finally come to Him and repent and ask for forgiveness and spend time letting him speak to me, I have no idea why I waited.

Acts 3:19,20 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.”

Today, God is calling His people to a lifestyle of humbling ourselves and repentance and confession to Him first, and then to each other.

Repentance is easily described in one phrase - 180° - Acknowledging the sin, asking for forgiveness and then committing to a lifestyle that is in the opposite direction of that sin.

Now, God’s wisdom dictates to us that to truly walk in victory over that sin, we need each other. Not everybody you know...but a selected individual or individuals that you can trust and walk in accountability with. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins one to another, and pray for each other that you may be healed.”

So Peter says, Repent and then TURN, or RETURN, this word in the Greek is the word, epistrepho, which means return to the worship of God, come back to a life of obedience to God and love for His children. Return to a love for God’s wisdom and righteousness.

And He says, God will WIPE away your sin. Which is the word, exaleipho, which means to wash and then anoint every part.

And then he says that times of REFRESHING will come. Cool water, to recover one’s breath, to revive something that was dead. A state of joy and cheer...Restore unto me the JOY of my salvation.

The Message reads Acts 3:19,20 like this...“Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.”
The refreshing of the Lord, is like a drink of water to a thirsty, dying man in the desert, Like that first deep breathe coming up from deep waters. It brings life, hope, joy, anointing, and a renewed love for God and for people. You and I make the choice to stay in the desert, when we choose to hide our sins. We choose to remain isolated, at vulnerable to the further attack of the enemy.

The Lord is calling us to himself, saying…”Come repent, I want to forgive you, and cleanse you, and lead you in “Times of Refreshing”.

What's Your Vision?

What is your vision?

Of course that question has many different answers, yet hopefully all with the same foundation. Right?

Ultimately my vision for my life is to honor God, to love Him and serve Him...to accomplish His purpose for me.

That all sounds great...doesn't it? So, now what does that look like? How do I walk in that?

“Without Vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

The NIV says it this way… “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.”

So, vision is more than the ability to see, in the context of our lives as believers, it is really the ability to see what God sees.

Vision defined is this: The Destination, the picture of the future that God has painted across your heart and in your mind. It is a snapshot of the future from God’s perspective, revealed to you as you pray, listen to God.

Your Vision describes what it will look like to fulfill God’s assignment for your life. End Result

When I counsel marriages, I often quote a pastor by the name of Alistair Begg, who has written many books, one in particular entitled, “Lasting Love”. In it he paints the picture of a marriage without vision. And he says “Often times when marriages don’t go according to plan, it is because no plan has been clearly stated.”

So, I have the couple begin to put their thoughts and ideas down on paper through prayer and careful thought, and then we get together and they read them aloud to each other.

It is powerful, both positively and negatively.

One, they see what they can be together, Two, they see what they are NOT. Ultimately, it provides the couple with the ability to project and dream about what their lives can be.

Now vision, real vision...comes from God. So when a marriage is lacking vision about what marriage is supposed to be, I don’t ask them to go and watch 6 hours of marriage-related “sitcoms” for the answers. I send them to the Word, to prayer. Right?!

Vision is “divine communication”.

Are you lacking vision? Go to your creator. Let Him and His Word paint the picture for you. See wise counsel.

Now for you and I to see God’s vision for our lives will require faith. Because we are going to receive things that don’t seem possible. Things are way too big for us. That’s often how you know it’s God, or atleast that you are on the right path.

When we begin to really trust God and put our hope in God and believe God...we begin to see our lives from a completely different perspective. We begin to see with spiritual discernment.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t scary any more...It just means that you realize that you’re not alone or random.

God has expanded your vision to see what is possible when you trust Him and walk with Him and live for Him!

Now don’t expect that He’ll always give you everything at once...He doesn’t do that a lot. Mostly because he knows we’ll run screaming.

He’ll give you enough. Glimpses that require us to walk in Faith towards them, one day at a time…walk towards the light!

Trust Him...He loves you, he’s your Father in heaven. Trust His heart for you!

The Power of Prayer

Isn’t it great to pray? To be able to talk to God about anything. Whether it’s spoken out loud, in song, or silently in our spirit...we have the awesome privilege of communicating with God, and knowing that hears us and answers us.

