Our Image in Christ

“Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work.”  -John 14:10

Have you ever found yourself lost in something?  We can often find ourselves lost in movies, entertainment, work, or other activities.  It isn’t wrong to be completely focused on something; in fact God calls us to work diligently and faithfully.

But when something consumes us before God, it can cause identity issues, limiting us from God’s unlimited power and presence in our lives.

Recently I was sitting in church during worship asking God some questions about certain things that were going on in my life.  "Look to Me," I heard Him say. At that moment, a gush of revelation about being "in Christ" came over me. 

"Your image in Me is going to look different than anybody else.  Don’t look to others - look to Me.  I am the source of your true identity."  When we look to Jesus, we don’t look to anything else to find or define ourselves.  We are defined by God and His plan for our lives. We can’t look to others for our identity because God has made us each unique.  It is okay to honor someone who has helped you in your walk, and it is okay to look to an admirable person as a good example.  But, when we cross the line into comparing ourselves and trying to live exactly how they live and do the things they do in order to earn acceptance by others, we are headed for trouble. God made us each uniquely, with a unique call and a unique set of gifts for our life.  This is not to say we do not live blameless, holy lives. 

When we look to Christ, the old image of our old self passes away.  (2 Cor 5:17) We become a new creation in Him.  We are no longer bound by old ways of thinking - we are released to live life to its fullest potential.  Our faith in Christ releases us to pursue all we’ve been given with everything we are.  Our weaknesses are overcome by His image being released in us.    If we are in Him then He is in us - and our true identity with shine through.  We find ourselves in Him.  "Lose your life to find it," (Matt 10:39) means when we lose ourselves in Him we find all we were really meant to be. 

Do you find your image in Christ?  Let Him help you discover all you were meant to be in Him today. 

Living with Eternity in Mind

"'But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." -Matthew 6:20  

Our lives are so short. The Bible says the extent of our lives is like a fleeting shadow. (Ps 144:4) Even still, every life has value. And God brought you and I here for a purpose. What are we doing now that has lasting value? Everything we do has eternal purpose, if we view it as worship to God. What are we doing to create meaning, in our lives, or in the lives of others? Are we living each day with an eternal purpose in mind?
 
There was a story of a man who worked countless hours at his job. He believed in God, but his main focus was on his earthly success. He ran a very large business. When asked what people might say about him at his death he replied, "I've always known someone might ask me that question, but I am still not prepared to answer."
 
When we're young, we generally have more time to live our lives. But, when we're older, we might reminisce on what we could've done differently in our earlier years. Because our time is short, we need to use it wisely, and take thought for our intentions.

Take an inventory of your time and how you spend it. Are there areas in your life you could improve on? What can you do now that will create long-lasting value for you and others? Even by being faithful in mundane tasks and doing them as unto God we are creating meaning and purpose. What other things can we do to keep focus on heavenly rewards? Could we set more time aside for prayer and worship? Could we ask to pray for someone when they're not feeling well, or spend more time with family? Whatever it is, we need to keep in mind the things that last, "where moth and rust do not decay."

What are you doing today that will impact your tomorrow? Are you living with eternity in mind?

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.

Don’t Sell Out! (Purpose vs. Provision)

"For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." -Col 3:3

In life, there is a great temptation to go for the next big thing:  the next big business, the next big degree, the next big job opportunity.  But in the kingdom, things are different.  God works quite differently than we do, His ways are higher than our ways.  (Is 55:9) Sometimes the thing that looks the best may not be the best for us - the best that God has in mind.

Sometimes we can get stuck seeking provision first, instead of seeking our Provider.  Sometimes we can get stuck seeking out approval or affirmation from people, instead of going to God first and experiencing His love. Other times we’ll see our value in our accomplishments, instead of seeing that God created us with value, before we ever did anything to deserve it.  Our value is built upon His love for us.

We can so easily sell out and miss our purpose by seeking other things before God’s will in our lives.  What is He doing? What is He saying?  Jesus said He only did what He saw the Father doing - nothing more, nothing less.  (John 5:19)

Are we seeking God's kingdom first? (Matt 6:33) Are we putting His purposes first before seeking out provision?  God will make sure our needs are met when we put His kingdom first.  God has all the answers we need for our business, our ministry, our relationships, our finances, and our personal lives.

Today, avoid "selling out" in your calling by putting Him first.  We will experience so much peace and life by keeping Him at the center of our lives, fulfilling the purpose He gave us to do.

Turn, Turn, Turn

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." -James 4:14

When I turned 10 years old, my parents took me to a really nice restaurant for my birthday. It was called the Sundial, located in the heart of Atlanta atop the Westin Peachtree hotel on the 73rd floor. I was so excited to go - mostly because of what I had heard about it - the floor moved!

