Love with No Agenda

"For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" -Galatians 5:14

 

How can we best share the gospel with others? There is an art to doing it, for sure. I remember trying to share Jesus with a friend of mine when I was young, and she asked me why she should believe in Jesus. I pleadingly replied, "So you don't go to hell!" 

Thankfully, there is a much better way to let people know about Jesus' love for them.

Leif Hetland's main passion is to go to places where they have never heard the name of Jesus - especially in Muslim countries. Since the inception of his ministry, thousands have come to know Jesus all over the world. Leif has this to say about how to be successful sharing Jesus with others: "As soon as love has an agenda, it is no longer love." He's said he's had the greatest success loving people, serving them, and bringing God's kingdom into their lives - without having an agenda. Naturally the leaders they talk to want to know what is different. Healing and miracles are a big part of what they do. 

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way." - 1 Corinthians 13:4

 

Where there is no agenda, fear is gone. Will you commit yourself to loving others with no agenda?

Enjoying Our Work

"And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past." -Ecc 5:10 & 20 
 
Have you ever felt like life was pointless?  I know I have... sometimes life seems futile, boring, and useless.  We're all going to die one day anyway - what difference does it make if we do good or bad, we are foolish or wise, we spend a lifetime working hard or we spend all of our money?  We can't take our money or possessions with us... 

The writer of Ecclesiastes echoes these exact sentiments. He says, "People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing-like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud - frustrated, discouraged, and angry." -Ecc 5:16 & 17 

Pretty depressing, isn't it?  But, then when he reflects upon it all, he concludes: "Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God."  -Ecclesiastes 5:18 & 19 

Our actions on earth do make an eternal difference, even if we don't realize it.  I love that part above, "...to enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - this is indeed a gift from God."  Life is pointless without the one who made us to live this life, in our place, finding contentment, and enjoying our work - a gift from Him. 

Have you found a way to enjoy your work, and enjoy God's presence in your life, through seemingly futile activities?  If not, why not ask Him today to help you see the work He gives as a gift.  He desires that we experience purpose within even  our mundane day-to-day activities, because we have a relationship with Him.

Sharpen Your Sword

"He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver." - Isaiah 49:2 NIV
 
What kind of gifts has God given you? Have people always told you you were "good" or "great" at something? 
 

If you've never been told that, no worries! Often, we don't know the gifts we have - but the truth is everyone has a gift. ("The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable..." 1 Cor 12:21, 22. ) Conversely, some of us have so many gifts that we find it difficult to pick which ones to pursue! But, understanding and developing our giftedness is very important because it helps us to develop and define the purpose God has given us. (Jeremiah 29:11) 

Gifts can be 'natural', such as an aptitude for singing or management, or they can be 'spiritual' in nature, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12. Spiritual gifts may be things such as prophecy or wisdom. But all gifts, whether they are 'natural' or 'spiritual' are designed for God's specific purpose for our lives. 



With whatever gifts God has given us, we are called to discover, develop and sharpen those gifts and talents. (See the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14). We discover them by taking self-assessments, trying new things, and learning more about ourselves. We seek input from parents and spiritual leaders or maybe good friends who see what we may fail to recognize in ourselves. We develop our gifts by taking classes, practicing, or interning with someone who knows our specific aptitude. We continue to sharpen our skills and talents by progressing in our practice, inviting feedback, and learning from that feedback as we move toward mastery. I can't imagine how many times American Idol contestants must've asked their family members to rate their performance - and I'd venture to say even some of the best were horrible at first! 

Have you discovered your gifts yet? Ask God what they are. Glean from others. Your gifts are directly related to your purpose. Ask God what He might want to do with those gifts, with His purpose in mind. 


Personal Re-Programming

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2) 

I spent a lot of time in the early years of my life feeling "less than," and ugly or fat, incompetent, or just plain unworthy of anything good or better than how my life was at the time. There were many attitudes and feelings that I had about God, myself, and other people that simply were not true. It was only through a revelation of God's love and grace, at incremental and pivotal crossroads in my life that my opinions and feelings began to change. And boy did they ever! 

One of the most monumental crossroads happened when I was 17. I call this my "true" salvation experience. This experience with God felt like a warmth that filled my heart, and something; be it faith, love, peace, or whatever mixture of all three changed my perspective just a bit about who God was and what He thought of me. I realized He did really care about me. I realized He was a very personal God - not angry or condescending - but full of love and patience and grace. I realized He cares about everyone this way! 

The experience changed my heart, and made me a different person. It not only changed the way I thought, but through this re-programming, my heart was molded into a different shape. I felt more whole than I had ever felt before. 

My dad says that God uses circumstances in our lives to not only to bring about a habit change, but a nature change. God just doesn't want our minds to think different things - he wants the roots of those habits to be uprooted as well. Then God is able to fill the uprooted void with His love. And then our habits do begin to change, beginning from the inside out. 

