The Living Word

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”  -Hebrews 4:12
I don’t know about you, but when I used to hear the phrase “the living word” I thought it was a little strange.  How can inanimate objects, such as words, become alive? 

As a teenager, reading God’s word was dull and boring.  I didn’t really understand it.  I read the book of Psalms because it comforted me, but other than that, it was difficult for me to read the Bible, even though I wanted to understand it.  It wasn’t until later when some things happened in my life that God began to speak to me through His word, and I began to receive revelation from it. 
There are two ways to receive revelation from the Bible:  Logos and Rhema.  Logos is taking the word literally, in its original historical context.  Rhema is when the scripture applies to us personally, to either a situation we are going through, or a confirmation of something we have already heard from God. It is another layer of revelation in addition to the literal interpretation.
For example, in Matthew 8, we know that Jesus calmed a storm while he was in a boat with His disciples, and He challenged them for their fear and lack of faith.  This is the literal interpretation.  But suppose you are going through something difficult that is making you afraid, a storm of life.  This scripture would be relevant to your situation, and God might give you answers to your situation through the scripture.
Likewise, many people quote Jeremiah 29:11 as their favorite verse.  The literal, or logos interpretation of this verse was that God was saying these words to Israel during a time when they were in captivity under another nation.  But, many people take this verse as a “Rhema” word for them, and it is still true for us today.
Is the word of God alive for you?  Pray that God would help you gain revelation from His word.  He desires that we experience His living word, to help us in our everyday life. 

The Mark of His Presence

Then Moses said to him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here." -Exodus 33:15
 
What's different about you and I as Christians? I think the world is wanting to know. With much emphasis on political activism in the news, many people think that Christianity has had a more negative contribution in recent years than a positive one. (See Barna report here: http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/440-americans-describe-christianity-contributions)

But God is not about political activism - although He is about truth. He wants to know you and I. He is about saving souls, and He wants people to know that He loves them, first and foremost, before He begins to fix any of our problems. His love is what fixes us.

David was a man after God's own heart. He wanted God's presence more than anything. He wanted it because He knew it was the most important thing in His life. His God defined him. David knew he would be helpless without God's help. "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me," he said. (Ps 51:11)

More now than ever, we need to be people of His presence - of His love and grace.

The best compliment I have ever received from anyone who was not a Christian was, "What drug are you taking? I want some of that." They meant, "How can you have so much obvious joy in your life without incredible circumstances or being on a narcotic? How can you be at peace in spite of whatever is going on in your life? Why do you seem different? I want some of what you have!"

The defining mark on us that makes us different from the rest isn't our work ethics, morals, or character - anyone can have those, although we should have all of them. It is the mark of His presence.

Do you have the mark of God's presence on your life?

Love Is the Greatest Motivator

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/220279254/

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." -Galatians 6:9 & 10

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13:13

Do you ever find yourself hunting for motivation some days? The drudgery of life can sometimes make us wonder why we try so hard. Even though some people may have better circumstances than we do, and others may have worse, everyone struggles with a lack of motivation at one point or another. But, what motivation can we rely on that will sustain us through the bumps and curves of life?

When God thought us up before we were born, (Jer 1:5) He knew everything we would need to make the most of our lives here on earth. He knew what we would need to sustain us - He knew what we would need to make our lives count. Most of all, He knew we would need to stay connected to Him, and be sustained by His everlasting love and the salvation of His Son.

Have you ever been in love, or seen someone in love? You'll know that that person will go to any great lengths to show their love to the object of their affection. Love is extremely motivating! Love makes it known that the other person matters to you, a great deal. We feel the most alive when we are in love, or when we feel truly loved by someone we know, love, and trust. How much more are we motivated when we realize that we are the sole object of God's (the author & creator of the Universe) unwavering affection?

Because He loved us, we love others. When we are reminded of His love, we find the motivation we need to serve and bless others with our gifts and talents. Even if we don?t think we have anything to offer, God makes it clear that each thing He creates is valuable - person, creature, or tree. And we are most of all valuable to Him, even more than the sparrows. (Matt 10:31)

Do you need motivation today? Soak up God's promises in His word that He loves you. He wants nothing more than for all of His children to know, receive, and experience His love!

Blameless

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart." -Ps 15:1-2
 
All throughout the Bible, the scripture talks about being blameless. What does that mean? Aren't we humans always going to sin?

Living a blameless life has to do with the intention of the heart. "I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart." -Psalm 101:2
 
When we walk blamelessly before God, it means we try. It means our intention is to do good, and to live a Holy life. It doesn't mean we won't make mistakes, but it means our desire is to honor Him, in everything we do. It means we always try to do the right thing. It means we're on time, and we do things with excellence. It means we act as representatives of Christ for those who do and don't believe. We deal with disappointments, and we don't hold grudges. But, why should we try to live a blameless life? It sure seems like a lot of work!

