Others Are Watching You

Others Are Watching You

'In everything set them an example.' Titus 2:7 NIV

As I was researching for my message this week it hit me, are we setting the example as a believer that we should? In Jon Walkers book he shares the story about his dad. "Smoke rose over a neighborhood where 18 people died and 850 had been arrested in street riots. 'My dad, a special investigator for a government agency, sat with me watching the violence on TV. In a matter-of-fact manner, he said, "That's exactly where I'm scheduled to be today..." I said, "Why go?... Tell them you can't come...reschedule..." He looked at me and said, "Why wouldn't I go? It's my job."' Walker continues, 'It was an Aha moment for me... of course he'd go. He'd made a commitment... to be where he was supposed to be, regardless of circumstances. The same way he flew Cold War reconnaissance missions... the same way he took pictures showing Cuban missile sites being assembled... the same way he stood with me day in and day out throughout his life. In that moment I grasped the example. I understood the importance of remaining committed, regardless of the difficulty or how unreasonable it might seem... My dad spoke more by what he did than by what he said... his example became the story of God at work in a human life."

Question: What would happen if people followed your example instead of your advice when it comes to your work ethic, your online computer use, your integrity in business, and how you treat your family?

Be honest! Paul challenges each of us to 'be an example...in word... conduct... love... spirit... faith... purity.' (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV) He told Titus, 'In everything set them an example by doing what is good... show integrity.' If you think that sounds like a tall order - you're right. But 'His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.' (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

Be the Right Example!
You are Loved!

Volunteers, Not Conscripts

Volunteers, Not Conscripts

'Whatever we do, it is...because Christ's love controls us now.' 2 Corinthians 5:14 TLB

 

Paul writes, 'Whatever we do, it is certainly not for our own profit, but because Christ's love controls us now.'

God is looking for volunteers, not conscripts. What's a conscript? Conscripts are motivated by law; volunteers are motivated by love; big difference.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, enlistment centers all over America were jammed with boys too young to fight, men who had retired, and even the blind. One elderly man said to a recruitment officer, 'I'd consider it my greatest privilege to die defending this country.' Why do men and women do this? Duty? Yes, but something even greater - devotion! Their hearts have been captured by a cause. This is the point: are you captured for the cause of Christ?

Facing the loss of his freedom, his ministry and possibly his life, Martin Luther told the ecclesiastical powers of his day, 'I will not recant. My conscience is captive to the Word of God!'

Your Pastor, No one, should ever have to beg and pressure you to teach a Sunday school class, work with young people, give to the cause of Christ through your tithe, visit the sick, lonely and needy, or serve others. You should be begging for the privilege!

Paul said, 'What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ... for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.' (Philippians 3:7-8 KJV) Commitment to Christ is like signing your name on a blank check and saying, 'Lord, You fill in the amount.' You're not doing God a favor by serving Him; He's honoring you by allowing you to serve Him. Today, measure what you would do for the Lord - by what you actually do.

You are Loved!

Three Principles of Successful Living

Three Principles of Success

'That you may be successful wherever you go.' Joshua 1:7 NIV

God wants you to succeed in life (Joshua 1:8).

Yes, stop for a moment and let that thought of negativism go away. Once you're convinced of that:

(1) Take into account your temperament. A fillet steak cooks best at a very high heat for a short time, but a roast joint cooks best at a lower heat for a longer time. You can tell I like meat....Either way, you can have a delicious meal. You just need to know what kind of meat you have, and how to cook it. Are you getting the point?

(2) Overcome your fear of being different from others. Because Daniel wouldn't obey the decree only to pray to the king and not God, he landed in a lion's den. But he came out, and prospered in a top spot in government (Daniel 6:28). You can't be part of the crowd and still 'stand out'. To achieve great things you must trust God, disregard the negative opinions of people and pursue your destiny.

(3) Resist the apathy that often accompanies ageing. Keep the enthusiasm of your youth and mix it with the wisdom of your old age. Don't lose your sense of idealism. Don't let day-to-day difficulties discourage you or allow life's disappointments to get you down. At every age and stage of life there are obstacles and advantages, trials and triumphs. It's up to you to make the most of the positive, and not let the negative derail you. You are Gods magnificent creation! So don't give up!

Look at Paul who was about 70 at the time, he said, 'I am ready to come... to... Rome to preach.' (Romans 1:15 TLB) At eighty, Moses led Israel out of slavery. At eighty-five, Caleb said, 'Give me the mountain...the Lord promised me.' (Joshua 14:12 NCV) You're only 'old' when your regrets take the place of your dreams. So be a dreamer and lets do some amazing things for God this year.

Love you Much!!!!

Mission Through Community

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 "Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him."