What has God re-programmed in you? Have you asked Him to re-program areas of your mind and heart where you may feel inadequate? 

Ask God to help you with those areas where you may need some personal re-programming. He promises to help us through it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

What Comes Out of the Mess

"For God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

Have you ever gotten yourself into a mess? I sure have. Sometimes things don't turn out quite like you plan. Or perhaps you make a mistake or maybe even do something intentionally, knowing full well it will bring about a catastrophe. But what can we do after the mess has occurred? How can we pick up the pieces and deal with the brokenness we find in front of us?
 
Perhaps you were caught doing drugs or cheating on a test. Maybe you were caught lying or stealing, or got involved in a compromising situation. Perhaps it was a little more subtle. Maybe you didn't do what you felt God wanted you to do. Whatever the case, getting into a mess is messy.
 
But once we've discovered the consequences of our actions, known or unknown to others, then what do we do?
 
The first step is to repent. Even if the mess was caused by something we were initially unaware was wrong, we need to repent and renounce our actions to become pure before God by saying, "God, I'm sorry. What I did was wrong. Please forgive me." Even if you feel the situation is more than you can possibly bear, ask God if He will help you turn it around. We have to trust that in spite of our human frailties, He has the power to turn everything around, for good.
 
Have you seen something good come out of your mess? Everybody makes mistakes - it doesn't matter who you are. But the key is taking those mistakes and learning from them. Often these lessons in life are the best jewels we could hope to find. And we may even discover something else works out in spite of our mess.

Giving Up

"Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure." -2 Corinthians 12:21

In a day where we do what "feels right" and tend to look to movie stars and musicians as a compass for what is morally acceptable, we balk at the idea that there may be such thing as a plumb line for morality; that there may be such a thing as absolute truth.

"Well, God didn’t mean that for today's time," we say. "That's so old-fashioned."  "That may be true for you but not for me."  "Do you really expect me to live like that? Surely you don't mean for me to do that."  Sometimes it's all too easy to excuse away the very thing that brings power to our faith. 

But the reality is, there are things we will need to give up in order to make room for God in our lives - so that we can experience more of Him in our lives.

I remember a time when every "room" in my heart was filled - it was filled with anger, hurt, disappointment, and bitterness. I had a small little space in the closet of my heart where I had allowed God to live. But God brought someone into my life to help me see that if I really wanted to follow Jesus, I had to give up those things to make room for Him.  And what a difference it made!  Once I repented and renounced those things in my life, they were replaced by God’s peace, love and joy.  I felt so much lighter, like a burden had been lifted. 

Once we get a true revelation of the sacrifice Jesus made, any sacrifice He requires of us pales in comparison.  “Of course, Lord,” we’ll say.  There is nothing that compares to His love for us, nothing that even comes close.

Is there anything you need to give up in order to make more room for Him?   I pray we each have the strength to give up things in our lives, so that we can experience the fullness of His love and power within us.

The "Safe" Way

Bubble-man stays safe in bubble suit.

"'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'" -Luke 19:17

I don't think there's a "safe" way to get to any sort of dream that matters. I mean, think about it. We try to go around things that are too hard - we look for the "less scary" option. Sure, there's room for prudence. But who has ever accomplished something great without great risk, either to their pride or their bank account?
 
To be different, one must choose to be outside of the norm. To be outside the range of the norm, one must choose rejection, doubt, uncertainty, and all the other costs associated with being, well, not normal. What happens then?
 
I am convinced those who care less about what other people think and more about what God thinks and what matters most to them will receive more, because they step out in faith. Isn't this parable described in the Bible? The man who invested all was rewarded, while the man who hid his "talents" was scolded. "You wicked servant!" -Luke 19:22 

Wicked?? That's a little harsh, don't you think? But it's true - the less you risk, the less faith you show you have, either in yourself, or in God. The more risk you are willing to take - risk, not plain stupidity, mind you - the more reward you will receive. God rewards risk. God rewards people who step out into the unknown, for Him. We must be prepared to accept the rejection, the hurt, the doubt, the unbelief.
 
Are you someone who chooses the safe option, every time? Or are you someone who takes risks for their God, so that other?s lives can be impacted through them?
 
"I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away." -Luke 19:27

Treasures in Heaven

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." -Matthew 6:19

There is a great temptation in our lifetime to only focus on things that are in the here and now - in the physical realm.  Money, recognition, achievements, and material things have their own sense of pleasure - and they are the things we see with our physical eyes.  But, in reality, they don’t last; these things never make it to the realm of eternity.   

But what does last? How can we make the greatest impact in the kingdom that lasts for all eternity?

Imagine if every thing we did for God resulted in a jewel in our crown in heaven.  Imagine if every act of kindness, giving to the poor, acting upon the voice of the Holy Spirit, and moving in love and power were the keys that unlocked our heavenly treasures... 