"My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." -Ps 101:6 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." -Ps 84:11
 
Jesus talked about the day His blood would be shed on the cross. He said, "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me." -John 14:30 When we walk a blameless life and the enemy of our souls has "nothing in us", we can walk free of accusation and sin. Satan will always try to trip us up, to get us involved in things where he can have a hold, so that he can bring us down with him. But we are called to live a blameless life, and the church as a whole, to a radiant future: "and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless"(Ephesians 5:27). In order for Jesus to come back, we as a church must walk Holy and blameless.

Is there anything in your life that is keeping you from being blameless? Is there anything you need to bring to the foot of the cross? I pray that God would give us strength and courage to live a blameless life, so that we can in turn be a blessing to Him and to those around us.

Doubt: The Dream Killer

"Jesus responded, 'Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!' Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm." -Matthew 8:26

Doubt is a thing that can stagnate the best of us, or put paralyzing fear in the bravest of us. Often we think in life that having doubt is a smaller problem, but in reality, it's one of the largest. Doubt doesn't get us to heaven; doubt doesn't get us to the fulfillment of God's dream for our life. Only faith does.

When the disciplines were in the boat during the storm, Jesus was asleep. They were enduring the struggle of the storm and were afraid. But the fact of the matter was God was with them, even in the midst of their struggle.

When they called Him up and He calmed the storm, he said, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" and the wind and waves obeyed His command to be calm.
 
Do you need to remember Jesus' encouragement to have faith?  Jesus said we only needed a mustard seed of faith to move mountains in our lives.

"I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matthew 17:20  

Our Image in Christ

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.”  -John 14:10

Have you ever found yourself lost in something?  We can often find ourselves lost in movies, entertainment, work, or other activities.  It isn’t wrong to be completely focused on something; in fact God calls us to work diligently and faithfully.

But when something consumes us before God, it can cause identity issues, limiting us from God’s unlimited power and presence in our lives.

Recently I was sitting in church during worship asking God some questions about certain things that were going on in my life.  "Look to Me," I heard Him say. At that moment, a gush of revelation about being "in Christ" came over me. 

"Your image in Me is going to look different than anybody else.  Don’t look to others - look to Me.  I am the source of your true identity."  When we look to Jesus, we don’t look to anything else to find or define ourselves.  We are defined by God and His plan for our lives. We can’t look to others for our identity because God has made us each unique.  It is okay to honor someone who has helped you in your walk, and it is okay to look to an admirable person as a good example.  But, when we cross the line into comparing ourselves and trying to live exactly how they live and do the things they do in order to earn acceptance by others, we are headed for trouble. God made us each uniquely, with a unique call and a unique set of gifts for our life.  This is not to say we do not live blameless, holy lives. 

When we look to Christ, the old image of our old self passes away.  (2 Cor 5:17) We become a new creation in Him.  We are no longer bound by old ways of thinking - we are released to live life to its fullest potential.  Our faith in Christ releases us to pursue all we’ve been given with everything we are.  Our weaknesses are overcome by His image being released in us.    If we are in Him then He is in us - and our true identity with shine through.  We find ourselves in Him.  "Lose your life to find it," (Matt 10:39) means when we lose ourselves in Him we find all we were really meant to be. 

Do you find your image in Christ?  Let Him help you discover all you were meant to be in Him today. 

Quieting Our Souls

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17

Have you ever felt super stressed out?  Have you ever had a HUGE deadline, or had to do something you were afraid of, or do you have a pressure-filled job?  The world we live in is very much pressure and money driven.  So, how do we find peace and rest for our souls in these types of pressured environments? 

I love the verse above.  There is so much to meditate on.  The prophet Zephaniah is talking about what God is thinking about Israel.  Though they have been away from God, He plans to straighten them out a bit, and then bring His love back to them.  "He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love."  Isn't that such an incredible statement?

The prerequisite for this "quietness through love" is humility.  It says in the previous verses,  "Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.  The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety,  and no one will make them afraid."  (v.12-13)

If we try and try and try in our own strength, we're living in strife and flesh.  We won't experience "rest."  But, if we are able to humble ourselves and put God first, He will provide rest and quietness for our souls.

Are you able to receive God's quieting love?  Spend some time with Him today, and allow Him to quiet your soul.  There is no greater refreshment than being filled with Him. 

How to Stay the Course

"David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God." -1 Samuel 30:6 NLT
 
In the time of Israel when David was fleeing from Saul, David and his men lived in a town called Ziklag, among the Philistines. Once, they came home from going out to battle and found that their enemies the Amalekites had crushed their city and burned it to the ground, taking the women and children with them. 

