John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. Matthew 3:14,15
Consider, in all of your actions, doing things in the way that will ultimately give God the most glory, even if it's not the order in which or the way you're naturally inclined to act.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
This blows my mind: I've never thought about this, but Jesus (didn't need to be BUT) was baptized by a human. Wow! I love the symbolism in that action and what is says about us.
12.06.2011
12.05.2011
Spiritual Leader
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” Ephesians 5:23
Spiritual leadership in the home means that the husband serves. He serves his wife and he serves his children. This is not an option. This is who he is and what he does. Servanthood is at the heart of spiritual leadership. It is at the heart because this is how Jesus related to the church. He gave Himself up for the church. He sacrificed and served the church. It was not always easy and, ultimately, it led to the giving of His life. If a husband ever doubted his role, he need not look any further than Jesus. He is our role model of unselfish service.
So, your posture as spiritual leader in the home is not a power play. It is not a platform from which you whip everyone into shape. Rather it is an altar to God on which you; offer your ego and pride. There is no room for those twins of self-centeredness. Spiritual leadership replaces pride and ego with grace and humility. A spiritual leader is energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is not about who wins or who is right. It is all about dying to self and serving your wife and children. Your service to them earns you the respect to lead them. If you default to barking out orders from your high horse, they may comply for a season; but you can count on them rebelling if there is no relational investment on your part.
Rules void of relationship do facilitate rebellion, or they may cause the family to shrink back into their corner of compliance, nursing a wounded heart. Indeed, most husbands do not feel qualified to be the spiritual leader. God knows that, and this is why He placed you in this role of responsibility—so that you can depend on Him. Pray to God and ask Him for His wisdom and grace to carry out your calling as spiritual leader. Seek out a mentor who can come along side you and give encouragement and coaching.
The easy way out is to ignore your responsibility by placing it on the petite shoulders of your wife. She may be more spiritually mature and qualified for spiritual leadership, but this is not her role. She is to follow your leadership. The wise wife will celebrate this and let her husband lead. This is how you both grow. Submission and servant leadership are excellent lessons of maturity in Christ. Let your husband fail. Love him enough to respect his spiritual leadership. Respect is treating people at the point of their potential.
A wife has the opportunity to see her husband for what he can become, not for where he is currently. Pray for him to pray with you and the children. Pray for him to read the Bible at the dinner table. Pray for him to be honest and wise about finances, both personally and professionally. Pray for him to be authentic about his struggles. Pray for him to know God. Pray for him to take the family to church. Pray for him to discover his spiritual gifts and to serve out of his giftedness. Spiritual leadership takes a ton of prayer from the wife and the husband. A home led by a man who is a submitted servant leader is a home with a spiritual leader. Lead out of your weakness, and everyone becomes strong in Christ!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Spiritual leadership in the home means that the husband serves. He serves his wife and he serves his children. This is not an option. This is who he is and what he does. Servanthood is at the heart of spiritual leadership. It is at the heart because this is how Jesus related to the church. He gave Himself up for the church. He sacrificed and served the church. It was not always easy and, ultimately, it led to the giving of His life. If a husband ever doubted his role, he need not look any further than Jesus. He is our role model of unselfish service.
So, your posture as spiritual leader in the home is not a power play. It is not a platform from which you whip everyone into shape. Rather it is an altar to God on which you; offer your ego and pride. There is no room for those twins of self-centeredness. Spiritual leadership replaces pride and ego with grace and humility. A spiritual leader is energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is not about who wins or who is right. It is all about dying to self and serving your wife and children. Your service to them earns you the respect to lead them. If you default to barking out orders from your high horse, they may comply for a season; but you can count on them rebelling if there is no relational investment on your part.
Rules void of relationship do facilitate rebellion, or they may cause the family to shrink back into their corner of compliance, nursing a wounded heart. Indeed, most husbands do not feel qualified to be the spiritual leader. God knows that, and this is why He placed you in this role of responsibility—so that you can depend on Him. Pray to God and ask Him for His wisdom and grace to carry out your calling as spiritual leader. Seek out a mentor who can come along side you and give encouragement and coaching.
The easy way out is to ignore your responsibility by placing it on the petite shoulders of your wife. She may be more spiritually mature and qualified for spiritual leadership, but this is not her role. She is to follow your leadership. The wise wife will celebrate this and let her husband lead. This is how you both grow. Submission and servant leadership are excellent lessons of maturity in Christ. Let your husband fail. Love him enough to respect his spiritual leadership. Respect is treating people at the point of their potential.
A wife has the opportunity to see her husband for what he can become, not for where he is currently. Pray for him to pray with you and the children. Pray for him to read the Bible at the dinner table. Pray for him to be honest and wise about finances, both personally and professionally. Pray for him to be authentic about his struggles. Pray for him to know God. Pray for him to take the family to church. Pray for him to discover his spiritual gifts and to serve out of his giftedness. Spiritual leadership takes a ton of prayer from the wife and the husband. A home led by a man who is a submitted servant leader is a home with a spiritual leader. Lead out of your weakness, and everyone becomes strong in Christ!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Soulful Rest
“This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" Jeremiah 6:16
The soul longs for rest in the Lord’s love and security. It’s when a body’s activities and emotional capacities run ahead of its soul that distress begins to define a disciple. Rest for the inner life is required for the outward life to leave behind an eternal impression on those it encounters. Indeed, God speaks inwardly with truth and trust to listening hearts.
We each confront crossroads in our everyday lives that invite a secular frame of mind or a scriptural mindset. The new way may seem nice, but behind its modern mask is confusion, clutter and contempt for Christ. The old way may seem stale and sedate, but when applied prayerfully it is refreshing, rejuvenating and relationally healthy.
“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you” (Exodus 33:13a).
For example, the Lord may be leading you to adopt an abandoned child, but you feel pressure from society and even from some family members not to follow through. But you know adoption is a way to represent your heavenly Father’s love to a lost, discarded and confused child. God’s way is to go through each open door in faith and obedience. Your soul stays sensitive and alive when you bring hope and love to another needy soul.
Or, your crossroads may be a career opportunity that seems exciting one moment and terrifying the next. You know the Lord’s track record of faithfulness has been flawless with your family, but fear causes you to “what if” yourself into procrastination. Perhaps He is saying to cut loose your umbilical cord to the culture and embrace Christ’s new call. Your soul is searching for significance beyond the secular into spiritual integration.
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Soul rest comes with regular doses of doing nothing or doing routine acts of something. Just as a body’s muscles stretch and grow with exercise, then rest, a soul’s spiritual stamina stretches and grows with strident service, then quiet contemplation. A soul needs to “be” more than it needs to “do”. “Doing” without “being” shrivels your soul, but “doing” from “being” fattens your faith. Thus, walk in the good way with God in soulful rest.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5).
What activities do I need for my “doing” to flow from my “being”, so my soul can rest?
Related Readings: Psalm 62:1; 116:7; Matthew 11:29; Hebrews 4:1-6
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
The soul longs for rest in the Lord’s love and security. It’s when a body’s activities and emotional capacities run ahead of its soul that distress begins to define a disciple. Rest for the inner life is required for the outward life to leave behind an eternal impression on those it encounters. Indeed, God speaks inwardly with truth and trust to listening hearts.
We each confront crossroads in our everyday lives that invite a secular frame of mind or a scriptural mindset. The new way may seem nice, but behind its modern mask is confusion, clutter and contempt for Christ. The old way may seem stale and sedate, but when applied prayerfully it is refreshing, rejuvenating and relationally healthy.
“If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you” (Exodus 33:13a).
For example, the Lord may be leading you to adopt an abandoned child, but you feel pressure from society and even from some family members not to follow through. But you know adoption is a way to represent your heavenly Father’s love to a lost, discarded and confused child. God’s way is to go through each open door in faith and obedience. Your soul stays sensitive and alive when you bring hope and love to another needy soul.
Or, your crossroads may be a career opportunity that seems exciting one moment and terrifying the next. You know the Lord’s track record of faithfulness has been flawless with your family, but fear causes you to “what if” yourself into procrastination. Perhaps He is saying to cut loose your umbilical cord to the culture and embrace Christ’s new call. Your soul is searching for significance beyond the secular into spiritual integration.
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Soul rest comes with regular doses of doing nothing or doing routine acts of something. Just as a body’s muscles stretch and grow with exercise, then rest, a soul’s spiritual stamina stretches and grows with strident service, then quiet contemplation. A soul needs to “be” more than it needs to “do”. “Doing” without “being” shrivels your soul, but “doing” from “being” fattens your faith. Thus, walk in the good way with God in soulful rest.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5).
What activities do I need for my “doing” to flow from my “being”, so my soul can rest?
Related Readings: Psalm 62:1; 116:7; Matthew 11:29; Hebrews 4:1-6
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
11.17.2011
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Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Source: Relevant Magazine
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Source: Relevant Magazine
Stay Sharp
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 ESV
WHEN YOU ARE stuck in sin, what are you compelled to do? Are you compelled to engage other believers and prayerfully work through sin's power in your life? Hopefully that is the case, but for many believers we urge ourselves to withdraw, retract, and disengage from those who would walk through our sin with us.