"In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble." -Proverbs 15:6

Obedience to God and His word are how we can store up treasure in heaven.  Are you storing up heavenly treasures?

In Everything...

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." -Col 3:17
 
Imagine with me for a moment that every Christian on earth had a revelation of the "in everything" principle. What if we asked ourselves, at every moment, "Is what I'm doing now worshipping God? Does what I do glorify Him?" 

When we see worship as not only the lifting of our hands and voices on Sunday morning, life takes on a whole new meaning. 

Avodah (Ah-voe-dah) is a Hebrew word used in the Bible that has two distinct yet intertwined meanings: work and worship. Colossians confirms this in chapter 3, verses 23 and 24: "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ."
 
If we saw everything we did as either an opportunity to worship God, or an opportunity to refuse Him and allow evil into the world, I would hypothesize we might gain a new understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian. 

If we're worshipping God in our work, we're not cheating on the expense reports. If we're worshipping God in school, we're not cheating on a test. And if we're worshipping God in our marriages, we're not cheating on our spouse - we're loving them as Christ loved the church, His people. 

Are you worshipping God... in everything? Pray today that God would give you the strength and courage to serve Him in everything.

God's Kids

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

I hope you had a loving mom, or dad, or both. Or perhaps your grandparents or surrogate parents took good care of you. But if you didn't, no worries - there's hope.
 
If your parents were absent or let you down in childhood, then there is no doubt you have an even better opportunity to know God as your perfect Father today. God is a Father who will care and provide for you always, for your every need. He knows us so well He knows the number of hairs on our head! "Even the hairs on your head are numbered." (Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7)
 
He has the power to fill in the pieces we missed as children, and even now, in a very real sense! 

When I was growing up, my dad was emotionally absent. Even he will admit that he didn't know what a feeling was until he was forty. This caused me to distrust him and men in general. I had many holes in my life because of the absence of my dad's encouraging words and nurturing. I didn't have any confidence, I was afraid of people, and my self-image was shot. I didn't feel loved, accepted, or appreciated.
 
It took a long time for my heart to mend. But God, in His infinite grace, showed me how He was my perfect Father. He showed me that although my own father had shortcomings, (as we all do), He would take care of that and fix the things that were broken in my life, including my broken identity. And He did - through circumstances, through people He put in my life, through His Word, and through my learning how to hear His voice. ("My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Jn 10:27 NASB.)
 
The truth is that no family is perfect, and we all need God's love and grace to fill in the gaps. When we come into the kingdom of God by receiving His grace, we are no longer orphans - we are adopted as His own. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Romans 8:15
 
Pray today that God will reveal His truth to you about being a child of His. He has the power to fill in the gaps of everything we missed!



Commitment

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” –Hebrews 12:1 & 2



True commitment is so rare in our culture. It's difficult to find someone who will do what they say – and stick it out until the end. Commitment is hard. You have to be one of 2% that will truly follow through with pursuing the things they say they want to, whether it’s building a business, launching a career, losing weight, or staying married for a lifetime.

I believe commitment is the defining factor between someone who will fulfill the desires of their hearts and someone who won’t.

When you're committed, you work hard.  You persevere.  Commitment takes courage. It’s not dependent on circumstance. Commitment says, “I will do this, even though ‘this and that’ may happen, and they may do ‘this or that’.” Commitment takes looking at the hard things in life. Maybe we fear failure, and that's why we don't commit. Maybe it hasn't worked out before, and that's why we don't commit. We need to get past our insecurities and take action! We need to set the course for our lives.  Only then will we be able to see what God may have in store.

When we’re faithful to God and His plan for our lives, we will find Him to be faithful to us. “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless…” (2 Sam 22:26, Ps 18:25) We have to discover where our dreams and God's plan align.  We need to be moldable and shapeable through the twists and turns of life, but still remain committed.

Are you able to commit to a dream, a job, a goal, a relationship? Maybe you need to commit yourself fully to your heavenly Father. Whatever it may be, ask God to help you. In Christ, we can do all things. (Phil 4:19)

Our True Identity

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." -Matthew 16:18
 
Have you ever found yourself lacking confidence? Have you ever found yourself doubting the call of God on your life? I think all of us go through this, even the most mature Christian. But when we get to this place, we need to go back to God's promises, and go back to remembering our true identity in Christ. (Perhaps even begin a journey of truly discovering it!)

