"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." ~ Hebrews 13:15
I think we often confuse praise and worship. Because we lump them together in our services they can often become confused and seen as the same thing. But praise and worship are two different things. And we are expected to bring both to God.The psalms are filled with David exhorting us to "Praise the Lord."
The definition of praise is to offer grateful homage to God as in words or song.
The definition of worship although similar is also vastly different: reverent honor or homage paid to God.
Why then is it a "sacrifice of praise" and not a sacrifice of worship? Because it's hard to be grateful when you're in the prison cell. It's not easy to offer grateful homage to God when you're bound in chains; and yet, this is exactly what we're called to do. We're called to offer "a continual sacrifice of praise." Praise to God is what's going to break the chains in your life. We need to have a spirit of rejoicing in every circumstance in our life. But so many times, we have a hum drum attitude; and even though, we know God can, we don't believe he will. So we offer him our worship because that's what we're supposed to do, but we withhold our praise because praise is difficult. Praise requires us to rejoice about being in chains. It requires us to rejoice when we'd rather crawl up in a ball and die.
In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas were thrust into the inner prison after being beaten. Yet the Bible says that "at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God" (16:25). I don't know about you, but after I've been beaten and thrown into prison I don't really feel like rejoicing and being grateful. And although I've never literally gone through this, life can often make us feel like we've been beat up and thrown into prison. So what do we do in those circumstances? Do we cry and accept our circumstances? Or do we rejoice in who God is? Paul and Silas chose to show gratitude to God in spite of their circumstances and what happened? "Suddenly there was an earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed" (emphasis added, 16:26). Praise is an attitude of gratefulness to God despite your circumstances. Praise is what breaks chains and opens prison doors.
So many of us are bound and God is saying praise me in the circumstances. "Rejoice evermore" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Praise allows us to enter God's throne room boldly. It allows us to rise up past our circumstances, past the things we see around us, and show our gratitude to God. It's easy to praise when we're on the mountain top. It's easy to praise when everything is going right. It's a lot harder to praise when we are in the inner prison cell and bound in chains.
We must have an attitude of gratitude. When I think of true gratitude, I think of a child. If a child comes to you and barely whispers thank you, refuses to look you in the eye, and walks away with shoulders slumped, do you really believe they're grateful for what you've done for them? How does their attitude make you feel? On the other hand, if a child comes to you with excitement, eyes alight with pleasure, and thanks you for what you've done barely able to contain themselves, do you believe they're grateful? How does that make you feel?
The Bible tells us that we are to be as little children. Our praise to God should be that as of a little child. We should be excited in our gratitude. We need to shout for joy. And sometimes that's hard. And yet, that's exactly what we need to do.
Has life beaten you up? Thrown you in prison? Are you bound by depression? Oppression? Sin? Then it's time to bring the sacrifice of praise. Lift up your voice in gratitude for all the things God has done, and is going to do. Shout. Dance. Sing. Give God the praise.
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Sunday, September 24, 2017
What am I lacking?
Have you ever felt that you weren't good enough? Ever wondered is this enough? Am I doing enough? Is it enough to do all the right things? Is being good enough? Ever felt that there was something missing? That even though you have everything you should there's an emptiness, a longing, a desire for something more? What am I lacking?
As I contemplated this, I thought of the story of the Rich Young Ruler. The story of the Rich Young Ruler is told in three out of four accounts of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all retell the story. After reading the three accounts something struck me... I'd like to go through the account in Matthew which is just a little different than the other two accounts.
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:16-20).
The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus a question - "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus answered the question by saying keep these commandments. Yet the Rich Young Ruler knew, he knew that wasn't good enough, because if it were then he could've walked away confident that he would inherit eternal life. He would have been justified in his belief that everything he'd done up until that point was enough. Instead he asked, what else do I lack? Deep down the Rich Young Ruler knew there was something lacking in his life. That there must be something more than just doing the right thing.
We too innately know that being good enough, doing the right thing, being a moral person isn't good enough. Yet we continue on this path. If I can just stack up enough brownie points, then I'll be set. I'll get into heaven. I know what you're thinking, I'm a Christian. I already know that I can't earn my way into heaven, but it's through believing on Jesus. Great! But don't stop listening yet, the stories not over.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (19:21-23).
The Rich Young Ruler had the right religious title. He was a Jew. He believed in God and had kept the commandments. He had done everything right; and yet, he was lacking. We too can have the right religious title - Christian; do all the right things; and still, be lacking.
A lot of times when we read this passage we get caught up in the fact that the Rich Young Ruler was rich. We read it and think, well I don't have that problem. I'm not rich. We feel confident that we're safe because we're a Christian, we've already chosen to follow Jesus. We're safe.
But the reality is we are rich and we don't even know it. I asked the question at the very beginning do you ever feel that there's something more? Something you're missing? Let me answer that - there is. There is more. Jesus is calling to you, he's saying, "Give this up and come follow me." Only you can answer what the "this" is.
Unfortunately, this is not an easy topic nor is it one that we often hear in our American Christianity. We twist parts of God's Word to make it easy for us to continue living the way we want to live and doing just enough that we feel confident that we're still going to heaven. We talk ourselves out of doing what Jesus asks of us by saying things like, "I just can't believe Jesus would ask me to leave my family, work, home, etc." Or "If He really wanted me to do it, then I wouldn't feel anxious or nervous, I would be at perfect peace."
If you don't think God would ask you to give something up, or to leave your family, or to do something extreme... then you're not understanding the Bible you claim to be reading.
I want to flip over to Mark's account for a moment. "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee." (10:28, emphasis added).
