One Step At A Time

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strengthening Our Faith Muscle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are you strengthening your "faith muscle"?

Encountering the Sauls in Our Lives

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

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

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

Stepping Into Influence

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

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

Discerning Right from Wrong

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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!

God Is Picky

 

"At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him."  -Exodus 4:24

There is a random verse in Exodus as Moses is on his way to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery that is quite surprising.  Moses and his wife Zipporah are staying at at lodging place.  It says in Exodus 4:24 that God met Moses, and was about to kill him for not circumcising his son. 

"At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)" -Exodus 4:24-26

Now, this is after Moses was rescued as a child from the Nile River and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, being spared from death then.  This is after he killed a man who was torturing another Hebrew and was banished from Egypt, but saved from death himself.  And, this is after he spent 40 years in the wilderness being a shepherd, and after God called him from the burning bush and told him to free the Israelites.  This is even after Moses turned down the offer and God told him his brother Aaron would help him.  God still wanted him to do it.  But here, now, God is ready to kill him.  Say what??

Circumcision was a basic for a Hebrew.  It was a sign of the covenant between the Israelites and God.  What does this mean for us?  Often if we don't get down the basics, God can't use us for His purposes.  If we fail to love others, if we fail to respect authority, if we fail to see the value in promises, if we fail to see the value in worship and sacrifice - all of these things can discredit us from being used by God.  This doesn't mean He can't, through His Son redeem our lives as we seek forgiveness.  It does mean, however, that God won't settle.  He desires that we submit to His will for our lives.  But often it takes the closest ones around us who  know us well to help us in this journey, like Moses' wife Zipporah helped him.

Is there anything you feel could disqualify you from what God has called you to?  Often it takes someone else to help us see perspective in the areas where we lack.  Ask God to bring those trustworthy people around you to help you in your journey.  God desires that we have success in Him!

Absolute Truth

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'". – John 1:6

Sometimes I have a difficult time talking to friends who question God’s goodness because they believe in something other than, or in addition to, the gospel. 

“Why would God send good people to hell?” they query.  “Why won’t Muslims or Buddhists go to heaven? Your God is so close-minded!”

The sad thing is the lack of understanding of God’s goodness.  God doesn’t send people to hell – we choose where we go.  He provided a way out through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that, “none would perish, but could have eternal life.”- John 3:16

Imagine that a friend of yours was telling you how to get to their house.  They gave very specific instructions as to the way to get there, but you said, “Oh no, that’s alright – I can get there myself my own way.”  You would never get to the place your friend intended for you to go.  You would, in fact, be lost. 

Our generation is the biggest believer in relative truth.  “Do what feels good, as long as it doesn’t affect someone else,” we say.  We rely a lot on grace.  Now, I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with freedom in Christ - that is one of the main benefits of our salvation in Him.  But, when we believe in something other than, or in addition to, the truth, it sets us up for yokes of bondage limiting us to the full potential of God’s grace and power to accomplish great things in our lives.

Do you believe in an absolute truth?  If you are uncertain, ask God today to reveal it to you, and reveal the reason why.  Often if we do not have the why behind the truth, we are less likely to know how to tell others why we believe the way we do.  Ask Him- He will show you. 

The Cost of the Cross

"Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'" -Luke 9:23
 
Have you ever paid a lot for something you really wanted? When I was a teenager, I saved up enough money to buy 1/2 of my first car. I really wanted the car, but more than that, I wanted what the car represented: Freedom! As a teenager, I was desperate to get out of the house. I knew that getting a car would afford me this. And so, I was willing to pay the price for that freedom.

We hear a lot about Jesus paying the price for our sins. Being a genuine Christian isn't about works, but we can often get caught up in this battle, because it says, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20) They tell us to not drink and not smoke and hang out with the right crowd. But sooner or later, this list of "do's" and "don'ts" becomes nothing more than a religious ritual if we don't learn to hear God's still small voice and seek the answers for ourselves. As we progress in our faith, the cost of our freedom in Christ becomes more and more subtle. He requires more of us as we mature in our faith. But these subtle sacrifices can greatly change our lives and others' if we can learn to "take up our cross" in following Jesus.

There has been many a leader who started well but did not finish well. Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron was a minister's son, and had had a passionate belief in ethics and integrity. What went wrong? Perhaps the cost of the cross became too great. We know we are called to new levels when what was once acceptable behavior now gives us a prick in our spirit, a "check" if you will, of an increased sense of conscience. What once was okay and even right for others is no longer okay for us. These smaller discrepancies in what is right or wrong for us is described in this scripture: "One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables." -Romans 14:2. This doesn't necessarily have to do with food - it could be our habits, our discipline, the way we relate to others, the letting go of offenses, how we spend our money or time, or the words we speak.

We will find that when decisions or actions bring conviction and we act on that conviction it will bring new levels of freedom. God's intention for us is not to live by mere rule and regulation - He instructs us to live within boundary for our own benefit. And, by doing so, we discover more of His abundant life in the process. "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!" -Romans 5:17
 
Is there anything you feel an increased sense of conscious about? When we are called by Christ, we are given great responsibility. Don't let selfishness take a hold of the freedom that is waiting for you. Take up the cross that God has called you to.

Honoring Others in Business and In Life

“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.” -James 3:13

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Ah, the golden rule.  It seems so simple, and yet due to our humanness, woundedness, (and as evidenced by human history), we have the hardest time following the golden rule and honoring others.  The self always wants to be promoted, seen & heard.