Through prayer we get to connect with God and, in such, to open our lives to His guidance and will. So, that in times of need we come for more than a 911 call, but to seek the mind of God regarding our circumstance. Realizing that often times God is not nearly as intent on removing our storm, but bringing peace and transformation right in the middle of it. Right?

And we need to be willing to receive that as well.

Prayer also must include time for God. For Him to speak and for us to listen...time to receive as we wait on Him, strength, wisdom, truth, direction, peace.

Prayer is NOT…

Begging or pleading...God will not be manipulated, it should not be our goal to try and change His mind. He loves and knows what’s best for us, and is always working for GOOD in our lives.

A Get-Rich-Quick scheme… he has already given us what we need in the way of instruction to receive His blessings financially. It’s called “stewardship”. It’s not a formula, that works sometimes and not others...they are Godly principles that are eternal truth.

Presenting God with our Wish List...God is not a genie, an ATM, or a microwave. He is GOD. He is our Father and knows what we need better than we do. Not to say that we can’t come before Him and share our hearts desires, but we are coming submitted to His Will, not ours. So, don’t be surprised, that as you mature in Christ, that your desires change.

Prayer is certainly a discipline, isn’t it? It is such a vital part of our growth, because it is our personal conversation with God. Our time, whenever and wherever we are to talk and listen to the Lord. When it is that...an ongoing communion, it goes way beyond the “panicked cry for help”. It is that, at times, but when it becomes a daily discipline, Prayer moves from becoming our last resort to our first response.

That what Paul meant in Ephesians 6:18, when he says, “Pray in the spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers, and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The longer I know the Lord and get to know myself, it’s like “Duh”...what am I thinking to not be prayerful in everything!

One of the great hymns of our faith, “What a Friend we have in Jesus” says, “Oh what peace often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Our heavenly Father loves it when we come to Him, seeking and asking and sharing. He’s right there...ready to move, ready to act, ready to deliver...we just need to invite Him!

Stand Guard!

I am struck by an awareness of how bombarded we all are by our culture with images and words that would seek to pull us into attitudes and behaviors that are not pleasing to the Lord.

Influences, really, that would lead us into sin, seeking to bring compromise into our lives, individually, as well as our homes.

Sometimes, it reminds me of the story of the frog and the pot. The heat gets turned up slowly, and the next thing you know, you’re dead in the water...so to speak.

Because of how prevalent these influences are, if we are not careful, we can grow numb to their offense. They are everywhere, however, just because they are the “norm” for our culture, does not make them right for us.

Have we grown callous to what we see or hear anymore? Have we become as one author put it, so “Sophisticated” and “Culturally accepting” that we no longer see black and white?

I don’t want to be comfortable with what we are seeing or hearing any longer. I don’t want my kids to be comfortable with it either...and they are my responsibility.

What I deem as acceptable will play a large role what they eventually deem acceptable.

It should be an affront to our commitment to righteousness and something that we make a proactive stand against.

Let me ask you a few questions...Have you ever found yourself in a situation, maybe at work or with friends, where something that is said that makes you uncomfortable. I mean you know it was wrong, not only for the person to have said it, but even wrong for you to have heard it?

Don’t you just feel like you’re gonna be sick. Well, we should. There should be an obvious conflict in our spirit when the presence of the enemy is near.

Or how about when you’ve seen something you know you shouldn’t have, and your only reaction is to say something like, “Wow, can you believe that” or simply to sluff it off with nervous laughter.

Guys, we can’t even watch a football game anymore without being violated by images promoting sexually immoral things.

It’s on the cover, or not far below, in almost every magazine, on the radio, on television, on the internet, at the movies.

Be careful, if you are going to the movies with your kids...because even if the movie you are seeing is appropriate, the preview may not be.

And the truth of the matter is that these “little” things can easily turn into big things, if we’re not careful.

Remember “seeds” are little things too, that when planted and nourished grow into huge trees bearing all kinds of fruit.

Bottom line...we need to “Stand Guard!”

It’s time to reestablish, firmly, the lines regarding what we will allow ourselves and our families to hear, see, and participate in. You with me?!