From reading scriptures we know that when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he left his career, his wife, and possibly a family. And Peter isn't the only one. Abraham left family. Moses left family, position, comfort. Every person God called in all of scripture was asked to give up something, to lay down something, to do God's will. How then can we say, "I just don't think God would ask that of me."
I'm sorry, but I believe the scriptures you say you believe say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
If he's the same, then his call to follow is the same, which means you're going to have to give up something or everything! God's desire for you isn't to be a good person. To do all the right things. There isn't enough good things including ministry that can fulfill the requirement for you to inherit eternal life. The Rich Young Ruler knew this and deep down we know it too.
Last week I heard in church that true freedom is only found in Christ, because God always gives you a choice. The Rich Young Ruler was given a choice, "go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." I bet you're thinking where's the choice? The choice is to obey or not to. God didn't take everything from him and make the Rich Young Ruler follow him. He gave him the option. He opened the door and said, "Will you walk through? Will you follow me?"
We too have the option. We can choose to do the scary things, the things we don't think God would actually ask of us, because we've justified it away in our Christianese. Or we can choose to continue living and doing what we've always done.
Before you decide let me remind you of Jesus' response to Peter, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time ... and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30).
So as you look at the things God is asking you to give up, realize that he offers you this promise, I will give you more than I ever ask you to give up. I've seen this in my life. Look around you, you have too. I have more brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers than I know what to do with. It's called a church family for a reason. When God asks you to give something up he always provides other ways to fill the holes that are left.
"But it's not the same..." We pout. It's not the same as my blood family, my siblings, my parents, my children... Maybe God is trying to increase you in ways that you can't understand, yet. Take a minute to stop listening to all of the arguments for why God wouldn't and consider for a moment that he's saying give this up and follow me?
What are you going to do?
As I contemplated this, I thought of the story of the Rich Young Ruler. The story of the Rich Young Ruler is told in three out of four accounts of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all retell the story. After reading the three accounts something struck me... I'd like to go through the account in Matthew which is just a little different than the other two accounts.
"And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (Matthew 19:16-20).
The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus a question - "What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" Jesus answered the question by saying keep these commandments. Yet the Rich Young Ruler knew, he knew that wasn't good enough, because if it were then he could've walked away confident that he would inherit eternal life. He would have been justified in his belief that everything he'd done up until that point was enough. Instead he asked, what else do I lack? Deep down the Rich Young Ruler knew there was something lacking in his life. That there must be something more than just doing the right thing.
We too innately know that being good enough, doing the right thing, being a moral person isn't good enough. Yet we continue on this path. If I can just stack up enough brownie points, then I'll be set. I'll get into heaven. I know what you're thinking, I'm a Christian. I already know that I can't earn my way into heaven, but it's through believing on Jesus. Great! But don't stop listening yet, the stories not over.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (19:21-23).
The Rich Young Ruler had the right religious title. He was a Jew. He believed in God and had kept the commandments. He had done everything right; and yet, he was lacking. We too can have the right religious title - Christian; do all the right things; and still, be lacking.
A lot of times when we read this passage we get caught up in the fact that the Rich Young Ruler was rich. We read it and think, well I don't have that problem. I'm not rich. We feel confident that we're safe because we're a Christian, we've already chosen to follow Jesus. We're safe.
But the reality is we are rich and we don't even know it. I asked the question at the very beginning do you ever feel that there's something more? Something you're missing? Let me answer that - there is. There is more. Jesus is calling to you, he's saying, "Give this up and come follow me." Only you can answer what the "this" is.
Unfortunately, this is not an easy topic nor is it one that we often hear in our American Christianity. We twist parts of God's Word to make it easy for us to continue living the way we want to live and doing just enough that we feel confident that we're still going to heaven. We talk ourselves out of doing what Jesus asks of us by saying things like, "I just can't believe Jesus would ask me to leave my family, work, home, etc." Or "If He really wanted me to do it, then I wouldn't feel anxious or nervous, I would be at perfect peace."
If you don't think God would ask you to give something up, or to leave your family, or to do something extreme... then you're not understanding the Bible you claim to be reading.
I want to flip over to Mark's account for a moment. "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee." (10:28, emphasis added).
From reading scriptures we know that when Jesus called Peter to follow him, he left his career, his wife, and possibly a family. And Peter isn't the only one. Abraham left family. Moses left family, position, comfort. Every person God called in all of scripture was asked to give up something, to lay down something, to do God's will. How then can we say, "I just don't think God would ask that of me."
I'm sorry, but I believe the scriptures you say you believe say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."
If he's the same, then his call to follow is the same, which means you're going to have to give up something or everything! God's desire for you isn't to be a good person. To do all the right things. There isn't enough good things including ministry that can fulfill the requirement for you to inherit eternal life. The Rich Young Ruler knew this and deep down we know it too.
Last week I heard in church that true freedom is only found in Christ, because God always gives you a choice. The Rich Young Ruler was given a choice, "go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." I bet you're thinking where's the choice? The choice is to obey or not to. God didn't take everything from him and make the Rich Young Ruler follow him. He gave him the option. He opened the door and said, "Will you walk through? Will you follow me?"
We too have the option. We can choose to do the scary things, the things we don't think God would actually ask of us, because we've justified it away in our Christianese. Or we can choose to continue living and doing what we've always done.
Before you decide let me remind you of Jesus' response to Peter, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time ... and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:29-30).
So as you look at the things God is asking you to give up, realize that he offers you this promise, I will give you more than I ever ask you to give up. I've seen this in my life. Look around you, you have too. I have more brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers than I know what to do with. It's called a church family for a reason. When God asks you to give something up he always provides other ways to fill the holes that are left.