Simon Peter was someone in the Bible who is cited as being impulsive and emotional, as evidenced by his unending questions and rash decisions. His name, Simon, meant reed - which is blown and swayed by the wind. But when Jesus first meets Peter, He says, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Peter." -John 1:42

It's interesting to me that during the time Peter was Jesus' disciple, he is called by two names. Isn't that a little bipolar? I would be confused in my identity if I was given two names! But at the end of his three years with Jesus, He tells him, "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Peter went from being called something that defined his past mistakes and shortcomings in character to being called a rock - something sturdy, steady, and characteristic of his new life build on The Rock - Jesus. Masks (our false identity) come out of our flesh or wounding, the areas where the enemy has defined us. Our true identity comes from God, via revelation by the Holy Spirit, by submitting our lives to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. God always sees us in the context of our future destiny, not our past failures.

Are there any areas where the enemy has defined you? Have you allowed your relationship with Jesus to re-define you? Are you on a journey of discovering who you really are in Him? I pray that we will continue to grow into the fullness of all we were meant to be in Him.

Grace vs. Works

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”  -Romans 11:6 NIV

There are often great dichotomies in our journeys in Christ.  There are things that seem as though they are directly contradictory, when in fact a closer examination reveals that they work together in a careful balance. One of these dichotomies is the balance between grace and works.  

In our world, there’s a lot of pressure to be perfect.  We strive and try so hard to do the right thing, to make the most money, to gain the most approval from others, to be the most Christ-like. But in reality, we can never prove ourselves worthy to God.  How did we think we could make ourselves worthy to Him when He already paid the price? 

When we are in ministry-related activities, or even in everyday life, we shouldn’t confuse our faith with works. Works says, “I do this because I need to prove myself worthy.”  Faith says, “I do this because I believe and I love God.” It’s exhausting to believe that we have to “prove” ourselves acceptable to God.  But, at the same time, faith without works is dead.  (James 2:14-17).  This is the same struggle the Protestant reformer Martin Luther experienced.

Resting in God’s arms requires realizing that it’s not about us.  It’s not about how much we serve, how good we look to others, or how much money we make.   It’s about our understanding of who we are in Christ.  It’s trusting, and believing.  It’s the reality that we don’t have to do anything – but we want to.  This is relationship without religion.  

Works are a natural out flowing of true grace.  Once we walk in this grace, we don’t have to feel obligated.  We desire everyone to experience the grace that we do. Are you able to trust & walk in God’s grace?

In the Details

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." -Psalms 37:23 
 

Once my dad took me out to dinner. This was during a time when he and I didn't have a very good relationship - I had perceived him as cold, distant, and excessively authoritarian, and he probably perceived me as a rebellious teenager. 

We met at a restaurant, and he started talking about an experience he had with a man who had given him a "prophetic" word. I hadn't had any experience with that (and I totally didn't believe that that happened today), but I listened to what he had to say. 

"The man told me that you have a gift of poetry, and that the Lord hears the words you write to Him." 

Well, I was stunned! No one really knew I wrote poetry, especially not my dad - and only God would know that I was writing poetry to Him! I began to break down into tears. This was when it became clear to me that God was very much in the details for our lives, and He intimately knew everything about me. 

It reminded me of the verse that says, "You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away" (Ps 139:2) and also, "And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." (Luke 12:7) I have had many other experiences where I found God to be intimately involved in the details of my life. 

Have you found God to be in the details of your life?

K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Sweetie

"You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified." -1 Corinthians 2:1 MSG

Sometimes we make things so complicated.  This philosophy over here, and that way of doing something over there.  I am amazed by technical people who understand computers and complex technical systems - that is not me!

The good news for me, and the rest of us, is that the message of Jesus is simple.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and was raised from the dead on the third day.  A true revelation of this profound and simple truth can turn your life completely around. The Bible says God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.  (1 Corinthians 1:27)

The more we learn about God and His truth, the more is built upon this simple idea.  God’s love is simple, but often very hard for us to understand - because it transcends our natural way of thinking. That is why we need faith to grab hold of it.

So, whenever you encounter something different or new from the Bible and it seems complex - be sure to keep it in perspective of the simplicity of the cross. Jesus died for all, so that all might live eternally, because of His perfect sacrifice.

Walking Out Your Calling

When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” -Mark 10:49 NLT

Imagine spending 100% of your time doing things you were gifted and anointed to do.  How awesome this would be!  Perhaps this is you already, but if this is you, you are rare indeed. Experts say that just 2% of us walk in our calling - the intersection between our gifts, talents, anointing, and our calling (also called “convergence”). 

In America today, about 65% of people are unsatisfied or unhappy with their jobs.* I think one of the major reasons people are dissatisfied is that they do not see it as a calling, and they are not using the gifts and talents God put within them.  So those gifts lie dormant, and people remain frustrated, unchallenged, and demotivated.  This is detrimental to the individual, the other people in the company, and the company itself!

Does this sound like you?  Are you dissatisfied in your work and calling?

First, we need to understand that our work is worship to God.  Are you working as unto the Lord?  Second, we need to sharpen the skills that ARE in the area of our gifting, so we can move in that direction.  Is there anything you can do outside of work or school that can sharpen you in the area of your passion and move you closer toward it?  Even if our goal is to do our passion 80% of the time, that is still a great goal.