Let us remember, as Christians, we are called to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), and this is not an arbitrary rule meant to shame us into compliance. Contrarily, it is intended for our benefit and building one another up in love. We may be grieved by our sin, but if it is habitual and ever reoccurring, we are unrepentant. This is because repentance is much more than feeling sorry about our sin, it is literally turning around and going the opposite direction. It is leaving that sin splattered on the concrete, instead of, like a dog, returning to it (Proverbs 26:11).
Rather than living in the dark and returning to your folly, confess your sin to a brother or sister, and stay accountable to him or her. When this happens, you will find you both become sharper, more useful tools for the Lord.
Do your closest friendships have a confessional element to them? How do these people sharpen you, and vice versa?
Source: Relevant Magazine
WHEN YOU ARE stuck in sin, what are you compelled to do? Are you compelled to engage other believers and prayerfully work through sin's power in your life? Hopefully that is the case, but for many believers we urge ourselves to withdraw, retract, and disengage from those who would walk through our sin with us.
Let us remember, as Christians, we are called to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), and this is not an arbitrary rule meant to shame us into compliance. Contrarily, it is intended for our benefit and building one another up in love. We may be grieved by our sin, but if it is habitual and ever reoccurring, we are unrepentant. This is because repentance is much more than feeling sorry about our sin, it is literally turning around and going the opposite direction. It is leaving that sin splattered on the concrete, instead of, like a dog, returning to it (Proverbs 26:11).
Rather than living in the dark and returning to your folly, confess your sin to a brother or sister, and stay accountable to him or her. When this happens, you will find you both become sharper, more useful tools for the Lord.
Do your closest friendships have a confessional element to them? How do these people sharpen you, and vice versa?
Source: Relevant Magazine
Unity
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Mark 3:25
Consider the "houses" in your life and how you can be a part of them being unified, constructed from the fruits of the Spirit.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Consider the "houses" in your life and how you can be a part of them being unified, constructed from the fruits of the Spirit.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
11.16.2011
Running On Empty
"The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV
MOST OF US who drive realize fuel is an absolute necessity in order for our vehicle to run. We know that when the gas gauge reads "Empty" or when we see that annoying light come on, it's time to pull on in to the gas station and fill it up. But honestly, how many of you have tried to see how far we could get on "Empty"?
The same is true in our spiritual lives. Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control for the week. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and "drive-by" encounters with God are all things. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.
In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjugating ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.
What are some "good" things in your life that may actually be substitutions for taking the time to truly "refuel" with God?
Source: Relevant Magazine
MOST OF US who drive realize fuel is an absolute necessity in order for our vehicle to run. We know that when the gas gauge reads "Empty" or when we see that annoying light come on, it's time to pull on in to the gas station and fill it up. But honestly, how many of you have tried to see how far we could get on "Empty"?
The same is true in our spiritual lives. Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control for the week. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and "drive-by" encounters with God are all things. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.
In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjugating ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.
What are some "good" things in your life that may actually be substitutions for taking the time to truly "refuel" with God?
Source: Relevant Magazine
11.11.2011
Ask with Assurance
“Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord was on him.” Ezra 7:6
You can ask with assurance when the Lord is with you. You can ask for prayer when the Lord is with you. You can ask for money when the Lord is with you. You can ask for protection when the Lord is with you. You can ask for a friend when the Lord is with you. You can ask for wisdom when the Lord is with you.
You can ask for understanding when the Lord is with you. You can ask for forgiveness when the Lord is with you. You can ask others to consider Christ when the Lord is with you. You can ask for boldness, wisdom, humility, strength, kindness, and opportunity when the Lord is with you.
Therefore, do not limit your ‘ask’ to your influence; unleash your ‘ask’ based on His influence. Fear does not lack reasons why you cannot ask. Pride will strangle the life out of your asking every time. The chance of rejection can lead you to postpone your asking for a more convenient time. However, the longer you wait, the harder it can become to simply ask. Asking is not easy, but it is necessary.
If you don’t propose, you may not marry. If you don’t ask for directions, you may wander around in frustration. Asking is an everyday part of life. Indeed, do not underestimate the power of God in your life, family, and work. His hand is on you for a reason and He has shown you favor for a reason.
“God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5b).
Yes, it is wise to ask respectfully and responsibly. You are not a ‘bull in a china shop’, but rather a sheep in God’s flock. So ask prayerfully and in a timely manner. Make sure your ‘ask’ has been preceded by proper planning and prayer. You have a finite amount of relational and emotional capital to spend, so budget accordingly.
Above all else stay immersed in Scripture. A proper perspective provides for a potent petition. It is when we lose perspective that our asking becomes anemic and even non-existent. God’s Word will flush out your fear and replace it with His calm confidence. Seek the Lord and He will show you how and when to ask.
Ask for His wisdom to marinate in your mind, as it facilitates your freedom to ask. Ask for humility and God will use it to tame your trepidations. Sometimes it is easier to ask God than people, so ask Him so you can ask people. Asking is God’s methodology to accomplish His mission and it is an expression of trust. By faith, ask with assurance and you will be amazed at what you discover about yourself, God and others.
The Bible says, “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2b).
What do I need to first ask of myself, before I ask of God and others?
Related Readings: 1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 8:5; 21:22; James 1:6; 2 John 1:5
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
You can ask with assurance when the Lord is with you. You can ask for prayer when the Lord is with you. You can ask for money when the Lord is with you. You can ask for protection when the Lord is with you. You can ask for a friend when the Lord is with you. You can ask for wisdom when the Lord is with you.
You can ask for understanding when the Lord is with you. You can ask for forgiveness when the Lord is with you. You can ask others to consider Christ when the Lord is with you. You can ask for boldness, wisdom, humility, strength, kindness, and opportunity when the Lord is with you.
Therefore, do not limit your ‘ask’ to your influence; unleash your ‘ask’ based on His influence. Fear does not lack reasons why you cannot ask. Pride will strangle the life out of your asking every time. The chance of rejection can lead you to postpone your asking for a more convenient time. However, the longer you wait, the harder it can become to simply ask. Asking is not easy, but it is necessary.
If you don’t propose, you may not marry. If you don’t ask for directions, you may wander around in frustration. Asking is an everyday part of life. Indeed, do not underestimate the power of God in your life, family, and work. His hand is on you for a reason and He has shown you favor for a reason.
“God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5b).
Yes, it is wise to ask respectfully and responsibly. You are not a ‘bull in a china shop’, but rather a sheep in God’s flock. So ask prayerfully and in a timely manner. Make sure your ‘ask’ has been preceded by proper planning and prayer. You have a finite amount of relational and emotional capital to spend, so budget accordingly.
Above all else stay immersed in Scripture. A proper perspective provides for a potent petition. It is when we lose perspective that our asking becomes anemic and even non-existent. God’s Word will flush out your fear and replace it with His calm confidence. Seek the Lord and He will show you how and when to ask.
Ask for His wisdom to marinate in your mind, as it facilitates your freedom to ask. Ask for humility and God will use it to tame your trepidations. Sometimes it is easier to ask God than people, so ask Him so you can ask people. Asking is God’s methodology to accomplish His mission and it is an expression of trust. By faith, ask with assurance and you will be amazed at what you discover about yourself, God and others.
The Bible says, “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2b).
What do I need to first ask of myself, before I ask of God and others?
Related Readings: 1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 8:5; 21:22; James 1:6; 2 John 1:5
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Prayer, Preparation and Planning
"And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." Nehemiah 2:7-8
Nehemiah's countrymen, the Jews, were living in destitution. The once powerful walls of Jerusalem were little more than scattered rubble, and her great gates that once protected the people and welcomed their friends were reduced to char and ash. This broke him, and he began praying earnestly for God to work mightily on the Jew's behalf.
However, he didn't stop there; rather, he started planning for the day when God would answer his prayer. Many of us wait for God to work and answer prayer, like Nehemiah, but unlike him, we aren't prepared for when he does. God uses that time of waiting to prepare us, which he did with Nehemiah.
Nehemiah served king Xerxes as a cup-bearer, a trusted position. The king, sensing his brokenness, asked him, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?" Nehemiah didn't retell the sad tale, but was prepared with a well-planned solution.
Are we preparing for the day when God moves? Have we been praying for change as a church, but not preparing ourselves for when it occurs?
Examine your life and assess where you need to be actively preparing for God's move, instead of passively waiting for something to happen.
Source: Relevant Magazine
Nehemiah's countrymen, the Jews, were living in destitution. The once powerful walls of Jerusalem were little more than scattered rubble, and her great gates that once protected the people and welcomed their friends were reduced to char and ash. This broke him, and he began praying earnestly for God to work mightily on the Jew's behalf.
However, he didn't stop there; rather, he started planning for the day when God would answer his prayer. Many of us wait for God to work and answer prayer, like Nehemiah, but unlike him, we aren't prepared for when he does. God uses that time of waiting to prepare us, which he did with Nehemiah.
