A Second Wind

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm." -Eph 6:12



In sports they often refer to what's known as a "second wind". It's been said that if you push yourself to a certain degree of physical exhaustion where you think you can go no further, something triggers. It's like a weight has been lifted. You're no longer tired. No longer striving. All of a sudden, it becomes easy. It's like a rush of strength and energy is suddenly there. You are able to win the race. You are able to fight the good fight. All because of a second wind.
 
The same is true in life with God. It is called breaking through the 'demon wall'. Things happen.
 
Circumstances hit. Suddenly we're backed into a corner. There's a roadblock. We don't think we can go any further. We don't think that we can go on. But then we break through. Something miraculous happens. We didn't think we could make it through the darkest of nights. But the night is darkest just before the dawn. And we find that just beyond that wall is the light of the sun, leading us to our vision, to our destination.
 
What has been holding you back from your destiny? Is it fear of failure? Fear of loss? Anger toward others? Bitterness for things that did or didn't happen? Challenging circumstances? Whatever it is, God is here to help us overcome. He's placed an overcoming Spirit inside of you, able to overcome any and every circumstance that is thrown your way. He says we can "do all things through Christ who strengthens (us)." (Phil 4:13) Not just some things. All things. The end of ourselves is the beginning of God.

Harmony in Calling

 

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." -Romans 12:15-17

Harmony (n.): 1. agreement in action, opinion, feeling, etc.; accord; 2. order or congruity of parts to their whole or to one another; 3. agreeable sounds (http://www.thefreedictionary.com)

There is no doubt that there are many expressions of the Christian faith.  With 38,000 current denominations cited* and growing every year, it is no wonder we agree on so little. But, are the things we disagree on really deal-breakers?  Shouldn’t we major on the majors, and minor on the minors?  Hasn’t Christ called each of us to work together for the transformation of our cities, communities, and cultures? (Colossians 1:19-20)

When I think of the church as a whole, I think of a group of people singing – much like the heavenly host of angels who visited the shepherds telling them of Christ’s birth.  (Luke 2:14)  When we learn to major on the majors, and minor on the minors, this produces a beautiful, complimentary sound of all our voices together. Each of us brings something different to the table.  Likewise, different churches have a different piece of the puzzle.  Whether we are pastors, leaders, businesspeople, students, or whatever we are called to bring God’s kingdom to earth.  We are not always going to agree on everything – that is the beauty of it. It only gets out of harmony when there is disunity or hate of any kind. Of course we are called to hate sin.  (Romans 12:9)  But we are not called to judge one another. (Luke 6:37)

Do you believe Christ died for you?  Do you believe God’s calling for your life?  Do you desire God’s will be manifested through your life?  Learn to work with those who may be different than you.  When we discover how to harmonize our faith with others, we have set the stage to do amazing things for Him.  

"There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:4-6).

*Source:  http://www.sltrib.com/2001/May/05192001/Saturday/98497.htm 

Don't Grow Cold!

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." -Matthew 24:12&13

My husband has been gone a lot at work preparing for a big yearly deadline.  I enjoyed the time off finding other things to do, but I missed him too.  

When life got back to normal, we went on a couple dates to readjust.  “I’m just getting used to you again,” I said.  It was so interesting to me how easy it was to 'grow cold' toward him during our time apart!  We share a common love language - quality time.  It was because we had not nurtured this love language that we felt far away from one another.  I thought about how this relates to our relationship with our Heavenly Father.    

When life gets busy, it’s so easy to begin feeling far away from God.  It’s easy to neglect or forget to put fuel into our heart’s “boiler” so that we remain on fire for Him.  Sometimes offense or hurts get in the way.  But, we need to be mindful of the dangers of being lukewarm or cold:  “...because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  (Rev 3:16) We definitely don’t want to be found lukewarm, or with our lamps out of oil (Matthew 25:1-13).  

In marriage, it’s not an option to be “kind of” in love with someone, although we may not feel ridiculously in love all the time.  It’s not an option to set yourself up to be looking for someone else while you’re married!  Likewise, as Christians, it’s not good for us to set ourselves up for a passionless relationship with God. We need to make sure we are hot, on fire with the love of Jesus!

Can you say that you are on fire with the love of Jesus?  If you can’t say that you are, switch things up to kindle that fire again. Worshipping to your favorite worship music, praying until you feel God near, or hanging out with people who love God too can help.  Some people re-connect best with God through experiencing His creation, in nature.  God loves us so much, He wants us to be in His presence, on fire for Him, all the time. 

Are you impassioned with the love of Christ today?

When Faith Seems to Fail Us

"For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Have you ever hoped for something so long that your hope died? Have you ever "had faith" in something that failed you? I am sure we all have. When it happens, it makes life seem difficult. But the most difficult circumstance is when we think our God, all-powerful, all knowing, all-loving, seems to fail us.
 
