"Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:"
Contentment, easy to say but hard to practice. We always seem to be able to envision ourselves as having a better house or a better car. How about better clothes, furniture! We can always use a better job and more money so we can afford to buy better things. We want more. It is so sad that in our cold hard culture, if we are not satisfied, we just discard the old and bring in the new! This way of thinking has found its way right into our families, our marriages and our churches. Even our most important and vital relationships have fallen victim to our discontentment. It seems that there is nothing to satisfy, no matter how much we have we want more. Our pursuit is truly tireless and there is no end to the chase. More, more, more, we want more! Ecclesiastes 5:10 says,"He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity." God created us to seek Him and to serve Him and to fill our lives with Him. Every person has a vast eternal void and the only way fill that void is to filled with The Holy Spirit of God. Proverbs 14:14 says, "The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied from above." This is how Paul found contentment and it is how we will find contentment. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit our joy is complete. This means circumstances, material things and even people can not bring us to the point of discontentment. John 15:11 Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." If we find it in ourselves to be discontent it should only be for the reason of our own life and how we live for Jesus. If we are going to go after better things may it be a better life lived in service to Him! Philippians 3:14 says, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I believe God has placed in us a desire to attain a better and higher objective. The problem comes in to play when our objective of a life in Christ is replaced by things that will never satisfy. I love what Jesus says about our heart. He says, wherever our treasure is our heart will also be. (Matthew 6:21) We put our heart and soul into the things we think to be valuable. Our time, money, emotions and talents are invested in the things that we hold dear. Doesn't it stand to reason to invest in the one who satisfies. We are promised in scripture that He will fill us to the full. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly! (John 10:10) We don't have to look very far to find real contentment. It is found at a place called Calvary. It was carried out on a Roman cross upon which they crucified our Jesus. All the sins of the world were placed upon His shoulders as God the Father accepted the payment of death for sin. It was in that defining moment when our Lord Jesus cried out, "It is finished!" Our debt has been paid! Our sins erased! Our lives forever changed! What more is there to buy? What more is there to own? The riches of Heaven are ours! The joy of our eternity has already begun! And The word "Contentment" can't even come close to describe what we know to be true. Thank You Jesus! You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Drama Proof Church
Colossians 3:15
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."
I love the Church, God ordained the church, He gave His only Son for the Church and His Holy Spirit indwells the Church! The Church, it seems, is always on my mind. Especially the Church that God has given me the privileged to shepherd. I pray for my church daily and am always striving to be the leader God has called me to be. I know I fall short all too often, and it is in my own imperfections that I find a great solitude and peace. I find comfort and hope. I find refuge! At this point you may be asking the question, " How in the world can a person find all those things in his own imperfections?" The answer is simple. My imperfections drive me to rely on the One who is perfect! "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) If I am dependent upon myself, I can not and will never be the man God has called me to be. However, depending on Jesus, while recognizing my own weakness and imperfection, I come to realize the source of my ability. Therefore, I find a refuge beyond human understanding as I depend on Jesus. This is how all believers should live. We should let the peace of God rule our hearts and it's this same peace that has called us to unity in one body! There will always be imperfections in the church. There will always be someone who is gossiping or trying to create problems. There will always be "drama!" the larger the church, the more "drama" there is! How do we deal with it?........ How about letting the peace of God rule our hearts. How about the full understanding that in the weaknesses and imperfections of the Church our Mighty God is shown to be perfect! The only way church can possibly work is in the fact that we have a prefect God who rules over imperfect people. He is in charge of His church! Please do not be discouraged. Please don't let strife or gossip worry you, let the peace of God rule over your heart. "Drama" in the church does not surprise God. When Jesus gave His life and paid our sin debt, He knew there would be problems in the church! And even in all of this knowing, He loved His church so very much that He gave Himself for it! There or a lot of nay sayers that proclaim the church is hypocritical and unsuccessful. I say be careful of your words. Jesus did not pay such a costly debt for something that would fail! In Matthew 16:18 Jesus spoke these words, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." My friends His church will succeed in spite of the imperfection that humanity has brought into it! Please be encouraged and let the peace of God rule your Heart. Encourage those who lead and those who follow. Encourage those who gossip and those who love the "Drama." Encourage those who have left and those that stand strong. The Church will accomplish exactly what God has called us to do!
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."