"But it's not the same..." We pout. It's not the same as my blood family, my siblings, my parents, my children... Maybe God is trying to increase you in ways that you can't understand, yet. Take a minute to stop listening to all of the arguments for why God wouldn't and consider for a moment that he's saying give this up and follow me?
What are you going to do?
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Guarded Hearts
Before posting what you're about to read I want you to know, I talked with my husband and got his permission.
I'm newly married and I'm proud to say that my husband was the only man I've ever seen naked. I've babysat for many years and have changed many diapers. Some boys were circumcised and some were not. So it took me a little while before I connected the dots. Just a few weeks ago I asked my husband, rather bashfully, if he was circumcised. I explained to him, unnecessarily, that I'd never seen a man's private part before, and basically babbled on like a fool while he smiled at me amused. When I finally shut up he said that he wasn't circumcised. This led to the conversation about our coming baby.
It's a BOY!!
So I asked him about circumcising our lil' man. We discussed it and came up with our decision. And because the importance of what I'm writing has nothing to do with the argument pro/con circumcision, I'm not going to tell you what we decided.
What I want to share with you is what came from this conversation with my husband. I was laying in bed and a thought hit me. What was God's point in circumcision? What was He trying to say? So I began to pray. I'm going to share with you what I feel God was saying.
A man's most precious possession is his reproductive organ, his penis. God required Abraham to remove the protective covering from this organ, because God wanted to be his covering, his protection. God wanted Abraham to know that He was going to take care of him down to his very core.
The purpose of the foreskin is to protect the penis from fecal matter and other foreign bodies that could cause infection or harm. And circumcision was God's way of saying, "I'm all you need. I will protect you. I will bless you. I will provide for you. Trust me." God was not only setting His people apart, He was making a covenant with them to be there all in all.
Why is this message so important? Circumcision was done under the law and like most traditions after so many years of just doing it because that's what we're supposed to do we lose the meaning of it. We lose the importance. We do things just because, instead of really understanding what God is trying to say to us.
God knew His people were going to miss the meaning of circumcision. He knew they were going to disobey Him. He knew that they were going to walk away from Him, while performing all the necessary religious acts; and so, in Deuteronomy 30 God says after you fall away and I scatter you among the earth, then I'll call you back to myself, I'll bring you back to my promises, "and God will circumcise your hearts."
This is what God wants to do in us today. Romans 2:28-29 says, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not on the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God."
Allow me to make this more personal... You are not a Christian because you wear a cross, carry a Bible, attend church services, and perform all the necessary religious acts. You are a Christian if you're heart is completely surrendered to God. If your most prized possession is laid bare before Him.
God is asking us to circumcise our hearts. Remove the protective covering from around your heart and trust God in a brand-new way.
We've been hurt by people and circumstances. We've decided that nothing in this life is certain, that bad things happen to good people, and the only person that can protect me is me. I'm going to be in control of my life and my destiny. I'm going to protect myself, my family, my future. And so we've built up a thick skin around our hearts and lives to protect ourselves.
And now God is whispering to you, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Will you trust me? Will you allow Me to guide your steps and direct your future? Will you remove the protective covering from around your heart?"
Religious people don't change the world. Just like the Jews lost the meaning of circumcision, we've lost the meaning of giving our hearts to Christ. And so like the Jews, the world is turned off of God because of us. "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" (Romans 2:24). Because we perform acts of religious service, but keep our hearts guarded, no one hears our message and they are turned off from God because of us.
God says, "Trust me. Let me be your all in all." Take down the protective covering around your heart today. Allow God to bring healing, deliverance, restoration. Allow God to guide your future. Trust Him to provide for your needs. Allow Him to make you a living testimony.
The life God called Abraham to and the life He's calling you to is not easy. It takes work. It doesn't happen by sitting back and waiting on God to do something. He's already done it. You need to get up and do something. And the first step...
Circumcise your heart.
I'm newly married and I'm proud to say that my husband was the only man I've ever seen naked. I've babysat for many years and have changed many diapers. Some boys were circumcised and some were not. So it took me a little while before I connected the dots. Just a few weeks ago I asked my husband, rather bashfully, if he was circumcised. I explained to him, unnecessarily, that I'd never seen a man's private part before, and basically babbled on like a fool while he smiled at me amused. When I finally shut up he said that he wasn't circumcised. This led to the conversation about our coming baby.
It's a BOY!!
So I asked him about circumcising our lil' man. We discussed it and came up with our decision. And because the importance of what I'm writing has nothing to do with the argument pro/con circumcision, I'm not going to tell you what we decided.
What I want to share with you is what came from this conversation with my husband. I was laying in bed and a thought hit me. What was God's point in circumcision? What was He trying to say? So I began to pray. I'm going to share with you what I feel God was saying.
A man's most precious possession is his reproductive organ, his penis. God required Abraham to remove the protective covering from this organ, because God wanted to be his covering, his protection. God wanted Abraham to know that He was going to take care of him down to his very core.
The purpose of the foreskin is to protect the penis from fecal matter and other foreign bodies that could cause infection or harm. And circumcision was God's way of saying, "I'm all you need. I will protect you. I will bless you. I will provide for you. Trust me." God was not only setting His people apart, He was making a covenant with them to be there all in all.
Why is this message so important? Circumcision was done under the law and like most traditions after so many years of just doing it because that's what we're supposed to do we lose the meaning of it. We lose the importance. We do things just because, instead of really understanding what God is trying to say to us.