Nehemiah served king Xerxes as a cup-bearer, a trusted position. The king, sensing his brokenness, asked him, "Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick?" Nehemiah didn't retell the sad tale, but was prepared with a well-planned solution.
Are we preparing for the day when God moves? Have we been praying for change as a church, but not preparing ourselves for when it occurs?
Examine your life and assess where you need to be actively preparing for God's move, instead of passively waiting for something to happen.
Source: Relevant Magazine
11.10.2011
Be Courageous
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13
Courage is an asset Christ dispenses to His disciples. It is the ability to stand for what’s right in the face of what’s wrong. It is an attitude of hope for someone struck down by illness, who chooses to look up and glorify God in life or death. Courageous Christ followers set boundaries for business or leisure travels and avoid activities that lead them into temptation. Courage is the gumption to get on God’s game plan and not give up.
Alertness to courage dismisses dullness to sin and replaces it with energy for eternal matters. Courage from Christ gives confidence in the face of conflict. It provides a quiet assurance that Almighty God is in control and He will carry out His purpose in His time. The Lord gives sufficient courage to stand firm in the faith and remain faithful to Him.
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
So, what are you facing that requires you to courageously come through? Is death staring you in the face? Take courage, it is your ticket to transition to be with Christ. Has a financial free fall crushed your net worth? Take courage, Christ is King, not cash. Is there a conflict at work or home that consumes your thoughts? Take courage in your mediator and master Christ Jesus. Courage is a gift from God that gets you through difficulty.
Courage comes in various forms and functions. It may be a phone call from a trusted friend who listens and affirms your character. A single scripture from the Bible may ring true to your spirit and, in the process, ratchet up your faith. The chorus from a praise song to Jesus can become a capsule of courage, that when ingested in worship soothes your soul. It may be a prayer, a smile, a kind word, a check or a sermon that bolsters belief.
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
You receive courage so you can give courage. Encouragement is a gift that keeps on giving, not meant to be stored up and ignored. Like manure it can waste away stacked up in a barn or it can be spread around and make things grow. How do you know if someone needs encouragement? You know they need encouragement if they are breathing. Be courageous in Christ and infect others with courage. Indeed, courage creates courage.
Where do I need to trust Christ for courage? Who do I know who needs my encouraging word and works?
Related Readings: Joshua 10:25; 2 Samuel 7:27; Mark 6:50; Acts 27:22-25
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Courage is an asset Christ dispenses to His disciples. It is the ability to stand for what’s right in the face of what’s wrong. It is an attitude of hope for someone struck down by illness, who chooses to look up and glorify God in life or death. Courageous Christ followers set boundaries for business or leisure travels and avoid activities that lead them into temptation. Courage is the gumption to get on God’s game plan and not give up.
Alertness to courage dismisses dullness to sin and replaces it with energy for eternal matters. Courage from Christ gives confidence in the face of conflict. It provides a quiet assurance that Almighty God is in control and He will carry out His purpose in His time. The Lord gives sufficient courage to stand firm in the faith and remain faithful to Him.
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
So, what are you facing that requires you to courageously come through? Is death staring you in the face? Take courage, it is your ticket to transition to be with Christ. Has a financial free fall crushed your net worth? Take courage, Christ is King, not cash. Is there a conflict at work or home that consumes your thoughts? Take courage in your mediator and master Christ Jesus. Courage is a gift from God that gets you through difficulty.
Courage comes in various forms and functions. It may be a phone call from a trusted friend who listens and affirms your character. A single scripture from the Bible may ring true to your spirit and, in the process, ratchet up your faith. The chorus from a praise song to Jesus can become a capsule of courage, that when ingested in worship soothes your soul. It may be a prayer, a smile, a kind word, a check or a sermon that bolsters belief.
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
You receive courage so you can give courage. Encouragement is a gift that keeps on giving, not meant to be stored up and ignored. Like manure it can waste away stacked up in a barn or it can be spread around and make things grow. How do you know if someone needs encouragement? You know they need encouragement if they are breathing. Be courageous in Christ and infect others with courage. Indeed, courage creates courage.
Where do I need to trust Christ for courage? Who do I know who needs my encouraging word and works?
Related Readings: Joshua 10:25; 2 Samuel 7:27; Mark 6:50; Acts 27:22-25
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
When we look at our circumstances, there are times at which it is hard to have hope or believe. Be encouraged by this empowering passage and ask that God gives you the joy and peace that comes with believing He is sovereign. May He abundantly fill you with the hope you're longing for!
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
When we look at our circumstances, there are times at which it is hard to have hope or believe. Be encouraged by this empowering passage and ask that God gives you the joy and peace that comes with believing He is sovereign. May He abundantly fill you with the hope you're longing for!
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
10.28.2011
Being Kind to the Unkind Ruler
"Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'" Acts 23:5 NIV
THE HIGH PRIEST had just slapped Paul in the mouth for telling the Gospel. Paul then insults the high priest, which most of us probably would do if we weren't too afraid. After this, he is told he insulted the high priest—and we have Acts 23:5.
This can be a hard verse to swallow; we aren't supposed to speak evil of a ruler. But what if we don't agree? Too bad; do not speak evil of a ruler. A ruler can refer to your boss, supervisor, elected official, the president, maybe some other leader in your life. But why shouldn't we speak evil of a ruler? Some might say because it hurts our witness (which it does). But it is also deeper. Lets look at the verse Paul references:
"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." Exodus 22:28
When we speak evil of a ruler, we are questioning God's authority to appoint those who are in charge (Romans 13:1-3). Does this mean we have to be happy with how everything is going? No. But, we need to remember to trust God and not speak to others about how horrible the ruler is and how we could do better.
Source: Relevant Magazine
THE HIGH PRIEST had just slapped Paul in the mouth for telling the Gospel. Paul then insults the high priest, which most of us probably would do if we weren't too afraid. After this, he is told he insulted the high priest—and we have Acts 23:5.
This can be a hard verse to swallow; we aren't supposed to speak evil of a ruler. But what if we don't agree? Too bad; do not speak evil of a ruler. A ruler can refer to your boss, supervisor, elected official, the president, maybe some other leader in your life. But why shouldn't we speak evil of a ruler? Some might say because it hurts our witness (which it does). But it is also deeper. Lets look at the verse Paul references:
"You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." Exodus 22:28
When we speak evil of a ruler, we are questioning God's authority to appoint those who are in charge (Romans 13:1-3). Does this mean we have to be happy with how everything is going? No. But, we need to remember to trust God and not speak to others about how horrible the ruler is and how we could do better.
Source: Relevant Magazine
10.10.2011
Stonewall Jackson
Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.
Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me..."
Stonewall Jackson
Speaking to Captain John D. Imboden (24 July 1861), as quoted in Stonewall Jackson As Military Commander (2000) by John Selby, p. 25; sometimes quoted as "My religious beliefs teach me..."
Stonewall Jackson
Time Management
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Time can manage you or you can manage time. Time can be allusive or it can be a servant to God’s will for your life. Time management begins with teachability. It is the admission that you need to learn how to better manage your time. If you do not manage your time well, chances are that you do not manage your life well. Your life has become a series of reactions rather than one of intentionality.
Of course there is no way to perfectly plan your day or your life. God is the one in control. But, He expects us to steward the time He has given us in a profitable fashion. Time management is not unlike budgeting money. There is a limited amount and it needs to be handled wisely. There is a financial plan for giving, investing and spending. So it is with your time. Your volunteer work is your giving back to the community. It is your service in the church. This is your giving of time in its purest form.
Then there is your investment in people. Mentoring, coaching, counseling and simply being a friend are common ways to invest in others. The most valuable investment is in those who do not know Christ. Your temporal time investment in unbelievers will leverage throughout eternity as they come to know Jesus.
And, lastly, consider the wise spending of your time. This is your day in and day out usage: Phone calls, meetings, e-mails, meals and planning are all part of your time spent. Make sure this is not a mindless routine. There should be an alignment of your activities with your God-given purpose in life. If not, you may need to change your work environment or how you spend your free time. Time is your most valuable asset, so manage it well and it will seem like you have more. This is God’s way of redeeming the time!
Time management is learned. Let God be your teacher. He created time, so He understands its intricacies. Time is finite, but its applications are infinite. Indeed, He will help you allocate and prioritize its use. It is the wise use of time that creates more capacity and minimizes frustration. God will instruct you if you ask Him. He will dispense His wisdom to all who will take the time to listen. His wisdom will reveal your limitations, because you cannot and should not do everything.
We all need the help of God and others. The wisdom of God will lead you back to trust. It is a trust issue. God can be trusted to provide just the right amount of time to accomplish His will. Since this is the case, you can implement the most important activities and trust Him with the things that do not seem to get done. Do you have a hard deadline to leave work by six in the evening? When this self-imposed deadline rolls around, trust God with what is not yet done and go home to your family. This is priority living based on faith in God.