David and his men were devastated - in fact it says, "They wept until they could weep no more" (verse 4). David was in a precarious position as a leader - his men were talking about killing him. But David found strength in God. The King James version says, "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."
 
There is no doubt that difficult things will happen to us in this life. Jesus said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) How we respond to life determines our destination. 

It is said that 42% of people never read a book after college.* How sad! A spiritual leader once encouraged me to read 3 or 4 chapters of the Bible every day, and there have been many business leaders who have encouraged me to engage in personal development (read personal growth books) for at least 15 minutes a day. 

It is rare that other people will be able to encourage us all of the time. When we focus on "encouraging ourselves in the Lord," and "finding strength in the Lord" like David did, we will find our minds more attuned to solving problems, and we will be better able to deal with the situations that life throws our way. 

Do you encourage yourself daily in the Lord?



*http://www.statisticbrain.com/reading-statistics/

Having Faith for Today

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. -Matthew 21:21

Faith is difficult sometimes. When we're in a tough spot, when things are hard - it's challenging to have faith for situations. Sometimes our problems look so big compared to God, although we know in our minds that God is bigger. That's because our knowledge hasn't translated into faith - into real belief. The Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
 
Faith is not just saying we believe - it's having a sure conviction in our hearts that this or that thing will be accomplished. It is moving past our natural circumstances and into a supernatural dimension, where God's words resonate. Faith is belief we feel in our hearts when we have decided put our complete and total trust in God.
 
Just as we can't live on other people's faith, we can't expect to live today using yesterday's faith. Each day, situation, problem is different, with its own set of challenges. We need new faith every day, for every situation, to get through the tough spots in life. We need God's words to guide us for today. Have you ever thought about it? The Bible says God's mercies are new each day... and we need our faith to be that way too. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." -2 Corinthians 4:16
 
If you need faith for today, I invite you to pray this prayer: "God, give me faith for _______. I believe that you are bigger than my situation, and you able to do anything!"-and believe in your heart that God is bigger. He will honor your faith - for whatever you encounter!
 
"These (trials) have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." -1 Peter 1:7

One Step At A Time

"The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man's precious possession." - Proverbs 12:27

 

I love the Jordan Sparks song "One Step At A Time". Even if you're not a pop music fan the message is encouraging. When we encounter obstacles in our path, the best thing we can do is keep moving, one step at a time.

Recently our worship director was sharing about how we can get overwhelmed looking at the big picture, when all we really need to do is take a small step towards our goals.

God blesses our diligence; He is moved by our faith. Action accompanies faith.

Matthew Barnett, author of The Cause Within You says, "Never confuse activity with impact." What step can you take toward making a life of bigger impact? Sometimes our dreams and goals can seem so daunting. But we need to start somewhere. Is there a way you can break down your goals into small pieces?

Diligence, patience, and perseverance are what are necessary to keep moving forward. Sometimes this process involves patience with ourselves. Maybe it involves forgiving ourselves and letting go of past regrets that keep us from seeing the light ahead. Most often, fear stands in the way of the goals and dreams that we want to achieve. But just one step toward our goals can give us the confidence we need to take another step.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Are you able to take just one small step toward your goals?

"The only way we get there, is one step at a time." -Jordan Sparks

Living with Eternity in Mind

"'But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." -Matthew 6:20  

Our lives are so short. The Bible says the extent of our lives is like a fleeting shadow. (Ps 144:4) Even still, every life has value. And God brought you and I here for a purpose. What are we doing now that has lasting value? Everything we do has eternal purpose, if we view it as worship to God. What are we doing to create meaning, in our lives, or in the lives of others? Are we living each day with an eternal purpose in mind?
 
There was a story of a man who worked countless hours at his job. He believed in God, but his main focus was on his earthly success. He ran a very large business. When asked what people might say about him at his death he replied, "I've always known someone might ask me that question, but I am still not prepared to answer."
 
When we're young, we generally have more time to live our lives. But, when we're older, we might reminisce on what we could've done differently in our earlier years. Because our time is short, we need to use it wisely, and take thought for our intentions.

Take an inventory of your time and how you spend it. Are there areas in your life you could improve on? What can you do now that will create long-lasting value for you and others? Even by being faithful in mundane tasks and doing them as unto God we are creating meaning and purpose. What other things can we do to keep focus on heavenly rewards? Could we set more time aside for prayer and worship? Could we ask to pray for someone when they're not feeling well, or spend more time with family? Whatever it is, we need to keep in mind the things that last, "where moth and rust do not decay."

What are you doing today that will impact your tomorrow? Are you living with eternity in mind?