God is a Master economist.  He wants each of us where we will do the most good, however we are gifted.  Are you walking out your calling today?


*http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/05/18/new-survey-majority-of-employees-dissatisfied/

Being Under the Influence

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." -Acts 2:4
 
So what does it mean to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit? It doesn't have anything to do with drugs or alcohol. It means, in part, that we submit every thought, every action to God. When we get good at this, it happens without us even having to think about it. It means we have open ears, that we seek him continually. It means that we 'pray without ceasing', meaning, we never cease to be in an attitude of prayer. It means we read the word, and live by it. It means that we keep our attitudes in check, and we treat others with love and respect.
 
'Being under the influence' may seem like a hopeless list of to-do's. But, simply stated, it involves being gently led by the Holy Spirit, in freedom, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. It is more caught than taught. I went to a Bible school where we learned to 'abide' in the Holy Spirit, in every area of our lives, and submit those areas to Him. It was more about learning to walk under the anointing of God then it was about basic book knowledge. We learned scripture, but we learned it with its physical application.
 
Are you under the influence? If you're having trouble 'catching' what that means, get around someone you know is influenced and led by the Holy Spirit. You will experience such new degrees of freedom and revelation than you ever imagined possible. And you will be able to do miraculous things because of it.


Do you feel and hear God? How would you describe how God works in your life? If you have a story or testimony of how God has worked in your life or the lives of those around you, send it to us! We'd love to hear from you - and you might even have a chance to have your story published! charis@marketplaceleaders.org

The Art of War

"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." -Ps 144:1
 
"I am just so fed up!" said my friend. "I don't understand why all this negative stuff keeps happening to me. I am so tired of things working out for others and not working out for me. What am I doing wrong?!?" I thought for a moment, giving the question some space. 

"You know what I think?" I said. 

"What?" she said. 

"I think He's training your hands for war." 

Sometimes we run around in circles, hoping for a different answer to our problems. We try to move forward in our lives only to discover we have come up against the same wall, the same unfulfilled dream, the same obstacle in our lives. What now? Do we blame God for our inability to get past our obstacle? No. Do we blame ourselves? Not necessarily. We need to discover God's process in preparing our hands for battle. 

When there are giants, obstacles, or enemies in front of us, we need to treat the situation strategically. Doesn't an army come up with a battle plan? Likewise, we need to sit before God to find out what it is we should do to get past our obstacle, much like the Israelites did when they were about to enter the Promised Land. Is it time to wait, or is it time to move forward? Is it time to fast and pray, or is it time to take action? When we aren't certain some sort of movement is usually helpful. 

But, the most important part of this strategic process is how to fight in the spiritual realm. Is there negativity we're listening to in our minds? Are we speaking negative words aloud? Are we living with discouragement? We need to deal with those things first before we can be effective in conquering our giants. Then and only then can God give us a battle plan. Our spiritual enemies need to be bound. 

If you find yourself running in circles, it could be that God is training your hands for war. Spend time with Him to hear His perspective on the situation. We will come away with a much different perspective when we view our lives through His eyes.

We Are What We Think

"As a man thinks... so is he." Proverbs 23:7

 

Have you ever had a hard time with the way you think about yourself? I know I have. Fat, ugly, stupid, never good enough - it seems I've "subconsciously" called myself everything. Of course, those things couldn't be further from the truth! 

In reality, most of us think things that are not true about ourselves, resulting in insecurities, fears, and doubts - doubts about how others see us, about our own lives, and about our futures in God. But do you know what this does? It reinforces the lies the enemy tries to make us believe. We can't expect to ask other people to value our worth if we already think we are not worth anything. They will most likely come to that same conclusion as we have. Why? "As a man thinks, so is he."
 
How have you thought about yourself lately? How have you thought of other people? More often than not, these two are related. If we tend to have a negative perspective about ourselves, then this will manifest itself in our lives. We are a mirror for the world around us. Weird, huh. Don't believe it? Ask a jealous person how they feel on the inside. More than likely, (and I've been there), the majority of the time, they will feel as though they have no worth. 

 

The truth of the matter is, we have so much to offer. We don't need to continue to believe the lies about ourselves that we are without value. What do you have to offer? If you can't think of anything, begin with the fact that you are first a child of God.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father... So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31

 

Don't let the enemy steal your destiny from you. Own your worth in Him today. You'll feel much better seeing yourself through God's eyes.


In the Pit

“Then they took him and cast him into a pit.”  -Genesis 37:24

Joseph was his father’s favorite. Subsequently, he was despised by the rest of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers plotted against him to kill him. Instead of killing him however, they threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. But God had a different plan.