When we got there and sat down, it didn't appear that we were moving at all. But in between talking and eating we realized that the next time we looked, we were seeing a different view of the buildings. It was so cool! Within a 1-hour time span we had seen an entire panorama of the city - but we had barely noticed because we were moving so slow.

In Psalms it says, "Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men!" (Ps 89:47) Our days are numbered - not that we should live in haste. But it is important that we recognize the value of the time that we have. Are we spending it wisely? Are we not counting our years, but making them count?

During that dinner I remember looking at the floor and seeing the difference between the part that moved and the part that didn't. It was ever so slight. But if I stood in one place for long enough, my parents would have vanished. Isn't that true with us? Because the world is always moving, we need to be intentional about moving forward, so that we won't miss what God is wanting to do in our lives. Faith requires movement, action. Sometimes our action is waiting. But, there is always action. The husband of our worship director once said, "If you're not moving forward, by default you're moving backward."

Are you moving forward in your life? Are you making the moments count? There is so much that could be done on this earth for the good of God's kingdom. What has God called you to?

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/

Focus & Purpose

“God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty, and firm in His purpose.” -Job 36:5

Each of us has a call, an assignment from heaven for our lives.  We may or may not know what it is, but all of us have one thing in common. We have time – a finite amount of it. 

Whether or not you’ve decided on your path in life, God certainly made no mistake when He made you.  It says in the Bible through the example of Jeremiah’s that He fashioned us before we were born, and has a plan for our lives. (Jeremiah 1:5)

The place where our gifts, talents and God’s dream for our lives collide is called Convergence.  Experts say that just 20% of us will every reach this point in our lives.

You may even be involved in a “good” thing right now.  But is this God’s thing for your life?

That is why it is so important to examine where we focus, where we spend our time.  If you know what God has in mind, or you have a general idea, are you spending time in these pursuits? If you’re not sure what it is yet, are you seeking God and discovering and developing the gifts and talents He’s given you?

I have a good friend whose father recently passed.  She said that at the very end of his life he regretted never getting involved in computers, his true passion.  How awful would it be to get to the end of our lives and think, “I wish I would have pursued such and such.”  I never want to be in that place! “The biggest mistake people make is not making a living at doing what they most enjoy.”- Malcom Forbes

Do everything you can to stay focused on the things that make you the most alive.  Do everything you can to seek God out in your life. Our purpose is tied up with others – could it be possible that God is birthing a purpose in you “for such a time as this”? (Esther 4:14)

What Is My Purpose?

“But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”   -Luke 4:43

Do you know your purpose?  Do you know that God made you with a specific idea in mind? There is no doubt that each of us is unique. But have you ever asked yourself why?

Sometimes it is baffling to try to figure out specifically why God made each of us.  But, it is a wonderful, lifelong journey of self-discovery.  Our gifts and talents collide with our passions, relationships, and an assignment from heaven.  Once we choose God, the journey doesn’t end there.  It is only the beginning.  The Bible says He has great plans for each of His children. (Jer 29:11) And just as Jesus’ was and is, our identity is unique in Christ. (Romans 1:2)

There are many stories in the Bible where God ordained someone for a particular task.  The problem with us is many of us don’t get to fully walk in the purpose God designed specifically for us.  We settle for doing tasks that keep us busy, versus having a real impact in the kingdom. We go to church on Sunday, go home and love our family. But this is the smaller story.  God has a much bigger story in mind.

Mark Driscoll said in a recent sermon: “If Satan can’t make you sin, he will keep you busy. Not doing bad things, but neglecting first things.”  What is the passion that is burning on your heart?  What is the thing that you most enjoy that collides with your gifts, talents, and abilities?

Churches have a purpose. Cities have a purpose.  Nations have a purpose.  Our purpose is tied up in our community, where we live, what church we attend, and what country we live in.  Even what school we go to.  God has a purpose for everyone on this planet, no matter how it looks right now.  God invites us to live our His purposes in our lives, so that we can be fruitful, peace-filled followers of His seeking to reclaim His kingdom on the earth, to bring heaven to earth. (Matt 6:10)

Do you know your purpose?  If you don’t know, I invite you to find out, through prayer, reading the word, trying new things, and perhaps using some tools to help you such as self-assessments.  We can live full, abundant lives living in our purpose.  After all, isn’t that following Christ’s example?

Not My Will, But Yours Be Done

"He walked away, about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.' Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him." -Luke 22:41-43

Have you ever prayed the prayer above? Have you ever said to God, "Not my will Father, but yours be done"? What an amazing statement by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It may seem like quite a dangerous statement. Do we really trust God enough to completely give our lives over to Him? Are we really willing to do anything? However, I would argue that it is even more dangerous to get to the end of our lives, stand before God, and fail to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant..."

