It is a cold Saturday morning. There is a fire in the fireplace and warm oatmeal settling in to nourish us for the day. No particular agenda is pressing, and the house is still relatively quiet. It is a perfect time to relax and savor the moment, and I am battling the desire to, "just get a little more work done."
Maybe you have experienced it, and modern technology certainly enhanced it, but the sense that we must use every available moment to get work done is persistent and pervasive. People I talk to frequently express similar feelings and the sense of guilt that comes from knowing you could get something done and not do it.
Even the people around us can encourage that behavior, challenging us to accomplish just a little bit more and causing us to feel like we are slacking if we take time to rest and relax. I remember a time that someone even told me that if I had time to have coffee with friends, then I had time to do one more task they wanted done.
There is always work that can be done, but the need for rest, relaxation and recreation is equally important. God exemplified that in the story of creation by resting on the seventh day, and repeatedly encouraging people throughout the Scripture to embrace a Sabbath and to rest. Even Jesus took time in the midst of his ministry schedule to pull away and rest, to be with friends and to be with God. We need that time as well.
My uncle, who is also a pastor, challenged me early in my ministry to remember that, "the pastor who is always available, usually isn't much good when he or she is available." How true this is and not just for pastors. We need to make time, and take advantage of the times we are given to rest in the Lord, to recharge and to allow the Spirit to re-create us. We need to enjoy family, and quiet, and savor the opportunity to do nothing. All too soon there we will be working again, and we will want to give our best to God by giving our best to the task at hand.
So today, find a moment to rest. If not today, tomorrow or someday soon. Lose the guilt and embrace the gift. I am going back to the fire and my family to savor this peaceful moment and all that God is doing in me right now. I pray that you will find a similar blessing from God as you rest in him.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
God Sighting
People often ask, "Why can't I see God?" My response to that is, "Why aren't you looking?" God reveals his divine presence all the time and when we open our eyes, we see that the love and grace of God is all around us.
Today, I was waiting in the car while my wife picked up a few things at the store that we needed for dinner. The car heater was working hard to combat the bitter cold and wind and I was lost in the music playing from my iPod. That is when it happened; when God displayed a glimpse of his goodness and glory. It happened quickly and truthfully, I nearly missed it.
A young mother approached the car parked facing me carrying her young daughter in her arms. The wind was cutting hard across the parking lot and the snow was blowing. I watched as the young woman held her daughter closely and used her body to shield the little girl from the weather.
As the the harsh wind cut across her face, you could see the redness increasing. In spite of her discomfort, the mother placed her child in the car seat, made sure she was comfortable and warm and then climbed into her own seat and finally shut the door on the cold.
It was a scene that happens frequently in cold regions, but it that brief moment it was an image of the great love of God.I was captivated by the precious image of protection and provision. I wondered if the young girl had any idea of the sacrifice her mother was making; if she even understood her mother's actions.
I also thought about how many times God, like this mother, shielded me from the bitterness of the storm around me, and how many times I missed it. What a wonderful image to see God holding us close to his breast, arms wrapped around us while enduring the storm's blast on our behalf.
God wants to display his love for us so that we can see the Divine in the world around us and so that we can learn to see God's actions in our lives more clearly. This was the whole point of the incarnation - that we would see God revealed in Jesus Christ. God is not hiding from us hoping we will survive on false hope. Instead, God is busy revealing love and grace, protection and provision, so that our faith and hope will be firmly fixed in the revelation of God.
It was clear that the mother I saw loved her child, and it is clear the God loves us. Today, is a good day to see God and to celebrate that we are in his arms.
Today, I was waiting in the car while my wife picked up a few things at the store that we needed for dinner. The car heater was working hard to combat the bitter cold and wind and I was lost in the music playing from my iPod. That is when it happened; when God displayed a glimpse of his goodness and glory. It happened quickly and truthfully, I nearly missed it.
A young mother approached the car parked facing me carrying her young daughter in her arms. The wind was cutting hard across the parking lot and the snow was blowing. I watched as the young woman held her daughter closely and used her body to shield the little girl from the weather.
As the the harsh wind cut across her face, you could see the redness increasing. In spite of her discomfort, the mother placed her child in the car seat, made sure she was comfortable and warm and then climbed into her own seat and finally shut the door on the cold.