 Yesterday in our morning service I shared on keeping our church's spiritual axe sharp in community. This morning I want to continue with the theme of community looking at what our mission should be in fulfilling community in our lives.

Our number one mission, our divine appointment, is to be ambassadors of Christ! In all of the stress, and worry of attempting to find our personal “calling,” we must remember our responsibility as adopted sons and daughters of the Holy One. We’ve been brought to life. Rescued from death, and now have been commissioned to share the message of God’s reconciliation through community.

How each of us does this will look different. Some of us will lead families, others businesses, and others churches. All of us playing our part in the reconciliation of the world. That’s the beauty of the Church. All of its many parts gathered as one body, pointing the world towards Christ Jesus. The question is how will you lead in doing this? Our mission is this, that we would live lives worthy of the Gospel, that we would allow ourselves to be internally changed, that we would create external effect that loves the world to Jesus.
Will you pray with me: God, this world is yours, everything in it is yours. I am yours, do with my life what you will. Help me to release the things of my flesh, so that I may be transformed according to your Spirit. Give me a heart for those around me, a burden for my community that compels me to fulfill the mission you have may give him. Teach me to clothe myself in you, to speak your words and offer your hands.

You are Loved!

Love Your Church - Jesus Does!

Love Your Church - Jesus Does!

'You too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives.' Ephesians 2:22 NIV

Jesus lives in each of those who make up His church. Scripture tells us 'You are... members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.' (Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV) Nothing is nearer and dearer to the heart of God than His church. 'Christ... loved the church and gave Himself for her.' (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV)

His greatest interest, and the core of His eternal purpose, is that 'through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.' (Ephesians 3:10 NIV) You ask, 'How can I become a member of Christ's church?' It's a family; you must be born into it. That's why Jesus told Nicodemus, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:7 NKJV) You don't get in by shaking a preacher's hand, filling out a membership card or making a donation to the building fund. The Bible says, 'Receive one another, just as Christ...received [you].' (Romans 15:7 NKJV) How cool is that. One of the things I love about our church is that we practice "receiving people just like you."

But once you've accepted Christ and He has accepted you, you're 'in'. Nothing me or anyone else does...it's all about what Jesus has done for you. In God's eyes you're a bona fide, blood-washed, Heaven-bound member of His family. The Bible says, 'The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved' (Acts 2:47 KJV) - and when He adds you, there's not a soul on earth who can subtract you!

You are Loved!

Forgive Them and Get on With It!

Forgive Them, and Let It Go!

 

'Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.' Matthew 5:44 NKJV

People will harm you! I know; how can I say such a thing. But it happens everyday to even the most spiritual of us. We must be careful we don't carry an unforgiving attitude that can keep us from moving forward in life. So get serious about forgiving the one who hurt you? You say, 'But then they'll have got away with it.' They're not getting away with anything! God is qualified to judge; you're not. Remember, your critics are making decisions about you based on limited information, but God knows the truth and He will deal with your detractors in His own time. So stop trying to defend yourself and prove them wrong, you're stepping into territory that belongs exclusively to God.

The Bible says: 'Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone... never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord. Instead, if your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads. Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.' (Romans 12:17-21 NLT)

Satan's goal is to get you all tied up in knots and steal your peace. Don't play into his hands! Christ, your example, prayed for those who drove the nails into His hands: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' (Luke 23:34 KJV) Your enemies may think they're smart, but often they're acting in ignorance. Don't come down to their level by retaliating. Forgive them, and let it go.

Remember, your value is not based on what others think of you! Your value comes from God. You are Loved!

Todays Thought - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 "Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him."

 

 

Good Morning,

Great service yesterday as we walked through the process of keeping our spiritual axe sharp as we live out our mission, our divine appointment, as ambassadors of Christ.

In your personal “calling,” remember your responsibility as adopted sons and daughters of the Holy One. We’ve been brought to life. Rescued from death, and now share the message of God’s reconciliation.

How each of us does this will look different. Some of us will lead families, others businesses, and others churches. The amazing thing is that when we live in unity with each other, God opens our eyes, and all of a sudden we see ourselves playing our part in the reconciliation of the world. That’s the beauty of the Church. All of its many parts gathered as one body, pointing the world towards Christ Jesus!

The question is how will you do that? Our mission is this, that we would live lives worthy of the Gospel, that we would allow ourselves to be internally changed, that we would create external effect, and in His way, reconcile the world to His will.

I want to pray for you today...God, this world is yours, everything in it is yours. I am yours, do with my life what you will. Help me to release the things of my flesh, so that I may be transformed according to your Spirit. Give me a heart for those around me, a burden for my community that compels me to fulfill the mission you have may give him. Teach me to clothe myself in you, to speak your words and offer your hands.

You are Loved!

Todays Thought - Galatians 5:22-26

Galatians 5:22-26 "But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. We can't allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other."

