The True Star

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

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

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

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

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

Do you look to Jesus as your true north star?

Smaller Story vs. Larger Story

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Gift in Singleness

“But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.” -1 Corinthians 7:7

Paul talks in 1 Corinthians about the question of whether it is better to be married or single. He expresses the idea that it’s okay to be married, but to not seek out a relationship if you’re single.  (1 Cor 7: 27)

I believe as a culture we’ve done a great disservice to people who are single.  Our churches are filled with families, and often the church can become a “meat market” for getting into relationship with someone.  We may feel pressured to be in a relationship in order to fit in.  We may fear being alone. But, the time when we’re single is in fact our greatest opportunity to serve God and develop a deeper relationship with Him.  (1 Cor 7:32-35) 

Many of us had family situations that were less than ideal growing up. We might have been given a blueprint to look for a dysfunctional mate as a result of our upbringing.  Or, we might still be looking to resolve issues of love, acceptance, and value by getting into relationship with other people, when we need to look to God for that unconditional love and acceptance.

What are some of the things you can do while you are single to prepare for God’s future blessings in your life?

• Set out to discover your personality, gifts and talents, and most of all your passion
• Find places to serve God, in your church and community - perhaps even abroad
• Further your skills by investing in training or education
• Develop kingdom relationships with people who have similar desires

Treasure the time you have while you are single.  It is a gift, just as much as being married is a gift.  When you honor God with everything you have and seek Him, He will honor you in that.  We find that when we delight ourselves in God, He will give us the desires of our heart.  (Ps 37:4)

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/