It was a scene that happens frequently in cold regions, but it that brief moment it was an image of the great love of God.I was captivated by the precious image of protection and provision. I wondered if the young girl had any idea of the sacrifice her mother was making; if she even understood her mother's actions.
I also thought about how many times God, like this mother, shielded me from the bitterness of the storm around me, and how many times I missed it. What a wonderful image to see God holding us close to his breast, arms wrapped around us while enduring the storm's blast on our behalf.
God wants to display his love for us so that we can see the Divine in the world around us and so that we can learn to see God's actions in our lives more clearly. This was the whole point of the incarnation - that we would see God revealed in Jesus Christ. God is not hiding from us hoping we will survive on false hope. Instead, God is busy revealing love and grace, protection and provision, so that our faith and hope will be firmly fixed in the revelation of God.
It was clear that the mother I saw loved her child, and it is clear the God loves us. Today, is a good day to see God and to celebrate that we are in his arms.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Keep Your Focus
When I was preparing for ministry, my wife's grandmother called me to her bedside in the nursing home and gave me this advice, "Always remember, your job is to study God's word, preach God's word, and love the people." It was wonderful advice, and one of the best summations of pastoral minsitry I've heard.
The real challenge is keeping that focus. Every day, I try to put those three things first in my thoughts and then in my actions, but there are often so many distractions that it is easy to lose focus. The denomination has paperwork it wants. There are meetings to attend, calls to make, and emails to write. Occasionally, there are small fires to put out, and there is the reality that other people think they know your job description better than you do. It the midst of it all, it is hard to attend to what is truly most important.
At one point, early in our ministry, my wife gave me a small cartoon of a man (clearly a pastor) sitting in his chair looking quite frazzled as his wife smiles at him and says, "Always remember dear, Jesus loves you and everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life." It made me smile, but there was truth in the humor.
Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and these are just the challenges that come to cloud the more significant responsibilities of ministry, and more importantly, what happens to me, happens to you too. Every calling from pastor to parent, evangelist to engineer, has it's core foci and its distractions. Each of us must take responsibility for our calling and see that we do not lose our true focus in the midst of a pile of daily details.
Here are some of the tools I use to keep my focus:
1. Put first things first. Make a plan that schedules time for what is most important. There will always be a litany of urgent requests crying out for your attention, but the loudest voice is not always the one to be listening to.
2. Set times each day to check your course. Just like navagaing a trip, it is important to check your position and the path you are taking.
3. Never stop taking direction from God. It is easy to trust in our own management skills to get us though, but God's way is not always our way, and while we may "get through" on our own, we may miss the greater blessing God has in store if we follow his path.
4. Learn to say, "no." All of us want others to like us and we can give in to unnecessary, and sometimes unrealistic, expectations in order to make others happy. It is good to care about other people, but only we can take responsibility for our calling. We must do what we were called to do and that may mean not doing some things others think we should do.
5. Learn from mistakes and practice grace. At the end of the day, if you realize that you lost focus on your way, discover what pulled you away and prayerfully discern how to bolster that part of your life and ministry to protect it from another occurance in the future. Don't give up or give in to frustration. Accept that you are human, trust in the love of God and look to the Holy Spirit to guide you forward.
My grandfather used to say, "Charlie, what gets your attention, gets you." Since I want God to have me in his hand, I want to give my attention to God. I trust you do too. That is what makes the effort worthwhile.
The real challenge is keeping that focus. Every day, I try to put those three things first in my thoughts and then in my actions, but there are often so many distractions that it is easy to lose focus. The denomination has paperwork it wants. There are meetings to attend, calls to make, and emails to write. Occasionally, there are small fires to put out, and there is the reality that other people think they know your job description better than you do. It the midst of it all, it is hard to attend to what is truly most important.
At one point, early in our ministry, my wife gave me a small cartoon of a man (clearly a pastor) sitting in his chair looking quite frazzled as his wife smiles at him and says, "Always remember dear, Jesus loves you and everyone else has a wonderful plan for your life." It made me smile, but there was truth in the humor.
Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and these are just the challenges that come to cloud the more significant responsibilities of ministry, and more importantly, what happens to me, happens to you too. Every calling from pastor to parent, evangelist to engineer, has it's core foci and its distractions. Each of us must take responsibility for our calling and see that we do not lose our true focus in the midst of a pile of daily details.
Here are some of the tools I use to keep my focus:
1. Put first things first. Make a plan that schedules time for what is most important. There will always be a litany of urgent requests crying out for your attention, but the loudest voice is not always the one to be listening to.