I've shared with you already that each of us is a leader in some form or capacity. The last couple of my blogs lead us to the question you must ask yourself today? Will I trust God's Spirit? As a believer/leader there is no choosing to lead through the Spirit of God without choosing to be changed by the Spirit. The way we speak, the way we act, even the way we feel, these things must shift as we change from leading in our own strengths to leading out of the strength of God. Our naturally selfish ambitions, even when cast through the lens of good intention, have to begin to fall away as they have been crucified with Christ. To be great in God's eyes we must come to Him with humility, having accepted that the fruit of the Spirit is beyond what we could accomplish alone, and it’s through Christ that we are empowered to access this fruit.

What is not cultivated in secret cannot be called upon in public. We have to pray for the transformative power of the Spirit to work His way in our hearts and minds, changing us forever, so our lives are not a façade, but a reflection of His power at work within us. Today is a new day. Trust the will and work of God in your life, and ask Him where you need Him to work. He’s faithful to respond, and He works in your life, watch Him begin to work in the lives of others through you.

You are Loved!

Todays Thought - 2 Corinthians 2:1-5

2 Corinthians 2:1-5 "I decided not to visit you again while I was distressed.

 After all, if I had made you uncomfortable, how could you have cheered me up when you were uncomfortable? This is the very reason I wrote to you. I didn't want to visit you and be distressed by those who should make me happy. I'm confident about all of you that whatever makes me happy also makes you happy. I was deeply troubled and anguished. In fact, I had tears in my eyes when I wrote to you. I didn't write to make you uncomfortable but to let you know how much I love you. If someone caused distress, I'm not the one really affected. To some extent-although I don't want to emphasize this too much-it has affected all of you."

Todays Thought
What does the way you lead say about how you trust Jesus? Too often we believe that great leadership is about praying for a crowd or convincing a group to follow us because of our accomplishments and acumens. We’ve declared that, “We will not boast in anything; no gifts, no power, no wisdom,” and yet the story of our days tells a very different tale. Somewhere we’ve bought into the lie that what people are looking for is inspiration through eloquent speeches. We’ve forgotten that the most powerful way we can lead is by pointing us towards Jesus.

Some of us are faced with undoing generations of failed leadership. Some of us come from incredible men and women, but good or bad, the answer to how you will lead begins and ends with Jesus, it’s only through His power that our view of leadership will change. We start by seeking Him, knowing Him, being transformed to be more like Him. The more we look, act, love, and lead like Jesus, the more impactful our leadership will be to the world around us. So start learning to be a leader, our church depends on you taking the next step!

You are Loved!

Todays Thought - 2 Peter 1:3-9

2 Peter 1:3-9 "God's divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world. Because of this, make every effort to add integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge; to knowledge add self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness; to godliness add Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. If you have these qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive. If these qualities aren't present in your life, you're shortsighted and have forgotten that you were cleansed from your past sins."

 

Todays Thought

I want to continue with looking at the leader inside you. You are not alone if you struggle in this area. You do not lead through your own ability. You do not love through your own affection or withstand temptation through your own power. You have been given everything you need through the Holy Spirit. He is with you. The lie about leadership is that it is lonely; that you are alone in your decision-making and responsibility. But the truth of scripture is that you are beloved by God. You are loved and cared for by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit whose power flows through you now. As you use the gifts and talents God has given you, your capacity for life changing leadership is directly related to your willingness to be led, not your eagerness to perform. Lean in to the promises of God, allow Him to mature you in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and love; true hallmarks of a leader worth following. Allow yourself to be transformed and created anew, cast down the foolishness of pride and attempting to carry your own life, and the lives of others on your shoulders. You’ve been given everything you need for a godly life, now receive it.
Will you pray this prayer today...Holy Spirit, I am a changed person, brought to life through Your power and called for Your purpose. Thank you that You are ever with me. Thank you that when I am most afraid, tired, and stressed, You are there. Thank you that when I celebrate, when I laugh, when my heart is full of joy, You are there. Yet there are times when I forget you have never left me, times when I struggle, strain, and crush myself trying to carry this life alone. Holy Spirit, help me to remember You are here, right now.

At all times, help me to turn to You for strength, wisdom, and love. Be my affirmation and my security. Be my understanding and love. You have called and equipped me for a purpose. May I never search the things of this world for what you have already given me. I lead myself, and others, through You and You alone. Amen.

 

You are Loved!


Todays Thought - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 "Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect."

Todays Thought
For the next few days I want to focus on leadership. The creation and cultivation of leadership is birthed in the quiet, unseen moments. It’s in these times that we are crafted into who we truly are. Too often we view leadership as purely outward, thinking only of how we will climb the next mountain, or overcome the next obstacle without considering who we will be when we do. But true leadership, great leadership, starts within. I know you may be thinking I'm just not a leader. Everyone is a leader in some capacity in their life. How you trust God in the place of leadership you are in will determine who you become.