Jesus Empathized with Us

"We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin." -Hebrews 4:15

Do you ever have days where you feel like no one else understands?  I'm sure we've all had those days - we feel like the only one who has a less than ideal job, the only one with family issues, the only one struggling with sickness, who is stressed, or the only one who is single or who doesn’t have what we want out of life.

But you know what?  Our God and king has experienced all the things we go through - and even more. Another translation of this verse says, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin." (NLT)  We may not fully understand how God as man was able to go through the things we experienced, but we know since He lived on earth, He experienced life on life’s terms.  The night before His arrest, Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine." (Luke 22:42) I can only imagine what He must have been going through at that time.

Due to Jesus' overcoming death, He gives new life to us.  Could it be that within our struggles, He is working His overcoming life in us? As we overcome difficulty, we can help others overcome as well.  We are never alone in anything we go through - Jesus is right there with us, every step of the way, even if it may not feel like it.

Do you believe that God is with you every step of the way, and understands how you feel?  "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16  God wants us to know that He is with us - and He can help us overcome any obstacle we may face, as we go boldly before His throne of grace. 

Strengthening Our Faith Muscle

"And without faith, it is impossible to please God" – Hebrews 11:6

Do you regularly strengthen your "faith muscle"?  All the time, we need strengthening of our faith.  Just as it’s healthy to go to the gym and build muscle mass, (it prevents osteoporosis) it’s spiritually healthy for us to build our faith muscle. (And, it prevents the drying of our spiritual bones, A.K.A. DISCOURAGEMENT!)  (Ezekiel 37:11)

But, sometimes in life circumstances can get the better of us.  When one thing happens after another, we lose the ability to BELIEVE.  When these times come, we need our brothers and sisters who do have faith for the situation to pray and believe for us.  This will strengthen our faith - even for the most languid in spirit.  We need to continually stay in a place of faith in order to allow God to work.  God cannot work in a situation where there is no faith.  Faith is the precursor to God’s action on our behalf.  It is the fertile ground necessary for the miraculous to occur.  It is in faith that we are "alive in Christ."

Gunnar Olsen, a Christian businessman in Sweden tells a story called "The Plastic Bag Story."  At one time he owned a packing business, and during this time he received a large order for some plastic bags.  After receiving the shipment, the warehouse manager had informed Gunnar that the bags were sealed shut!  On a Friday, they checked all the boxes of bags - and every one of them had melted together.

Well, as you can imagine, it caused quite a panic.  Gunnar’s brother who also worked with him became very upset and Gunnar asked him to go play golf. His brother was incredulous - but Gunnar knew it would not be a good idea for his brother to be around.  He needed to be filled with faith for the situation, and he knew his brother was afraid.

Gunnar and his family went to the warehouse the following Saturday and stood in a circle praying together.  After they had prayed his daughter spoke up, "I think we should pray for the boxes!  God wouldn't want these bags to be sealed." So they did.  They laid hands on all 3,000 boxes of them.

The following Monday, they checked the bags.  They were unsealed, as if nothing had ever happened. 

The enemy wants nothing more than to STEAL our seeds of faith.  If he does that, he knows he can discourage us, and make us feel completely devoid of hope.  But, this is not what God wants for us!  God wants us to be full of faith – all the time!  However, in order to have faith in our lives we must want it – and we must learn to activate it.

Are you strengthening your "faith muscle"?

Overcoming Anxiety

"So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." -Matthew 10:31

Can we change anything that happens to us in life if we have done all we know to do to be in right standing with God?  The ultimate answer is "no." Yes we can and should do all the right things, we can plan, and we can do the things it takes to be successful - but unfortunately, we do not have any control over any outcome.  When it comes down to it, in fact, we have no idea what will happen tomorrow!
 
"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:14
 
My dad has said, "Projecting outcomes leads to depression." When we fail to see results we want, or we think about things that could happen, we inevitably set ourselves up for fear.  It's great to have goals, and it's definitely great to have dreams.  But instead of projecting into the future, we need to allow ourselves to TRUST God every step of the way - allowing Him to direct out paths.  (Proverbs 4:11)

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:5-7

Do you struggle with anxiety, or do you worry about the future?  Pray and ask God to take away those burdens, and trust Him day to day, that He will meet all of your needs "according to His riches in mercy."  (Phil 4:19)  He desires that you and I completely trust and have faith in Him. 

Why God Raises Up a Leader

"And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel." -2 Sam 5:12
 
Have you ever thought about why God raises up a leader? Why are leaders in positions of authority and power? Is it so they can use this power for their own gain? 

In David's case, God had specifically chosen him to be king over Israel. God chose a man "after His own heart"(Acts 13:22) to lead the people to Israel, to protect them, and to help them prosper. The reason God raises up a leader is for the people. In the verse above, it says God had "blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel." 