2. Set times each day to check your course. Just like navagaing a trip, it is important to check your position and the path you are taking.
3. Never stop taking direction from God. It is easy to trust in our own management skills to get us though, but God's way is not always our way, and while we may "get through" on our own, we may miss the greater blessing God has in store if we follow his path.
4. Learn to say, "no." All of us want others to like us and we can give in to unnecessary, and sometimes unrealistic, expectations in order to make others happy. It is good to care about other people, but only we can take responsibility for our calling. We must do what we were called to do and that may mean not doing some things others think we should do.
5. Learn from mistakes and practice grace. At the end of the day, if you realize that you lost focus on your way, discover what pulled you away and prayerfully discern how to bolster that part of your life and ministry to protect it from another occurance in the future. Don't give up or give in to frustration. Accept that you are human, trust in the love of God and look to the Holy Spirit to guide you forward.
My grandfather used to say, "Charlie, what gets your attention, gets you." Since I want God to have me in his hand, I want to give my attention to God. I trust you do too. That is what makes the effort worthwhile.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Be Blessed
I've continued to ponder what it means to be blessed by God and thought a little more reflection was in order.
Have you ever wondered what God desires for your life? Have you questioned His plans, or goodness? Have you ever asked, “Is God really interested in me?”
Well, God has an answer for you. Is He interested in you… that’s not the half of it. It turns out God is absolutely crazy about you and desires only the best for you. It may not always feel that way, but it’s the truth. God loves you more than you can imagine and He wants to see you blessed.
In John’s third letter we find his greeting, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” What a wonderful thought and what a beautiful insight into the heart of God. God desires that you prosper. His heart toward you is far beyond a, “have a nice day” interest. Instead, He is actively looking to bless you and see you prosper.
“Is that really true… can I really believe that?” you ask. Well, consider a few thoughts from God’s Word.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)
“(Jesus said) I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches.” (Philippians 4:19)
“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good to give to you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Can you see it? Can you see just how loved you are and how much God wants to bless you? You are precious to Him and He takes pleasure in you. Jesus reminded His listeners that if evil people know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more would our Heavenly Father give good gifts to His children.
Well, child of God, are you ready to receive the Father’s blessing? I hope so, because He is ready to bless you and to fill your life with His goodness. Don’t let another day go by believing anything less than God’s best… anything less that the truth. God is wildly in love with you and He wants you to experience, yes even expect His goodness in your life.
Believe it. Receive it. Declare it. God is the one who is able to exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine. Isn’t time to believe Him enough to look for Him to keep His promises?
Be blessed… very blessed.
Have you ever wondered what God desires for your life? Have you questioned His plans, or goodness? Have you ever asked, “Is God really interested in me?”
Well, God has an answer for you. Is He interested in you… that’s not the half of it. It turns out God is absolutely crazy about you and desires only the best for you. It may not always feel that way, but it’s the truth. God loves you more than you can imagine and He wants to see you blessed.
In John’s third letter we find his greeting, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” What a wonderful thought and what a beautiful insight into the heart of God. God desires that you prosper. His heart toward you is far beyond a, “have a nice day” interest. Instead, He is actively looking to bless you and see you prosper.
“Is that really true… can I really believe that?” you ask. Well, consider a few thoughts from God’s Word.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)
“(Jesus said) I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)
“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches.” (Philippians 4:19)
“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not beneath.” (Deuteronomy 28:13)
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good to give to you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Can you see it? Can you see just how loved you are and how much God wants to bless you? You are precious to Him and He takes pleasure in you. Jesus reminded His listeners that if evil people know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more would our Heavenly Father give good gifts to His children.
Well, child of God, are you ready to receive the Father’s blessing? I hope so, because He is ready to bless you and to fill your life with His goodness. Don’t let another day go by believing anything less than God’s best… anything less that the truth. God is wildly in love with you and He wants you to experience, yes even expect His goodness in your life.
Believe it. Receive it. Declare it. God is the one who is able to exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or imagine. Isn’t time to believe Him enough to look for Him to keep His promises?
Be blessed… very blessed.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Blessings
Blessings arrive in the most amazing places. Sometimes, they are big gifts from God that meet significant needs in our lives, while other times, they are little acts of kindness that remind us that we are loved and appreciated.
Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted to be with us for the celebration. What a blessing that is. We love to see him and we are so thankful that he wants to share his special day with us.
One of the traditions we have when we bring him home, is to enjoy a meal out and then stop by our favorite coffee house to enjoy a treat and our friends. Last night was no different. No sooner was the meal over and he asked if we were going to grab some coffee before we went home. Being a coffee lover and a fan of family tradition, I was glad to oblige.
After saying hello to a couple of friends we went to place our order. Everyone knew what they wanted, except for me. I just couldn't decide what sounded good. The scene was slightly humorous as I visit frequently enough to be a fixture, but there I stood looking at the menu hoping that something would call to me.
One of our favorite baristas was working. She laughed at my dilemma and asked if I would like her to make something up for me. "My own special drink," I thought, "that would be awesome." I had a big smile on my face and in my heart - another blessing.
Everyone's drink came to the counter, while I waited for my surprise. When it arrived, it was another blessing. It looked like this:
It felt great to be in a place where, "everyone knows your name." It was a small thing, but it touched my heart. It was a tiny, but meaningful expression of appreciation. Even now, my heart is glad.
It was nice to be known and blessed by the staff, but it was also a reminder that I am known and blessed by God. It is God, who has knit me together in my mother's womb, who calls me by name, and who loves me with an unfailing love. It is God, who sees all of my life and desires to live in relationship with me. It is God, who is willing to give the Greatest Gift of his Son, Jesus, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly share life together. And, what God has done for me, he has done for everyone.
Every blessing is a reminder of the love of God. May you count your blessings along with me and remember that God loves you. Be blessed as you celebrate the awesome blessing of God.
Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted to be with us for the celebration. What a blessing that is. We love to see him and we are so thankful that he wants to share his special day with us.
One of the traditions we have when we bring him home, is to enjoy a meal out and then stop by our favorite coffee house to enjoy a treat and our friends. Last night was no different. No sooner was the meal over and he asked if we were going to grab some coffee before we went home. Being a coffee lover and a fan of family tradition, I was glad to oblige.
After saying hello to a couple of friends we went to place our order. Everyone knew what they wanted, except for me. I just couldn't decide what sounded good. The scene was slightly humorous as I visit frequently enough to be a fixture, but there I stood looking at the menu hoping that something would call to me.
One of our favorite baristas was working. She laughed at my dilemma and asked if I would like her to make something up for me. "My own special drink," I thought, "that would be awesome." I had a big smile on my face and in my heart - another blessing.
Everyone's drink came to the counter, while I waited for my surprise. When it arrived, it was another blessing. It looked like this:
It felt great to be in a place where, "everyone knows your name." It was a small thing, but it touched my heart. It was a tiny, but meaningful expression of appreciation. Even now, my heart is glad.
It was nice to be known and blessed by the staff, but it was also a reminder that I am known and blessed by God. It is God, who has knit me together in my mother's womb, who calls me by name, and who loves me with an unfailing love. It is God, who sees all of my life and desires to live in relationship with me. It is God, who is willing to give the Greatest Gift of his Son, Jesus, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly share life together. And, what God has done for me, he has done for everyone.
Every blessing is a reminder of the love of God. May you count your blessings along with me and remember that God loves you. Be blessed as you celebrate the awesome blessing of God.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Consider Your Crowd
The beginning of a new year brings opportunities to dream new dreams, to discover new visions and to take important steps toward fulfilling your destiny. The pause we create as we say goodbye to the old year and embrace what lies ahead, gives us time to listen to the voice of the Spirit and respond to the heart of God. This is the time to be attentive to what God is saying and to direct our lives accordingly.
Each year multitudes of people may commitments to themselves, to others and even to God. Their New Year’s resolutions seem fixed in their minds and possibly in their hearts. The intentions are good, but the follow-through is not. Somewhere between the affirmation and the action something gets lost, and they return to the way things were before… comfortable and familiar.
This year, I want to challenge you to something different. I want to encourage you to use these days to diligently seek God for His vision for your life. What is it that God wants you to do or become? Then I want to encourage you to take some steps to make that a reality in your life. It will take more than a wish. It will take a proactive choice and a commitment to see that choice through.
One of the first steps you can take to making God’s vision a reality in your life is to consider your crowd. “My crowd?” you ask. Yes, you know, the crowd you permit to surround you and influence you. If you are going to give that vision life then you must ask yourself if you are surrounding yourself with people who will help get you to where you are going. Is your crowd supportive of your passion for God? Are they willing to challenge you when you try to stop pressing forward or if you choose a contrary path?
