God's Big "NO's"

For the past several years, I have been "being schooled" on why God allows some to "have" more than others. I've come to two conclusions...

1. Sometimes our own laziness, procrastination and lack of discipline keep us from experiencing some of the things that we would like to enjoy and possess. So the question that I ask myself here is, when it comes right down to it and in light of my in-action, do I really want what I think I do?
2. God in his wisdom provides for our needs but sometimes, well, make that seldom, will he grant all of our desires. Perhaps, this is because he knows me so well.

I have come to a place in my life where I can say with the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Not because I dislike my life, on the contrary, my wife, our children and my calling bring great joy to my life. However, these are nothing compared to what Christ has been preparing for me and you.

If I had riches, fame and much of what the world teaches us to value, I might not have that viewpoint - indeed, in the past, I didn't.

Today, I'm thankful to God for his "No's" in my life. He is faithful in wisdom, provision and love.

Wanted or Tolerated?

I recently attended a conference during which one of the speakers made the statement that he had always felt tolerated and not wanted. I winced as I felt the stab of that reality pierce the hearts of many individuals around me - their sentiment escaping in quiet audible groans.

Seriously? In a church-related gathering why should anybody have to feel this way? Perhaps we have become so wrapped up in going to church - a good and necessary activity, that we have failed to be the church - reaching out in authentic relationship.

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. "

1 Thess 3:12 NIV

The Apostle Paul's ministry was a success because of the relationships he formed with individuals and subsequently churches. Notice the example of his, and his companion's love for the church.

When you shake hands with someone this Sunday, make a connection with them. Go beyond a simple greeting on a single day of the week. Touch someones life - you may be the conduit of love and acceptance that they need. Plus, the life that you may be enriching may be your own.

What We Lack...

We have just returned home from a 2-day conference on the east coast that was probably one of the most rewarding conferences that we have ever experienced. God did some amazing things in the hearts and marriages of many couples.

It was also the most challenging, I was battling sickness, weakness and a couple of other things. It was the physically demanding conference that we have ever done.

BUT...

What I lacked in physical strength - God made up for with his powerful annointing!

God is good.

Blood On Our Hands

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
John 3:6-7 NIV

Tomorrow is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It is often the day when we reaffirm our views that all life is precious. We may even address the issue of abortion. While most of us believers will agree that abortion is an atrocity, I think that we fall short of the full realization of that fact.

How many of us have been to the altar or knelt alone in our homes and accepted Christ? In that instant, God's Holy Spirit conceived something in our hearts. The scriptures are marked full of references that are analogous to growing as it relates to a child growing from infancy to maturity. Just as a infant is conceived and begins to grow through birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and finally maturity, so do we as Christians.

However, how often do we starve, walk away from and outright attempt to kill what the Spirit has conceived in us. How many days has it been since we have been in God's Word, spent time talking to him and in fellowship with other believers? Without those aspects present in our lives, those things conceived by the Spirit within us will begin to die.

While Christ is able to keep us, he desires us to "want to be kept" and therefore does nothing to force us to remain in him. Far too often, if we are honest, our present reality might often sound like Isaiah's...

As a woman with child and about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pain,
so were we in your presence, O LORD.
We were with child, we writhed in pain,
but we gave birth to wind.
We have not brought salvation to the earth;
we have not given birth to people of the world.
Isa 26:17-18 NIV

Let's believe and guard the Sanctity of all life - physical and spiritual. No more can we abort what the Spirit has conceived in all of our hearts.

The good news is that Christ stands ready to forgive, give us a fresh start and restore that which is dying or dead. It is up to us to stay close to Christ and his purposes for us. Doing so helps us keep our account short with God.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Ps 24:3-6 NIV

Destroying the Enemy Within

Small ministries do not become big ministries until the leaders become content with being small themselves. GOD keeps his distance from the proud. Psalm 138:6

One simple question...

What do you do to keep pride from rearing it's ugly head in your life and ministry?

What Are You Giving This Christmas?

From the World's point of view, the Christmas season has begun. Millions of Christmas gifts will be bought today in an effort to show affection toward or please someone.

However, when it comes to gift giving, I think John 3:16 says it best. "For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE..." God gave out of the love that HE IS and can only come from him (1 John 4:7-8).

You will give a lot this Christmas. Are you giving out of that true & godly love, or are you giving from a counterfeit that is based solely on your feelings.

It's not what you give, it's the source from which it's given. The greatest gifts cannot be bought, wrapped, bagged, boxed, checked-out or shipped. The greatest gifts are what you give of yourself in love. God's Love!

A New Season

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:"

- Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

Ah, Fall! It's my favorite time of year. In these parts, the air is crisp and clean and just a few moments spent outside is invigorating. However, the Fall season signals change. If we looked at it as part of a circular pattern, it appears to indicate a descent toward an end, the end of the calendar year and the end to the warmth and life brought by Spring and Summer.

So why do I like it? I like Fall because of the changes it brings. No longer do I sweat through several shirts a day. No longer do we have to juggle schedules to ensure that our kids are being cared for and not "home alone" - argggghhhh! (McCauley Kulkin reference). Fall brings change.

Oddly enough, I have always embraced change. I have always experienced my greatest growth as a Christian and as a person through change. Robin and I are sensing a change in our lives. Whether it it be in ministry or some other aspect - God knows. But, whatever it is, we want to embrace it, learn from it, grow in it and celebrate it. Change matures us in Christ and develops the trust and faith required to follow God through the changes of our lives.

There is a time for everything - even change!