Maybe it was a promotion at work. Maybe it was a relationship that we thought was going to work out. Maybe it was something we thought God told us about, even more than once. Whatever the case, God is continually working behind the scenes to bring His desired result.
 
When our friends fail us, God stands firm. When our circumstances change, He still remains the same. When we mess up, God does never rejects us as we turn the other way. It is in the doubt that we find death. But it is in faith that we find life. The beginning of faith is hope. As hope grows, it becomes a substance. It becomes real to us. We can believe that the things Jesus said are true. His character never changes. Only our circumstances do.
 
It takes faith to bring to pass the desired result. If there's something God has shown you, test it with faith. In God's economy, the currency is faith. We test our faith by moving toward the things he has already given to us.
 
Let the Christ who is never changing be the one that you know to be true. His unfailing love will bring us to the hope to find all the faith we will ever need.

Sharing Our Witness

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." -Mark 16:15

"I am convinced of one thing: at least 50 percent of all nonbelievers would receive Christ if properly approached by a trained, Spirit-filled believer who can communicate God's love and forgiveness revealed through our Lord Jesus." - Dr. Bill Bright

It's super intimidating to share our faith, isn't it? I've had experiences of being so nervous sharing my faith that I forget the most important pieces of my story! Plus, the stigma of appearing like a Bible beating Christian is almost unbearable.

But, what's the alternative?

According to Barna.org from a survey done in 2003, just 32% of people believe in a literal hell as in "an actual place of torment and suffering where people's souls go after death."* One in four adults admit they do not know where they will go when they die.

Of the findings revealed by the study, George Barna said, "Millions of Americans have redefined grace to mean that God is so eager to save people from Hell that He will change His nature and universal principles for their individual benefit."

I heard a powerful presentation by a man named Bill Weiss who spent 23 minutes in hell through a vision the Lord had given him. His story is quite incredible. He stands as a reminder that yes, hell does exist, and the one of the main purposes for Jesus' death on the cross is so that each and every one of us can avoid it.

We need not be afraid to share our testimony if the opportunity presents itself. We are not responsible for the outcome of someone's decision of faith, we are merely responsible for planting the seed.




For an easy, step-by-step guide to sharing your testimony, click here: http://www.5clicks.com/
 
To check out Bill Weiss' testimony, click here: http://www.soulchoiceministries.org/
 
*Source: http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/128-americans-describe-their-views-about-life-after-death?q=belief+hell

True Healing

"Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." Luke 6:18, 19 

Have you ever heard of miraculous healings? Perhaps you've only heard of them in the Bible, happening way back in Jesus' time. But is there healing today, in the here and now?
 
Jesus said, "Believe, that you may do these things and more, for the helper is coming to you." The helper is the Holy Spirit. And he did not say way back when--he said now, today, tomorrow, forever. That same power can be imparted to us today for the working of miracles and healing of the sick. But it begins with Jesus.
 
Jesus is our true healer. He promises to restore us to perfect health. We may not know when this healing will take place. We may not know how. But we can be sure that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God does not change. And healing is in his nature, because his nature is completion. When we get closer to God, the miraculous can happen. When we seek the face of Jesus, we can see wonders. And when we're led by the power of the Holy Spirit, the miraculous can happen for others.
 
Do you desire healing? Does someone you know and love need the healing touch of God? Ask God today about His healing power to restore you. It may not be what we expect, but God knows our hearts, and He knows what we need most. Trust Him today and have faith that he will restore whatever has been damaged in your life.

Growing Through Experience

 

"So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah." -1 Samuel 16:13

We live in a very microwave culture.  If we want something, we want it now!  But, even though we can go through a drive-thru to get fast food immediately, this microwave mentality often does not apply to our calling and life with God.

We tend to think of David in the Bible as the great shepherd king, the worshipper after God’s own heart.  But I wonder when we think of him, if we truly consider all the processing David endured after he was anointed to be king?  Yes he won the fight against Goliath; but after he was anointed, he went back to tending sheep!  He spent many years running from Saul.  It was only after he was tested and he did not kill his enemy Saul that God allowed David to be king. This was years after Samuel had anointed the little shepherd boy in the field before his brothers.

Often we can be impatient with God’s processing.  We may want God’s promises - all right now!  But God has His reasons for timing that may not make sense to us in the moment.  We may not be ready.  We may not be able to handle what He wants to give us until He puts us in a place of character building.  We have to learn to trust God when we have not yet seen the manifestation of the dream that is on the inside of our hearts. This is how God knows we can be trusted with it. This is how we grow to be able to have the capacity to carry God-sized dreams.  We grow through experience.

