Ask God to Give You a Dream

'...Your old men shall dream dreams...' Joel 2:28 NKJV

Good Morning,

Have you ever had a dream and wondered what it meant? The Bible says, 'Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.' When God gives you a dream, He gives you the resources and relationships needed to fulfill it. Not everybody will believe in your dream. Paul writes, 'What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar...' (Romans 3:3-4 NKJV) If your dream is from God, disregard the naysayers and give yourself fully to it. Just be sure your dream is from God. It can't be born out of somebody else's wishes. Sometimes your dream is actually somebody else's desire for you. Parents do this. They want to relive some part of their life through you, so they push you to do something they themselves always wanted to do. That sets you up for a lifetime of trying to please your father and mother, to get their approval even though you're now an adult. Then one day you wake up and realize you're trying to live somebody else's dream. It may actually have been God's plan for your mother or father, but now you're stuck with it. Get unstuck! Ask God for your own dream! Your dream can't be born out of wrong motives such as pride, jealousy, anger, rejection or competitiveness. Are you trying to prove something to somebody? Are you trying to win their admiration and respect? Are you trying to make up for being rejected? Acknowledge your motives, ask God to heal your heart, then ask Him for a dream that He will back up! When you do that, you've just opened the door for a powerful ministry that was developed because God gave it to....

Heart Revelations

'...try me, and know my thoughts.' Psalm 139:23 KJV

Good Morning,
As I was praying this morning God just tugged at me and said try me. I thought ok what does that mean? Then Psalm 139 came to mind where it says
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts" Our character is not revealed just by our actions, but by our reactions. Actions can be planned, but reactions are spontaneous. They give us a glimpse of what's really in our heart. At that point we can look at it and deal with it. Who among us would readily admit that at times we're greedy, lustful, controlling or insecure? Or resentful of the blessing of God that's evident in the lives of others? When the Psalmist prayed, 'Try me, and know my thoughts', he was inviting God to create the circumstances that would bring to the surface in him all the 'junk' at the bottom of the lake of his subconscious, hidden from view-not only from the eyes of other people but also from his own eyes. Paul writes to the believers in Galatia and says, 'My dear children! I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you...and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.' (Galatians 4:19 NLT) Note the words 'until Christ is fully developed in your lives'. That calls for a re-sensitized conscience and a redirected will. During the reign of Oliver Cromwell the English government ran low on the silver it needed to make coins. So Cromwell sent his men into the cathedrals to search for some. They reported back that the only silver they could find was in the statues of the saints standing in the corners. 'Good,' Cromwell reportedly said, 'let's melt down the saints and put them into circulation.' That's what we need, isn't it? To be melted by God, filled with His Spirit, and put into circulation.

Your Breakthrough!

'[The] One who breaks open the way will go up before [you]...' Micah 2:13 NIV

Are you thinking, 'If I don't get a breakthrough, I'm not going to make it?' Try to understand these two things. First, your problem is just an opportunity for God to work on your behalf. You are positioned to experience the truth of these words: '[The] One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.' By God's grace you can prevail over your circumstances. You can rise above discouragement and the self-defeating mentality that says: 'Nothing's going to change for the better'. You say, 'But I tried and failed!' Fine, mark that off your list and say, 'Now I know what doesn't work.' Rejoice, God knows the way, and He's going before you! Second, before you experience a breakthrough there's usually a shake-up. Chuck Yeager, the World War II hero who broke the sound barrier, fractured his ribs in a horse-riding accident the day before he hopped into the cockpit and attempted to do what had never been done with a plane before. His friends said, 'You're in too much pain. Don't do it.' His fears told him, 'Nobody's ever done it before. You won't either.' At 1100 m/hr the plane began to shake violently. Then suddenly he broke through into what he described as 'a great calm'. That's how it is when you're about to experience a breakthrough. When everything around you starts to shake and your fear level skyrockets, you're not about to crash and burn, you're on the threshold of a breakthrough!

Commit Yourself!