STAND GUARD!! – “Not on my watch”…right?!

Reclaim Your Life!

We live in a very busy world.

Unless we are going 100mph with our hair fire we are made to feel like we are behind…ya know?

Unfortunately, in the process we can lose ourselves in the mundane…the ruts we live in, the proverbial “hamster wheel” of life.

Now, I’m sure that’s not the case for everyone, but I can say that it has been for me at times.

Ever feel like you are just going through the motions? Almost like you are trapped in the “status quo?”

Ever feel like you’ve lost your joy in life?

Life at times can be just getting up, going to work, coming home, eating dinner, going to bed…and then we get to do it all over again tomorrow…yipeee!

Well, I don’t know about you but I get the strong sense from the Word of God that that isn’t the life we were created to live.

Jesus said, “I have come that you would have life…to the fullest!” – John 10:10

So, I want to share my heart with you today about the idea of “reclaiming your life”.

I am convinced that we can make small and yet very significant changes in the way we live that will have a dramatic effect on our lives.

These are very practical ideas and yet also have meaning for us spiritually.

Let’s face it, as much as our spiritual walk affects our daily life, our daily life can affect our spiritual walk.

God didn’t create us to be “victims” but to be victorious!

The Bible tells us to make the “most of every opportunity we have” in life.

Even Moses prayed to God in Psalm 90, “teach us to number our days aright”.

We’ve got one life to live…this isn’t practice…amen?!

So, if you’ve found yourself a little “stuck” recently, needing to be inspired and get your joy back…you’re reading the right blog! :^)

Here’s my thought…reclaim your life by taking full advantage of the gift of life God has given you.

I think that we should do the things we love as often as we can.

I think that a balanced life does include time for ourselves…not huge amounts of time, and not necessarily always alone-time…but quality time in ways that refresh, inspire, renew and reclaim the real “LIVING” of life God wants for us.

Jesus stole himself away everyday to spend time with the Father.

Mary was praised over Martha for getting out of the rut and reclaiming her life with what she needed the most – sitting at Jesus’ feet.

God walked in the garden with Adam in the cool of the afternoon.

Examples for us…

Reading a book a little each night…10 minutes. It will bring great fulfillment in finishing a book. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to read it – but it will improve the quality of your life along the way. “It’s all about the journey!”

When I feel lonely or isolated and at the same time super busy or not very social…I’ll text a friend or call a friend or email someone. Just pulling myself out of the rut makes me feel better and the response is also encouraging.

Eating lunch in a different place every once in a while…outdoors, at the park, on the front lawn with the kids.

Work in the garden, tinker with your car, paint a room, rearrange the furniture…you get it.

Take the time…take a small, but powerful, break “everyday” from the routine for yourself.

It may seem selfish on the surface, but ultimately the people in your life will benefit tremendously from it.

Additionally, the reality is that we are still human beings and aren’t always as motivated to share our lives, and the love of Jesus, with others when we are burnt out or feeling stuck and unfulfilled.

So, my encouragement for us today is that we make a little change everyday…you’ll see that it can go a long way.

Let me ask you something…What long forgotten goals do you have? dreams, hobbies, things that bring you joy?

So, here’s how to Reclaim Your Life…

Make a list (post it, write it down)

Make the time (Go to bed earlier, get up earlier, give up doing stuff that isn’t beneficial – tv)

Make a commitment (Pray about it, tell a friend, set goals, attend a workshop)

Make it happen (start to today - life is not practice!)

We don’t need a new house, new car, new wardrobe, new job…just a new attitude and appreciation for the life we’ve been given – and I believe God is absolutely honored by it!

Reclaim Your Life!

Overcoming our Fears

In the midst of all that has happened in the last year, I hear something, and I sense the presence of something that the enemy is trying to use to bring defeat to our nation and to the Body of Christ, and it is an underlying current of fear.

A natural result of unrest, the unknown, the unexpected is fear. And it can get to any of us. Fear is something that cripples us, it paralyzes us and keeps us ineffective in what God has called us to do.

I think the greatest fear we face is the fear of the unknown. We can’t bear to not know what is going to happen next. Even if what happens next is going to be bad, atleast we’ll be prepared for it.