Joseph did not know that the pit was the door to his destiny.  When he was thrown in the cistern by his brothers, I am sure he did not think God had anything to do with it.  But after his journey of years of imprisonment in Egypt and his subsequent elevation as second in command of Egypt, Joseph had discovered a lot more in hindsight than he could have seen for himself in the moment. Joseph effectively saved Israel and the surrounding nations from a drought that would last 7 years because of his faith in God.

There are several reasons God uses the pit in our lives:

• The pit is for our healing & restoration- so we can walk in integrity (wholeness)
• The pit is to increase our dependence upon God to supply all our needs “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
• The pit is for our character development and maturity

We cannot effectively get ourselves out of the pit in our own strength. But, we can speed up the process by forgiving those who have wronged us, realizing that we cannot avenge ourselves of any wrong done to us, and being faithful in the small things in order for God to promote us. When we have been faithful and our heart is pure before God, God is then able to elevate us to the next place.

Do you find yourself in a pit right now?  Make sure you are seeking God in this place and keeping your heart pure before Him.  If God can find us faithful in the small things, He will elevate us to greater things.

Cast Your Cares on Him

"Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." -Ps. 55:22

Have you ever felt "weighed down" with burdens?

It seems that with the constant stressors and events of life, it has become normal to be weighed down with the things of life.  Whether stressors are present because of money struggles, job pressures, family challenges, political issues, or current events, all of these things can take a toll on our souls.  But, we can find rest in Jesus, as we “cast all our cares” on Him.

Jesus knew that we would often put burdens on ourselves that were too big to carry.  After all, we are only human!  He told His disciples, "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:29-30  Twice in the Bible is the phrase, "cast your cares on him” mentioned, in Psalms and in 1 Peter.  God didn’t want the weight of the world on our shoulders; He wanted only the weight of His glory flowing through us for all the world to see. 

If you are carrying heavy burdens, why not let them rest at His feet today?  He desires that we let go of our burdens, so we can simply carry the "light burden", and find "peace and rest for our souls."

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." -1 Peter 5:7

Spiritual Family

"Then he pointed to his disciples and said, 'Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!'" -Matthew 12:49-50
 
Each of us has a family we were born into, or adopted by. We didn't choose our family; Some of us enjoy and have kinship in the family we were born with, and some of us don't. For many people, the relationships in our families are bittersweet.

But, thankfully when we are born again, we are adopted into an entirely new family! We are grafted into this family due to our faith. (Romans 11:23) However, being a part of this family has it's own challenges which can result in our character development, learning, and self-discovery - if we let it. These types of relationships can feel even more like family than our "natural" family. That is because true kingdom relationship is born out of God's original intention for family - it is birthed out of His love for mankind.

Some people just starting out in their faith might adopt or be adopted by a "spiritual" mother or father who mentors them in their faith. Relationships like this are important to have, especially if we've had difficult nuclear family ties. In the books Timothy, Titus, and Philemon we hear of this spiritual fatherhood bond.

"I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison." -Philemon 1:10
 
Do you have people in your life that you consider to be "spiritual" family? We need these types of relationships to stay connected and grow as the body of Christ.

The Resiliency Factor

 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." -Rev 2:17
 
There is a lot of doubt and discouragement in our fallen world. Many bad things happen to innocent people, and many unfair things happen to good people. However, this doesn't give us an excuse to give up fighting the good fight. As Christians, Jesus gives us a special edge - the resiliency factor.

The resiliency factor, or being an overcomer, has to do with being flexible and bendable, but not breakable. This is because we have learned, through the power of Jesus, that we CAN overcome, and not break when circumstances test us. The tree with no roots falls right over. But the grounded tree with roots that sink deep into the ground merely bends when the storms of life come its way. This tree has gone deep into the ground to find water & nourishment. This tree is resilient.

The Bible places a lot of emphasis on overcoming in our lives. We know we can't overcome alone - it is the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit's work in our lives that helps us to overcome. Also, the support of friends and family is very important in helping us get past the obstacles in front of us. But resiliency in the kingdom has special merit to it - not everyone who decides to believe Jesus is the son of God is an overcomer. There is something that separates the doubter from the overcomer, the one who has the resiliency factor. It takes an unwavering perspective that anything, yes, anything, is possible to those who believe, coupled with a strong faith in God. Strong faith says, "There is nothing bigger than my God. My God is bigger than all the giants in my life," in spite of how big our giants may seem.

Have you activated the resiliency factor in your life? I pray that each of us may gain a resiliency in God that helps us overcome any negative thing that comes our way, so that we might in turn become overcomers in the kingdom of God.

Serving with Heart

"I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful and gracious to me according to Your promise." Ps. 119:58

I went to the Toyota dealership to get an oil change for my car. It was a rainy day, and I was late for my appointment. I was met by a very friendly-looking gentleman with with a warm smile who promptly greeted me as I drove up.
 