So often, we pay little attention to the impact of others on our lives and we miss their ability to inspire us, and sometimes discourage us. People naturally gravitate toward people who are like them. Have you ever noticed how it seems that the complainers all cluster together, each one fueling the others’ concerns. The negativity grows and the entire group becomes ever more entrenched in those destructive patterns.
The good news is that it works both ways. Surrounding yourself with positive people, those who have great faith and keep pressing on to win the prize, will begin to have an effect on you. The more you are with them, the more you too will begin to embrace an attitude of possibility and promise. Even a negative person can become a person of great vision if they allow God to work in their lives and surround themselves with positive people.
I am not suggesting that you abandon your friends or your family, but rather, that you allow yourself to soak in the attitude and spirit of people of great faith so that you can achieve God’s purpose in your life and so that you can be a positive influence in your other relationships.
Fulfilling your resolutions will require more that just the right crowd, but with the Spirit’s help, it is a powerful first step toward making God’s vision a reality in and through you.
Be blessed as you seek God and His kingdom in this new year.
Each year multitudes of people may commitments to themselves, to others and even to God. Their New Year’s resolutions seem fixed in their minds and possibly in their hearts. The intentions are good, but the follow-through is not. Somewhere between the affirmation and the action something gets lost, and they return to the way things were before… comfortable and familiar.
This year, I want to challenge you to something different. I want to encourage you to use these days to diligently seek God for His vision for your life. What is it that God wants you to do or become? Then I want to encourage you to take some steps to make that a reality in your life. It will take more than a wish. It will take a proactive choice and a commitment to see that choice through.
One of the first steps you can take to making God’s vision a reality in your life is to consider your crowd. “My crowd?” you ask. Yes, you know, the crowd you permit to surround you and influence you. If you are going to give that vision life then you must ask yourself if you are surrounding yourself with people who will help get you to where you are going. Is your crowd supportive of your passion for God? Are they willing to challenge you when you try to stop pressing forward or if you choose a contrary path?
So often, we pay little attention to the impact of others on our lives and we miss their ability to inspire us, and sometimes discourage us. People naturally gravitate toward people who are like them. Have you ever noticed how it seems that the complainers all cluster together, each one fueling the others’ concerns. The negativity grows and the entire group becomes ever more entrenched in those destructive patterns.
The good news is that it works both ways. Surrounding yourself with positive people, those who have great faith and keep pressing on to win the prize, will begin to have an effect on you. The more you are with them, the more you too will begin to embrace an attitude of possibility and promise. Even a negative person can become a person of great vision if they allow God to work in their lives and surround themselves with positive people.
I am not suggesting that you abandon your friends or your family, but rather, that you allow yourself to soak in the attitude and spirit of people of great faith so that you can achieve God’s purpose in your life and so that you can be a positive influence in your other relationships.
Fulfilling your resolutions will require more that just the right crowd, but with the Spirit’s help, it is a powerful first step toward making God’s vision a reality in and through you.
Be blessed as you seek God and His kingdom in this new year.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Eighth Day
In the beginning, God created all that is. For six days He crafted the heavens, the earth and all that is in them. On the sixth day God created humanity and then on the seventh day, He rested, and while the initial creation was complete the story was far from over. There would be sin, brokenness and pain, yet the creating, restoring power of God would continue to work in the lives of people drawing them back to their original design – men and women created in the very image of God.
Those first seven days were so significant that they shaped the lives of people throughout history. The nation of Israel, followed the commands of God and made the seven day cycle a rhythm of life for the whole nation, working for six days and resting on the seventh. But the influence did not stop there, even though the various cultures of our modern day world have different calendars, almost all of them live by a seven day week. They were seven important days.
As significant as those first days were, there is one that was greater still – the eighth day. It was the day when God restored humanity and creation to its original design. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to show us who God is, and through His death and resurrection gave us new life. It was a new day. It was the Lord’s Day. It was the first day of a new beginning. As the Scripture tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
We are so blessed to be living in this new day. No longer must we be separated from God. No longer must we be victims of sin. Instead, we may live in the victory that only comes from Jesus Christ. He is the eighth day, the new beginning of creation.
