Paying It Forward

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Phil 2:12 & 13

 
Have you ever done something nice for someone who didn't really appreciate it? Have you ever performed a gesture of kindness only to realize that the person on the receiving end didn't care, or wasn't reciprocal? Not feeling appreciated isn't the greatest, but we have all experienced this at one time or another.

Have you ever mentored someone, spent hours on a worthy project, or given financial aid, only to learn that the outcome of your help, assistance or support was ineffectual, the project unsuccessful, or the money wasted? It's frustrating and disappointing when these things happen, and we need to be wise about how we help others and where we devote our time. But, no matter the outcome, do you know what? The debt has already been paid.

When things like this happen, it might sting for a bit. But, we shouldn't take it personally - we should instead lay the situation at the foot of the cross. Offense is one of the biggest snares of the enemy for Christians. Bitterness and unforgiveness can hold us captive for a lifetime. But, if we are able to give and love freely (not above our means to do so), we will find comfort in the fact that the debt has already been paid. Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus knew he was going to do so. He chose him as His follower anyway.

"The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway."-Mother Teresa

We are, in essence, continuously repaying Jesus' burden of love. How can you help? Get to know your neighbor. Be a friend. Be the kind word or give the smile someone needs to hear or see today. Even an authentic smile can change the world.
Are you paying it forward?

Getting Refueled

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” –Psalm 19:7

Have you ever felt worn down?  I’m sure we’ve all felt burnt out at one point or another. Just like a car needs gas to go, we need to fill ourselves up with spiritual fuel.

When our lives get hectic and we get stressed, we need to know where to go to get refreshed.  We need to understand that we’re not superhuman – we will eventually run out of steam.  But with God there is unending supply! 

Our connection to Him is like an umbilical cord to that supply, but in order to receive more we need to draw on it.  We need to seek God.  We need to be honest with Him, so no blockages can get in the way.  We need to be filtered through worship, listening to good teaching, and through and the power of repentance so that we can receive all that He has for us.  What’s in you will come out of you… so make sure you’re getting filled up with the right stuff!  Just as we are what we eat physically, our soul and spirit need spiritual food and water so we don’t run dry.  When we’re burning out – it means we need more anointing, just like an oil lamp runs out of light without the oil. Remember the story about the virgins who ran out of oil, awaiting their bridegroom? (Think of the old Sunday school song--give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning burning!) We need to make sure we have plenty of oil on hand so we don’t miss the God-opportunities in our lives.

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.” –Psalm 1:3

How do you get refueled?  It is through the power of prayer, reading the word, worship, fellowshipping with other believers, or all of the above?  A good mix is necessary to ensure we stay fueled.  How are you engaging in getting refueled for your life?

Taking Responsibility for Our Faith

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." -Hebrews 5:12-14

There comes a time in our Christian walk when we take responsibility for our faith. We begin to understand that our lives have meaning beyond what we can see right now. We realize it's not all about us, and we feel more confidant in who God made us to be. We've grown up in the knowledge of God and of His character, and we have a better understanding of His will for the earth. We learn to fight for others who may not know God as well as we do.
 
Nehemiah was someone in the Bible who took responsibility for his faith. Check out his prayer to God on behalf of the nation of Israel:

"LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you. 7 ... Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." Neh 1:5-10

He went on to be the catalyst to begin rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.
 
We begin to take responsibility when we see a problem, and we realize what it is God has placed in our hands. We don't have to be a certain age or of a certain stature to do this. Whatever it is is a means to bless others. Nehemiah took responsibility by praying and repenting on behalf of the nation of Israel. Then, he backed up his words with action - he began to rebuild the walls.
 
Have you taken responsibility for your faith? Are there things that you can do to act as God's representative and help to redeem the earth? Pray that God will give you the strength to do whatever it is He's called you to do.

Faithful in the Small Things

"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you." -1 Samuel 12:24

One night, our worship director put us up to a challenge:  “If you’re feeling discouraged, or like you’re hitting a brick wall, let me ask you a question:  Are you doing everything within the area that you’ve been assigned?  Have you exhausted every resource you have available to you? Have you done everything with what you’ve been given?”

There’s a great fact about the American Indians – when they killed a buffalo, they used EVERY single part of that buffalo – from its head to its hoofs.  Nothing was left unused.  They knew that if they were creative, they could make something out of something that seemed useless.  They understood the principle of faithfulness. 

When we are faithful with the things God has entrusted to us, He knows He can entrust us with more.  Have you given God reason to believe that He can entrust you with greater things than that which he’s given you right now?  If you’re feeling frustrated and stuck, is there more you could be doing within “your sphere of influence”?  This might be your job, responsibilities at home, at work, or within your community.  I heard a wise young person say once, “How can I expect God to hand me the keys to culture when I haven’t effectively served my community or my local church?” Now that’s wisdom to take note of! 