God knew His people were going to miss the meaning of circumcision. He knew they were going to disobey Him. He knew that they were going to walk away from Him, while performing all the necessary religious acts; and so, in Deuteronomy 30 God says after you fall away and I scatter you among the earth, then I'll call you back to myself, I'll bring you back to my promises, "and God will circumcise your hearts."
This is what God wants to do in us today. Romans 2:28-29 says, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not on the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God."
Allow me to make this more personal... You are not a Christian because you wear a cross, carry a Bible, attend church services, and perform all the necessary religious acts. You are a Christian if you're heart is completely surrendered to God. If your most prized possession is laid bare before Him.
God is asking us to circumcise our hearts. Remove the protective covering from around your heart and trust God in a brand-new way.
We've been hurt by people and circumstances. We've decided that nothing in this life is certain, that bad things happen to good people, and the only person that can protect me is me. I'm going to be in control of my life and my destiny. I'm going to protect myself, my family, my future. And so we've built up a thick skin around our hearts and lives to protect ourselves.
And now God is whispering to you, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Will you trust me? Will you allow Me to guide your steps and direct your future? Will you remove the protective covering from around your heart?"
Religious people don't change the world. Just like the Jews lost the meaning of circumcision, we've lost the meaning of giving our hearts to Christ. And so like the Jews, the world is turned off of God because of us. "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" (Romans 2:24). Because we perform acts of religious service, but keep our hearts guarded, no one hears our message and they are turned off from God because of us.
God says, "Trust me. Let me be your all in all." Take down the protective covering around your heart today. Allow God to bring healing, deliverance, restoration. Allow God to guide your future. Trust Him to provide for your needs. Allow Him to make you a living testimony.
The life God called Abraham to and the life He's calling you to is not easy. It takes work. It doesn't happen by sitting back and waiting on God to do something. He's already done it. You need to get up and do something. And the first step...
Circumcise your heart.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Just Live With It
As I was in church this Sunday, a thought hit me one that hasn't left me all week, so I must do what I must do... Write!
I was standing in church during the worship service, trying not to be sick. I promise our worship team is great, so it wasn't them making me sick. This pregnancy has been a little rough. Morning sickness doesn't even describe the nearly constant feeling of motion sickness that I describe it as. I had taken the last dose of medicine Friday night, and so Sunday, I was feeling a little queasy. Towards the end of the worship service, my pastor got up and said if anyone has a need, come up front and we'll pray for you. I was back and forth about going up because, hey this is just normal. It's just my life right now. It's just something that I need to live with.
As I thought these thoughts I glanced around the sanctuary and thought, "Hmm... I wonder how many other people in here need prayer, but figure, 'this is just my life, I just need to live with it.' And didn't go up for prayer." Honestly, I've never been afraid to ask God for the little things. Whether, I needed help on a test, or had an ache, or just wanted it to rain that day. He doesn't always answer with a yes. But, I've never been afraid to ask. A lot of people think, I don't want to bug God with the little stuff. Well can I say, if you don't trust God with the little stuff how will you ever trust God with the BIG stuff? I'm not judging, just asking.
I thought about Paul and his thorn in the flesh. I think some of us have thorns, that God didn't intend for us to keep. Paul went to God three times praying that God would take it away, but God said, "my grace is sufficient for thee." Here's my question, have you asked God to take away your problem, or are you figuring that it's just something you need to live with? Paul didn't just put up with it because it was there, but he went to God on different occasions asking for relief, and not until God said that He was enough for Paul, did Paul stop asking and just live with it.
What are you living with that God doesn't intend for you to live with? What area is too small that you're not willing to take it to God, because you don't want to bother Him? The Bible says, "Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." A lot of times it's not the big stuff that weighs us down, but all the little things. All the minor things that we don't want to bother anyone with. God is asking you to come to Him. Come lay those things down. Come share those burdens. Find relief at the altar.
What are you living with because you've stopped asking God about it because He hasn't answered you yet? Paul asked until he got his answer. Jesus tells of an old woman that kept banging on the door of the judges house until she got an answer. Have you given up asking because you haven't gotten an answer yet? It's time to stretch your faith and ask again and again and again, until God gives you an answer. His answer may not be yes, and if that's the case, then yes live with it. But don't give up until you've received an answer.
I never did make it to the altar on Sunday, because I spent too much time praying for the people that were just living with it. But guess what? Sunday was the first time in weeks that I made it through a service without having to flee to the bathroom. God gave me relief and insight all at once. Let me encourage you today to stop, living with it. Seek God and see if relief is right around the corner for you!
I was standing in church during the worship service, trying not to be sick. I promise our worship team is great, so it wasn't them making me sick. This pregnancy has been a little rough. Morning sickness doesn't even describe the nearly constant feeling of motion sickness that I describe it as. I had taken the last dose of medicine Friday night, and so Sunday, I was feeling a little queasy. Towards the end of the worship service, my pastor got up and said if anyone has a need, come up front and we'll pray for you. I was back and forth about going up because, hey this is just normal. It's just my life right now. It's just something that I need to live with.
As I thought these thoughts I glanced around the sanctuary and thought, "Hmm... I wonder how many other people in here need prayer, but figure, 'this is just my life, I just need to live with it.' And didn't go up for prayer." Honestly, I've never been afraid to ask God for the little things. Whether, I needed help on a test, or had an ache, or just wanted it to rain that day. He doesn't always answer with a yes. But, I've never been afraid to ask. A lot of people think, I don't want to bug God with the little stuff. Well can I say, if you don't trust God with the little stuff how will you ever trust God with the BIG stuff? I'm not judging, just asking.