"The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." -Max DePree 

So many people believe that leadership is about the perks they receive as a leader - the power, the prestige, the attention. But true leadership is not about that at all - leadership is a type of public service. It is to make the lives of those you serve better - economically, spiritually, emotionally, or relationally. If we aren't making people's lives better, then what are we doing as leaders? 

Let us be aware of what true leadership is, and the reasons why God raises up a leader - "for the sake of His people..."

Encountering the Sauls in Our Lives

(Source : http://www.paintinghere.com/painting/Saul_Attacking_David_227.html)

"Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 1 Samuel 23:17

Have you ever had a dream or goal that someone in your life was jealous over? This could be a supervisor, spiritual leader, friend, or family member. Have you ever had a boss who may have seemed threatened with your anointing or gifting? This was the case for David.
 
Anointed to be king when he was just a boy, and serving under the reign of Saul, David evoked such jealousy in Saul as he grew older that Saul tried to kill him! But David stayed pure in heart in spite of Saul's schemes and found strength in God even in the midst of his circumstances. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:26
 
There are some things that David did that we should consider emulating when we find ourselves in tough spots when it comes to bosses, co-workers, or friends who appear to be threatened or jealous. David never tried to overthrow Saul by his own strength. Although he had the chance to kill Saul, he never did because he knew if he did, he would be taking matters into his own hands. Saul eventually killed himself by falling on his own sword. (1 Samuel 31:4) David simply served Saul until it was time for him to become king. And God used these experiences to purify David's heart as well, and to test him.
 
Do you have people in your life who are like Sauls, (perhaps unknowingly) trying to discourage you from your purpose? Are you prepared to let God fight those battles for you and stay pure in heart, and focused on Him?

The True Star

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." -Revelation 22:16
 

We live in a culture saturated with entertainment. Anywhere you go you can't get away from the stars' faces on magazines in the grocery checkout isle, TMZ news after the regular news, and familiar faces in movies and TV. Celebrity culture has become a part of our lives. But it didn't always used to be this way. 

Before Television made it possible for everyone to view the same thing at one time, local artists entertained local people at a local theater. It was more community focused. And, it is doubtful we had the same type of celebrity-consumer relationship we have today. We see everything we want to see - no flaws, perfect makeup, perfect hair - all while consuming the dramatic aspects of their personal lives. We see them so often on movies and in TV that our brain actually interprets their presence in our lives as a close friend or family member. Is that crazy or what?! 

But, what we need to recognize is these celebrities are just people. If we feel differently about any of them that anyone else we are engaging in idolatry. The true star is Jesus - our Morning Star! 

In the kingdom, we were never meant to be celebrities; we were meant to be lovers of people, and most of all lovers of God.

Do you look to Jesus as your true north star?

His Representatives

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

At the moment we are born-again, we become new creatures. Not only this, but at the moment of our conception into faith we become His representatives on earth. Now, when we say we are Christians, we are saying we are a reflection of Jesus. (Which can be challenging at times!)
 
We will never be perfect - that's for certain. That's why we needed Christ in our lives in the first place. But even though we know we're still full of flaws, it doesn't mean we aren't striving for God's reflection in our lives. The moment we are saved we become ambassadors for His kingdom, wherever we are. We become His ministers, in whatever we are doing. We grow in love as His sons and daughters. Day by day, we become more like Him, as we study His word and spend time worshipping Him. There is nothing to be afraid of - He knows we will fall short. That is why He has given us His gift of grace to help us when we make mistakes.
 
Imagine you are working for a company, one of the best in the world. This company is known for its service excellence and the way it treats its customers, employees, and the community. You have just been hired to be on the sales team, and you go through the training to learn the company rules and procedures. These policies aren't too distant from those found in the Bible. In order to keep your position however, and grow in the company, you must attempt to follow those rules and procedures to the best of your ability. Sure, there are fun days at work. Sure, challenges will happen. But, the policies and procedures will help to guide you through the business landscapes you will endure.
 
Being a Christian isn't all that different - the Bible is our guide. As we walk into our future in Him, we move knowing that our lives are a reflection of His love, grace, mercy, beauty, strength, and everything else that He is. Consider yourself a sales representative for the greatest franchise in history - the Kingdom of God. Both an exciting and sobering concept, huh?
 
May we grow in faith, grace, excellence, integrity, and most of all love, as we discover who we really are as His representatives on earth. 