How can you be faithful in the small things?  God desires much more for us than what we’re doing right now.  Pray and ask him what you could be doing with all that He’s given to you.  Use what’s in your hand.  He will see that he can entrust you with more. 

The "Real" Thing

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” - John 15:1

What is real? What is 'the real thing?'  Coke® markets itself as “the real thing”.  But is real anything money can buy? What is real to you?

When I was 17, I attended a New Age workshop. I was looking for the 'real' thing- that is, I was looking for an authentic faith experience. I was looking for God.  I had grown up in environments that were pretty religious. But my heart wanted more. I was looking for authenticity - a tangible faith – something that my heart could connect to and not be shut down.

We did all sorts of meditation, Reiki, and visualization techniques in this class. We tapped into the spiritual and soul realm through doing these activities with other people. There were people of all faiths there- as far as religion was concerned, anything went. It was definitely “real”. I could feel the “energy” going on in the room, the spiritual dynamic.  But, several weekends into the class I found myself becoming more and more depressed.  A spirit of heaviness came more and more over my life.  At one point I ran out of the room in tears because I realized that I was allowing something dark into my life.  I knew Jesus at the time, but I had a hard time connecting to Him.  I knew that this wasn’t Him.  It became dark, as quickly as I thought it had been light.  I realized it was counterfeit light, and I needed to get away as quickly as possible for the health of my soul. 

Several months later I attended another Christian church for the first time on my own.  God met me with a powerful worship experience and even put a rainbow on the word screen as confirmation of my attendance there.  (My personal testimony involves rainbows.)  I knew right then that this was where I was supposed to be.  Even though my heart had been calloused from past experiences, I was ready to be made new again.  My heart was open to connecting with God.  And from that day forward, I sought the true God who became “the real thing” to me.

Would you call your experience with God the “real thing”?  If not, why not ask Him, wholly and truly, if He would make Himself more real to you.  He will when you seek Him.  And He promises always to be there when we seek Him. (Matt 7:7) He is the Real Thing.

Do Not Be Afraid

"I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side." -Psalm 3:6

All throughout the scriptures, God informs us that He does not want us to be afraid.  “But isn’t that contradictory?” you might say.  “Doesn’t God want us to fear Him?”  Yes, but that’s a different type of fear.  There are in fact three different types of fear mentioned in the Bible. 

The first comes from the Greek word phobeo.  Phobeo is not a bad type of fear but is described as when someone has seen a heavenly being like an angel or something out of the ordinary. 

The second is eulabeia, which means to have the utmost respect for something, or someone.  This is the appropriate, godly fear we are to have of God, out of respect for Him.  “Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.” -Ecclesiastes 8:13

But, then there is deilia, which means to be timid or cowardly.  This is the type of fear that God doesn’t want us to have – He doesn’t want us to be afraid of anything!  “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” -Romans 8:15

When we understand that we are God’s children, made in God’s image, we understand that nothing can be greater than God in our lives.  We may experience feelings of fear and times of doubt, but ultimately, when God sits on the throne of our lives we will come to realize that nothing is bigger than He is, and He has our best interest in mind.

Is there anything you’re afraid of?  (deilia) Ask God to help you with it, and lay it at the foot of the cross today. We can do anything knowing His love is behind us. 

References: 

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/208685/what_does_the_bible_say_about_fear.html?cat=9

Knowing We're Loved

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." -Deuteronomy 7:9
 
"Marriage looks good on you!" came the remark.

I was flattered. I knew it too - I had never felt so loved in all my life, outside of feeling loved by God.

"Thanks," I said, sheepishly. It had been three months since I had gotten married, and I was really soaking in the whole experience. I felt like a sponge! My home family life growing up had been very different from life with my new husband - I was like a thirsty traveler in a desert who had found an oasis of life!

Many of us in the body of Christ have a hard time receiving God's love. Often this is due to our own family backgrounds and experiences. We view God the way we viewed our parents growing up. If our parents were not able to present a godly example, even in a religious home, we are at a loss to know how to relate to God and know how He relates to us and loves us unconditionally. Many of our relationships are based on conditional performance. But, God doesn't work this way.

"The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." - Zeph 3:17 

Do you know without a shadow of a doubt you're loved unconditionally by God? It doesn't give us license to sin, but no matter what we've done, He ALWAYS loves us and wants us to know it. God sent His son so that our sin could be paid for. God's love has no conditions, no parameters, and no boundaries.

Do you know the love that God has for you?