"A man’s gift makes room for him And brings him before great men." Proverbs 18:16 (NASB)
Don't force your gift upon anyone. Just make it available and wait for it to open up doors for you. God gave it to you for His glory, and there is no greater purpose on this earth. God knew before you were a twinkle in your mother's eye what He had for you. And what God has for you is for you. No one can take your place in your season.
Be patient and prepare for your moment. Don't begrudge someone else their turn, and don't try to cut in line. Let your gift make room for you...when it's time. Until then, be the best background the world has ever seen. Your transition into leadership will be much smoother if you are a great follower.
Show everyone else what leadership is about by being dedicated, supportive, and obedient. God will exalt you in due time. Rest assured that God will keep His promises to you. Don't rush into a season that isn't yours. God's timing is perfect, so wait. Let God direct your paths, and watch the opportunities present themselves in ways you couldn't have planned if you tried.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
What Do You Want the Lord to Say?
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work." John 9:4(NASB)
The charge is clear: we must do the works of God while we have the chance. We have no idea how much time we have on the Earth, so we must use it wisely. We have to decide to impact this world for Christ and the kingdom. Working is not a passive verb, but one that requires action. The work we are to do is the work of the church (the body of Christ, not the building).
If you will just take a moment to review the current condition of the town you are in, I'm sure you will find there are needs in the community that you can help to meet. There are poor, homeless, devastated, abused, and hopeless people that need your help! I don't know about you, but I do way too much in the church building and not enough in the community. That will change this year. Jesus didn't stay inside the temple; His work was among the people He encountered on the streets.
I want to be like Jesus. I have written enough checks; it's time for me to donate some time along with that money. I must work the works of Him that sent Christ. We, the church, are the means of feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, and offering the hope of Christ to a dying world. We cannot rely on the government to do our job! The night is coming when we will not be able to work any longer. What do you want the Lord to say when you leave this life? What is He going to say you did for the "least of these"? Read and meditate on Matthew 25:31-46 to see what your work is as a member of the body of Christ.
It's time for a change. Let's get out of the four walls and get to work!
The charge is clear: we must do the works of God while we have the chance. We have no idea how much time we have on the Earth, so we must use it wisely. We have to decide to impact this world for Christ and the kingdom. Working is not a passive verb, but one that requires action. The work we are to do is the work of the church (the body of Christ, not the building).
If you will just take a moment to review the current condition of the town you are in, I'm sure you will find there are needs in the community that you can help to meet. There are poor, homeless, devastated, abused, and hopeless people that need your help! I don't know about you, but I do way too much in the church building and not enough in the community. That will change this year. Jesus didn't stay inside the temple; His work was among the people He encountered on the streets.
I want to be like Jesus. I have written enough checks; it's time for me to donate some time along with that money. I must work the works of Him that sent Christ. We, the church, are the means of feeding the hungry, clothing the homeless, and offering the hope of Christ to a dying world. We cannot rely on the government to do our job! The night is coming when we will not be able to work any longer. What do you want the Lord to say when you leave this life? What is He going to say you did for the "least of these"? Read and meditate on Matthew 25:31-46 to see what your work is as a member of the body of Christ.
It's time for a change. Let's get out of the four walls and get to work!
Friday, May 13, 2011
No Turning Back
I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. The unknown author of those hymn lyrics made a simple, yet profound statement of faith. No matter what comes or what goes, no matter who supports me, no matter what world events take place, I'm not turning back!
We have to make a decision whether we are going to follow Christ or the world. There are a lot of people (even in the church) who believe it's possible to do both, but I believe they're wrong. If the cross is truly before you, then the world has to be behind you. Christians cannot worship the things of this world and our heavenly Father at the same time. We have to seek first the kingdom of God, and then everything else will be added to us. We can't seek wealth, fame, and fortune, and then say "Oh, yeah, and thank God for my many blessings." That's backwards.
There is a road that leads to destruction, and there are a whole lot of people on it. We must be wary of the latest teachings and catch phrases. Everything you hear that sounds good isn't necessarily biblical. Narrow is the way of righteousness. We can enjoy the blessings of God, but we cannot worship them. We must only worship the CREATOR, not the creation. The difference between worship and idolatry is the object. Once we are giving God our all, focusing only on Him, then we will experience true success. There will be no good thing withheld from us in that case.
We must die to our worldly selves daily. There is no magic potion, secret handshake, or phrase filled with alliteration that will keep us in right standing with God. We are at His mercy DAILY. We need His grace DAILY. But we pursue righteousness! I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back!
We have to make a decision whether we are going to follow Christ or the world. There are a lot of people (even in the church) who believe it's possible to do both, but I believe they're wrong. If the cross is truly before you, then the world has to be behind you. Christians cannot worship the things of this world and our heavenly Father at the same time. We have to seek first the kingdom of God, and then everything else will be added to us. We can't seek wealth, fame, and fortune, and then say "Oh, yeah, and thank God for my many blessings." That's backwards.