Resiliency

"'All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically.' So Satan left the Lord's presence." -Job 1:12
 
I wonder if God and Satan ever have the above conversation about you and I. Often things happen to us over which we have no control, that do not appear to be a consequence of any sin or action we have taken. It is true that doing the right things don't always equal everything working out according to plan: God is not a vending machine - we can't make Him to do the things we want based on our behavior. But, we can trust Him that what He has promised will come to pass at the appointed time. (Habakkuk 2:3) 

It is during the desert times when we are most tested in our hearts. We will continue to believe that God loves us? Will we continue to believe and trust Him, in spite of what seems like a void of hope? Will we continue to do the right things, "No matter what"? It is these times when we are tested, to see if we will be found resilient in our faith. 

Job was tested so greatly, he lost his business, his family, and his health. His friends didn't understand what he was going through and assumed he had done something to offend God. Job also did not understand - and questioned God as to why He had to go through such hardship, even though he thought he had done all the right things. God responded - "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" (Job 40:2) and Job repented. "I know that you can do anything..I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." (Job 42) 

Righteousness doesn't always equal lack of hardship. But resiliency in faith reserves our heavenly reward. Will you be found resilient in your faith?

Striving vs. Thriving

"What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?" -Ecc 2:22

I remember being in grade school trying to beat all 6 (small school is an understatement) of my classmates by getting through my coursework quicker.  We were working through our phonics books, and it was down to me and the last guy.  Once he saw he was going to lose by a long stretch, he gave up.  I kept on going to finish, but at that point it really didn't matter anymore.  What was going through a phonics book as quickly as possible going to get me anyway?  I really wasn't learning that much more by going through it at a ridiculous pace.  In fact, I was absorbing less!

So much of striving in life relates to a life of faith.  When we're striving, we're busy - and B.U.S.Y. equates to "Being Under Satan’s Yoke."  Do we fear not having enough provision?  God is our Provider.  Do we fear other's thoughts of us?  God should be the one we care about pleasing most.  Do we fear we won't measure up? God has given us our own identity - unique to anyone else. Do we fear success or failure?  "Love never fails." (1 Corinthians 13:8)  "Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel." -1 Chronicles 22:13

Another case in point:  In singing, if you try too hard and strain your voice, you can do irreparable damage to your vocal chords.  But, if you learn to use the natural range of your voice and free it from the rest of the muscles in your throat, you can have a lot of success in singing.  Most of singing is freeing your vocal chords from the tension of the muscles surrounding them, while training your vocal chords to sing the right note.

Are you striving in any area of your life?  Ask God to help in you in that area, and help you give it to Him. 

Overcoming Negative Circumstances

"Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens.  Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.  Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.  Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." -Ps 143:7 & 8

Sometimes life is hard.  When we go through difficult seasons, we may question God's presence, His goodness, His love for us, or the dreams He placed within us.  "Why on earth would this happen to me, God, if You are loving and just!?" we may ask.

However, this is exactly the posture the enemy wants us to have.  Whenever bad things happen, as they did to Job, the enemy wants to get in the middle and tell us God doesn't love us, He doesn't care about us, and He doesn't have a plan for our lives. He wants us to turn against our God.  These statements are a complete and total lie!

But, how do we get to the truth, when all our circumstances point to the negative?  It may be that we have never known anything besides the negativity that surrounds us. 

First, we need to get in the word, to read what God says about us and our situation.  We need to pray, even if we don't feel like it.  We need to worship, to praise God in spite of whatever is going on - in His word it says that praise is the antidote for heaviness.  (Is 6:13) We need to get around encouraging people.  And most of all we need to believe - to have faith that in spite of any difficulty, our God is still victorious.  We have to realize that we live in a fallen world, and that God does not want us to go through negative things, but He will use them for our good. (Romans 8:28)

Are you going through something negative right now?  Stay in faith, let God be your hope, and even if things don't change immediately stay in faith that God will do what He promised. The answer may not come at the time we expect, but it doesn't change the fact that God loves us, and sent His son to die for us, so that we could live in heaven, eternally with Him.

Fulfilling Our Calling

"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 10 & 11
 
We live in a rockstar-mentality world. What I mean by this is, many of us think that the ultimate goal of our lives is to be seen and recognized by multitudes of people, much like Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, or Donald Trump. It has become an epidemic in our society!
Conversely, people who become successful rarely make it a goal to be famous. They just made it a goal to be the best they could be. 

As Christians, the best we can be is living by the word of God, and finding ways of working in our "sweet spot", in order to share the gospel with the most people possible. This can be through art, through business, through technology, or through whatever industry we find ourselves in - even if for the moment it is an industry or position we don't particularly like.
I remember having a conversation with someone at church once, where I was saying, "I just feel like I?m running behind, like God has this plan for my life, and I missed something, and I am not where I am supposed to be." The person I was talking to said, "But you are here, and that means you are right where you?re supposed to be." 