Well, I am here to remind you that fear is not from God. Our God is a God of Hope, not fear. I want to talk about we can overcome the fear in our lives.

We serve a Faithful God, who never leaves us. He is a God that never sleeps, and is always completely aware of every detail of our lives.

So, for the body of Christ, the unknown doesn't have to be a place of fear. It can be a place of faith and hope.

We don’t know what tomorrow brings, or what each day will hold for us. Neither did those men and women who went to work on September 11th many years ago, like every other day in their lives.

See, tomorrow is not promised to any of us. We have today, and our todays are not destined to be lived out in fear.

It’s not even about the past, either. We can’t control the past, nor can we afford to be crippled by fear from the events of the past.

Our focus now is to live today, love today, serve God today, and the rest is up to Him. Living for God with all your heart allows us to live each day as though it were our last, because it may be.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

These are His gifts to every believer:

POWER - His power, his strength, through the Holy Spirit in every situation.

LOVE - His love, that looks beyond faults and sees needs with eyes of love… “Perfect love casts out all fear.” 1 John 4:18

SOUND MIND - the truth and wisdom and guidance that comes only from the Word of God.

If we’ll just get ahold of these three things, our lives will change dramatically.

Isaiah 41: 10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

There are going to be hundreds of circumstances in our lives where fear will have to the opportunity to take over. We can’t stop life from happening to us, what we can control is our response to life’s ups and downs.

The term “Ground Zero” is become a common phrase for American’s…and many have attributed it’s meaning specifically to events of September 11, 2001.

Ground Zero is a term that has been apart of mankind’s experience for thousands of years. Because it basically means, “The point of impact, the moment of devastation, the place of disaster.”

How many have ever had a Ground Zero in their lives before?

That moment in time when the worst possible scenario happened, the most dreaded thing, the breaking point, the bottom.

We all have at different, yet very real levels.

In 2 Chronicles 2, a King named Jehoshaphat had a Ground Zero a

approaching him, really a moment of the uncertain, the unknown, the place where fear dwells and attacks our spirit.

How did He respond...Prayer, Praise, Power!

Do you think he was afraid? Do you think David was afraid? Absolutely, but they didn’t let fear rule. They chose victory in Jesus!

And that is the choice each one of us have in our lives. Will we give in to fear, and become paralyzed and ineffective, or will we look to God, our Father, and walk in His victory for our lives?

Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”

“I sought the Lord and he answered me; and he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4

In the past decade, we have seen and experienced the gammet of human emotion. We have been filled with fear, anger, hopelessness and doubt. We have also experienced times of great joy, pride, honor, resolve and faith.

We have seen the American people take a long hard look at what life is really about. Some giving their lives to God, others, in anger, moving further away.

At times, church attendance has grown, there seems to be a growing sense of purpose as a nation, and our eyes were turned to God. The important things in life took precedence...family, friends, freedom, faith!

We prayed in our schools and couldn’t wait to pledge allegiance to our flag or hear the National Anthem sung at a ballgame.

Why? A response to the natural disasters wev experienced and witnessed around the world, the economic crisis, sickness in our families…life happening to us?!

Well, now they tell us that maybe church attendance in back down, and maybe people are getting back to normal, and maybe praying, or pledging allegiance or singing together isn’t necessary anymore.

“We’re fine now and it’s time to get back to what is important...achieving our goals, building our dreams, getting ahead, living our lives.”

Well, I don’t believe it. I believe that we are on the verge of the biggest revival this world has ever seen, and we need to stand up and encourage ourselves in God and walk in Faith.

Friends, we must choose God, we must choose Faith. Don’t let the fear of the enemy in for a moment. We walk by Faith, not by sight!Faith is made of 2 vital elements...TRUST and OBEDIENCE.

In the face of fear, in the face of the unknown, we must walk in Faith, which means we choose to TRUST God at His word, and then we choose to OBEY whatever that word asks us to do.

We have Hope and Faith and Confidence even in uncertain times, because God is with us.

God is our refuge , our strength, our strong tower, we run to Him and are saved. He is an ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to be afraid.

Instead, we need to be in prayer, with a heart of thanksgiving as Philippians says.