I love the Church, God ordained the church, He gave His only Son for the Church and His Holy Spirit indwells the Church! The Church, it seems, is always on my mind. Especially the Church that God has given me the privileged to shepherd. I pray for my church daily and am always striving to be the leader God has called me to be. I know I fall short all too often, and it is in my own imperfections that I find a great solitude and peace. I find comfort and hope. I find refuge! At this point you may be asking the question, " How in the world can a person find all those things in his own imperfections?" The answer is simple. My imperfections drive me to rely on the One who is perfect! "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) If I am dependent upon myself, I can not and will never be the man God has called me to be. However, depending on Jesus, while recognizing my own weakness and imperfection, I come to realize the source of my ability. Therefore, I find a refuge beyond human understanding as I depend on Jesus. This is how all believers should live. We should let the peace of God rule our hearts and it's this same peace that has called us to unity in one body! There will always be imperfections in the church. There will always be someone who is gossiping or trying to create problems. There will always be "drama!" the larger the church, the more "drama" there is! How do we deal with it?........ How about letting the peace of God rule our hearts. How about the full understanding that in the weaknesses and imperfections of the Church our Mighty God is shown to be perfect! The only way church can possibly work is in the fact that we have a prefect God who rules over imperfect people. He is in charge of His church! Please do not be discouraged. Please don't let strife or gossip worry you, let the peace of God rule over your heart. "Drama" in the church does not surprise God. When Jesus gave His life and paid our sin debt, He knew there would be problems in the church! And even in all of this knowing, He loved His church so very much that He gave Himself for it! There or a lot of nay sayers that proclaim the church is hypocritical and unsuccessful. I say be careful of your words. Jesus did not pay such a costly debt for something that would fail! In Matthew 16:18 Jesus spoke these words, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." My friends His church will succeed in spite of the imperfection that humanity has brought into it! Please be encouraged and let the peace of God rule your Heart. Encourage those who lead and those who follow. Encourage those who gossip and those who love the "Drama." Encourage those who have left and those that stand strong. The Church will accomplish exactly what God has called us to do!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Horses and Heros
Proverbs 21:31
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD."
Everyone loves a victory! We love it when life seems to be going our way. You know what I'm talking about, all the appliances are working properly. Your car is in great condition, all the bills are being paid on time, every one in your family is healthy. Home is great, church is great and our family is great. I love it when life is great! This very thought leads me to my next thought. What happens when life isn't so great? What do we do when things fall apart around us? What do we do when the car won't start or the washing machine breaks? How do we respond to tragedy or illness? My friends I write this devotional on the heels of a great trying time in the life of my family! I started this devotional three days ago before two of my most cherished family members, Greg and Jana Payne came to my house for breakfast. Its a tradition for us every monday morning. My wife Pamela makes pancakes, I make the coffee, Greg and Jana bring over the bacon and the rest is history! It was at this past monday's breakfast that we were having a great time visiting about Saturday and Sunday's worship service and how awesome our God is. When it seemed like out of nowhere Jana was hit with an attack of excruciating abdominal pain, We went from the breakfast table to the couch then from the couch to the car on our way to the ER in less than four minutes! We arrived at our local small town hospital only for Jana to be x-rayed and careflighted to a larger more equipped facility. From there to make a long story short Jana was in surgery by two pm that day. Three hours later the doctor came from the surgery to report to us that he had removed three quarters of Jana's stomach and along with it a very large cancerous tumor! We were all absolutely floored! He went on to say that Jana had a long recovery ahead but encouraged us that given the proper care that Jana would be cured. My friends I write this to you because I want everyone who reads this to know that I have full confidence in My God who without fail loves His children. We never know what the day may bring? We can prepare and we can make ready, just like the horse is prepared for battle but I am here to testify to you that victory will always belong to God! Jana and Greg are true heros of the faith! They are my heros! I have had the privileged of seeing them grow in Jesus. I have literally watched them flesh out what real faith looks like! Wether it be a car that won't start or the rent coming due. I have watched them trust their God and in turn their God would provide! I watched my God deliver Greg and Jana from a terrible drug addiction, I watched my God restore their family from brokeness to radical Jesus following believers. I stand in awe at the privilege that my God has allowed me to see and experience His mighty work! To some people cancer may sound like an impossible enemy but to my friends Greg and Jana it just means a closer walk with Jesus! This cancer is nothing compared to our God and Greg and Jana know this better than anyone! Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," Greg and Jana know this well! I would ask the reader, "How well do you know it?" What if one day you found yourself in the same shoes? The heros of our story are real people. They love Jesus with their whole heart and have learned to trust Him in their everyday activities as well as the big stuff, like cancer. It was not the tragedy that turned them to Jesus because they where already walking with Jesus when the tragedy came. Their horse was already prepared for battle which will make the victory all the more sweet! Is yours out to pasture or is he saddled up? Thank You Jesus for my family! We are prepared for the fight and Jesus You hold the VICTORY!