'...all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me...' 2 Timothy 4:16-17 NKJV

Good Morning,

Sorry I missed yesterday's devotional but I haven't taken a Monday off in a while and needed too. So I'm back in the saddle so to say ready and committed. Read these words slowly and carefully: 'Until I am committed there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also and a whole stream of events begin. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, people, and material assistance of which I never dreamed, begin to move towards me.' So commit yourself! When others refuse to go with you, commitment means going on alone. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Paul said, 'No one stood with me, but all forsook me... But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me... and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.' It's at the point of commitment, and not before, that God intervenes on our behalf. When the three Hebrew children made a commitment not to bow to the king's idols, God brought them out of the fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke. Indeed, King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he said, '...there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.' (Daniel 3:29 NAS) What do you believe God has called you to do with your life? Obey Him. Step out in faith and do it. If you're afraid, read these words: 'I'd rather be ashes than dust. I'd rather my spark burn out than that it should be stifled by dry rot. The proper function of my life is to live, not exist. So I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use every moment.'

Grow Up

'Let us cross over to the other side' Mark 4:35

Good morning,

Thank you for your prayers as Amy and made it safely back from Seattle yesterday after her doctors appt. Please continue to pray for health and healing.There are times when Jesus just tells us to grow up! Jesus gave His disciples special inside knowledge and understanding on stuff He was saying, which gave them a buzz of excitement or a headache, like their brain couldn't develop fast enough to fit the information in. Then they had experiences like the day Jesus said to them, 'Let's cross over to the other side..' so off they sailed, but it was no easy trip: 'A fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water' (Mark 4:37). They were petrified, their short lives flashing before their eyes. Jesus wasn't at all scared though - they had to wake Him up before He saw the commotion. Then they watched in amazement as Jesus told the weather to 'pack it in' and it did! But then Jesus made them all realize that they needed to grow up, 'Why are you so afraid?' He said. 'Do you still not have faith in me?' What God wants for us all is that we, 'no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead ... grow up' (Eph 4:14). Jesus wants you to grow up, trusting Him in every situation no matter how stormy life gets, trusting His words no matter how many people rock the boat with their untruths, trusting Him no matter how many people try to blow us off course. Thats true trust in Christ...

Doing What You're Supposed to Do

'...everyone's work will be put through the fire...' 1 Corinthians 3:13 TLB
Good morning,

We've been talking about stewardship on Sunday's, and one of the questions I've asked is what are you doing with what Gods given you? I love jokes so here we go...One day an ox said to a mule, 'Let's pretend to be sick.' The mule said, 'No, we need to get this work done.' The ox feigned illness, and the farmer brought him fresh hay. When the mule came in from ploughing, the ox asked how things went and the mule said, 'All right.' The ox asked, 'What did the farmer say about me?' The mule replied, 'Nothing.' The next day the ox pretended to be ill again. When the mule came home the ox asked, 'How did it go?' The mule said, 'All right.' After a week of this, the ox asked, 'Did the farmer say anything about me today?' The mule replied, 'Well, he said nothing to me personally, but he stopped and had a long talk with the butcher!' Understand this: you were born to fulfill a divine purpose. When you don't, there are consequences, both here and in eternity. Paul focused on his calling. Shortly before he was executed he wrote, 'I have finished the race...' (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV) Notice, Paul didn't retire, he 'finished'! In the parable of the talents, the man who buried his talent paid a high price. That's because in God's eyes the greatest failure of all is failure to invest the time, talent and treasure He's given you into His purposes. One day your life will be audited. It's called 'the judgment seat of Christ'. Paul writes, everyone's work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). So let's give everything we have to Him...you won't regret it!

Don't Jump to Conclusions

'I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue...' Psalm 39:1 NAS
Yesterday we looked at Philippians 2 were Paul asked the Philippians to watch what they said. He told them to "Do everything without grumbling and complaining." Psalm 39: 1 says to "guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue" We all fail from time to time in this, even the best of us. When John D. Rockefeller ran the Standard Oil Company one of his senior executives made a mistake that cost over $2 million. The other executives thought Rockefeller would come down heavy on him and probably fire him. But he didn't. Before he called the man in, he sat down, took a notepad and wrote across the top of it: 'Points in favor of this man'. Then he listed the man's strengths, including how he'd once helped the company make the right decision and earn them millions of dollars. One of the senior executives who witnessed it later said, 'Whenever I am tempted to rip into someone, I force myself to sit down and compile a list of the good qualities they have. By the time I have finished, I have the right perspective. And best of all, my anger is under control. I can't tell you how many times this habit has prevented me from committing one of life's costliest mistakes-losing my temper. I recommend it to anyone who must deal with people.' So before you jump to conclusions about someone, stop and ask God for wisdom, then sit down and make a list of their best qualities. If you do you'll often come to a different conclusion. One thing is for sure, you'll approach them with the right attitude and you won't say things you'll later regret. Obviously the Psalmist had learned that lesson: 'I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.'