Every stage of life has its own priorities, so let God’s Word and other’s words help you define your priorities. And allow room for interruptions. It is naïve to think that your time allocations will work flawlessly each day. Life happens. People need things that are not on the day’s or meeting’s agenda. Allow for breaks between appointments, because inevitably people run late or meetings run over.
In the middle of your busy and productive life keep an eternal perspective or your life results won’t matter anyway. A wise heart treats each day as a gift from God, with the attitude that it could be the last. So live each day by faith in the one who is the timekeeper. Take the time to manage your time!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Time can manage you or you can manage time. Time can be allusive or it can be a servant to God’s will for your life. Time management begins with teachability. It is the admission that you need to learn how to better manage your time. If you do not manage your time well, chances are that you do not manage your life well. Your life has become a series of reactions rather than one of intentionality.
Of course there is no way to perfectly plan your day or your life. God is the one in control. But, He expects us to steward the time He has given us in a profitable fashion. Time management is not unlike budgeting money. There is a limited amount and it needs to be handled wisely. There is a financial plan for giving, investing and spending. So it is with your time. Your volunteer work is your giving back to the community. It is your service in the church. This is your giving of time in its purest form.
Then there is your investment in people. Mentoring, coaching, counseling and simply being a friend are common ways to invest in others. The most valuable investment is in those who do not know Christ. Your temporal time investment in unbelievers will leverage throughout eternity as they come to know Jesus.
And, lastly, consider the wise spending of your time. This is your day in and day out usage: Phone calls, meetings, e-mails, meals and planning are all part of your time spent. Make sure this is not a mindless routine. There should be an alignment of your activities with your God-given purpose in life. If not, you may need to change your work environment or how you spend your free time. Time is your most valuable asset, so manage it well and it will seem like you have more. This is God’s way of redeeming the time!
Time management is learned. Let God be your teacher. He created time, so He understands its intricacies. Time is finite, but its applications are infinite. Indeed, He will help you allocate and prioritize its use. It is the wise use of time that creates more capacity and minimizes frustration. God will instruct you if you ask Him. He will dispense His wisdom to all who will take the time to listen. His wisdom will reveal your limitations, because you cannot and should not do everything.
We all need the help of God and others. The wisdom of God will lead you back to trust. It is a trust issue. God can be trusted to provide just the right amount of time to accomplish His will. Since this is the case, you can implement the most important activities and trust Him with the things that do not seem to get done. Do you have a hard deadline to leave work by six in the evening? When this self-imposed deadline rolls around, trust God with what is not yet done and go home to your family. This is priority living based on faith in God.
Every stage of life has its own priorities, so let God’s Word and other’s words help you define your priorities. And allow room for interruptions. It is naïve to think that your time allocations will work flawlessly each day. Life happens. People need things that are not on the day’s or meeting’s agenda. Allow for breaks between appointments, because inevitably people run late or meetings run over.
In the middle of your busy and productive life keep an eternal perspective or your life results won’t matter anyway. A wise heart treats each day as a gift from God, with the attitude that it could be the last. So live each day by faith in the one who is the timekeeper. Take the time to manage your time!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
9.16.2011
Shrewd and Discerning
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
It is a temptation for followers of Jesus Christ to drift into naïve living. There can be disengagement with life that becomes irresponsible, but Jesus said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). It is engagement in the world that gives Christians relational equity with unbelievers. We are called to trust others, but to simultaneously verify their words and actions.
Parents do this with their children when they confirm that their homework assignments are complete. Adolescents have to be reminded to take their backpacks to their bedrooms, and warned not to snack before dinner. Loving moms and dads keep an eye out for their child (sometimes in the back of their heads it seems), as they have one trusting eye of encouragement, and one somewhat skeptical eye of accountability.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).??
The same can be said about your work. If you think everything is ok all the time, you will one day abruptly discover it is not. Wise managers, leaders and associates hunt down bad news and cage it with critical collaboration and solutions. They seek to understand its source and not repeat the same mistake twice. Negative trends can be your friend if they are diagnosed early and dealt with thoroughly. There is a practical paranoia when filtered through prayer that is productive, necessary and responsible.
Furthermore, reward the candor of concerned team members. When they speak up and seem somewhat cynical, their passionate prognosis means they care. Be wise and daily discern the meaning of important data like sales reports and your child’s mid-term report card. Prayerfully and thoughtfully interpret the information, make adjustments by faith, and then carry on in confidence knowing you have done your part. Servants of Jesus are shrewd to discern the times and wise to prayerfully adjust accordingly.
"A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3).
What opportunity or person am I facing that requires extra discernment and prayer?
Related Readings: Psalm 19:12; 119:125; Proverbs 28:2; Luke 16:1-8
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
It is a temptation for followers of Jesus Christ to drift into naïve living. There can be disengagement with life that becomes irresponsible, but Jesus said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). It is engagement in the world that gives Christians relational equity with unbelievers. We are called to trust others, but to simultaneously verify their words and actions.
Parents do this with their children when they confirm that their homework assignments are complete. Adolescents have to be reminded to take their backpacks to their bedrooms, and warned not to snack before dinner. Loving moms and dads keep an eye out for their child (sometimes in the back of their heads it seems), as they have one trusting eye of encouragement, and one somewhat skeptical eye of accountability.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).??
The same can be said about your work. If you think everything is ok all the time, you will one day abruptly discover it is not. Wise managers, leaders and associates hunt down bad news and cage it with critical collaboration and solutions. They seek to understand its source and not repeat the same mistake twice. Negative trends can be your friend if they are diagnosed early and dealt with thoroughly. There is a practical paranoia when filtered through prayer that is productive, necessary and responsible.
Furthermore, reward the candor of concerned team members. When they speak up and seem somewhat cynical, their passionate prognosis means they care. Be wise and daily discern the meaning of important data like sales reports and your child’s mid-term report card. Prayerfully and thoughtfully interpret the information, make adjustments by faith, and then carry on in confidence knowing you have done your part. Servants of Jesus are shrewd to discern the times and wise to prayerfully adjust accordingly.
"A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3).
What opportunity or person am I facing that requires extra discernment and prayer?
Related Readings: Psalm 19:12; 119:125; Proverbs 28:2; Luke 16:1-8
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
9.14.2011
Child Training
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Child discipline and child training are similar, but different. They are similar because the desired outcome for both is a child with a heart for God and love for people. The end goal for each is a Christ-like character. But there are some real differences between the discipline and training of your child. Discipline is more reactive; training is proactive. Discipline many times is a consequence of negative behavior, while training seeks to develop positive behavior. Training educates the child on the “why” behind the “what.”
Discipline is more concerned with the “what.” Training is motivated by teaching the child “how to fish,” not just “giving them a fish.” Discipline in some ways is easier and takes less time. Training is more involved and takes hands-on effort from both parents. Discipline is focused more on the short term, while training looks toward the long term. They both overlap and both are vital to the healthy upbringing of your child.
Ultimately, you are training your child to be a responsible and God-fearing adult. Think of the training as on-the-job. You can tell your child to do something, and they may forget. You can show them how to do it, and they will probably remember. However, when they experience it for themselves in hands-on fashion, there is a much better chance of follow through. This is at the heart of training.
You help your child experience life under your apprenticeship. You are there to teach them, encourage them and mentor them. Yes, they will fail along the way, but you will be there to help pick them up. It takes parental wisdom, because you do not want to rescue them prematurely either. God may be in the process of teaching them a valuable lesson.
Take driving an automobile, for instance. This is freedom for the teenager and fear for the parents. The grown-up child can finally spread his wings in two tons of steel going 55 miles per hour. His peripheral vision is blurred and it’s hard for him to remember the speed limit. In the meantime, the parents’ prayer life is escalating to new levels of intensity along with the price of their insurance premiums.
Learning to drive a car can be a great training time. This can become quality time for the dad and the child. Yes, have the teenager take a defensive driving class, but it is just as important to have them take a daddy driving class. Perhaps you buy them a mechanically sound, used “practice car.” Instruct them in the basics of proper yielding and how much a speeding ticket costs. Let them experience the responsibility of paying for the insurance. This is great training in the realities of life.
Lastly, train them to “stand alone.” Standing alone means they have the confidence in themselves and the trust in God to do the right thing even when their friends don’t. Give them leadership responsibilities around the home like chores, care for animals and planning trips. Teach them how to think. Let the Word of God be their training manual. Reward them for applying its principles. Help them discover their passion and what they do best. Encourage them to follow God’s calling, even when it makes you uncomfortable. Take the time to train your child today and they will be trained for a lifetime. Train well!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Child discipline and child training are similar, but different. They are similar because the desired outcome for both is a child with a heart for God and love for people. The end goal for each is a Christ-like character. But there are some real differences between the discipline and training of your child. Discipline is more reactive; training is proactive. Discipline many times is a consequence of negative behavior, while training seeks to develop positive behavior. Training educates the child on the “why” behind the “what.”
Discipline is more concerned with the “what.” Training is motivated by teaching the child “how to fish,” not just “giving them a fish.” Discipline in some ways is easier and takes less time. Training is more involved and takes hands-on effort from both parents. Discipline is focused more on the short term, while training looks toward the long term. They both overlap and both are vital to the healthy upbringing of your child.