As I got out of the car, he attentively listened to my needs. There was no problem with my request, even if it wasn't a costly service. "Certainly," he said. "We can get that taken care of for you..."
 
The cool thing was he didn't do it with a plastered-on smile, he didn't do it because he had to, (you can tell when someone is ready to retire and live on a beach somewhere), and he didn't do it out of heartless deferral to a job description. No, it was easy to see, he did it because he found joy in helping people. No matter if it wasn't the greatest job, no matter if it wasn't the best day outside due to the rain, he was cheerful, helpful, and authentic. I was so refreshed by that!
 
God wants us to live out our jobs and callings this way. We should be like a cold drink of water in a desert, a feast in the midst of famine, and salt in the midst of decay.
 
How are you living out your call or current occupation? Could you say it's being lived out with heart? Ask the Lord to help you have a joy for what you do... even if the situation is less than perfect.

Supernatural Productivity

“…If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” – Exodus 33:15

Do you want to be more productive in your life?  It seems there are more books written, blogs created, and seminars conducted on increasing personal productivity than ever before.  After all, if time equals money, then our best asset would be to increase the amount of time we have, and decrease the time it takes to accomplish various tasks.  In America, we are a particularly performance-driven society.  Anything that could save us time definitely grabs our attention!

But, are we missing something when we look merely at better ways to get things done?  Sure, this is helpful and practical, but – are we missing some sort of “x” factor or special sauce we keep searching for in the realm of producing more and becoming more effective?

I believe as Christians you and I have a special advantage.  We do have that “x” factor, that “special sauce.”  He is the Holy Spirit.  Paul Cuny, in his book Secrets of the Kingdom Economy describes the relationship between our worship to God and our personal productivity: 

One morning the Lord woke me very early to pray. This has been a regular occurrence for me over the years and the part of my day that I cherish.  For over 20 years, I had run a demanding business, and at God’s direction, I began a process of re-structuring my life to spend more time in prayer, study, writing, and fulfilling the two assignments He gave me in the mid-90s. In many ways, this was my time of activation, so to speak.

…That morning the Lord said two words, activity and presence.  I pondered those words for some time and finally asked the Lord if He would explain what they meant… He said something that has profoundly impacted my life:  “Activity will never produce My presence.  My presence will always produce focused, productive activity.”  -Secrets of the Kingdom Economy, pp. 45-46.

Jesus did only what the Father showed him to do. He manifested the Father’s presence in the area of His calling by spending time with Him. Do you need to make more room for God, so that He can in turn make you more effective?  Set aside time to pray, to worship, or to journal.  See how God will increase your productivity when you do!

Unlock the Door

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven." -Matthew 16:19

Recently I got new keys made for our office. Our office manager instructed me to go to a local lock and key store. I had never been to a store just for keys, but when I went inside what I found was pretty cool.
 
There were big keys, small keys, new keys, old keys - I felt a bit like Dr. Seuss!! There were beautiful, old, ornate keys, and some that were plain and modern too. There were rainbow keys, leopard keys, flower keys - you name it, they had it.
 
I thought about how this relates to us as children of God.
 
Each one of use is like a key. Every key is different, no key is the same. Each one is made to unlock a different lock, a special kind of lock, to a door that no one else can open. Because God has made us all different, God has fashioned us as keys - keys to unlock the doors leading to other people's lives. Have you ever had a close friend you felt understood you completely? Have you ever had someone in your life who helped you walk through a difficult time, because they had been there themselves?
 
We are created to open doors to cities, to communities, to nations - and to people who are the gatekeepers of those places. What door has God fashioned you for?

Finding True Contentment

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -Ps 37:4

In certain faith circles, we can often confuse our faith in God with our expectation of God.  We might be taught to “expect the miracle” and wait for God to make it happen. But, we become frustrated in the waiting.  We lack the balance of working our own miracle, and still trusting God for the outcome.

How can we ever be happy though, still void of our miracle but believing it will happen?  Isn't God a good God? Well, first things first, the dream has to die.  Anything bigger than God in our lives God will deal with in our hearts.  HE wants to be the sole rescuer of our hearts, the love of our lives.  Sometimes He shows this love to us through other people and things, but He wants us to recognize He is the source of every good thing (James 1:17), so that our hearts don’t get caught up in idol worship.  And two, we can’t be afraid to do those things to work our own miracle.  This may involve worship, prayer, speaking aloud in faith – but it may involve the more practical side such as seeing a specialist doctor or signing up for classes at school.  God can move without those things, but sometimes we need to take a faith step - He can move through those things as we place our trust in Him!  We shouldn't limit God in the way He can work.

I met a woman recently who was unemployed for 2 years.  She said the day after she decided to lay it down she was called for an interview!  She had learned to be content in spite of her circumstances.  And God blessed her because she learned to fully trust in Him!