There was a season in my life during a Bible college I was attending where I was learning all about service. We were asked to do a lot of service-related activities as a part of our Bible college training.  Looking back I really appreciate this, because in order to be promoted in life, we must learn to serve and honor those around us!  We never graduate from serving. Our responsibility to serve grows as God finds us faithful with a little. We serve others knowing that we are really serving God.

“Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.” -Proverbs 29:23

There are a lot of examples of dis-honor in our culture.  Can you think of any? Honoring others has become counter-culture.  However there are cultures where honor is highly esteemed.  The Japanese culture is one. That may be why they have the highest life expectancy!  (Eph 6:2&3)

Honoring those around us may mean letting them go first when the opportunity arises.  It may mean opening a door for someone, being respectful, and not cutting in on a conversation.  It may mean listening better, not trying to get our own way, but giving someone else the right of way.  It may mean putting our own feelings and aspirations aside for the benefit of someone else.  In the end, we have to realize that it’s not about us.  It’s about others.

What could you do to honor someone else today?

Embracing His Lordship

"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -Phil 2:9-12

Each of us comes from a different spiritual background, with perhaps a different perception of who Jesus is.  Some of us have only known God as our all powerful God, a God to be reverently feared, while some say that through Jesus we can be friends of God. Both are true, however sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that because we are God's friend everything (including our sin), is accepted by Him. This is a dangerous presupposition.

If we were to think about a romantic relationship, the two parties of the romance must decide at some point, that if they are to go further in relationship, they will be choosing each other and not another people who could have held their interest before.  Now their relationship is exclusive - with one choosing the other, and not someone else.  It is much the same in our relationship with God.

Sometimes there will be things we'll need to sacrifice in order to make Him Lord of our lives. The Bible says those who practice "sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these" (Gal 5:19-21) will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Don't let this be you!  

"You say, 'I am allowed to do anything' - but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything." -1 Corinthians 6:12
 
It all comes down to what we are following. Are we following our sinful desires or God's Holy Spirit? As sons and daughters of God we are called to a higher standard. And although we need to live in "God consciousness" vs "sin consciousness", we need to be sure that there isn't any sin that is holding us back, or holding us hostage.

Have you embraced Jesus as the Lord of your life today? 

Glimpses of Heaven

"Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.'" -Revelation 4:8
 
Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? I definitely have. I've heard there are streets of gold, houses made of fine gemstones, and angels that are greater than twenty feet tall. Could you imagine creatures that were covered in eyes? That would be so intense!

"The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst." -Revelation 21:18-20
 
The book of Revelation gives us several clues about what heaven, and heaven on earth is and will be like. God is so creative, and is not limited to our natural world - or our natural mind. Can you imagine what kinds of things we will see when we get to heaven? It is incredible to think about.
As we walk through our daily lives, we shouldn't get too caught up in only the things we can see, the things that make sense to our natural minds. God desires that we have a greater vision. Hollywood often portrays the dark side of the supernatural, but I would love to see more movies portraying the reality of heaven!

Through the Bible, God has given us revelation to see just a glimpse of heaven.

---------------

Kat Kerr is a woman who has had visions of heaven. Don't believe it? Read the story for yourself!

Solve People's Problems, but Let Them Find the Answer

"I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through Me." ~Jesus, John 14:6

When I was a little younger, I needed help with something. At the time, there was only one person who could help me - my dad. My mom thought at the time that since he had the means, he should be the one to solve my problem. It had been extremely hard for me to ask for help, so when I did, I had expected for him to say yes. Instead, I got a different response: He said, "no."
 
I was taken aback by his response. At my time of most dire need, how could my father, who obviously had the means, not be willing to help his only child? I was hurt, let down, isolated and felt so abandoned. I queried, "How could there be no one to help me? God, why is my life this way? Am I not worthy of someone's help, in my time of greatest need?" I cried and cried, and felt pretty pitiful.
 
But then, I realized I could not place my trust in a man, even if the man was my father. I had to place it in God. And He turned up in a greater way then I could have ever thought possible. He had solved my problem, in a much bigger way.
 
Later, dad and I were having dinner, and the topic emerged in conversation. He said, "I knew you would be hurt, but I also knew that if I solved your problem, you wouldn't have found the answer, and grown as a result?
 
That was huge. Much of the time, we expect others to solve our problems. Often, we are let down as a result. But if we realize that the source of all things is our Father in heaven, we can rest assured that our future rests in his hands, and when we place our trust in him and are obedient to His will, he is not going to let us fall.
 
Who or what is your source? Is it in a lifestyle, a boy or girl, a substance, or a mentality? Ask God to show you what is needed to resolve your problems. He has all the answers we will ever need.

Seeing People For Who They're Becoming

"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 doubted someone else's potential? Or have you ever doubted yourself? Have you ever said to yourself, "I don’t possibly see how God could use me... I have so far to go."

Well, the good news is, God is always looking at our future potential.  He doesn't care that we have this or that issue going on in our life.  He sees the finished product - when we've gone through what we've needed to go through to be refined.  He sees us at our best - in our complete capacity. 

There are many people who didn't believe they could do what God called them to in the Bible - Moses, Abraham & Sarah, Gideon, and Jonah just to name a few.  But God called them anyway - even though they were often not "assignment-ready" material when He called them.

What about the people you encounter?  What about the people you lead?  Do you see their future potential?  Do you see what God is calling them to?  I get so excited when I think about the potential that God placed in people, to change cities, nations, or even just their own families due to the changes that are happening within them. 
 
"God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called." Why not ask Him today to show you a glimpse of the potential in yourself?  Why not ask Him that about others you encounter, and those you are called to serve?  God sees us for who we are becoming, but He loves us for where we are now. 

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?

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.

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


 

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.