At the time it didn't make me feel any better. I just wanted to be where I really felt God wanted me to be! I'm sure David felt the same way after he was anointed to be king but went back to tending sheep. But life is a journey, and, as John Maxwell says, "Growth stops when the tension stops between where you are and where you want to be." The tension we may be feeling is the impetus for growth. 

We might have professional and personal goals we want to reach, but what we fail to realize is, right now is our calling. It's not some far off thing in the future; there is no dress rehearsal for life. So, being the best we can be within the moment is truly being the best we can be.
Who can you encourage today, right where you are? Start with today. Every turn we make impacts our future, but the cool thing is, we can start living life, walking in the kingdom and impacting others - right now, right from where we are.

Spiritual Warfare

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

If we think we live in a world where there is no enemy distracting us and trying to keep us from the purpose, plan, and true intention of God's will for our lives, we are deceived. Every day, good Christian people get off track because they weren't prepared for the battle that happens every day on behalf of the souls of men, saved and unsaved.
 
If you're a Christian, the enemy's goal is to make you completely spiritually handicapped, either by an emotional wound or by lack of knowledge.
 
If you're not a Christian yet, the entirety of hell wants to make sure you stay that way.
 
My husband and I help administrate a bi-weekly discipleship group for the worship team and anyone creative in our church. Once the night before the group I went to my husband Justin and said, "Babe, I just don't want to do this anymore. I am worn out. I don't really feel like what I'm doing matters. I don't really feel like it's what I need to be doing."
 
The next night at the group was the best we had had yet, with a larger than normal number of people who came. It was a huge blessing to be a part of. The presence of God was very strong. This has also happened to me before an event when I was asked to speak. I was depressed before the event. I was filled with feelings of unforgiveness. But I prayed, and went for it anyway. The outcome was that people were touched and got a lot out of what I had shared. I was sharing on the power of forgiveness.
 
We know that we're right where God wants us to be when we experience a level of spiritual warfare that we wouldn't otherwise experience. It could be illness, emotional fatigue, circumstances, a sour attitude from ourselves or someone close to us, or all of the above. We need to combat these by worship, prayer, asking others for help & prayer, and getting suited up for battle. (Eph 6:11-15) Are you prepared for the battle ahead?


Transactional vs. Relational Leadership

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

Many a book has been written about the servant leadership Jesus modeled.  He said in a famous verse, "...he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves." -Luke 22:26  But, what was so special about the way Jesus led His followers?

Ford Taylor is a leadership consultant who trains leaders of leaders, and is involved in community transformation in the state of Ohio.  He teaches something called "transformational leadership", which is basically developing a relationship with someone to such an extent that they actually want to do whatever it is the leader is asking them to do.  This is also called relational leadership.

Businesses and other organizations cite fewer problems, higher revenue, and much less turnover by employing his principles.  Building relationship as being primary in leadership isn't a new concept:  Josh McDowell, the well-known youth leader and apologist has said, "Sharing truth without relationship leads to rejection. Discipline without relationship leads to anger."
 

Do you think the disciples wanted to follow Jesus?  Nobody was making them follow Him.  In fact, Jesus didn’t even pay them.  Through His relationship with the disciples, Jesus was able to change their minds about a lot of things, including who He was.  He was king of the Jews, even though He wore no crown, had no castle, and had no horse to ride upon.  But, He developed such a relationship with the disciples that they would have followed Him anywhere, and they would have died for Him.  Many did die for Him, after they realized who He was and that He first died for their sins.  It really was quite profound.

Is relational leadership something you employ?  Think about ways you can motivate those you serve by being more focused on building relationship.

Stepping Into Influence

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov 3: 5-6  

My best friend got her Masters in Accounting and was looking for a job after she finished her degree. The job market was tough; not many people were hiring, and it was the second January after the big recession of 2008 hit.
 
She kept on applying to different companies and ended up with two choices. One was with one of the four big accounting firms; the other was with a smaller company that would be closer to home. The large company offered her a great package, but she decided to turn it down in lieu of the hours she would be working. The contact for this company called her back and said, "No, you absolutely must work here," after which she prayed, negotiated, and agreed to work there for a season. She knew that God had been orchestrating these events for her future.
 
During the job, it was very hard work and stressful, but she gained a lot of favor with the managers and other employees of the company. One in particular took special interest in her to mentor her along the way, and they developed a type of Elijah/Elisha relationship. Although the work was difficult and required resilience, God was definitely the wind in the sails of her life.
 
When we allow God to move us forward, we'll find ourselves in places we didn?t expect. Often these places will result in influence we weren't necessarily seeking. As we move forward in God, we need to make sure our hearts are open, so we don't miss the steps God has orchestrated in order to move us into greater places of influence. He desires we be in place of influence so that His light can shine before men. (Matt 5:16) He promises that we will be protected as we move under His authority for our lives.
 