As we enter into the beginning of this New Year, it is important to remember the power of new beginnings in Christ. Our lives are changed and God wants us to live in the power and freedom purchased for us by our Savior. We can know the victory of Jesus in our lives, our families, our work, and in every facet of who we are. Whatever we are facing, the King of kings and Lord of lords is ruler over it all. We belong to Him. It is His day, and we are living, truly living, in it.
Even more amazing is the truth that God did not just make the day new for us in Christ, but for everyone. He calls us to take the joy of our life in Him and the power of His transforming Spirit within us into all the world so that others may know His love and redemption. He gives us the opportunity to join with Him in leading others into the wonder and life-changing power of this new, eighth day.
May your new year be filled with all the fullness of Christ, and may others come to know the saving power of our Lord through your life and testimony, and the witness of our life together. Blessings and excitement to all as we begin this new stage in our journey. Happy Eighth Day!
Those first seven days were so significant that they shaped the lives of people throughout history. The nation of Israel, followed the commands of God and made the seven day cycle a rhythm of life for the whole nation, working for six days and resting on the seventh. But the influence did not stop there, even though the various cultures of our modern day world have different calendars, almost all of them live by a seven day week. They were seven important days.
As significant as those first days were, there is one that was greater still – the eighth day. It was the day when God restored humanity and creation to its original design. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to show us who God is, and through His death and resurrection gave us new life. It was a new day. It was the Lord’s Day. It was the first day of a new beginning. As the Scripture tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
We are so blessed to be living in this new day. No longer must we be separated from God. No longer must we be victims of sin. Instead, we may live in the victory that only comes from Jesus Christ. He is the eighth day, the new beginning of creation.
As we enter into the beginning of this New Year, it is important to remember the power of new beginnings in Christ. Our lives are changed and God wants us to live in the power and freedom purchased for us by our Savior. We can know the victory of Jesus in our lives, our families, our work, and in every facet of who we are. Whatever we are facing, the King of kings and Lord of lords is ruler over it all. We belong to Him. It is His day, and we are living, truly living, in it.
Even more amazing is the truth that God did not just make the day new for us in Christ, but for everyone. He calls us to take the joy of our life in Him and the power of His transforming Spirit within us into all the world so that others may know His love and redemption. He gives us the opportunity to join with Him in leading others into the wonder and life-changing power of this new, eighth day.
May your new year be filled with all the fullness of Christ, and may others come to know the saving power of our Lord through your life and testimony, and the witness of our life together. Blessings and excitement to all as we begin this new stage in our journey. Happy Eighth Day!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Glance Back, Gaze Forward
Well, here we are again, entering into another new beginning. These new beginnings are wonderful opportunities to assess where we’ve been and to prayerfully consider where we are going. Now is where we remind ourselves of what God did for us in the past and ask ourselves what we did for God. It is the time when we dream about the future and pray for God’s vision for our lives. It is the time to celebrate that the old things have become new in Christ.
It is important to pause in these times of transition and celebrate the blessings of God in our lives. Now is when we pay attention to the wonder and beauty of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Now is when we appreciate the relationships of our lives and strength that we gain from them. Now is when we offer thanks for God’s provision and recognize how God brought us through another year.
As we look over the past year, we recall how we served God and grew in the knowledge and love of Him. Here is where we thank God for the insight and vision given to us and for the ability to overcome. Here is the time when we can celebrate our successes and rejoice in the victories of our lives.
This is also the time when we remember the challenges and, dare I say, mistakes, of the past year. This is when we look honestly at where we can grow and what we can learn from the places where things did not work out. This is the time when we offer all of our past to God and learn from Him how the lessons He desires we learn.
While we look back, it is easy to be caught in our past. From idealizing our younger years to feeling bound by past mistakes, we can feel the grip of what has already happened and miss the liberation that is ours in Jesus Christ. It is important to remember where we came from and the experiences that shaped us into who we are today, but we can only truly appreciate the past when we understand that God holds our future. As He spoke through Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for your… plans for good to give to you a future and a hope.”
God has a wonderful future for each of us. He knows how to take our successes, our failures, our wounds and our dreams and weave them together into something beautiful. He wants to fulfill the desires of our heart while we fulfill our destiny with Him. We need to put our trust in Him and, glancing back toward our past, return our gaze forward to focus on what lies ahead on our exciting journey with Jesus.
I pray that you will celebrate all that this New Year brings and the great joy that comes from walking with God as you do. I pray that you will give God your past and let Him give you your future. Trust in Him and He will direct your paths.