Are you letting God grow you through experience?  Even if you feel the place you are at right now is not your ultimate destination, decide to treat it with respect.  It will often provide the training ground we’ll need to be able to withstand God’s promises in our lives and our ultimate calling.

Servant Leadership vs. Entitlement

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" -Matthew 20:26

I walked into the store toward the customer service counter and waited for a few minutes.  I was next in line, but to my surprise, a young store employee walked right up to the customer service desk when the register became open and made a purchase.  The cashier saw me and told the employee, who said something about the fact that there were two lines, and I was in the other one.  I wasn’t about to fight with an employee for a place in line, so I let him go ahead.  It was a horrible example of customer service, but a great example of entitlement.

There is a consensus in our world today that we are becoming more and more entitled.  iPhones, iPads, iPods, personal computers, facebook, video games, media, entertainment, and marketing have increasingly made it all about me, me, me! We think if we’re alive we’re entitled to success, happiness, or greatness. But this mentality is directly contradictory to what Jesus taught.  It is in fact, in direct opposition to true success. 

When I worked for a department store, it was our policy to do anything within our power to make the customer happy, even if it meant returning a used item.  Related to how we think about others, Jesus made it clear to “love one another as we love ourselves.” That means doing to another what you would want to be done to you.  And even more than that, putting God before ourselves and others.  What would He want us to do?  How would He want us to serve someone else?

If we are to make a mark in the world for God’s kingdom, we can’t live entitled.  We must learn to live as “a servant of all.”  When we learn this, often other things follow - such as financial increase and meaningful relationships.

Are you a servant leader?  I pray each of us can find more ways of serving one another, and letting love be our ultimate goal.

Righteous Anger

"And 'don't sin by letting anger control you.' Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry”  -Ephesians 4:26

What makes you mad? Often we don't talk about getting angry in Christian circles because it's an uncomfortable topic.  But, if we're true followers of Christ, isn't it true that certain things should make us angry?

I'm not talking about the kind of anger where we didn't get our way.  I'm talking about things that really get you - injustices like child trafficking, a lack of ethical business practices, corruption, abuse in relationships, bullying, an inaccurate view of God - these are the types of issues that need solving in our society.  I think when we recognize what angers us, it is a big key to our destiny and calling.

Jesus got angry. Jesus actually got angry at several things.  This most notable example is when He entered the table and ran out all the money changers.  He said, “The scriptures declare, ‘My temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” (Matthew 21:18&19)  The money changers didn’t care about people’s spiritual growth. Jesus was angered by their greed.

But Jesus was probably the most angry with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day.  He said to them, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.” Matthew 23:13  We never see Jesus angry with sinners.  But He was angry with the Pharisees.  He was angry with them for misrepresenting God, for seeking out man’s approval more than God’s, for failing to recognize the kingdom of God among them, and for their overall corruption and failing to look after the poor and the widows.

What in today's world makes you righteously angry?  It could be a clue to connect you to a problem that you are called to solve.

Slaves vs. Sons (or Daughters)

"And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father.'  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.  And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."  -Galatians 4:21-31
 
Have you ever felt like a servant or a slave, instead of a son or daughter?  I worked as a server for a while in high school and also in college in order to make ends meet.  It is gruesome work!  Working in the restaurant industry requires working nights and weekends, and doing heavy manual labor.  During the time I worked as a server I was also working through an issue of unworthiness I had in my life.  I had never felt worthy of anything good.

It was during this time that God was showing me that I had been adopted by Him.  There was nothing I could do to "prove" myself to Him or make Him love me any more than He already did.  My working and toiling and striving didn’t amount to anything more than sweat rolling off my brow.  What did matter, was an acceptance of the love that God already had for me.  I had to re-train my brain to accept this love and live in "a spirit of adoption" versus living in the rejection I experienced in my home life growing up.

The writer of Galatians describes this transition from "slave" to "son".   He talks about the difference between Abraham’s two sons - the illegitimate one born out of selfish ambition (Ishmael) and the one born of promise, Isaac.  "And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac." Galatians 4:28

We can never become sons or daughters of God by acting like "Ishmael", always trying to prove ourselves. Instead, we need to have the attitude that we have been adopted by Him, and therefore He will withhold "no good thing" from us.  (Matt 7:11) We just receive His love, blessings, and grace, instead of trying to fend for ourselves.

Have you let God adopt you as His precious son or daughter today?

Where Does Wealth Come From?

"Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? God said to Solomon, 'Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." -2 Chronicles 1:9-12

 

Where does wealth come from? Should we seek to gain wealth as followers of Christ? There are many get-rich-quick ideas out there, most of which lead to more poverty. (Proverbs 21:5) And, there are many people who believe that in order to be a Christian, you must agree to live a poor and meager lifestyle. But, I don't believe this should be the case! 