Ultimately, you are training your child to be a responsible and God-fearing adult. Think of the training as on-the-job. You can tell your child to do something, and they may forget. You can show them how to do it, and they will probably remember. However, when they experience it for themselves in hands-on fashion, there is a much better chance of follow through. This is at the heart of training.
You help your child experience life under your apprenticeship. You are there to teach them, encourage them and mentor them. Yes, they will fail along the way, but you will be there to help pick them up. It takes parental wisdom, because you do not want to rescue them prematurely either. God may be in the process of teaching them a valuable lesson.
Take driving an automobile, for instance. This is freedom for the teenager and fear for the parents. The grown-up child can finally spread his wings in two tons of steel going 55 miles per hour. His peripheral vision is blurred and it’s hard for him to remember the speed limit. In the meantime, the parents’ prayer life is escalating to new levels of intensity along with the price of their insurance premiums.
Learning to drive a car can be a great training time. This can become quality time for the dad and the child. Yes, have the teenager take a defensive driving class, but it is just as important to have them take a daddy driving class. Perhaps you buy them a mechanically sound, used “practice car.” Instruct them in the basics of proper yielding and how much a speeding ticket costs. Let them experience the responsibility of paying for the insurance. This is great training in the realities of life.
Lastly, train them to “stand alone.” Standing alone means they have the confidence in themselves and the trust in God to do the right thing even when their friends don’t. Give them leadership responsibilities around the home like chores, care for animals and planning trips. Teach them how to think. Let the Word of God be their training manual. Reward them for applying its principles. Help them discover their passion and what they do best. Encourage them to follow God’s calling, even when it makes you uncomfortable. Take the time to train your child today and they will be trained for a lifetime. Train well!
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Deconstructing Me-First Faith
"In their hearts human beings plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9 TNIV
IT'S SO EASY to live a life that revolves solely around a single agenda: our own. Everything in the surrounding culture encourages us to create the life that we want, to see the fulfillment of our own goals as the ultimate prize, to stand apart from the crowd by being truly selfish.
Of course, Christianity suggests otherwise. It tells us that meeting our own desires is not the path to godly success. Jesus quotes from the ancients in Deuteronomy and Leviticus when He reminds His audience precisely what we ought to value most: to love God with all of our energy and passion, and to love others as much as ourselves.
Selfless living does not mean placing others on an equal footing with ourselves, handing out the compassion in step with the self-indulgence. True Christianity—to be near the kingdom of God, to understand the very fibers that hold together the essence of Christianity, to put our faith into bold practice—means handing over our own agendas in place of serving God and others. It might not be sexy or culturally on-message, but it’s there, in plain and simple truth.
Make a to-do list for the week. Then cross off or re-prioritize the tasks that are purely selfish or need to be re-focused to better serve God and others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Craig Borlase
IT'S SO EASY to live a life that revolves solely around a single agenda: our own. Everything in the surrounding culture encourages us to create the life that we want, to see the fulfillment of our own goals as the ultimate prize, to stand apart from the crowd by being truly selfish.
Of course, Christianity suggests otherwise. It tells us that meeting our own desires is not the path to godly success. Jesus quotes from the ancients in Deuteronomy and Leviticus when He reminds His audience precisely what we ought to value most: to love God with all of our energy and passion, and to love others as much as ourselves.
Selfless living does not mean placing others on an equal footing with ourselves, handing out the compassion in step with the self-indulgence. True Christianity—to be near the kingdom of God, to understand the very fibers that hold together the essence of Christianity, to put our faith into bold practice—means handing over our own agendas in place of serving God and others. It might not be sexy or culturally on-message, but it’s there, in plain and simple truth.
Make a to-do list for the week. Then cross off or re-prioritize the tasks that are purely selfish or need to be re-focused to better serve God and others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Craig Borlase
9.12.2011
A Sustainable Lifestyle
"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Psalm 54:4
A lifestyle is sustainable when the Lord is the sustainer. Behind every sustainable life is dependence on a Savior: to help in time of need—to provide calm in a crisis—to give perspective when feeling pressure and to slow down someone who is way to busy. The grace of God gives sustainability to a life paced by prayer and energized by faith in Jesus.
Are you involved in so many good initiatives, only to find yourself unable to keep up with your commitments? Is your pace of life without margin—unable to really invest in those who need you the most? Indeed, it is extremely important to take periodic audits of our pace of life and make sure we make room for real relational investments. A life is unsustainable, if it is always darting from one good deed to the next with no down time.
“Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:116).
Sometimes it takes a restoration of joy in following Jesus to realign our hearts in rest with Him. Joyless living is drudgery and only contributes to fatigue and exhaustion. However, the Lord upholds His own—by His presence and the wisdom of His word. He is ever present to energize a seeking soul with His solace of strength, peace and perseverance.
Like a wilderness hiker without a backpack of supplies and no compass—is a life that wanders around without the sustenance of Scripture and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. A sustainable life has Almighty God as its architect and belief in Jesus as its builder. He sustains those who regularly seek Him with a pure heart and a teachable mind. He helps the humble and lifts up those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
“The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:6).
Are you old? The Lord is your sustainer in your later years. Are you sick? Your Savior Jesus sustains you on your sick bed. Are you an orphan? You are not outcast, but a precious child of your Heavenly Father. Are you a widow or widower? You are not alone, but loved by the Lord. Are you in a new country, away from home? Jesus is trustworthy in your transition. Are you afraid? Christ is a prayer away to provide comfort and care.
Lastly, a sustainable lifestyle happens in community with other followers of Jesus. Faith comes alive when it is exercised in the presence of other people who love the Lord. You feel support, love, compassion, prayers and wisdom from the Body of Christ. The Lord is your help and His people are His helpers. A sustainable lifestyle comes from Christ.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3a).
How can I sustain my lifestyle in the power of the Spirit and not in my own strength?
Related Readings: Job 36:19; Psalm 119:175; 146:9; Isaiah 46:4; 50:4; 59:16
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
A lifestyle is sustainable when the Lord is the sustainer. Behind every sustainable life is dependence on a Savior: to help in time of need—to provide calm in a crisis—to give perspective when feeling pressure and to slow down someone who is way to busy. The grace of God gives sustainability to a life paced by prayer and energized by faith in Jesus.
Are you involved in so many good initiatives, only to find yourself unable to keep up with your commitments? Is your pace of life without margin—unable to really invest in those who need you the most? Indeed, it is extremely important to take periodic audits of our pace of life and make sure we make room for real relational investments. A life is unsustainable, if it is always darting from one good deed to the next with no down time.
“Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed” (Psalm 119:116).
Sometimes it takes a restoration of joy in following Jesus to realign our hearts in rest with Him. Joyless living is drudgery and only contributes to fatigue and exhaustion. However, the Lord upholds His own—by His presence and the wisdom of His word. He is ever present to energize a seeking soul with His solace of strength, peace and perseverance.
Like a wilderness hiker without a backpack of supplies and no compass—is a life that wanders around without the sustenance of Scripture and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. A sustainable life has Almighty God as its architect and belief in Jesus as its builder. He sustains those who regularly seek Him with a pure heart and a teachable mind. He helps the humble and lifts up those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
“The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:6).
Are you old? The Lord is your sustainer in your later years. Are you sick? Your Savior Jesus sustains you on your sick bed. Are you an orphan? You are not outcast, but a precious child of your Heavenly Father. Are you a widow or widower? You are not alone, but loved by the Lord. Are you in a new country, away from home? Jesus is trustworthy in your transition. Are you afraid? Christ is a prayer away to provide comfort and care.
Lastly, a sustainable lifestyle happens in community with other followers of Jesus. Faith comes alive when it is exercised in the presence of other people who love the Lord. You feel support, love, compassion, prayers and wisdom from the Body of Christ. The Lord is your help and His people are His helpers. A sustainable lifestyle comes from Christ.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3a).
How can I sustain my lifestyle in the power of the Spirit and not in my own strength?
Related Readings: Job 36:19; Psalm 119:175; 146:9; Isaiah 46:4; 50:4; 59:16
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
The Walking Wounded
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 TNIV
THERE IS A WEIGHT to the Gospel. There is a mass connected to the story of redemption. It is in the dark places—the addictions to pornography, alcohol, drugs, power and control. It is in our propensity to blame and abuse each other, our greed and our depravity. It is the substance of these things that gives us a place to speak about the slow road to recovery.
When we find the gospel to be true and start to wrestle with the implications, it eventually brings us to a place where we must confront our humanity and know ourselves as both the walking wounded and the perpetually healed.
In our Church culture, there are behavioral codes set in place to give the appearance of victory. There are things that church people cannot talk about or engage in. But these things are, in some fashion, part of every church person's life. There are profound reasons why Jesus still carried the scars from the nails when he appeared to his friends. He was bringing the entire Gospel to his disciples.
Ultimately, it is our redemption, not our perfection, that looks unique. It is the way healing comes, how long it takes and who is involved that makes us different.