It is important to pause in these times of transition and celebrate the blessings of God in our lives. Now is when we pay attention to the wonder and beauty of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Now is when we appreciate the relationships of our lives and strength that we gain from them. Now is when we offer thanks for God’s provision and recognize how God brought us through another year.
As we look over the past year, we recall how we served God and grew in the knowledge and love of Him. Here is where we thank God for the insight and vision given to us and for the ability to overcome. Here is the time when we can celebrate our successes and rejoice in the victories of our lives.
This is also the time when we remember the challenges and, dare I say, mistakes, of the past year. This is when we look honestly at where we can grow and what we can learn from the places where things did not work out. This is the time when we offer all of our past to God and learn from Him how the lessons He desires we learn.
While we look back, it is easy to be caught in our past. From idealizing our younger years to feeling bound by past mistakes, we can feel the grip of what has already happened and miss the liberation that is ours in Jesus Christ. It is important to remember where we came from and the experiences that shaped us into who we are today, but we can only truly appreciate the past when we understand that God holds our future. As He spoke through Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for your… plans for good to give to you a future and a hope.”
God has a wonderful future for each of us. He knows how to take our successes, our failures, our wounds and our dreams and weave them together into something beautiful. He wants to fulfill the desires of our heart while we fulfill our destiny with Him. We need to put our trust in Him and, glancing back toward our past, return our gaze forward to focus on what lies ahead on our exciting journey with Jesus.
I pray that you will celebrate all that this New Year brings and the great joy that comes from walking with God as you do. I pray that you will give God your past and let Him give you your future. Trust in Him and He will direct your paths.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Seize the Day
This will just take a little time.
The truth is, everything takes time and sometimes it takes quite a lot of it. All of us receive the same 24 hours and we are charged with the responsibility of choosing how we will spend those precious moments.
This week, I returned from a post-Christmas vacation. Our family enjoyed a relatively quiet week together. We ate, watched movies, played video games, and spent our minutes on building family family and celebrating life. We treasured the time, but it passed very quickly.
I returned from vacation to face the death of a man in our church family. He was a precious saint who loved God, loved his family and loved life. As I prepared for the memorial service, the words, "seize the day," kept coming to mind. Those three words described his life and the were a witness to the legacy he left to his friends and family.
The Christian musical artist, Carolyn Arends performed a song with those words as its title and focus. In the song she sings:
"Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
and nothing will stand in your way, Seize the day."
Seize the Day Video
As I led the service on Friday, I was reminded of the supreme importance of living the life we are given. So often, we are busy trying to get somewhere else, dreaming of something else and wishing we were someone else that we miss the beauty and blessing of being who God made us to be, doing what we were made to do in the place God created for us to be.
Looking back, our vacation was a blessing, but God met me at a funeral to remind me how precious the time we are given is, and how important it is to live life with passion, seizing the day and savoring every moment.
Today is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice! Be glad in it, and seize the day!
The truth is, everything takes time and sometimes it takes quite a lot of it. All of us receive the same 24 hours and we are charged with the responsibility of choosing how we will spend those precious moments.
This week, I returned from a post-Christmas vacation. Our family enjoyed a relatively quiet week together. We ate, watched movies, played video games, and spent our minutes on building family family and celebrating life. We treasured the time, but it passed very quickly.
I returned from vacation to face the death of a man in our church family. He was a precious saint who loved God, loved his family and loved life. As I prepared for the memorial service, the words, "seize the day," kept coming to mind. Those three words described his life and the were a witness to the legacy he left to his friends and family.
The Christian musical artist, Carolyn Arends performed a song with those words as its title and focus. In the song she sings:
"Seize the day, seize whatever you can
'Cause life slips away just like hourglass sand
Seize the day, pray for grace from God's hand
and nothing will stand in your way, Seize the day."
Seize the Day Video
As I led the service on Friday, I was reminded of the supreme importance of living the life we are given. So often, we are busy trying to get somewhere else, dreaming of something else and wishing we were someone else that we miss the beauty and blessing of being who God made us to be, doing what we were made to do in the place God created for us to be.
Looking back, our vacation was a blessing, but God met me at a funeral to remind me how precious the time we are given is, and how important it is to live life with passion, seizing the day and savoring every moment.
Today is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice! Be glad in it, and seize the day!
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