Is there anything in your life that needs to die so that you can have true contentment?  Ask God to help you.  Talk to a good friend or leader.  God wants us to have what we want and need, but He wants us to desire Him first so that we don’t miss out on our inheritance from Him. 

Wholehearted Faith

"I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God." -Joshua 14:7-8
 
Caleb was a scout for the tribe of Israel.  He went into the land God had promised Israel with 11 other scouts to see what was there.  Caleb was the only one who came back with a positive report, in spite of the obstacles they saw.  He trusted in God, and if God said He was going to deliver the land to the Israelites, well, he believed Him! 

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!" -Numbers 13:30 

The trouble was, he had a hard time convincing the people, and the other 10 scouts who saw things differently.  "But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. 'We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!'"  (Numbers 13:31) The people talked about stoning Caleb and also Joshua, who agreed with Caleb.  Because the Israelites did not trust God, they could not go into the promised land for another 40 years, so the generation that did not believe could die out. But, after those 40 years, Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go with the younger generation, and God blessed Caleb for his wholehearted faith in God by giving him land. (Numbers 14:13& 14) 

Would you say you are wholeheartedly seeking and serving God?  If you haven't been, pray to Him and ask for forgiveness, and tell Him that you are willing to serve him with your whole heart.  We don't have to be afraid to serve God wholeheartedly - He has the best in store for us, and he will reward us for our obedience. 

Are you serving God wholeheartedly today?

Love in the Face of Rejection

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” -1 Cor 13:4-7 NLT

Have you ever been rejected?  I think all of us have experienced rejection at some point in our lives.  If you’re an actor or musician, you might experience much more rejection than the rest of us. But most people who experience a lot of success in any field have experienced much rejection.  That’s what makes their success more rare than the average person - they worked hard and endured more rejection than most of us are willing to tolerate.

The story of Hosea and Gomer is an unusual one.  God instructs Hosea the prophet to chose a prostitute and marry her - and continue to be faithful even though she continued to be unfaithful. (Hosea 1:3) He did this as a symbol of the nation of Israel at that time who had been unfaithful to their true God, rejecting Him, His love, and His decrees. Jesus also did something that we never deserved - He died on a cross for our sins - in spite of the fact that the people during that time persecuted Him and put Him on the cross. He loved them (and us) in spite of their (and our) complete rejection of His love.

Every day, we have the choice to reject as the world rejects, or love and accept as Jesus has loved us.  If we are really seeking our calling we will likely experience a lot of rejection, but the benefits to fulfilling our calling will far outweigh the rejection and opinions of man.  It is essential that we keep our hearts pure and seek God first, so that we know our affirmation and worth comes from Him and those He has put in our lives to confirm His plans for us. 

Jesus calls us to love in spite of rejection.  Even when life gives us hard blows, we are still to love and accept, let go and protect.  Are you able to love in spite of rejection today?

Choosing God Everyday

"The one thing I ask of the LORD - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple." -Psalm 27:4 

Every day, we decide what we're going to do that day. We choose what to wear, what to have for breakfast, and we may make a to do list for that day to decide what needs to be accomplished. Every day also, we decide who we are serving - are we serving ourselves and our own desires, or are we serving God and what He desires? 

Just as we choose our spouses over and over day after day over someone else, (if we are married), or choose every day to keep ourselves pure if we are not married, we have a choice to make before God: Will we put His will before our own? Even Jesus had to decide when He prayed, "Not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) 

David desired God most in His life. He prayed over and over that God would not take His presence from him as He did from Saul. David wanted God with him more than anything else - more than winning a battle, more than having great wealth - and God granted His request because his heart was for Him. Even more so, God blessed him with wealth and won battles because David continued to choose Him, day after day. 

Is your heart attuned toward God, each and every day? May we each strive to seek God first, and chose His will over our own, so that His will, love, and life can be manifest in our lives to the fullest extend. Let's choose Him, every day!

Childlike Faith

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." -Matthew 18:5

Have you ever shared your testimony with someone and they said something like, "Oh, that's stupid. Why on earth would you believe that was God? That's just mere coincidence. It's so obvious. Why are you so gullible?"
 
"But I know it was true!" you say.
 
But still, the sting of their words sticks with us. It happens all the time.
 
There was a time when I was dating a boy who was a Christian, but he didn't believe my testimony was true that God used the symbol of a rainbow to bring me back to Him. But the simple fact was, when it happened, it saved my life.
 
We live in an unbelieving world, a world without hope. But we are called to be the light and hope in a dying world. The scripture clearly warns about those who try to distort and steal the faith of those who are full of faith - that it would be better for them to be drowned in the sea. That is how jealous God is of his children who understand and know Him; those who have a childlike faith.
 
Don't let the world steal from you. You are deserving of the things God has intended for you. And the experiences you've had with God have not been figments of your imagination. Keep them close to you. And let God be made proud with your "childlike faith."