What scars enable you to share the entire Gospel with others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Dan Haseltine
THERE IS A WEIGHT to the Gospel. There is a mass connected to the story of redemption. It is in the dark places—the addictions to pornography, alcohol, drugs, power and control. It is in our propensity to blame and abuse each other, our greed and our depravity. It is the substance of these things that gives us a place to speak about the slow road to recovery.
When we find the gospel to be true and start to wrestle with the implications, it eventually brings us to a place where we must confront our humanity and know ourselves as both the walking wounded and the perpetually healed.
In our Church culture, there are behavioral codes set in place to give the appearance of victory. There are things that church people cannot talk about or engage in. But these things are, in some fashion, part of every church person's life. There are profound reasons why Jesus still carried the scars from the nails when he appeared to his friends. He was bringing the entire Gospel to his disciples.
Ultimately, it is our redemption, not our perfection, that looks unique. It is the way healing comes, how long it takes and who is involved that makes us different.
What scars enable you to share the entire Gospel with others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Dan Haseltine
9.09.2011
Time to Forgive Our Fathers
Time has come for us to forgive our fathers. Paul warns us that unforgiveness and bitterness can wreck our lives and the lives of others (Eph. 4:31; Heb. 12:15).
I am sorry to think of all the years my wife endured the anger and bitterness that I redirected at her from my father. As someone has said, forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and then discovering the prisoner was you. I found some help in Bly's experience of forgiving his own father, when he said, "I began to think of him not as someone who had deprived me of love or attention or companionship, but as someone who himself had been deprived, by his father and his mother and by the culture." My father had his own wound that no one ever offered to heal. His father was an alcoholic, too, for a time, and there were some hard years for my dad as a young man just as there were for me.
Now you must understand: Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling, but an act of the will. As Neil Anderson has written, "Don't wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving; you will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made." We allow God to bring the hurt up from our past, for "if your forgiveness doesn't visit the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete." We acknowledge that it hurt, that it mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our father. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying, "I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong, it mattered, and I release you."
And then we ask God to father us, and to tell us our true name.
(Wild at Heart , 131-32)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
I am sorry to think of all the years my wife endured the anger and bitterness that I redirected at her from my father. As someone has said, forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and then discovering the prisoner was you. I found some help in Bly's experience of forgiving his own father, when he said, "I began to think of him not as someone who had deprived me of love or attention or companionship, but as someone who himself had been deprived, by his father and his mother and by the culture." My father had his own wound that no one ever offered to heal. His father was an alcoholic, too, for a time, and there were some hard years for my dad as a young man just as there were for me.
Now you must understand: Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling, but an act of the will. As Neil Anderson has written, "Don't wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving; you will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made." We allow God to bring the hurt up from our past, for "if your forgiveness doesn't visit the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete." We acknowledge that it hurt, that it mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our father. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying, "I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong, it mattered, and I release you."
And then we ask God to father us, and to tell us our true name.
(Wild at Heart , 131-32)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
9.01.2011
Rest
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29,30
If you're working really hard to please God and impress others, consider the passage above. Rather than working yourself toward perfection, receive the gift of Christ and let Him teach you how to carry his yoke and burden. Rather than grinding toward your self-imposed version of living right, your actions will simply be an outpouring of what's going on inside.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
If you're working really hard to please God and impress others, consider the passage above. Rather than working yourself toward perfection, receive the gift of Christ and let Him teach you how to carry his yoke and burden. Rather than grinding toward your self-imposed version of living right, your actions will simply be an outpouring of what's going on inside.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
A True Father
Jesus kept coming back to this central issue, over and over, driving at it in his teachings, his parables, his penetrating questions. If you look again, through the lens that most of us feel fundamentally fatherless, I think you'll find it very close indeed to the center of Jesus' mission. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" (Matt. 7:9-10 NIV). Well? We rush ahead to the rest of the passage, but I think Jesus is asking us a real question and he wants a real answer. I expect he paused here, his penetrating, compassionate eyes scanning the listeners before him. Well? I hesitate. I guess you're right. I wouldn't, and apart from the exceptionally wicked man, I can't think of any decent father-even if he is self absorbed-who would do such a thing. Jesus continues, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (v. 11 NIV).
He is trying to speak to our deepest doubt about the universe.
Look at the birds of the air. Consider the lilies in the field. Are you not much more valuable to your true Father than they? (Matt 6:26, 28). Hmmm. I'm not sure how to answer. I mean, of course, there's the "right" answer. And then there is the wound in our hearts toward fatherhood, and there is also the way our lives have gone. "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" (Matt. 18:12 NIV). Yet another question, pressing into the submerged fears in our hearts, another question wanting another answer. Well? Wouldn't he? "And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost" (vv. 13-14 NIV).
Wherever you are in your ability to believe it at this moment in your life, at least you can see what Jesus is driving at. You have a good Father. He is better than you thought. He cares. He really does. He's kind and generous. He's out for your best.
(Fathered by God )
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
He is trying to speak to our deepest doubt about the universe.
Look at the birds of the air. Consider the lilies in the field. Are you not much more valuable to your true Father than they? (Matt 6:26, 28). Hmmm. I'm not sure how to answer. I mean, of course, there's the "right" answer. And then there is the wound in our hearts toward fatherhood, and there is also the way our lives have gone. "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" (Matt. 18:12 NIV). Yet another question, pressing into the submerged fears in our hearts, another question wanting another answer. Well? Wouldn't he? "And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost" (vv. 13-14 NIV).
Wherever you are in your ability to believe it at this moment in your life, at least you can see what Jesus is driving at. You have a good Father. He is better than you thought. He cares. He really does. He's kind and generous. He's out for your best.
(Fathered by God )
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
8.31.2011
Deconstructing Me-First Faith
"In their hearts human beings plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9 TNIV
IT'S SO EASY to live a life that revolves solely around a single agenda: our own. Everything in the surrounding culture encourages us to create the life that we want, to see the fulfillment of our own goals as the ultimate prize, to stand apart from the crowd by being truly selfish.
Of course, Christianity suggests otherwise. It tells us that meeting our own desires is not the path to godly success. Jesus quotes from the ancients in Deuteronomy and Leviticus when He reminds His audience precisely what we ought to value most: to love God with all of our energy and passion, and to love others as much as ourselves.
Selfless living does not mean placing others on an equal footing with ourselves, handing out the compassion in step with the self-indulgence. True Christianity—to be near the kingdom of God, to understand the very fibers that hold together the essence of Christianity, to put our faith into bold practice—means handing over our own agendas in place of serving God and others. It might not be sexy or culturally on-message, but it’s there, in plain and simple truth.
Make a to-do list for the week. Then cross off or re-prioritize the tasks that are purely selfish or need to be re-focused to better serve God and others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Craig Borlase
IT'S SO EASY to live a life that revolves solely around a single agenda: our own. Everything in the surrounding culture encourages us to create the life that we want, to see the fulfillment of our own goals as the ultimate prize, to stand apart from the crowd by being truly selfish.
Of course, Christianity suggests otherwise. It tells us that meeting our own desires is not the path to godly success. Jesus quotes from the ancients in Deuteronomy and Leviticus when He reminds His audience precisely what we ought to value most: to love God with all of our energy and passion, and to love others as much as ourselves.
Selfless living does not mean placing others on an equal footing with ourselves, handing out the compassion in step with the self-indulgence. True Christianity—to be near the kingdom of God, to understand the very fibers that hold together the essence of Christianity, to put our faith into bold practice—means handing over our own agendas in place of serving God and others. It might not be sexy or culturally on-message, but it’s there, in plain and simple truth.
Make a to-do list for the week. Then cross off or re-prioritize the tasks that are purely selfish or need to be re-focused to better serve God and others?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Craig Borlase
8.30.2011
Finding Faith in Doubt
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"Mark 9:24 TNIV
FOR MANY PEOPLE of faith, the idea of experiencing doubt at all makes them very nervous. They view the questions that rise in their minds as evidence of a lack of faith, which surely disqualifies them from being authentic believers. So they shove their doubts into their subconscious in Pollyanna-ish fashion. But what if it's not true? What if honest doubt is actually the essence of faith? What if real faith has doubt in the mix, as a coin has two sides? That would mean struggling with doubt is not a lack of faith; it would actually be faith!
I think it is healthy to be uncertain every now and then. Frederick Buechner wrote, "Every morning you should wake up in your bed and ask yourself: 'Can I believe it all again today?' ... At least five times out of 10, the answer should be 'No' because the 'No' is as important as the 'Yes,' maybe more so."
We should not be ashamed if we are drawn like magnets to the uncertainties and questions inherent in faith. Faith is not supposed to come naturally. Faith is the venture of human consideration and divine illumination. Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist.
Think of some faith "heroes" in scripture. Did they face doubts? How did they perceive them?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Ed Gungor
FOR MANY PEOPLE of faith, the idea of experiencing doubt at all makes them very nervous. They view the questions that rise in their minds as evidence of a lack of faith, which surely disqualifies them from being authentic believers. So they shove their doubts into their subconscious in Pollyanna-ish fashion. But what if it's not true? What if honest doubt is actually the essence of faith? What if real faith has doubt in the mix, as a coin has two sides? That would mean struggling with doubt is not a lack of faith; it would actually be faith!