There is a road that leads to destruction, and there are a whole lot of people on it. We must be wary of the latest teachings and catch phrases. Everything you hear that sounds good isn't necessarily biblical. Narrow is the way of righteousness. We can enjoy the blessings of God, but we cannot worship them. We must only worship the CREATOR, not the creation. The difference between worship and idolatry is the object. Once we are giving God our all, focusing only on Him, then we will experience true success. There will be no good thing withheld from us in that case.
We must die to our worldly selves daily. There is no magic potion, secret handshake, or phrase filled with alliteration that will keep us in right standing with God. We are at His mercy DAILY. We need His grace DAILY. But we pursue righteousness! I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Seeking Divine Order to Your Life
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:33-34(NASB)
Talk about the utmost lesson in prioritizing. Seek God's kingdom first, and everything else will fall into place. Lately, I've been having trouble keeping first things first. Everybody and everything keeps demanding my attention. The problem is that satisfying all these things and people has left me unfulfilled, disappointed, and frustrated. And rightfully so because I have allowed other things to take God's place in my life, which should be first!
I was created for God's glory alone, and He is the only one I should be seeking to please. I must follow God's plan for my life, and seek Him daily. If we study His Word, spend time with Him in prayer, and really listen to what He would have us to do, we would be a lot better off in this life. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God knows the plans He has for our lives, and we should be walking according to God's will to reap all the benefits of His plan for us.
Your actions will betray your priorities. What are your actions saying you value most in this life? If your actions aren't pointing to God's kingdom, you may need to evaluate where your focus lies. That's what I'm doing right now in my life: evaluating. It's time to identify those things that are enhancing the kingdom of God and concentrate my efforts on those. All this other filler and fluff (not necessarily bad things, mind you) need to take a backseat. I am going to seek God's kingdom first and His righteousness, so that everything else takes care of itself in divine order.
Talk about the utmost lesson in prioritizing. Seek God's kingdom first, and everything else will fall into place. Lately, I've been having trouble keeping first things first. Everybody and everything keeps demanding my attention. The problem is that satisfying all these things and people has left me unfulfilled, disappointed, and frustrated. And rightfully so because I have allowed other things to take God's place in my life, which should be first!
I was created for God's glory alone, and He is the only one I should be seeking to please. I must follow God's plan for my life, and seek Him daily. If we study His Word, spend time with Him in prayer, and really listen to what He would have us to do, we would be a lot better off in this life. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God knows the plans He has for our lives, and we should be walking according to God's will to reap all the benefits of His plan for us.
Your actions will betray your priorities. What are your actions saying you value most in this life? If your actions aren't pointing to God's kingdom, you may need to evaluate where your focus lies. That's what I'm doing right now in my life: evaluating. It's time to identify those things that are enhancing the kingdom of God and concentrate my efforts on those. All this other filler and fluff (not necessarily bad things, mind you) need to take a backseat. I am going to seek God's kingdom first and His righteousness, so that everything else takes care of itself in divine order.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Accept the Help Sometimes
"Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise." Proverbs 13:10(NLT)
It's okay to admit you don't know everything. No one will be surprised because none of us knows everything. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and we all have different experiences, skills, and talents. What is disturbing is that some people would rather fail than seek help from someone else. They can't bear to share the credit of success with someone else, or to admit they aren't perfect.
Think about it. If you refuse every suggestion that someone gives you, s/he will soon stop making suggestions and just let you do it your way. Win or lose, the outcome of the project becomes your burden alone. Not only will you get all the credit for success, but you'll also receive all the blame for failure. How will you ever grow as an individual if you never learn new ways of doing things? Abundant life involves growth and development.
We can learn, not only from our own experiences, but from the experience of others. Take time to listen to advice from others. I'm not suggesting that you can use all the advice you're given, but at least find out if you can use it before you refuse it. Sometimes we allow our pride to drive a wedge between ourselves and the people who can help us. Begin to have discussions with those attempting to advise you. Find out if the suggestions are viable, or how they can be altered to work in your situations.
Seek God's counsel above all else. Ask Him to guide you into the proper place with the right people. Line up with His Word, and pray without ceasing. If any advice is contrary to God's Word, you MUST discard it. Pray for discernment and wisdom in all things.
It's okay to admit you don't know everything. No one will be surprised because none of us knows everything. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and we all have different experiences, skills, and talents. What is disturbing is that some people would rather fail than seek help from someone else. They can't bear to share the credit of success with someone else, or to admit they aren't perfect.
Think about it. If you refuse every suggestion that someone gives you, s/he will soon stop making suggestions and just let you do it your way. Win or lose, the outcome of the project becomes your burden alone. Not only will you get all the credit for success, but you'll also receive all the blame for failure. How will you ever grow as an individual if you never learn new ways of doing things? Abundant life involves growth and development.
We can learn, not only from our own experiences, but from the experience of others. Take time to listen to advice from others. I'm not suggesting that you can use all the advice you're given, but at least find out if you can use it before you refuse it. Sometimes we allow our pride to drive a wedge between ourselves and the people who can help us. Begin to have discussions with those attempting to advise you. Find out if the suggestions are viable, or how they can be altered to work in your situations.