I thought about Paul and his thorn in the flesh. I think some of us have thorns, that God didn't intend for us to keep. Paul went to God three times praying that God would take it away, but God said, "my grace is sufficient for thee." Here's my question, have you asked God to take away your problem, or are you figuring that it's just something you need to live with? Paul didn't just put up with it because it was there, but he went to God on different occasions asking for relief, and not until God said that He was enough for Paul, did Paul stop asking and just live with it.
What are you living with that God doesn't intend for you to live with? What area is too small that you're not willing to take it to God, because you don't want to bother Him? The Bible says, "Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." A lot of times it's not the big stuff that weighs us down, but all the little things. All the minor things that we don't want to bother anyone with. God is asking you to come to Him. Come lay those things down. Come share those burdens. Find relief at the altar.
What are you living with because you've stopped asking God about it because He hasn't answered you yet? Paul asked until he got his answer. Jesus tells of an old woman that kept banging on the door of the judges house until she got an answer. Have you given up asking because you haven't gotten an answer yet? It's time to stretch your faith and ask again and again and again, until God gives you an answer. His answer may not be yes, and if that's the case, then yes live with it. But don't give up until you've received an answer.
I never did make it to the altar on Sunday, because I spent too much time praying for the people that were just living with it. But guess what? Sunday was the first time in weeks that I made it through a service without having to flee to the bathroom. God gave me relief and insight all at once. Let me encourage you today to stop, living with it. Seek God and see if relief is right around the corner for you!
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Heart Transplant
Sometimes I read a verse and it knocks the wind out of me. It doesn't matter that I've read it a thousand times, it's that one time that makes you think and then say, "Ouch!" As I was reading with my husband last week he read to us from Isaiah 29. The verse that hit me with such a vengeance and didn't allow me to hear the rest of the chapter or the next as he read was verse 13.
"And so the Lords says, 'These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote."
As soon as I heard it, I knew I'd be writing about that verse. Immediately, I knew what was needed... A heart transplant.
I began thinking of the American Church, and how clearly I can hear God say this of his people and say of me, "They say they're mine, they call themselves Christians, but their hearts are far from me. They attend church on Sundays and Holidays, they give up something for lent, they try to live moral lives, they put money in the offering, and they call this worship." This is not what God wants from His people! This is not what He's calling us to. We were created for something more. We need a heart transplant.
However, before we can have a heart transplant, we must first recognize that we have a problem. Until we identify that something is not right, we cannot begin to get it fixed. And let's be honest if you need a heart transplant, that kind of surgery can only be performed by the Physician. So allow the Physician to examine you today and see if you, like me, are in need of a transplant.
Top 3 Symptoms:
1. Lack of ministry to the lost.
This is one that effects a lot of us and yet we don't even know it. Our hearts are burdened by the world around us. But we do so little to change it, to reach out, to care, to love the people around us. Even our prayers are misguided. We pray, "Lord, send them in (to our churches) bring them to us." Unfortunately we're missing the truth of scripture. Yes, we are to pray. But what does Jesus tell us to pray?
"Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest" (Luke 10:2, emphasis added). Jesus didn't tell us to pray that the harvest would appear in our barns, he said, pray that God would send people out.
I love this time of year, because each week the corn stalks get taller and taller. Soon they'll be ready to pick. If you talk to any farmer or even a gardener, they would laugh in your face if you asked them to pray that the fruit would collect itself into their storehouses. It takes work to bring in the harvest. And yet, this is how we pray. Kind of gives new meaning to the verse, "you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss" (James 4:3). We're asking to be lazy. We don't know how to talk to people, so it's easier if God would just send them to us, so that we can stay in the comfort of our pews, when God is clearly saying, "Go!" He says, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). Again he says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). This small two letter word is a command that requires action. Jesus has commanded us to "go" and that requires us to move.
A lot of times we sit waiting for a green light or for some huge sign that says, "GO!" And we don't move because we're waiting for something that God has already given us. He has clearly told us to go. He says, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). So maybe the problem is that we don't love Him like we think we do. Maybe it's time for a heart transplant.
2. Lack of care for the new believer.
Many of us have been hurt by people in the church, and for this reason we tend to hold people, especially new people at arms length. We want to wait and see what they're all about first. Really we have enough friends and don't need anymore. We prejudge people based on appearances, "I won't have anything in common with that person... They won't like me... They're not the kind of person I associate with..." On and on our excuses go, and then we wonder why new people don't stay in our churches. They're ostracized and made to feel like an outsider. Few take the time to reach out and just love them.
They make choices we wouldn't make, but why don't you take the time to remember back to when you were a new believer, would you have made those same choices then? But what happened, what kept you from continuing in that place? Oh I know, that older Christian that decided to love you where you were at. The person that took the time to disciple you. To invite you into their home. To pour into your life.
You wouldn't be the Christian you are today if a more mature believer hadn't helped to get you there. Now it's your turn. It's your turn to reach out to the new believer. To pour into the life of someone that doesn't fit in your circle. When was the last time you even introduced yourself to someone new at church?
Believe me as I write this I think, "I really don't want to write this, because this is me." I struggle in this area. I struggle with talking with new people, with inviting them into my life and my heart. What's my problem? Fear. Well if that's the case then really I have a heart problem. Because the Bible says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18, emphasis added). That tells me that I need a heart transplant because I'm allowing fear to keep me from doing what I'm supposed to be doing... making disciples.