I think it is healthy to be uncertain every now and then. Frederick Buechner wrote, "Every morning you should wake up in your bed and ask yourself: 'Can I believe it all again today?' ... At least five times out of 10, the answer should be 'No' because the 'No' is as important as the 'Yes,' maybe more so."
We should not be ashamed if we are drawn like magnets to the uncertainties and questions inherent in faith. Faith is not supposed to come naturally. Faith is the venture of human consideration and divine illumination. Only in a world where faith is difficult can faith exist.
Think of some faith "heroes" in scripture. Did they face doubts? How did they perceive them?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Ed Gungor
8.26.2011
You're Not Yourself
Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. (1 John 3:2 NLT)
We have an expression that we use to describe someone who's out of sorts, who's not acting like the person we know her to be: "She's just not herself today." It's a marvelous, gracious phrase, for in a very real way, no one is quite himself today. There is more to us than we have seen. I know my wife is a goddess. I know she is more beautiful than she imagines. I have seen it slip out, seen moments of her glory. Suddenly, her beauty shines through, as though a veil has been lifted.
All of us have moments like this, glimpses of our true creation. They come unexpectedly and then fade again. Life for the most part keeps our glory hidden, cloaked by sin, or sorrow, or merely weariness. When I see an old woman, doubled over with arthritis, the hard years etched into her face, I want to cry, Eve, what happened? How truly wonderful it will be to see her in her youth again, the full flower of her beauty restored.
When the disciples saw Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, they got a peek at his glory. He was radiant, beautiful, magnificent. He was Jesus, the Jesus they knew and loved-only more so. And we shall be glorious as well. Jesus called himself the Son of man to state clearly that he is what mankind was meant to be. What we see in Jesus is our personal destiny.
(Desire , 116-17)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
We have an expression that we use to describe someone who's out of sorts, who's not acting like the person we know her to be: "She's just not herself today." It's a marvelous, gracious phrase, for in a very real way, no one is quite himself today. There is more to us than we have seen. I know my wife is a goddess. I know she is more beautiful than she imagines. I have seen it slip out, seen moments of her glory. Suddenly, her beauty shines through, as though a veil has been lifted.
All of us have moments like this, glimpses of our true creation. They come unexpectedly and then fade again. Life for the most part keeps our glory hidden, cloaked by sin, or sorrow, or merely weariness. When I see an old woman, doubled over with arthritis, the hard years etched into her face, I want to cry, Eve, what happened? How truly wonderful it will be to see her in her youth again, the full flower of her beauty restored.
When the disciples saw Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, they got a peek at his glory. He was radiant, beautiful, magnificent. He was Jesus, the Jesus they knew and loved-only more so. And we shall be glorious as well. Jesus called himself the Son of man to state clearly that he is what mankind was meant to be. What we see in Jesus is our personal destiny.
(Desire , 116-17)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Faith in Change
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
LET'S FACE IT. We talk about change, but we don't handle change really well, and when we speak of change it isn't frequently that we can do it with our whole hearts, without the voices of cynicism falling down around us. But our faith is one built entirely on the promises of change. In fact, it is founded in the idea that change has already been resoundingly delivered. Our Messiah closed the deal on change when He emerged from the tomb. At the risk of sounding too much like Thoreau or the Hebrew mystics, maybe nature's rhythm is one of God's clearest messages to His people? Change is the actuality of life with God.
Time offers us the opportunity to embrace change, to allow the death of what needs to pass away in our own lives, allow the dawn of new creation, new creativity, new energy, and new life for our journey. The voices of disparagement and skepticism will say that I can't quit this or can't accomplish that, that I will never recover from a transgression or misstep. But when Jesus rose from the dead he guaranteed that transformation would be completed in me, a promise woven so securely into the very DNA of Creation that even nature must model its truth in the grand symphonies of its seasons.
How can you reconcile your relationship with change through faith in Christ?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Matt Litton
LET'S FACE IT. We talk about change, but we don't handle change really well, and when we speak of change it isn't frequently that we can do it with our whole hearts, without the voices of cynicism falling down around us. But our faith is one built entirely on the promises of change. In fact, it is founded in the idea that change has already been resoundingly delivered. Our Messiah closed the deal on change when He emerged from the tomb. At the risk of sounding too much like Thoreau or the Hebrew mystics, maybe nature's rhythm is one of God's clearest messages to His people? Change is the actuality of life with God.
Time offers us the opportunity to embrace change, to allow the death of what needs to pass away in our own lives, allow the dawn of new creation, new creativity, new energy, and new life for our journey. The voices of disparagement and skepticism will say that I can't quit this or can't accomplish that, that I will never recover from a transgression or misstep. But when Jesus rose from the dead he guaranteed that transformation would be completed in me, a promise woven so securely into the very DNA of Creation that even nature must model its truth in the grand symphonies of its seasons.
How can you reconcile your relationship with change through faith in Christ?
Source: Relevant Magazine by Matt Litton
7.29.2011
Balance
For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish--that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20
If you find some of the things around you that Paul mentions here, like gossip, conceit, disorder or jealousy, take a sober assessment of from where they're originating. Then pray for the wisdom and grace to slowly have them removed from your surroundings. Things that don't build us up eventually wear us down.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
If you find some of the things around you that Paul mentions here, like gossip, conceit, disorder or jealousy, take a sober assessment of from where they're originating. Then pray for the wisdom and grace to slowly have them removed from your surroundings. Things that don't build us up eventually wear us down.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
7.20.2011
Never Give Up
“Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 24:14
Hope from heaven is a dependable handle to hang on to through the ups and downs of life. Like a skilled mountain climber we hook our rope of trust to the face of the solid rock, so we have secure support. It does not mean we are absent of fear, but it does mean in the middle of our fears we can have faith in Holy God to handle the inclement conditions.
The wisdom of the Lord is not illusive, but available to all who humble their hearts and take the time to invite in His influence. Truth is sweet to the soul and it will nourish your heart like spiritual nectar. Belief is a worker bee on behalf of God that takes the pollen of providence and produces the sustenance of salvation. You may have tried religion and found it lacking, but do not give up on God—enter into a growing relationship with Jesus.
“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 19:22-23).
Hope keeps your heart fertile to grow the seed of God’s word. Perhaps past regrets have choked out your confidence in Christ, if so—determine not to give up—but to give Him another chance. You may be like Paul, Moses, Naomi, Hannah, Sarah and Abraham who saw the Lord use them much more in the second half of their life than the first half. As long as there is breath in your body, you have the potential to be a bold witness for God.
Jesus does not cut off those who trust Him, but leads them down the path of productive Kingdom living. Lift your eyes off yourself and look to Him and seek out how to serve those in need. Make sure you follow Him by faith—do not ask Him to follow you. Hope in the Lord adds fuel to your fire of faith. It is your soul’s internal combustion for the cause of Christ. Finish well by not giving up, but by giving all you have for God!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
What is the Lord calling me to give over to Him and to not give up on Him?
Related Readings: Psalm 119:116; Isaiah 57:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 John 3:3
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Hope from heaven is a dependable handle to hang on to through the ups and downs of life. Like a skilled mountain climber we hook our rope of trust to the face of the solid rock, so we have secure support. It does not mean we are absent of fear, but it does mean in the middle of our fears we can have faith in Holy God to handle the inclement conditions.
The wisdom of the Lord is not illusive, but available to all who humble their hearts and take the time to invite in His influence. Truth is sweet to the soul and it will nourish your heart like spiritual nectar. Belief is a worker bee on behalf of God that takes the pollen of providence and produces the sustenance of salvation. You may have tried religion and found it lacking, but do not give up on God—enter into a growing relationship with Jesus.
“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 19:22-23).
Hope keeps your heart fertile to grow the seed of God’s word. Perhaps past regrets have choked out your confidence in Christ, if so—determine not to give up—but to give Him another chance. You may be like Paul, Moses, Naomi, Hannah, Sarah and Abraham who saw the Lord use them much more in the second half of their life than the first half. As long as there is breath in your body, you have the potential to be a bold witness for God.
Jesus does not cut off those who trust Him, but leads them down the path of productive Kingdom living. Lift your eyes off yourself and look to Him and seek out how to serve those in need. Make sure you follow Him by faith—do not ask Him to follow you. Hope in the Lord adds fuel to your fire of faith. It is your soul’s internal combustion for the cause of Christ. Finish well by not giving up, but by giving all you have for God!
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
What is the Lord calling me to give over to Him and to not give up on Him?
Related Readings: Psalm 119:116; Isaiah 57:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 John 3:3
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
7.11.2011
Stand Up
“The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?’” Joshua 7:10
There is a time to pray, and there is a time to act. There is a time to listen, and then there is a time to do. There is a time to weigh your options, and there is a time to choose what’s best at the time. Prayer gives you clarity on what needs to be done, and faith gives you courage to follow through.