If You Love Them, Level with Them (3)

'...each part...helps the other parts grow...' Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Good morning,

If you love them.....A good mentor will affirm in public, and correct in private. Your goal should be to help, not hurt. When you rebuke someone in public you humiliate them, destroying their self-esteem. But when you affirm them in public you build their self-esteem, confidence and incentive. Of course, your praise should be genuine, not just empty words. By affirming sincerely and publicly, you plant the seeds of growth and greatness in the learner. A good mentor will also build an allegiance to relationships, not issues. We tend to build an allegiance either to relationships, or to issues. We become primarily concerned about other people, their feelings, and the relationship, or we become focused on rules, agendas, quotas, tasks and results. A good mentor always puts relationships ahead of issues. In his book Mentoring: The Strategy of the Master, Ron Lee Davis writes, 'My father was that kind of mentor, both in his own family and in the church he pastored for twenty-five years. Many times I heard him say, The individual is always more important than the issue.' He lived this principle daily and he built it into my life. Today, I try to pass on this principle to others.' God has called each of us to run our race and finish it successfully. He has also called us to keep the torch lit and hand it over to the next runner. Don't merely be satisfied with doing the job, make sure the job keeps getting done by teaching and training someone else. Jesus, the Master-mentor, said, '...the works that I do [you] will do also; and greater works than these will [you] do...' (John 14:12 NKJV)

If You Love Them, Level with Them (2)

'...each part...helps the other parts grow...' Ephesians 4:16 NLT

I'm continuing on with Ephesians 4 today. I started this on Tuesday but took I detour yesterday at the Lords direction. It's each of our job to help one another grow in a positive way. When you confront somebody, be specific, and don't generalize. For example, don't say, 'You're always abrupt and unfriendly.' Instead, being specific, say, 'I feel you were rather abrupt with Mrs. Jones yesterday.' Generalizations sound and feel like an attack on who the person is, instead of constructive reproof on what the person does. Plus, the vagueness of such generalizations doesn't give the learner a clue what he or she should do to grow and change. Remember to show empathy. An effective mentor always tries to put themselves in the learner's place. Novelist John Erskine observed, 'We have not really budged a step...until we've taken up residence in someone else's point of view.' Assure them that you're their advocate, not their adversary, and that your only desire is to see them succeed. Why do people have such a hard time accepting and processing criticism? Because they get caught up in a shame spiral, going all the way back to their childhood. They never felt valued, they felt like they were always being criticized and told how useless and stupid they were, and now they instinctively give too much power to criticism. Only when you understand that will you be able to approach them the right way. Build on their strengths, gifts and character through encouragement. Earn the right to confront. Make sure you affirm 97 per cent of the time, so that when it's time to be tough in the remaining 3 per cent, your love and encouragement will be credible. How will a person know you're on his or her side if the only evaluation you ever pass on is a negative one?

Coming Alive Means Dying to Self

'I have been crucified with Christ...' Galatians 2:20 NKJV

Good morning,
Something I've had to learn in my life is this concept of dying to self. When we are under attack our survival instincts come out. We are fighters! But that creates a problem, for Paul says, 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' If your number one goal is self-preservation, you are no longer free to make the right decisions. You'll keep doing things based on what feels good, and what's acceptable to others, rather than what God wants you to do. You'll talk a lot about being faithful, but very little about being fruitful. You can only bear fruit if you are willing to die to self: '...unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies [to self], it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' (John 12:24 NAS) The 'survival seekers' in the Bible forfeited God's best by looking out for their own interests rather than God's. Without considering Abraham, Lot chose the well-watered plains of Jordan, and lost his family (Genesis 13:10-11). The rich young ruler could have been numbered among Christ's disciples, but he'd too much to lose (Mark 10:22). Often, the more we have, the tighter we hold on. Jesus said, 'Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses [invests] his life for My sake...will save it.' (Luke 9:24 NAS) Paul wrote, 'I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me...' (Acts 20:24 NIV). The safest place to be-the only place to be-is in the will of God!