Seek God's counsel above all else. Ask Him to guide you into the proper place with the right people. Line up with His Word, and pray without ceasing. If any advice is contrary to God's Word, you MUST discard it. Pray for discernment and wisdom in all things.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Victory in the Valley
"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 NASB
I was reminded this week that the enemy has plenty of weapons. Just when you think things are going well, he pulls out a rocket launcher against you. Well, God never said that the weapons wouldn't exist. He said they wouldn't prosper. I believe that the closer we get to where God wants us to be, Satan becomes more urgent in his attacks.
The enemy wants us to give up before the promises of God are manifested in our lives. We cannot give in, and we cannot lose our faith in God's divine plan. We must continue to trust that God is in control, no matter the obstacle opposing us. The pressure is what creates the pearl from the sand and the diamond from the lump of coal. The pressure is what releases God's oil of annointing on our lives.
Know that whatever demons you are battling today will NOT win. We are assured in Psalm 37 that the wicked only appear to win briefly. The righteous will always prevail by the power of God. You will make it through this storm, and the weapons formed against you will fail, but you have to persevere. You have to trust God; you have to submit to His will. Let Him take you through the valley of the shadow of death to strengthen you. There are skills that you will learn from this valley that will assist you on the next mountain top. Learn from this experience, and encourage someone else with the lessons you learn. Trust that your time in the valley isn't in vain. God is with you, and He is a shelter for you from the enemy. Trust God.
I was reminded this week that the enemy has plenty of weapons. Just when you think things are going well, he pulls out a rocket launcher against you. Well, God never said that the weapons wouldn't exist. He said they wouldn't prosper. I believe that the closer we get to where God wants us to be, Satan becomes more urgent in his attacks.
The enemy wants us to give up before the promises of God are manifested in our lives. We cannot give in, and we cannot lose our faith in God's divine plan. We must continue to trust that God is in control, no matter the obstacle opposing us. The pressure is what creates the pearl from the sand and the diamond from the lump of coal. The pressure is what releases God's oil of annointing on our lives.
Know that whatever demons you are battling today will NOT win. We are assured in Psalm 37 that the wicked only appear to win briefly. The righteous will always prevail by the power of God. You will make it through this storm, and the weapons formed against you will fail, but you have to persevere. You have to trust God; you have to submit to His will. Let Him take you through the valley of the shadow of death to strengthen you. There are skills that you will learn from this valley that will assist you on the next mountain top. Learn from this experience, and encourage someone else with the lessons you learn. Trust that your time in the valley isn't in vain. God is with you, and He is a shelter for you from the enemy. Trust God.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Victory in the Resurrection
"I don't know why Jesus loved me. I don't know why He cared. I don't know why He sacrificed His life; oh, but I'm glad, so glad He did." - Andrae Crouch
Jesus is amazing. We don't have words enough to describe how amazing He really is. He gave up His throne to walk this earth for our benefit. We did not even understand how badly we needed a savior, but He did it anyway. He knew He would be persecuted, rejected, ignored, alienated, and ridiculed. He still chose to become the ultimate sacrifice. He knew He would have to shed His blood for the remission of our sins, although He was and is sinless!
He understood how dire our situation was, and that we could not reconcile ourselves to God the father. Jesus Christ knew that we would never be able to keep the law. He knew everything about us, and still He loved us enough to die. As we approach Resurrection Sunday, let us not take for granted the greatest sacrifice ever made. We tend to tell and re-tell the story without really pondering what it meant for Jesus to fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah.
Take some time today to earnestly consider the sacrifice that Jesus made for you. He died so that I/you can live eternally. Not only that, but He rose from the dead as He said that He would. Jesus Christ defeated death, hell, and the grave on that Easter Sunday morning. Victory is in His resurrection. You are an overcomer because of His resurrection. You can conquer any obstacle you face today through faith in Jesus Christ, and His ability to make you victorious!
Jesus is amazing. We don't have words enough to describe how amazing He really is. He gave up His throne to walk this earth for our benefit. We did not even understand how badly we needed a savior, but He did it anyway. He knew He would be persecuted, rejected, ignored, alienated, and ridiculed. He still chose to become the ultimate sacrifice. He knew He would have to shed His blood for the remission of our sins, although He was and is sinless!
He understood how dire our situation was, and that we could not reconcile ourselves to God the father. Jesus Christ knew that we would never be able to keep the law. He knew everything about us, and still He loved us enough to die. As we approach Resurrection Sunday, let us not take for granted the greatest sacrifice ever made. We tend to tell and re-tell the story without really pondering what it meant for Jesus to fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah.
Take some time today to earnestly consider the sacrifice that Jesus made for you. He died so that I/you can live eternally. Not only that, but He rose from the dead as He said that He would. Jesus Christ defeated death, hell, and the grave on that Easter Sunday morning. Victory is in His resurrection. You are an overcomer because of His resurrection. You can conquer any obstacle you face today through faith in Jesus Christ, and His ability to make you victorious!
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