3. Lack of restoration of fallen believers.
In any war, there are always wounded. Whether wounded by the enemy, friendly-fire, or self-infliction, people are hurt. In every civilization, do you know what is done to the wounded? They are taken to the hospital or treated by a medic, everything that can be done is done to restore the wounded warrior. But not in our churches! In our churches the wounded Christians are mocked, shunned, and left to die. We leave them with more scars than they received from their fall. But this should not be!
The Bible says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1, KJV).
I was praying one day, and I'm going to be honest, it was a prayer of a pharisee. I was thanking God that I wasn't like someone else I knew that had fallen away from serving Him. They were making some extremely bad choices. The words were barely out of my mouth when I clearly felt Him speak to my spirit, "You are one choice away from being just like them." Ouch!
You see we're all there everyday. We all battle temptations everyday, and sometimes we overcome, and sometimes we fall. If we don't have people in our lives that will help to restore us, then we are going to keep falling until we've committed a "major" sin. Let's be honest, God doesn't have a major and minor league for sin. So your sin of lying, manipulation, gluttony, swearing, is just as bad as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. So instead of standing on your pillar looking down on all those terrible Christians. Do what God says and be part of the restoration process. Let them know that God's love for them hasn't changed. Maybe the reason you can't be a part of someone else's restoration process is because you don't believe God has really done yours. Which means you need a heart transplant. One that will allow you to once again know that God loves you no matter what. No, His grace is not license to sin. The condemnation you feel because of your sin, isn't from God either. Ask him to give you a heart transplant and restore you, so you can turn and help someone else with their restoration process. God is asking more of you!
So now what...
We've recognized we need a heart transplant, where do we go from here? Well it's time to go to the Physician. Tell the Physician that you've lost your love for Him, and for the people around you. Tell Him that you're tired of playing church, and want to experience all He has for you again. Tell Him that you need a heart transplant. Then begin taking the steps that will lead to your recovery.
See just because I know I need something doesn't mean I'm ready to change my lifestyle. But if we don't, then we're not going to be any better off than we were before, actually it's going to be worse, because now we're responsible for that knowledge. After a surgery the doctor gives specific steps that need to be taken to ensure that we remain healthy. It's the same with God. Now that we are aware of the problem, we've asked God for a transplant, now we need to begin taking steps to keep our new heart healthy.
For every person that's going to look different. Also don't try to do everything at once. Choose one thing. One area to work on. Go use your new heart to be obedient to God. Go and show your love for Him, by loving others. Invite someone to church. Reach out to that new person. Call the person that hasn't been in church in awhile. Love God, by loving people. Remember the sacrifice He made for you, and offer that same hope, joy, and peace to those around you! Share your heart for God!
"And so the Lords says, 'These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote."
As soon as I heard it, I knew I'd be writing about that verse. Immediately, I knew what was needed... A heart transplant.
I began thinking of the American Church, and how clearly I can hear God say this of his people and say of me, "They say they're mine, they call themselves Christians, but their hearts are far from me. They attend church on Sundays and Holidays, they give up something for lent, they try to live moral lives, they put money in the offering, and they call this worship." This is not what God wants from His people! This is not what He's calling us to. We were created for something more. We need a heart transplant.
However, before we can have a heart transplant, we must first recognize that we have a problem. Until we identify that something is not right, we cannot begin to get it fixed. And let's be honest if you need a heart transplant, that kind of surgery can only be performed by the Physician. So allow the Physician to examine you today and see if you, like me, are in need of a transplant.
Top 3 Symptoms:
1. Lack of ministry to the lost.
This is one that effects a lot of us and yet we don't even know it. Our hearts are burdened by the world around us. But we do so little to change it, to reach out, to care, to love the people around us. Even our prayers are misguided. We pray, "Lord, send them in (to our churches) bring them to us." Unfortunately we're missing the truth of scripture. Yes, we are to pray. But what does Jesus tell us to pray?
"Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest" (Luke 10:2, emphasis added). Jesus didn't tell us to pray that the harvest would appear in our barns, he said, pray that God would send people out.
I love this time of year, because each week the corn stalks get taller and taller. Soon they'll be ready to pick. If you talk to any farmer or even a gardener, they would laugh in your face if you asked them to pray that the fruit would collect itself into their storehouses. It takes work to bring in the harvest. And yet, this is how we pray. Kind of gives new meaning to the verse, "you ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss" (James 4:3). We're asking to be lazy. We don't know how to talk to people, so it's easier if God would just send them to us, so that we can stay in the comfort of our pews, when God is clearly saying, "Go!" He says, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled" (Luke 14:23). Again he says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). This small two letter word is a command that requires action. Jesus has commanded us to "go" and that requires us to move.
A lot of times we sit waiting for a green light or for some huge sign that says, "GO!" And we don't move because we're waiting for something that God has already given us. He has clearly told us to go. He says, "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). So maybe the problem is that we don't love Him like we think we do. Maybe it's time for a heart transplant.
2. Lack of care for the new believer.
Many of us have been hurt by people in the church, and for this reason we tend to hold people, especially new people at arms length. We want to wait and see what they're all about first. Really we have enough friends and don't need anymore. We prejudge people based on appearances, "I won't have anything in common with that person... They won't like me... They're not the kind of person I associate with..." On and on our excuses go, and then we wonder why new people don't stay in our churches. They're ostracized and made to feel like an outsider. Few take the time to reach out and just love them.
They make choices we wouldn't make, but why don't you take the time to remember back to when you were a new believer, would you have made those same choices then? But what happened, what kept you from continuing in that place? Oh I know, that older Christian that decided to love you where you were at. The person that took the time to disciple you. To invite you into their home. To pour into your life.