The Father sees you, He wants for you far more than what you can conceive. Don’t miss out on His whispers because you have filled your head and heart with your own words. It is never too late to ask God to begin to clear away the distractions and to focus your heart on knowing His will. It’s in these moments where your ability to help others do the same will develop. After all, you can’t lead people to a place you’ve never been. It’s a simple prayer, but it will change the way you live and the way you lead, forever. Father help me seek you as I seek to help others as I lead them to you!

You are loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - 1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6 "Be humbled by God's power so that when the right time

comes he will honor you."

TODAY’S THOUGHT
A great paradox in life is the statement, “the way down is up and the way up is down.” The old adage to walk over someone to reach the pinnacle of success in one's life suggests its ok as long as no one gets hurt. But someone always gets hurt. In one’s quest to rise to the top in popularity or success it’s easy to lose sight of what's right and become self-reliant and prideful. That is why the scripture say’s “pride comes before a fall.”
In God’s economy, the way up is down. When we walk humbly before God as obedient and faithful servants God will always reward us. His timing or His ways may be different from what we would choose however, when God elevates us, his place of honor and promotion is far greater than anything we could do for ourselves. As believers, God has called us to lift up the name of Jesus in every area of our lives. As we humble ourselves and rely upon the mighty power of God in our lives, God will elevate us so that we can illuminate him.

You are loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Isaiah 43:2-3

Isaiah 43:2-3 "When you go through the sea, I am with you. When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not harm you. I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you. Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you."

  TODAY’S THOUGHTIt’s not a matter of “if” it’s a matter of “when” we will go through deep waters, rivers of difficulty and fires of oppression. Life is what it is.. Difficulty in our work and finances, problems in our marriage, conflict with our kids and pain through strained friendships and relationships can cause us to feel like we’re drowning. Those are real feelings! God understands that.

As believers, we must remind ourselves that God “will be with us.” Remember the movie Wizard of OZ? Be like Dorothy, and say "He will be with me a hundred times if you need to." It’s in these times that He will remind us “He is the Lord, our God.”
No matter what we face in life, we can be encouraged to know that God is always there. He will not let us “drown” or be “burned up” by the trials of life. In fact, God wants to use those trials as a platform for us to reveal His goodness, grace and victory so that others can be encouraged by what God is doing in our lives. God can take our greatest misery and use it to become our greatest ministry to others who may be facing the same challenges we are facing.

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."

TODAY’S THOUGHTHave you ever had one of those days when it seemed like everything you did was wrong? I thought of our little dog Shaggy when he had to have surgery on his ear. He wasn't to happy. If he was human he would have felt like it was one of those days. For you and I it may be sickness or we just feel like the world is crashing in around us.

For Paul, the Apostle, It was prison, he wrote "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." while sitting in a prison cell. If anyone deserved to feel defeated and discouraged in life, it should have been the Apostle Paul. However, he learned the importance of keeping things in perspective and learning to completely rely upon God’s strength regardless of the circumstances.

As we strive to make a difference with our lives there will always be people, situations and circumstances that can zap us from our spiritual strength and energy. In fact, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all of life’s challenges and hardships. However, the same spiritual strength the Apostle Paul experienced in his life is available to us. Where does this strength come from? The answer, “through Christ.” It is in Christ that we find the strength we need to do “everything” we need to get done in life. Fix your thoughts on Christ today and move forward with confidence that “through Christ” you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Daniel 3:16-18

Daniel 3:16-18 "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "We don't need to answer your last question. If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. But if he doesn't, you should know, Your Majesty, we'll never honor your gods or worship the gold statue that you set up."

TODAY’S THOUGHT
One of life’s greatest needs is to be accepted and to have a sense of belonging. Because that desire and need is so great, it is easy to allow ourselves to be manipulated by popular culture and other people around us. The adage if others are doing it, it must be ok, only happens when we give into the temptation of conforming to their ways. If we’re not careful, we can compromise our faith for the temporary approval of others.

As Christians, we must remember that no matter how much pressure we face in life, God is always there to rescue us in our times of need. Think about "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego" They could have followed the crowd but when the challenge came they told the King, "If our God, whom we honor, can save us from a blazing furnace and from your power, he will, Your Majesty. But if he doesn't, you should know, Your Majesty, we'll never honor your gods or worship the gold statue that you set up." Rather than living our lives for the approval of others, we must live our lives for an audience of one. His name is Jesus! Remember, no matter how much the heat is turned up with the pressures to conform, God has given us everything we need to challenge the norm so that we can stand up and stand out for our Lord.

You are Loved!