"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD."
Everyone loves a victory! We love it when life seems to be going our way. You know what I'm talking about, all the appliances are working properly. Your car is in great condition, all the bills are being paid on time, every one in your family is healthy. Home is great, church is great and our family is great. I love it when life is great! This very thought leads me to my next thought. What happens when life isn't so great? What do we do when things fall apart around us? What do we do when the car won't start or the washing machine breaks? How do we respond to tragedy or illness? My friends I write this devotional on the heels of a great trying time in the life of my family! I started this devotional three days ago before two of my most cherished family members, Greg and Jana Payne came to my house for breakfast. Its a tradition for us every monday morning. My wife Pamela makes pancakes, I make the coffee, Greg and Jana bring over the bacon and the rest is history! It was at this past monday's breakfast that we were having a great time visiting about Saturday and Sunday's worship service and how awesome our God is. When it seemed like out of nowhere Jana was hit with an attack of excruciating abdominal pain, We went from the breakfast table to the couch then from the couch to the car on our way to the ER in less than four minutes! We arrived at our local small town hospital only for Jana to be x-rayed and careflighted to a larger more equipped facility. From there to make a long story short Jana was in surgery by two pm that day. Three hours later the doctor came from the surgery to report to us that he had removed three quarters of Jana's stomach and along with it a very large cancerous tumor! We were all absolutely floored! He went on to say that Jana had a long recovery ahead but encouraged us that given the proper care that Jana would be cured. My friends I write this to you because I want everyone who reads this to know that I have full confidence in My God who without fail loves His children. We never know what the day may bring? We can prepare and we can make ready, just like the horse is prepared for battle but I am here to testify to you that victory will always belong to God! Jana and Greg are true heros of the faith! They are my heros! I have had the privileged of seeing them grow in Jesus. I have literally watched them flesh out what real faith looks like! Wether it be a car that won't start or the rent coming due. I have watched them trust their God and in turn their God would provide! I watched my God deliver Greg and Jana from a terrible drug addiction, I watched my God restore their family from brokeness to radical Jesus following believers. I stand in awe at the privilege that my God has allowed me to see and experience His mighty work! To some people cancer may sound like an impossible enemy but to my friends Greg and Jana it just means a closer walk with Jesus! This cancer is nothing compared to our God and Greg and Jana know this better than anyone! Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," Greg and Jana know this well! I would ask the reader, "How well do you know it?" What if one day you found yourself in the same shoes? The heros of our story are real people. They love Jesus with their whole heart and have learned to trust Him in their everyday activities as well as the big stuff, like cancer. It was not the tragedy that turned them to Jesus because they where already walking with Jesus when the tragedy came. Their horse was already prepared for battle which will make the victory all the more sweet! Is yours out to pasture or is he saddled up? Thank You Jesus for my family! We are prepared for the fight and Jesus You hold the VICTORY!
Monday, November 8, 2010
The New You
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I just love the word "new." In the Greek this means unused, unprecedented. About three years a go, my church bought a brand new car for me to use in my ministry. I was so excited when I picked it up at the dealership. A brand new chevrolet hhr with eight miles on it! I couldn't believe it! I was like a kid in a candy store when I drove it off the lot. I have been so careful with that car. Washing and detailing it as often as possible. Guarding it from scratches and dents. Doing all I can to preserve it's newness. In spite of my efforts the car has sustained scratches and dents. The interior while still nice is not like it was when it was new. I still love the car but it's not the new car that it once was. God, on the other hand, does the complete opposite when it comes to us. He doesn't try to keep us new, He makes us new. He takes the old broken and used. The unworthy, the stained and dented and makes it new, unused and unprecedented. Every one who comes to Jesus is given the title of "NEW CREATION." Past sin that stained our lives is now gone, Psalms 103:12,"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Our sins are forgiven, past, present and future. The past hurts we have sustained are now healed as if they never happened. God no longer sees us as scratched or dented but as His righteous children fit for His Kingdom. 