You wouldn't be the Christian you are today if a more mature believer hadn't helped to get you there. Now it's your turn. It's your turn to reach out to the new believer. To pour into the life of someone that doesn't fit in your circle. When was the last time you even introduced yourself to someone new at church?
Believe me as I write this I think, "I really don't want to write this, because this is me." I struggle in this area. I struggle with talking with new people, with inviting them into my life and my heart. What's my problem? Fear. Well if that's the case then really I have a heart problem. Because the Bible says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18, emphasis added). That tells me that I need a heart transplant because I'm allowing fear to keep me from doing what I'm supposed to be doing... making disciples.
3. Lack of restoration of fallen believers.
In any war, there are always wounded. Whether wounded by the enemy, friendly-fire, or self-infliction, people are hurt. In every civilization, do you know what is done to the wounded? They are taken to the hospital or treated by a medic, everything that can be done is done to restore the wounded warrior. But not in our churches! In our churches the wounded Christians are mocked, shunned, and left to die. We leave them with more scars than they received from their fall. But this should not be!
The Bible says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1, KJV).
I was praying one day, and I'm going to be honest, it was a prayer of a pharisee. I was thanking God that I wasn't like someone else I knew that had fallen away from serving Him. They were making some extremely bad choices. The words were barely out of my mouth when I clearly felt Him speak to my spirit, "You are one choice away from being just like them." Ouch!
You see we're all there everyday. We all battle temptations everyday, and sometimes we overcome, and sometimes we fall. If we don't have people in our lives that will help to restore us, then we are going to keep falling until we've committed a "major" sin. Let's be honest, God doesn't have a major and minor league for sin. So your sin of lying, manipulation, gluttony, swearing, is just as bad as fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. So instead of standing on your pillar looking down on all those terrible Christians. Do what God says and be part of the restoration process. Let them know that God's love for them hasn't changed. Maybe the reason you can't be a part of someone else's restoration process is because you don't believe God has really done yours. Which means you need a heart transplant. One that will allow you to once again know that God loves you no matter what. No, His grace is not license to sin. The condemnation you feel because of your sin, isn't from God either. Ask him to give you a heart transplant and restore you, so you can turn and help someone else with their restoration process. God is asking more of you!
So now what...
We've recognized we need a heart transplant, where do we go from here? Well it's time to go to the Physician. Tell the Physician that you've lost your love for Him, and for the people around you. Tell Him that you're tired of playing church, and want to experience all He has for you again. Tell Him that you need a heart transplant. Then begin taking the steps that will lead to your recovery.
See just because I know I need something doesn't mean I'm ready to change my lifestyle. But if we don't, then we're not going to be any better off than we were before, actually it's going to be worse, because now we're responsible for that knowledge. After a surgery the doctor gives specific steps that need to be taken to ensure that we remain healthy. It's the same with God. Now that we are aware of the problem, we've asked God for a transplant, now we need to begin taking steps to keep our new heart healthy.
For every person that's going to look different. Also don't try to do everything at once. Choose one thing. One area to work on. Go use your new heart to be obedient to God. Go and show your love for Him, by loving others. Invite someone to church. Reach out to that new person. Call the person that hasn't been in church in awhile. Love God, by loving people. Remember the sacrifice He made for you, and offer that same hope, joy, and peace to those around you! Share your heart for God!
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Plateau
I think the hardest thing to do in life is to give an honest evaluation of ourselves. In school, I always hated when the teacher would ask us to grade ourselves. If we gave ourselves a grade that was too high, then we were proud and arrogant, if too low then we lacked self-esteem and confidence. When the truth is it's just not easy to give yourself a fair assessment. There are times when I'm my own worst critic and then there are times when I'm full of confidence knowing I've gotten something right. Then there are times where I'm just not sure where I stand. I'm just average... somewhere in the middle.
When we evaluate ourselves we need a measure. Something to compare us to. If you ask me how I did and don't give me something to compare it to it's not really an easy assessment to make. Often times we use the wrong measure. We use people as our measure instead of using the Standard. In our world and in our society, where everything is accepted and nothing is unacceptable, it's hard to have a good measure, because what's good for you might not be what's good for me. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is wrong. There are absolutes. 2+2=4 Even in common core, even if there way of coming to the right answer is different than the way you were taught. There are things that are right and there are things that are wrong.
So where's the standard? The Bible. The Bible is the only thing that has not changed. It's God's Word and as His Word it will remain forever. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will remain forever. So because of this, we must use this as our measure of how we're really doing.
But there's still room for error. I'd like to call it the Christian Plateau. When we first get saved, everything is new and exciting. We can't wait to go to church, We can't wait to read our Bible or share our experience with every person we see. We're excited and on fire. We grow at an enormous rate. While we're out there, we hear things from seasoned Christians like, "Oh just wait, you'll calm down eventually." We think to ourselves, 'boy, I hope I don't become like them.'
Slowly our uphill climb changes from a mountain to a hill until finally we've arrived. How do we know we've arrived? Well just look around because everyone else is here too. The Spiritual elite are here with us. This is it! We breathe a sigh of relief and begin mingling with the other mature believers. Occasionally, we peer over the edge and see the new Christians charging up the hill and think, 'Oh, they'll calm down eventually.'
Look around, you are not on the summit you are on the plateau! You are in a dangerous place. The people you are surrounded by have fallen into a trap. A trap of complacency. A trap of becoming judgmental. A trap of arrogance and self-serving Christianity.
It's time to take inventory of where you are. But you must do it not by comparing yourself to the people that are around you but to the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:3-4
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (emphasis added).