When we first accept Jesus as our Savior, we entrust our spiritual well-being and the destination of our soul to Him. Then, we progressively begin to understand what it means to live out the words, "not my will, Father, but yours be done."

Even though Jesus was Lord over the universe, He still deferred His authority to His Father, God - God of all creation. And through Jesus' willingness, God was able to accomplish something miraculous through Him. His death... His resurrection. He completely changed the world.

Have you ever prayed that prayer, "Not my will, but Yours be done?" I wonder how the world could be changed by our willingness to do anything, to be whatever God needed us to be. Will you have the faith and courage to pray it today? 

God Uses a Reject

"Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute." -Judges 11:1

There is an incredible story in the Bible about a very unlikely leader.

Jephthah was a man who was the illegitimate son of his father Gilead.  His brothers drove him away and said to Jephthah, “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family, because you are the son of another woman.”

Rejected and humiliated, Jephthah fled from his family to a place called Tob.

During this time, Israel has been unfaithful to God, worshipping other idols. At this the Lord became angry, and he sold them to their enemies the Philistines and the Ammonites.  (10:7)  However, after 18 years of oppression, the Israelites cried out to God to save them, got rid of their idols and repented. Judges 10:16 says, "And (God) could bear Israel’s misery no longer."

Eventually, the Ammonites were engaged in a war against Israel. The elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander.

Initially he asked them why they were coming to him after they he had been exiled.  But because they insisted, and offered him full rulership of Gilead, he accepted the challenge (11:8).  God gave their enemies over to Jephthah, and he won the war. "Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands." (11:32)

Have you ever felt like you were the unlucky one, like God couldn't use you due to things that have happened in your life?  Know that He is preparing a way for you - in spite of your circumstances - to turn rejection into purpose, hardship into hope, and disgrace into His glory.

What's In A Name?

But now, this is what the LORD says--He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.”  -Isaiah 43:1

What’s in a name?  In ancient Hebrew culture, what you were named as a baby would reveal your purpose in life. 

In the story of Elijah the prophet, Elijah is sent to Ahab and Jezebel, who were worshippers of the false god Baal to warn them and tell them to turn back to the God of Israel. In I Kings 16:33 it says, “Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.” 

Elijah’s name meant, “My God is the Lord”.  So, literally, if Elijah’s parents called him in from playing outside as a young boy, they would say, “My God is the Lord, time for dinner!”

It sounds funny, doesn’t it?  But in the Hebrew culture, you knew who you were and what you had - from birth.  In our culture today, we’re privileged if we ever figure out our purpose - it’s now considered normal to have a mid-life crisis at age 40 because we do not know!

Since Jezebel and Ahab had decided to worship Baal, even Elijah’s name was in direct opposition to what they stood for.  And it made them angry!  But, God fulfilled His purposes through Elijah, the only prophet during that time who was not killed.  God showed up in a big way!  (1 Kings 18)

But even though we do not live in Biblical times, our names still have significance today.

Sindy was a porn star who went into the porn industry at a young age.  She describes her journey falling into porn and how the enemy had tricked her into believing she was named Sindy because “she was meant for sinful things.” 

However, once she realized she had been lied to, she cried out to God to give her a new name. “God, Give me a new name – I don’t want to be called SIN anymore!” she said.

“And GOD answered gently to me: ‘You never have been, Sindy! SINDY contains two letters more: DY-DIE - SIN HAS TO DIE!!! – Sindy, you are called FREEDOM!’”
 
What does your name mean?  What does it reveal about God’s plan for your life?  God has called us out by name, so that His purposes can be revealed through our lives.

(Read Sindy’s full story at http://thepinkcross.org/pinkcross-articles/december-2011/sindy-escapes-porn-and-sex-work)

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.

Fearless

"But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus." -Acts 9:27

What does it mean to be fearless? Does it mean we won't have fear when trying something? Does it mean that we aren't afraid of consequences? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10) When we have a healthy fear of God, it is wise.

However, there are fears that can cripple us, rob our potential, or steal our joy. These are unhealthy fears. They are unproductive. They don't produce anything good in us. They keep us from producing fruit in our lives. And God wants nothing more than for His kids to be fruitful! (Genesis 9:7)

Becoming fearless is not the absence of fear, but it happens when we can say with surety that God is bigger than our circumstances, He is bigger than our giants, He is bigger than our fear. We choose to believe what God says, that He is greater. Nothing can get in our way with God by our side (nothing will be impossible for you)! We fear, respect & love Him more than our fear. And we decide we will step out in faith to make things happen.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:13

Are you able to lay down your fear today?