Solomon was the richest man who ever lived. (1 Kings 10:23) If we are poor, how can we bless others? How can we fund kingdom activities if we ourselves are indebted and impoverished? 

In order to gain wealth, it appears that simply seeking wealth does not bring us wealth. The Bible also says, "The love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Tim 6:10) This is not to mean money is evil - but the love of money is evil. 

According to scripture, it appears that wealth is a byproduct of seeking wisdom. And, when we're faithful with little, God is able to trust us with more. (Matt 25:21) This is a spiritual law!

So, how can we be wise with money? Some ways to be wise with money are tithing (Malachi 3:10), staying or getting out of debt (Romans 13:8), saving (Proverbs 30:25), working diligently (Proverbs 14:23), not spending foolishly (Proverbs 29:3), and putting money into things that earn a return on investment (Matt 25:20). I heard a millionaire say once, "Money is seed. Don't eat all of your seed - that would be foolish! Instead, plant it somewhere where it will grow." 

Do you have a desire for God to bless you in this way so that you can be a blessing to others in need? Pray today for wisdom and guidance. Be faithful with what you have. God desires to provide more than enough for His children, so that His kingdom purposes can be accomplished on the earth.

Our Security & Confidence in God

"I know that you, God, are on the side of victims, that you care for the rights of the poor. And I know that the righteous personally thank you, that good people are secure in your presence."  Psalm 140:12-13 

Where do we get our security or our confidence from?  It's often easy to find both our identity and security in other people and things.  How do we know we've misplaced our sense of being, and our sense of belonging?  We'll often feel as though our core value lies outside ourselves, or that another is more valuable than we are.

There are so many cases of misplaced identity and devotion.  Just take a look at the Israelites. They had the answer, and they continued to follow false idols and gods.  Why did they do it?  They struggled with the age-old problem we've always had - do we let God be in control?  Or do we try to take the control back from Him?  (Which never really works out anyway...)

When you think of security, as in home security or a bank account, it means that the "boundaries" or "walls" are fortified.  There is no confusion about who is in or who is out.  Only the right people or things should be there.  Threats to security or safety remain outside the walls.  When we are secure, we know who is in, and who is out.  When God is at the center of our lives, there is no question about our own identity.  

"The Fear-of-God builds up confidence, and makes a world safe for your children." -Proverbs 14:26

Do you find your confidence, security, and identity in the One who made you?  Pray today that you might be even more dependent on Him to fulfill every need - in identity, in security, and most of all - in your own destiny. 

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,  comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say." 2 Thess 2:16-17

A Free Life

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  -Galatians 5:13 & 14

What is true freedom?  Is it the ability to do what we want at any given time?  I don’t know about you, but if I did what I thought I wanted at any given time, I’d live a pretty lonely pitiful life!

Where do we find true freedom?  The Bible says we find true freedom by being a “bondservant” of Christ.  (Romans 1:1) What does this mean?  Isn’t this a contradiction?  But, it’s really true!  If we live by the laws of love in every area of our lives, we find true freedom, in every area of life.   If we’re always blessing people, we’re not bound by their thoughts of us.  If we’ve truly trusted God with our whole life, we’ll be free from stress.  If we really knew love, we would never struggle with addictive habits.  And if we’ve truly forgiven the people in our past, we're free from both regret and unforgiveness. As Mother Teresa said, if you’re always loving people, you don’t have time to judge them.  The law of love truly does bring freedom! 

“Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” -Romans 13:8

God desires that we be free and unfettered in every area of life.  Is there anything holding you back?  Perhaps doubt, discouragement, disappointment, unforgiveness or bitterness toward someone or something?  Let God help you, and apply His laws of love.  It is only through His love that we can become truly free.

Putting God First

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -Matthew 6:33

One estimate finds more than 4700 covenant promises listed in the Bible.  The funny thing about each of these promises is that, if we put God first in a certain area, He is able to bless our lives because we have set ourselves apart in our devotion to Him. 

It doesn’t mean that getting to know God is a religious, boxed-in formula.  It also doesn’t mean that God is a genie or a microwave.  But, it does mean that when we put God first in our lives, we are adhering to a divine order that makes our lives function as they should.  We receive the supernatural fruits of love, joy and peace in our lives.  We are able to experience a supernatural fulfillment that is beyond compare. 

Our lives work when there is no one or nothing on the throne of our hearts except God.  He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end  (Revelation 1:8).