A lot of us stop here. We participated in God's divine nature. We used to tell people regularly about Jesus and we still do occasionally - "when the Spirit moves us." We used to read and pray everyday before the busyness of life took over. But I mean, we still read the verse of the day and most of the time we remember to pray before we eat and of course we say a rote prayer as we close our eyes at night. But look at us... we have escaped the corruption of the world. We are not like them. They're evil. They're a lost cause. There's nothing we can do to help them because they don't want to listen to us.
Can you blame them? You're looking down on them from your Christian Plateau with your nose so high in the air everyone can see your boogers. This is not where we're meant to be. It's time to grow again.
2 Peter 1:5-8 Continues...
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (emphasis added).
Take an honest evaluation of yourself. Is your knowledge of Jesus Christ effective and productive? Well, how can we tell? Are you completing the mission given to us by the Lord. "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." This is our litmus test. How are we doing at fulfilling the great commission? It was not given for an elect few. But to all that believed He gave the power to become Sons of God. As a Son/Daughter of God it's your responsibility to be sharing that news with others. To be encouraging the brethren. To be adding to our faith in these areas. It's time to get off the plateau and begin increasing again.
If you can honestly say, "I'm not being productive right now. I'm not being effective." That's great allow God's conviction to allow you to begin growing again. Don't let people discourage you from what God is calling you to do! It's time to grow again.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Knitting Needles
There are times when I like to take the Word very literally. I quote back to God specific promises.
The other night I was lying in bed feeling a little discouraged because even though I'm pregnant i don't feel pregnant, other than being sick. So as I was talking to God about my feelings, I remembered the verses from Psalm 139, that say, ' you knit me together in my mother's womb.' As I was contemplating this verse. I thought of the little miracle forming inside of me. An instant later I began to imagine the knitting needles. I could almost see and feel them on either side of my stomach and attached to the end was the little bundle of joy that I'll be meeting in a few short months. I could see that God was doing a work even though I couldn't feel it.
How many times do we get discouraged because we don't feel God? We know He's there intellectually, the same way I know there's a baby growing inside of me. But we get hung up because we don't feel anything. Be encouraged, just like God is knitting together the baby inside my womb and in a few weeks I'll begin to feel it moving, God is working in your life even if you can't feel Him at this time, and in a little while you'll begin to feel again too.
What promise had God given you that you've almost given up on, because you don't feel God working in this area of your life or ministry? Where are you struggling in your walk because you don't see the fruits yet or feel God? Are you ready to throw in the towel because church is dry and you don't feel God in the services?
It's time to take your knowledge and align your feelings to the truth of scripture. The truth in my life is there is a life growing inside me even though it doesn't feel like it right now. The truth is God is working even though I can't see it. The truth is God has never gone back on a single promise. Take out your dusty Bible and meditate on the truth of scripture. Allow the Truth to change your feelings. Realize that God's not done yet. And this just might be a season of growing your faith by increasing you knowledge of the Truth.
The truth is only found in scripture. It's not found in feelings, thoughts, emotions, or anything else. It's found in the Word of God. So if you're discouraged, dry, empty, ready to throw in the towel, then it's time to align your feelings with the Truth and remember that God is at work no matter what you feel.
Take time today to reflect on the scripture that ignited the promise God made to you. Realize that God's not done yet. Even if everything is upside down, as long as your walking with God, know that soon you'll feel right side up again.
God is working. God has never quit. Never forgotten a promise He made. Never abandoned His work. Never taken a sabbatical. God is not done yet!
Keep walking. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep reading. Keep trusting. No matter what you're feeling don't give up!
The other night I was lying in bed feeling a little discouraged because even though I'm pregnant i don't feel pregnant, other than being sick. So as I was talking to God about my feelings, I remembered the verses from Psalm 139, that say, ' you knit me together in my mother's womb.' As I was contemplating this verse. I thought of the little miracle forming inside of me. An instant later I began to imagine the knitting needles. I could almost see and feel them on either side of my stomach and attached to the end was the little bundle of joy that I'll be meeting in a few short months. I could see that God was doing a work even though I couldn't feel it.
How many times do we get discouraged because we don't feel God? We know He's there intellectually, the same way I know there's a baby growing inside of me. But we get hung up because we don't feel anything. Be encouraged, just like God is knitting together the baby inside my womb and in a few weeks I'll begin to feel it moving, God is working in your life even if you can't feel Him at this time, and in a little while you'll begin to feel again too.
What promise had God given you that you've almost given up on, because you don't feel God working in this area of your life or ministry? Where are you struggling in your walk because you don't see the fruits yet or feel God? Are you ready to throw in the towel because church is dry and you don't feel God in the services?
It's time to take your knowledge and align your feelings to the truth of scripture. The truth in my life is there is a life growing inside me even though it doesn't feel like it right now. The truth is God is working even though I can't see it. The truth is God has never gone back on a single promise. Take out your dusty Bible and meditate on the truth of scripture. Allow the Truth to change your feelings. Realize that God's not done yet. And this just might be a season of growing your faith by increasing you knowledge of the Truth.
The truth is only found in scripture. It's not found in feelings, thoughts, emotions, or anything else. It's found in the Word of God. So if you're discouraged, dry, empty, ready to throw in the towel, then it's time to align your feelings with the Truth and remember that God is at work no matter what you feel.
Take time today to reflect on the scripture that ignited the promise God made to you. Realize that God's not done yet. Even if everything is upside down, as long as your walking with God, know that soon you'll feel right side up again.
God is working. God has never quit. Never forgotten a promise He made. Never abandoned His work. Never taken a sabbatical. God is not done yet!
Keep walking. Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep reading. Keep trusting. No matter what you're feeling don't give up!
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