Are you on a journey of stepping into influence?

Following the Gold Seam

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," He said, "and tell the people all about this new life." (Acts 5:19, 20 NIV)
 
There are places where we walk that we know are God-ordained. For me, whenever I see a rainbow I know God is highlighting my path, and I am walking in the right direction. You might call this "the gold seam." 

Though life takes us on many journeys and along many different roads- there should be one commonality for the life of the Christian: the gold seam. Divine appointments, favor, whatever you want to call it, we need to be able to wake up and invite Gods purposes into our day. We need to ask Him, "God, where do you want me to go today?" or "God, who could I encourage today?" This simple act brings so much purpose into our lives. 

We don't find the gold seam just by living our lives or by choosing Christ and then becoming dormant - we intentionally choose to be open to it every single day. 

Are you looking for God's gold seam in your life today?

Smaller Story vs. Larger Story

"Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."  -Matthew 4:21&22

Each of us has a story.  When we have completed our lives here on earth, a story will have been written.  But, what we do today determines whether we will have lived our smaller story, or whether we stepped out into our larger story.

What is a larger or smaller story?  A smaller story is written when we accept the adversity life has handed us as reality.  We stay stuck in ruts unable to move forward due to our feelings about where we are.  We let our circumstances and past define us, instead of letting God define our now and our future.  We hold on the grudges and resentment citing other people to blame for our problems.  We accept mediocrity.  We likely don't enjoy where we are in life, but don't have much hope about the future.

In contrast, if living our smaller story is about doubt and defeat, living our larger story is all about faith and victory.  It takes much more faith to walk in our larger story, even if we believed in Jesus in the first place.  There are many people who believe in Jesus but stop there.  They don't have the faith that He can transform their lives. 

If we want to live extraordinary lives in Christ, then we have to have the belief that anything is possible, no matter what we've seen before.  This may involved a process of emotional healing and restoration, training in the things of God, and the letting go of past hurts and resentments through the power of the cross.  This may involve trying new things and stepping out into situations that are uncomfortable for us. Whatever it is, if we want to step into our larger story, discomfort and faith is defininitely a part of this process.

Which story are you living?  Are you living your smaller or larger story?  Pray and ask God today to bring you into the larger story He intends for your life.

Discerning Right from Wrong

"Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:9
 
King Solomon was a wise king.  The Bible says that he was the wisest man who lived during that time!  (1 Kings 4:31)  God was pleased that Solomon did not ask for wealth and riches at the beginning of his rule - instead he asked for wisdom to govern God’s people well and to know the difference between right and wrong.

Many times when we are just coming to know God, we are not really aware of sin in our lives.  We may not think a lot about what we do may that may not be good for us.  More often than not, through life experience, the influence of culture, and our upbringing we become desensitized to sin, without us even realizing it. 
 
As we get to know God more and get a revelation of His ways, certain things that were once okay just don’t feel right anymore.  This doesn't mean we're immune to sin - but it means sanctification becomes a part of our walk with Him, leading us to paths of righteousness, or right living.

"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name." -Ps 23:2 & 3

One of the biggest roadblocks you and I will run into in life is discerning between right and wrong.  I’ve heard it said this way: “Being a Christian has two pillars - one is a relationship with God and righteousness - the other is a non-relationship with wrongdoing.” 

Can you discern right from wrong in your life? Pray today that God will give you a discerning heart and mind, and so that you can be led by the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.

Faith and Wisdom

"Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God's people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God." -Ephesians 1:15-17
 
Are you more of a "wisdom" person, or are you more of a "faith" person? 

In life, I have discovered there are often two kinds of people: those who are risk-takers, and those who are risk-adverse. Both personality types have pros and cons, but both are essential to God's kingdom. 

People who are "faith" oriented love risk, and are not afraid of a new challenge. They love starting new endeavors and trying new things! Sometimes, though, risk can bring many challenges, such as betting too big of a hand, resulting in big losses. 

People who tend to play it safe are more "wisdom" oriented - they see the risks, count the cost, and opt to avoid the pitfalls. On the other hand, these people might be slow to take advantage of opportunity, (and may subsequently miss it), and might be prone to "hide" their gifts instead of investing them. In the Bible, Peter was a "faith" person; Solomon was a "wisdom" person. 

If you are a faith person, do you have wise people around you? Conversely, if you are a wisdom person, do you have people around you who challenge you to step out of the box and try new things? I am so thankful that God paired me up with a wisdom person, as I have often gotten myself into trouble being more of a faith person. 

The cool thing is, it is wise to be filled with faith, (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom), and to be faithful is to be wise. (Ps 111:10) Do you have a healthy balance of both faith and wisdom in your life?