J. John in his book “X” says of the First Commandment, "it is this commandment that underpins all the others."  Often we don’t know what it means to put God first in every area.  This first commandment to have nothing else come before Him mirrors Jesus’ golden rule in the Bible – “Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Luke 10:27) Putting God first is the simplest, yet most profound thing we can do every day to bring about God’s will for our lives. 

What does putting God first mean to you?  Is it waking up early to have a quiet time?  Is it worshipping in your car?  Is it having a Bible study with a few friends?  Is it giving God your best, all the time?  It is doing your work as if you were doing it just for Him?

The disciplines of our worship to God will show up on the outside, as “fruit” in our lives.  People can tell a difference in us when we’ve been worshipping, or if we haven’t been.  We must first invest in the spiritual work before the fruit and God’s presence will show up in the natural.  This is what it means to put God first in our lives.
 

God's Heart for Us

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful." -Jeremiah 31:3&4
 
When people think of God, they tend to think of Him in several different ways. Some think of God as a loving Father. Other people believe He is a dictator. Still others believe He is indifferent to us - as if he is too big and important to care what's going on in our lives. Some of us choose to believe that God is good, but we haven't yet believed it in our hearts. We often think of God the same way we thought of our fathers growing up.

Many people believe that God is angry - all the time! To them, God is a God of hell, fire, and brimstone - waiting to punish us with His iron-strong arm whenever they we something wrong. But, this idea is a fallacy - this is not the God of the Bible. God's story is that of redemption - through sacrificial love.

Some may also argue that the Old Testament is full of God's judgment and death due to His righteousness. But, if we do not first look at the reason He created us, His plan, and His unfailing story of redemption, we miss the big picture. God does not want people to suffer - in contrast, he wants them to know His love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16
 
If you could imagine the most caring, loving father on this earth, that is God times 1000. So many times God gets blamed for the devil's calamities. Too often He gets blamed for our own sin. Separation from God and His love wasn't his choice - it happened in the garden, by our own. (Genesis 3) Too many times, God is misrepresented by those who say they know Him.

God's heart for us is good. It says it in his word. We may not be kept from negative or difficult things happening in our lives, but we need to know He wants us to have peaceful, abundant lives filled with hope and promise because of our relationship to Him. Most of all, God's heart for us is to know His unwavering, unending, unfailing love.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:3

Stepping Out

"See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore He would give to your fathers - to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and to their descendants after them." -Deut 1:8

 When the Israelites were instructed to "step out" into the Promised Land, they were afraid.  But God commanded them over and over "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." -Deut 31:6  When they obeyed God's commands, they were successful.  And when they stepped out in faith, God met them there.

 There is a desire in each of us to "step out" into something more.  We are each called to something bigger than ourselves. But, stepping out is hard. It requires faith and risk. It requires perserverance, and caring more about what God thinks versus what other people think. It requires sacrifice and service to things and people who perhaps aren't worthy of it.

But what happens if we don't step out? Songs won't be written. Businesses won't be started. Marriages won't be healed. Families won't be restored. Brokenness won't be mended. Souls won't be saved. We'll learn to settle for mediocrity.  We'll never fulfill our purpose.  We'll never receive God's promise of rest.  (Joshua 22:4)

Even if we don't realize it now, other people are depending on us. That's a hard pill to swallow!  But it is so true.  People are needing you and I to step out in faith.  People are needing you to be you. I don't mean that we should act hastily or bear burdens we weren't meant to bear. But, we need to realize that future generations are depending on us for foundations built today. Is your foundation solid? Are you building it on faith?

"See, the lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." -Deut 1:21

Do you feel the need to solve a problem, create a solution, or make a change?  Are you ready to "step out" into something you feel God has called you to?  Make a commitment today to step out and take a stand.  If you don't, who will?

Open Doors

 

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." -Gen 4:7

 

Once my dad left home from a trip, only to find a surprise waiting for him in his house upon his return. A cat had found its way into the house through the old pet door that wasn't properly sealed. The cat went upstairs, and took his bed for a litter box. Eww!!! It took us several days to find that cat, but we finally did!

Although it's rather uncomfortable and disconcerting to find a "present" such as this upon your return home, it left us with a good spiritual analogy. As we're moving forward, living our lives, we may not know what doors we might have open to the enemy, through intentional or unintentional sin. Of course the cat is still God's creature in this situation, but the analogy here is quite stark. The animal was an intruder; he was not supposed to be there, caused something of a havoc, and took some time to find.

Are there things that you know of that could be causing an open door to allow the enemy access into your life? We all need to examine ourselves from time to time to make sure we do not allow him in. Are we praying enough? Getting enough rest? Taking care of our physical bodies? Treating others with love and respect? Are we compromising in any area we shouldn't? These types of questions can help us discover any doors that may be open in our lives, so that the enemy cannot come in and wreck havoc.