2 Corinthians 5:21, " For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Our interior, is made new. The Holy spirit has taken up residence in our hearts and has made us new. Not cleaned up but new! Not like new, but brand spanking new! New identity, new outlook, new ability, new love! Every thing is new! We become the complete package, Colossians 2:10, "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." I write this as a pastor who deals in reality. Christians don't really get this! The hardest thing for us to do is turn loose of the past. We want to believe we are new but we have a hard time making newness resonate in our lives. Might I suggest following the example of Jesus. How did He bring newness to us? Was it not through death and resurrection? Something happened to our sin when Jesus was crucified. Our sin was crucified with Him. Isaiah 53:6, " All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Not only that but the burden and requirement for righteousness also has been nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14," having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Are we getting the picture? It's not enough just try and leave our past behind us! Our past sin and hurt must become dead to us! We have to kill it! Death means separation and if we picture ourselves as dented, scratched and stained we have not truly severed the tie with our past sin and hurt! This is so hard and yet we understand that this is what God has done for us. Church, I have a challenge for you today, take the next step in your walk with Jesus. Break out the hammer and the nails! Take that past sin of adultery, fornication, addiction, homosexuality, divorce, harsh language or any other sin the devil has been guilting you with, "Nail it to that Cross, walk away and let it die!" Take those past hurts of molestation, verbal abuse, physical abuse, abandonment and betrayal. Nail them to the wood and do it like you mean it! Make every strike of the hammer count! Drive the nails deep! Drive them to stay! They will beg and plead. They will ask for another chance. They are guilty and they deserve the death penalty of the cross! Do not relent! Our Jesus who was not guilty, who did not deserve death went bravely to the cross without a word. He did this for you. To make you new. My brothers and sisters, The book of Ecclesiastics says, "There is a time to kill, and the time is now! Crucify them and walk away with victory. Galatians 2:20 says, " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." The truth is this, the only way new life begins is when the old is done away with. Then and only then can our new resurrected life begin.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I just love the word "new." In the Greek this means unused, unprecedented. About three years a go, my church bought a brand new car for me to use in my ministry. I was so excited when I picked it up at the dealership. A brand new chevrolet hhr with eight miles on it! I couldn't believe it! I was like a kid in a candy store when I drove it off the lot. I have been so careful with that car. Washing and detailing it as often as possible. Guarding it from scratches and dents. Doing all I can to preserve it's newness. In spite of my efforts the car has sustained scratches and dents. The interior while still nice is not like it was when it was new. I still love the car but it's not the new car that it once was. God, on the other hand, does the complete opposite when it comes to us. He doesn't try to keep us new, He makes us new. He takes the old broken and used. The unworthy, the stained and dented and makes it new, unused and unprecedented. Every one who comes to Jesus is given the title of "NEW CREATION." Past sin that stained our lives is now gone, Psalms 103:12,"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Our sins are forgiven, past, present and future. The past hurts we have sustained are now healed as if they never happened. God no longer sees us as scratched or dented but as His righteous children fit for His Kingdom. 2 Corinthians 5:21, " For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Our interior, is made new. The Holy spirit has taken up residence in our hearts and has made us new. Not cleaned up but new! Not like new, but brand spanking new! New identity, new outlook, new ability, new love! Every thing is new! We become the complete package, Colossians 2:10, "and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." I write this as a pastor who deals in reality. Christians don't really get this! The hardest thing for us to do is turn loose of the past. We want to believe we are new but we have a hard time making newness resonate in our lives. Might I suggest following the example of Jesus. How did He bring newness to us? Was it not through death and resurrection? Something happened to our sin when Jesus was crucified. Our sin was crucified with Him. Isaiah 53:6, " All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Not only that but the burden and requirement for righteousness also has been nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14," having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Are we getting the picture? It's not enough just try and leave our past behind us! Our past sin and hurt must become dead to us! We have to kill it! Death means separation and if we picture ourselves as dented, scratched and stained we have not truly severed the tie with our past sin and hurt! This is so hard and yet we understand that this is what God has done for us. Church, I have a challenge for you today, take the next step in your walk with Jesus. Break out the hammer and the nails! Take that past sin of adultery, fornication, addiction, homosexuality, divorce, harsh language or any other sin the devil has been guilting you with, "Nail it to that Cross, walk away and let it die!" Take those past hurts of molestation, verbal abuse, physical abuse, abandonment and betrayal. Nail them to the wood and do it like you mean it! Make every strike of the hammer count! Drive the nails deep! Drive them to stay! They will beg and plead. They will ask for another chance. They are guilty and they deserve the death penalty of the cross! Do not relent! Our Jesus who was not guilty, who did not deserve death went bravely to the cross without a word. He did this for you. To make you new. My brothers and sisters, The book of Ecclesiastics says, "There is a time to kill, and the time is now! Crucify them and walk away with victory. Galatians 2:20 says, " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." The truth is this, the only way new life begins is when the old is done away with. Then and only then can our new resurrected life begin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)