 

If You Love Them, Level with Them (1)

     
'...each part...helps the other parts grow...' Ephesians 4:16 NLT

Good morning everyone,
It has been said that love is a tricky thing. Loving one another as the Bible says is more than tricky, its hard yet a command. If we want to be apart of a growing community we sometimes have to level with one another. Really, none of us enjoys confronting others, but sometimes it must be done. So be honest and direct. Tenderness is not a matter of being diplomatic or tactful, or using euphemistic language, or 'beating around the bush' and softening the blow. Don't do that. Weigh what needs to be said in clear and unmistakable terms, then lay it squarely on the line. If you love them, level with them! But a word of caution here: don't use words such as 'love' and 'transparency' to disguise a judgmental attitude. People get screamed at, chewed out and verbally abused in the name of love. Don't vent your anger at someone in the name of honesty. Not one of us is qualified to confront the other until we have carefully examined our motivations for doing so-including, as much as humanly possible, those motives that evade our conscious minds. You should always confront with reluctance, never with eagerness. You should confront directly, yet gently, and always with a desire to bring about God's best in the other person's life. It is far more Christ-like to confront another person through tears than with a voice raised in anger. At all points, the listener should never be in doubt as to your love and acceptance. Genuine love says, 'I've got something to tell you. I know this won't be easy for either of us, but I respect you enough to give it to you straight. I care about you, I'm committed to our relationship, and I want you to be the best you can be.'

How to Build Good Relationships

'...Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud...' 1 Corinthians 13:4 NCV

Thank you everyone for your love and kind words of affection. It meant alot to Amy and I that you choose to bless us and rebuild our hearts with your love and gratitude for Pastor Appreciation. My prayer this year is that God will continue to open the door for ministry and blessings to each of you as you are obedient ot the Spirit's leading. How do we learn to build good relationships? Do you remember the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son? He wanted the privileges of being a son, but not the obligations that came with being a brother. And because he couldn't celebrate his brother's return, it cost him his joy. Contrary to what you may have heard, speaking critical words doesn't make you feel better, it just makes you more miserable and keeps the issue alive. The Bible says, 'Pleasant words are...healing to the body.' (Proverbs 16:24 AMP) If you value your opinions more than your friends, you'll defend your opinions and destroy your friendships. When conflicts arise, step back and look at what's really important. Give others the benefit of the doubt. When working with yourself, use your head; when working with others, use your heart. Learn to be flexible. Thomas Jefferson said, 'In matters of principle stand like a rock; in matters of taste swim with the current.' Don't major in minors, and stop fighting over things that ultimately make no difference. Be gracious with others in the same way God is gracious with you. Mature love allows someone who has failed to ease out of the situation with their dignity intact. Once you've made your point, back off! In life, you're always going to have disagreements. They'll either give you ulcers or give you understanding-the choice is yours. Don't over-react. When conflict arises make it a time to learn, not lose. If you're serious about building good relationships, live by the words, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'

You Are Blessed for a Reason

'...in all things at all times, having all that you need...' 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

This morning I want to get you fired up for Sunday's message on "What is a Steward?" A good steward is one who desire's to promote God's Kingdom, because the word says He will teach you to profit (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV). Paul writes, 'Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.' (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV) Beware of those who manipulate your giving for their own end. But also beware of those who cripple your faith and leave you wondering if it's all right to give, expecting God's blessing. The Bible says, 'Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.' (Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV) Just replace the words 'barns' and 'vats' with 'savings' and 'investments'. Here's the question: do you want to be a burden, or a burden-bearer? God wants you to have enough to fulfill His plan for your life, and enough left over to help others. Do you want just enough to take your family out to dinner, or enough to feed hungry children, print Bibles, and help your church fulfill its vision? Paul emphasizes the purpose behind our increase: 'He has dispersed abroad [missions]; He has given to the poor [charity]...' (2 Corinthians 9:9 NKJV) Your prayer should be, 'Lord, bless me so that I can be a blessing in Your kingdom!'