Are there any doors that might be open in your life? If you're not sure, ask God to reveal them to you. Often our greatest enemy is one we do not know. Awareness is half the battle.

Bumper People

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." -James 5:16

What is a "bumper person"? Ford Taylor, in his Transformational Leadership training describes a "bumper person" as someone we trust who can bump us back into place when we start getting out of alignment with God's call on our lives.
 
There are many great people who started out running their race well, but fell out of favor with God due to the enemy's deception in their lives. When we get into things we feel ashamed of, the last thing we want to tell someone - we think they might judge us.
 
But, when any sin is brought into the light, it loses its power. Therefore we need to develop relationships with people we can trust so we won't be caught in anything outside of God's plan. If you are a leader, often it is even more difficult to do this - it is lonely at the top. But, the reality is, we can't do this life on our own, no matter who we are.
 
What are some good qualifiers for bumper people?

1. Friends that are trustworthy
2. People that you trust enough to tell them when you are moving away from God's design, or give them permission to speak into your life

"The righteous chose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." -Proverbs 12:26
 
I have about 4-5 close friends who I consider to be my bumper people. They can help set you straight when life gets tough! No one has 360 degree vision, so we need different perspectives to see a situation more clearly.
 

Do you have bumper people in your life? If you don't, pray that God would send people into your life who could be that for you, and you for them.


Working All Things for Good

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." -Genesis 50:20

Joseph was sold into slavery at about 17 years old by his own brothers.  Joseph was sold into slavery at about 17 years old. He was sold by his own brothers! 

Joseph was Jacob's favorite son, and as such, was hated by his brothers who were full of jealousy toward him.  After Joseph told his brothers a dream about the fact that they would one day bow to him, they had had enough - they wanted to get rid of him.  At first their plan was to kill him, but Joseph's brother Reuben intervened, "Why should we shed any blood? Let's just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him." (Gen 37:22) Afterward, he was sold to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver (v.28), and then to an officer of Pharaoh in Egypt, named Potiphar.

You might already know the rest of the story.  After a series of unlikely events (and many years), Joseph ends up second in command in all of Eqypt. And he is there to save his family and the tribe of Israel when a 7 year famine hits, the one prophesied in his dream years before.  Joseph was 30 when he rose to power. Thirteen years had passed!  But what a turn-around - from slave to prince. God used the negative things in Joseph's life to prepare him for his destiny.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  I have absolutely found this to be true in many areas of my life.  Have you? 

If there is any negative situation in your life now, God can turn it around for His glory.  Will you trust Him to bring you to the fulfillment of that promise?  He desires to turn anything bad around for His glory and cause it to work together for good.

Information vs. Revelation

“I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.”  -Galatians 1:12

Have you ever gotten a revelation before?  A revelation is different from just receiving information. I remember when I got the revelation that God really did love me... my life has never been the same!

There is plenty of information going around in the world, and in churches too.  But what about revelation?  How do we know when we’ve received a revelation?  You’ll know that you’ve received a revelation on something when you receive something powerful in your spirit, along with the words that are being expressed.  Revelation comes through the heart, while knowledge comes through the mind.  However, revelation, if it’s truly revelation, will not only change our hearts, but it will also renew our minds. Getting a revelation transforms us, helping us become more like Christ.

How can we get revelation, or - how can we give it to others?  In the Bible, it says revelation was given by the spirit.  We can share the revelations we have received with others, so that they will receive the same revelation too.  But, there will be people in your life that may not get the same revelation even if you tell them about it.  Revelation is caught, not taught - and can be received in church services, in prayer, or at any time we are attune to God’s voice in our lives. True revelation will always align with the plumb line of God’s word. 

Have you gotten a revelation lately?  I pray each of us receive regular revelation, not just information, concerning the things of God, so that we and others might be truly transformed.

Having a Biblical Worldview

"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

According to research, the majority of Americans consider themselves Christians.  (Seventy-six to eighty percent, respectively.)  But, very few of us have a biblical worldview.
What is a biblical worldview?  By and large, it means that our beliefs align with that of the Bible.  Barna.org defines a biblical worldview as the following:

• Believe that absolute moral truth exists
• That the source of moral truth is the Bible
• That the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches
• That eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned
• That Jesus lived a sinless life on earth
• That every person has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others
• That Satan is a living force, not just a symbol of evil
• And finally, that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful maker of the universe who still rules that creation today

According to Barna.org, just five percent of us have a biblical worldview. Why is it important to have a biblical worldview?  When we believe with all our heart the truth about Jesus, and we are aware of the enemy’s plan to steal our destiny, we are much better equipped to fulfill the call God has placed on our lives.  There are wonderful depths to God that we may never know, but believing these truths sets us up to live out a passionate faith, versus a luke-warm religion.

