"Steady - Steady"

Everyday, I am increasingly aware of how inadequate I am in and of myself in doing what God has called me to do. I suppose that this is how I should feel, so I don't wander off on my own. But, the task is seldom easy, frequently difficult and often scary. I'm often torn between shaking the dust off of my feet and frantically searching for that one wayward sheep. Sometimes, I feel that one false step, one mistake, one decision, even the right decision, will cause so many to slip off of this tight rope we walk. 

Granted, the arms of our Savior are around us and a slip would only, at least, require us to allow Jesus to lift us back up onto the rope, but I still dread the loss of forward progress or, worse, those I walk with being paralyzed by fear and not trying again.

 Lately, I've been focusing on small steps that people are taking and walking beside them. Steps filled with pauses, as, together we steady ourselves and the Holy Spirit steadies us on the narrow path. 

This morning, in my prayer time, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me, that my job was to make sure that the food is available and to be present for all those who are sticking around and eating it - walking with them. I'm sure that there is a better way of explaining that, but the words escape me at the moment.

It is relieving to know that I can't save anybody. God in his great grace spared us of that burden by making that Christ's ability alone. So, with every step taken by the people that I love and care for, and those who will allow me, I'll be there with my hand on their shoulder, cheering and encouraging. There are a few people taking small but significant steps in their walk with Christ and they are among my greatest blessings.

It's still scary, but I'm learning to keep my eyes on Christ more and more. And, when I do that, I won't be looking down.

JUMP! - It's Faster

But from there you will search again for the LORD your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him. DT 4:29 NLT

What's the quickest way to get to the water from the top of a seaside cliff?

Jump!

What's the quickest way to learn how to swim? 

Jump!

What's the quickest way to experience all that God has for you?

Jump!

Jumping can be scary and we can easily jump into things that are bad for us as we can for good things. 

Regardless of whether something is good or bad, the fact remains that the quickest way to get into it is to jump.

I have missed out on so many years, experiences, freedom and joy because I wouldn't jump into all God had for me. I opted to take the long, jagged trail down the side of the cliff, carrying all my junk with me. 

The verse above says that God can be found if we seek him with ALL our heart and soul. All means all, nothing is left over. Once your feet leave the edge it's a done deal - no going back.

Don't let your fear and your junk keep you from experiencing God. Leave those things behind and Jump!

TNT - It's DYNAMITE!

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." (Proverbs 18:21 NLT)

The Holy Spirit dropped this conviction into my heart today. As he did, my thoughts went to those times when my frustrations were manifested in my tone and/or my tongue. Last year was a bad year for that, revealing remnants of my immaturity in Christ, as a leader and as a pastor. 

I've learned that the people around us, often, take their cues and, even more sobering, make their decisions off of what we say and how we say it. We can, intentionally or in-intentionally, influence their thoughts, actions and, subsequently, their decisions about Jesus, the Church and their future by the same.

I choose to speak life with my words and tone. I believe that, in doing so, God will bless with the consequences, which are far better than those that come from speaking death. Our tongue and tone are dynamite and together, they can blow things up, either for the good or for the bad.

Lord, let the few words I speak, blow up and build up your Kingdom!

DAILY BOOM! - God's Question

“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” (Matthew 20:13-16 NLT)

I have always loved this parable. Not only does it show The Father's heart, but it shows how patient he is, wanting to give the gift of salvation to whoever accepts it by accepting his Son, Jesus Christ as Lord.

I don't know who all reads this and I don't know where you all are in life. However, I do know that Jesus wants to have a relationship with you and God, himself, wants you to know him. It doesn't matter if your young, old, rich, poor or anywhere in between, Jesus is waiting for you to say yes to the question he's been asking. "I have loved you, will you love me?"

Haven't heard the question? You have. That nagging sense that something is missing. The lack of contentment and fulfillment. The absence of joy during your day to day activities. These are all the voice of God' Holy Spirit asking you.

Just as the workers who worked one hour received the same pay as those who worked all day in this story Jesus told, anyone who accepts Christ, even late in life, will receive the same reward as those who have loved and served God their whole life.

Answer Christ's question today! And if you have questions, message me!

DAILY BOOM! - Mysterious Ways

But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth. (Exodus 9:16 NLT)

I'll be honest, sometimes, OK, often, God and what he is doing is hard to understand. Looking with our physical eyes, individuals who live apart from God seem to thrive, seem perfectly content with their lives or are spared, even while those serving God suffer great losses. Why is that?

In this verse, God is explaining that he had purposes for sparing Egypt and through this we see his purpose in doing what he so often does today. God desires to show himself strong and to cause people to look to him. 

God, in his great love for all of mankind, is drawing attention to himself so that all of earth will know that he is God. The next time you see a person who doesn't know Christ be spared or, even, be blessed, smile and know that God is displaying his power and fame in that person's life to draw him or her to himself.

DAILY BOOM! - Different Views

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23 NLT)

Past, present and imminent circumstances often tempt us to doubt and default back to our human understanding. And our human understanding will get us off of Mission.

Peter's mind must have been racing and he couldn't bear the thought of Christ's death because, from his perspective, Christ's death would mean the end.

How different was Peter's point of view from God's. Christ's Death and Resurrection was only the end of the grip of sin, death, hell and the grave in our lives. His death brought LIFE!

When our circumstances leave us scrambling to make sense of it all, we would be wise to remember Christ's words and trust in God's will, power and faithfulness.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT)

DAILY BOOM! - Oh the Thoughts We Think

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 NLT)

There was a time, when I was a younger man, that I developed a bit of a foul mouth. It was during some rebellious years and even then, as the words would leave my lips, I would feel the twinge of the Holy Spirit's conviction.

All Glory to Jesus, it's probably been a decade since I uttered a foul word and it's been a long time since I even thought about one.

But I think this verse goes far deeper than the language we use or don't use. I believe our attitude, our mood and our countenance can be pleasing or displeasing to God.

What do we find our minds dwelling on during the day? Are we worried and fretting over some situation or are we continually meditating on the goodness of God and turning our circumstances over to him?

In times of trouble, it's easy to find ourselves going through the day feeling, thinking and acting defeated.

But, the truth is, our enemy is defeated, I am NOT. We do have victory in Jesus Christ, so we should think like it, speak like it and act like it.

I asked God to help me guard my thoughts and be careful of the thoughts I think, because I want my thoughts to please him.