Be Careful What You Say

    

'He who guards his...tongue keeps himself from calamity.' Proverbs 21:23 NIV

If you don't want people to remember something, don't talk about it. If you don't want to hear about it later, don't sow the seeds of it into their minds. Arguments would cease and stress decrease if only we had the wisdom to know when to be quiet. In order to know what to say, when to say it, and whoto say it to, try to be guided by these Scriptures: 'The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts' (Proverbs 18:8 KJV); 'A wholesome tongue is a tree of life...' (Proverbs 15:4 KJV); 'He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.' (Proverbs 21:23 NIV) Be careful about confessing your mistakes to others. You may be sincere, but when you're hurting, vulnerable and in need of support, you can raise issues that live longer than the explanations you give. You can't stop people from shooting at you, but you don't have to give them ammunition. Certainly there are times when public disclosure is right and wise. Jesus said when someone sins against you, you should do these three things. First, go to them privately. If that doesn't work, take two or three mature people with you. If that doesn't work, bring it to the church leadership (Matthew 18:15-17). If you have sinned, ask God to forgive you and He will. Then focus on the future and put everything else into God's hands. If He can deliver you, He can also defend you. If He doesn't choose to do either, He will use it to develop you.

God Is Doing a Work in You

 

'...grace in which we stand, and...tribulation [that] produces perseverance.' Romans 5:2-3 NKJV

Good morning,

As I asked God what I should share today. He brought to mind that we must believe together that He is doing a good work in all of us here at Calvary. Remember the scripture Sunday...where Paul says, "fix your eyes on what is not seen, not on the seen". Believe with me today that God is doing a good work in you! So there are two things you can count on as you walk with God: tribulation that works for you; and grace that enables you to stand while you're going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for tribulation; there's no other way to get it! Patience grows only in the soil of adversity. The truth is, some of the people you can't stand right now are the very ones who'll mature you spiritually and get you to your destiny. God said, 'Moab is my washbasin...' (Psalm 60:8 NIV) The Moabites were Israel's troublesome next-door neighbors who drove them crazy. But such people can also drive us closer to God! So, who's your washbasin? Who brings out the worst in you? Who drives you to your knees? Who stretches your faith? Who develops your character? The problem is, we pray for certain things but God has a process; only as we get to know Him better do we begin to recognize it. Here's how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through struggles that develop you. You ask Him for wisdom and you get to deal with messy situations that have no easy solutions. You ask Him for success and He gives you ability to work and wisdom to produce. You ask Him for favor and you get responsibility. (Then you want to run from it.) There's a work going on in you right now! You may not be fully aware of it, but without it you'll never be qualified to handle what God has in mind.

Good Morning Everyone,

Thanks for allowing Amy and I the opportunity to take a week off and relax with friends last week. It was good for us physically and spiritually. We appreciate your prayers and love. I hope you will begin your week with God's word planted in your heart. So learn to Memorize the Scriptures the bible says '...The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.' Romans 10:8 NKJV Nothing pays greater spiritual dividends than memorizing Scripture. Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be more effective. Your counseling will be in demand. Your outlook will change. Your mind will become more alert. Your confidence will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified. Even if you've tried memorizing Scripture and given up, try again using these seven simple steps. (1) Choose a time when your mind is free from outside distractions. (2) Learn the reference by repeating it every time you say the verse. Numbers are more difficult to remember than words. (3) Read each verse through several times-both in a whisper and aloud. Hearing yourself say the words helps cement them in your mind. (4) Break the passage into its natural phrases. Learn the reference, then the first phrase. Then repeat the reference and the first phrase as you go to the second phrase. Continue adding phrases one by one. (5) Learn a little bit perfectly, rather than a great deal poorly. Don't go on to the next verse until you can say the previous one perfectly. (6) Review the verse immediately. About 20 to 30 minutes later repeat what you've memorized. Before the day has ended, firmly fix the verse in your mind by going over it 15 to 20 times. (You can do this as you drive or do your job.) (7) Use the verse orally as soon as possible. The purpose of Scripture memorization is a practical one, not academic. Use the verse in conversation, in correspondence, in everyday opportunities. Relate what you've learned to your daily situation. You'll be thrilled with the results!