Why not seek God at a deeper level today?



Source:  http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/174-most-adults-feel-accepted-by-god-but-lack-a-biblical-worldview?q=biblical+worldview


 

What Is Tithing?

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”  -Genesis 14:18-20

What is tithing?  Many people might argue that tithing is outdated, that it is an “old-fashioned” idea.  But is it?  Why did God want His people to tithe?

In Hebrew, the word “tithe” actually means 10%.  Tithing is giving 10% of all our “increase” (what we get paid) to God as an act of worship to Him.  We do this for various reasons - most of which are beneficial to us versus God.  God doesn’t need our money, but he does want our obedience.  Tithing is an act of worship meaning we agree that everything we have is His.  We are managers of all that is entrusted to us.  What we have is because of His goodness.

Craig Hill, founder of Family Foundations and author of several bestselling books on money cites the following 7 reasons why he believes each of us should employ the practice of tithing as a part of our worship to God:

• It builds faith in our hearts for God as our Source of provision
• It breaks the power of greed: “money managing me” vs. “me managing it"
• It breaks the power of fear of lack
• It establishes discipline
• It distinguishes between the Source of provision and channel of provision
• It provides support to kingdom activities
• It qualifies us to be trusted with more of God’s resources

Where should we tithe?  Malachi 3:10 talks about bringing the whole tithe “into the storehouse.”  Since we don’t have physical storehouses today, we can relate a storehouse to a place where we are being spiritually fed. More that likely this is a local church, but could be more than one place.

Have you employed the practice of tithing?  Pray and ask God how you might incorporate the practice of tithing into your life. “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” -Malachi 3:10

Rachel vs. Leah Faith

"Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, 'I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.'" -Genesis 29:18

Do you have a dream?  You might be at a stage in your life where you want to do something great with your life, but not sure what.  Or, you may now exactly what you want but no idea how to get there. There may be a few of you that know exactly what you want, and are taking the steps to get there.  You may have already accomplished some of the dreams and goals God has put in your heart. Whatever the case may be, you have probably encountered “Leah” faith at some time in your life.

Leah was the eldest daughter of Laban, in the Bible. Jacob saw Leah’s sister Rachel and fell in love with her immediately.  But he was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah.  The Bible says Leah had “weak eyes” while Rachel was beautiful.  Fourteen total years had to pass before Jacob could get what he really wanted, Rachel.  

Isn’t that sometimes the case with us? Leah represents the things that we don’t want to do, in order to get to the things that we really want to do in life. We don’t want to put up with Leah, but sometimes we have to.  But Jacob knew what he wanted.  He wanted Rachel.  In his eyes, Rachel was worth 14 years of labor and 7 years of putting up with what he really didn’t want, in order to get his bride, the one he loved and really wanted.

Do you have faith enough to make it to your “Rachel” dream?  I pray each of us have the strength not to settle for “Leah” so that God can birth the beautiful, passion-filled dreams in our lives.

Religion Trips Us Up

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses."  Galatians 5:16-18

Have you ever heard the story of the big red button?  I used to see it often in cartoons as a kid.  The cartoon character is presented with a situation in which there is a "big red button" he or she was not allowed to touch, and sooner or later they can't help themselves. 

I think this is a lot like religion versus a relationship with God.  When we're living in religion, we’re bound by a set of rules that we have to live by in order to be accepted by God and others in our faith.  The success or failure of our religion is based upon our ability to perform certain activities or refrain from certain ones based on the nature of what our faith law says.  But Jesus came so we wouldn't have do that at all on our own.  He was the fulfillment of the law, and yet set us free from it.  He came first so that we might have life, and life more abundantly.  He came to set us free! 

"When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit."  Romans 7:5&6

If we feel bound, I think it means we have not fully embraced the resurrection life that God desires for us.  Jesus sets us free from a list of rules and regulations, but we learn how to follow them when we simply place our trust in Him.  Our sanctification is God-birthed, versus self-birthed.  Sooner or later, we have no desire to press the big red button, because Jesus fills our hearts in every area that lacks.

Are you living under religion or are you led by the Holy Spirit?

Building God's House

 

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,' says the LORD. 'You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the LORD Almighty. 'Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. -Haggai 1:7-11
 
Five-hundred and twenty years before the birth of Christ, a prophet named Haggai cited the urgency of rebuilding God's temple after the Israelites were freed from captivity some 18 years earlier. In Haggai 1:3-4, it states, "Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 'Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?'"
 
Although only two chapters long, the book of Haggai is an important reminder for us to not loose sight of building God's kingdom on the earth and to build His house. Although we tend to live very busy lives, we need not be so concerned with our own houses that we forget God's. This is, after all, the place where we find our purpose - in living out our calling in Him.

When talking about the word "church", there are two distinctions we should make. There is God's house, as in His temple where we gather together and worship Him, where we establish roots and make connections with other believers, and then there is building His kingdom here and now by worshipping Him in everything we do, and together as a body of corporate believers. This doesn't depend on denomination or where you worship. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?" 1 Cor 3:16 Revelation says that Jesus is coming back for His bride, (as in the church, "Ecclesia", the body of believers) and Ephesians talks about this bride being "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Eph 5:27

Building God's kingdom in both of these areas involves sacrifice. It involves giving up selfish desires so that God's nature can be revealed in us. Most often, this happens in three spheres: Time, treasure, and talent. Are we bringing our gifts as sacrifices to Him? God in turn promises to bless us when we honor Him with our sacrifices. "'From this day on I will bless you.'" (Haggai 2:19b) The local church is where we can offer up these talents and treasures and where blessing can flow from our lives. Being planted and connected to a good local church is like being planted next to a river with unending supply.

Are you neglecting the place where you bring your worship, your gifts, or your talents? May we each be connected to a healthy local body so that God's purposes in us might be fully revealed in every aspect of our lives.

Remaining Pure

“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”  -1 Corinthians 6:18-20
In our society today, it is expected that people have sex before marriage.  A study done back in 2002 found that 95% of people have had premarital sex, and 93% of them had by age 30. (In comparison, of women born in 1940, 90% had had premarital sex.)1  
However, I don’t think these facts about premarital sex should be surprising, when we have so much predisposition to early sexualization through the media and through early sexual abuse. Among the top 20 TV shows watched by teens, 70% contain sexual content of some kind, while only 10% of these shows referenced the responsibilities or risks.2  As many as 1 of 4 girls and 1 of 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18, and this number is likely much higher due to unreported cases.3
Aside from spiritual concerns, pre-marital sex has other effects on our emotions and physical health.  Twenty-five percent of teen girls who said they were sexually active also said they had been depressed ‘a lot of the time' or ‘most of the time,'" while most who refrained from sexual activity were "never" or "rarely" depressed.4  About 22% of people have an STD, with many cases unreported. According to the CDC, “Young people represent 25 percent of the sexually experienced population in the United States, but account for nearly half of new STDs.”6  This is not a put down for anyone who has an STD, but a warning that this risk is very real in our world today.
I love the Message version of the verse above:  “Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever - the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another.” -1 Cor 6:16-18
The point behind this verse is not what we can’t do, but rather experiencing the blessing of this wonderful gift in its best context - within the protection and commitment of a loving, God-centered marriage. If we have fallen short in this area, there is still grace and forgiveness, and the opportunity to begin again. 
Do you honor God with your body?


References:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-12-19-premarital-sex_x.htm
http://www.education.com/reference/article/how-much-sexual-content-media/
http://nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/.../ChildSexualAbuseFactSheet.pdf
http://www.ucg.org/christian-living/world-news-and-trends-teenage-sex-linked-serious-depression/
http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/std-hiv-hep/stds_stis/Pages/STDSTIsInformation.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats10/trends.htm

Battleground of the Mind

“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” -Romans 8:6 

Has your mind ever gotten the best of you?

Every day, there is a great temptation to believe the worst about someone or something that has happened to us.  Even greater, is the temptation to believe the worst of God, that due to something that has happened or not happened; that He is not good, and He is not on our side.

It is so true that our minds are a battlefield.  The enemy uses this battlefield to gain ground - to try to use things and situations that have happened to us to turn us away from God.  He reminds us of our past, brings up regrets, and brings others to mind who we think have it better than we do, all to get us off track.  He tries to discourage us from the things that are important to us.  The enemy wants us to be nothing more than worms, thinking negative, discouraging thoughts, all the time!  He doesn’t want us to inherit the destiny that God has planned for us.  His greatest weapon is to knock us out of faith and trust, straight into doubt and discouragement.

Perhaps there are people who do have it better than us.  Perhaps what happened to us was indeed really bad! But when all we can think about is the fact that everyone has it better than us, we are letting our mind and the enemy get the better of us.  Therefore, it is essential that we thank God every day for the thing or things that are good in our lives, (even if it doesn't seem like a lot).  Even if it doesn't seem good to us, there is always someone who is going to be worse off than us. We have to train our minds to think faith-filled thoughts, instead of negative ones. We have to fill our minds with scripture. We need to put ourselves around people who can encourage us, and whom we can encourage too. 

Don’t let your mind get the better of you.  Pray that God will help you fill your mind with good, helpful, and encouraging thoughts - and that this would propel you into the very places that God has ordained for you.