If you know what to do but are still praying about it, you are praying extra, useless prayers. There is no need to delay your decision anymore. Do not hide behind the need for prayer. God’s Spirit has made clear to you your next steps. Now is the time to act. It may be confronting a friend over their path of destruction. It may be resigning from your job. It may be breaking off a relationship. It may be a short-term mission trip overseas. It may be a phone call, an e-mail or an in-person visit seeking forgiveness.
Whatever God has already told you to do, do it quickly. There is no need to delay the inevitable. You are better off dealing with this sticky issue sooner than later. If you wait any longer, you will allow anger to permeate your thinking. Obsession with someone or something other than Christ will distract you from God’s best. Now is the time to stand up and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Push fear aside. You cannot control the response of the other person or the fallout from the confrontation. But, you can rest in the fact that the Lord is leading you through this process. As you communicate, He will give you the words to say, in the right spirit. Yes, there are times it is easier to pray than to act, but prayer without action is presumption on God. So get up from your passive posture, and translate your prayers into gracious and passionate obedience.
Standing up does require faith. The level of faith that brought you to this point will not “cut it” going forward. Faith needs are fluid. For this next stage of living you will need a larger beaker of belief. Leverage off your faith that led you to Christ, but do not stay there. Stand up and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. God has prepared the way. Set fear aside. Place it back in the closet of intimidation and shut the door. God has great things in store for you, but it requires greater faith to stand up and move forward.
Yes, there are unknowns that sometimes haunt you, but this is when God shines the brightest. It is on the cloudy course of uncertainty that God’s Word illuminates your path. Read, believe and act on His Word. This is your assurance. Remaining where you are is not an option. We are either growing by faith in Christ, or we are regressing in fear. There is no middle ground. If you stay put in passivity, you will digress in discouragement. Your step of faith may be the very thing needed for others to do the same. Your life is a catalyst for Christ-centered living.
Yes, there is a battle to be waged, and sometimes the enemy infiltrates into your own relational ranks. Do not underestimate his influence. He may even use his “Christianity” as a badge of deception. Do not be intimidated by his lies. Stand up to “sin in the camp” with truth. The truth of God cannot be bought or used for selfish purposes. Rather, it is a cleansing agent for individuals and communities. Speak the truth in love and watch God work. His truth cuts to the chase. It dives deep into the heart of the matter. Stand up in love, empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God on your breath. This is faith in action. Since you have prayed, now you can act!
Taken from Dose #58 in the 90-day devotional book, Infusion.
There is a time to pray, and there is a time to act. There is a time to listen, and then there is a time to do. There is a time to weigh your options, and there is a time to choose what’s best at the time. Prayer gives you clarity on what needs to be done, and faith gives you courage to follow through.
If you know what to do but are still praying about it, you are praying extra, useless prayers. There is no need to delay your decision anymore. Do not hide behind the need for prayer. God’s Spirit has made clear to you your next steps. Now is the time to act. It may be confronting a friend over their path of destruction. It may be resigning from your job. It may be breaking off a relationship. It may be a short-term mission trip overseas. It may be a phone call, an e-mail or an in-person visit seeking forgiveness.
Whatever God has already told you to do, do it quickly. There is no need to delay the inevitable. You are better off dealing with this sticky issue sooner than later. If you wait any longer, you will allow anger to permeate your thinking. Obsession with someone or something other than Christ will distract you from God’s best. Now is the time to stand up and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Push fear aside. You cannot control the response of the other person or the fallout from the confrontation. But, you can rest in the fact that the Lord is leading you through this process. As you communicate, He will give you the words to say, in the right spirit. Yes, there are times it is easier to pray than to act, but prayer without action is presumption on God. So get up from your passive posture, and translate your prayers into gracious and passionate obedience.
Standing up does require faith. The level of faith that brought you to this point will not “cut it” going forward. Faith needs are fluid. For this next stage of living you will need a larger beaker of belief. Leverage off your faith that led you to Christ, but do not stay there. Stand up and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. God has prepared the way. Set fear aside. Place it back in the closet of intimidation and shut the door. God has great things in store for you, but it requires greater faith to stand up and move forward.
Yes, there are unknowns that sometimes haunt you, but this is when God shines the brightest. It is on the cloudy course of uncertainty that God’s Word illuminates your path. Read, believe and act on His Word. This is your assurance. Remaining where you are is not an option. We are either growing by faith in Christ, or we are regressing in fear. There is no middle ground. If you stay put in passivity, you will digress in discouragement. Your step of faith may be the very thing needed for others to do the same. Your life is a catalyst for Christ-centered living.
Yes, there is a battle to be waged, and sometimes the enemy infiltrates into your own relational ranks. Do not underestimate his influence. He may even use his “Christianity” as a badge of deception. Do not be intimidated by his lies. Stand up to “sin in the camp” with truth. The truth of God cannot be bought or used for selfish purposes. Rather, it is a cleansing agent for individuals and communities. Speak the truth in love and watch God work. His truth cuts to the chase. It dives deep into the heart of the matter. Stand up in love, empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the Word of God on your breath. This is faith in action. Since you have prayed, now you can act!
Taken from Dose #58 in the 90-day devotional book, Infusion.
7.05.2011
Prayer
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14,17-19
Let this be our heart and our prayer for one another.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Let this be our heart and our prayer for one another.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
6.22.2011
Worry Is Wearisome
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25
Worry is wearisome. It is fatigue to our emotions like physical pain is to our bodies. Worry can trigger stomachaches, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety disorders and depression. It is an enemy to executing a joy filled and productive life. Worry can so weigh you down that you are immobilized for lack of energy and because of fear.
Your family tree may have borne the fruit of worry over generations, but you can purge out obsession with negative thinking through trust in the Lord. Jesus’ teaching is very clear, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34).
Exercised trust energizes the weary. Your personality may lend itself to worry. You can see it in your furrowed brow, or in your brooding countenance. You worry about the economy and its effect on your retirement. You wring your hands over the war and wonder when it will ever end. You are stressed out over work, because of situations and people you are unable to change. Anxiety may have paralyzed you as a parent, because you don’t feel qualified to carry out your responsibilities.
Alcohol has become your outlet for those things that you cannot control, but the gnawing fear is still there the next day. One simple solution is to make a two-column prayer list with the headings ‘Things I can’t change’ and ‘Things I can change’. Ask God for faith and patience with the former and wisdom and courage to act on the later. Prayer is your time-tested prescription for worry:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).”
Furthermore, look for those who long to be encouraged, who feel trapped by the anxieties of life (Luke 21:34). They need the truth of God’s word, because the cares of this world try to marginalize the truth. Truth can be forgotten in the fearful suffering of severe trials. Your kind words remind them of Christ’s care and concern for their health, their family and their faith.
Lift yourself and others out of the downward spiral of depression by cheering them up with truth. Read the Bible out loud with a friend and meditate on its promises that are filled with hope and encouragement. Use uncertainty as a reason not to worry, but rest in the Lord. You are freed up when you don’t fret, but apply faith instead. Above all else, His word wins over worry and gives strength for your faith journey!
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
What promise from the Lord can I rest in and trust to overcome my chronic worry?
Related Readings: Luke 1:37; 5:1; 11:28; Acts 13:7; Ephesians 6:17
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Worry is wearisome. It is fatigue to our emotions like physical pain is to our bodies. Worry can trigger stomachaches, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety disorders and depression. It is an enemy to executing a joy filled and productive life. Worry can so weigh you down that you are immobilized for lack of energy and because of fear.
Your family tree may have borne the fruit of worry over generations, but you can purge out obsession with negative thinking through trust in the Lord. Jesus’ teaching is very clear, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34).
Exercised trust energizes the weary. Your personality may lend itself to worry. You can see it in your furrowed brow, or in your brooding countenance. You worry about the economy and its effect on your retirement. You wring your hands over the war and wonder when it will ever end. You are stressed out over work, because of situations and people you are unable to change. Anxiety may have paralyzed you as a parent, because you don’t feel qualified to carry out your responsibilities.
Alcohol has become your outlet for those things that you cannot control, but the gnawing fear is still there the next day. One simple solution is to make a two-column prayer list with the headings ‘Things I can’t change’ and ‘Things I can change’. Ask God for faith and patience with the former and wisdom and courage to act on the later. Prayer is your time-tested prescription for worry:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).”
Furthermore, look for those who long to be encouraged, who feel trapped by the anxieties of life (Luke 21:34). They need the truth of God’s word, because the cares of this world try to marginalize the truth. Truth can be forgotten in the fearful suffering of severe trials. Your kind words remind them of Christ’s care and concern for their health, their family and their faith.
Lift yourself and others out of the downward spiral of depression by cheering them up with truth. Read the Bible out loud with a friend and meditate on its promises that are filled with hope and encouragement. Use uncertainty as a reason not to worry, but rest in the Lord. You are freed up when you don’t fret, but apply faith instead. Above all else, His word wins over worry and gives strength for your faith journey!
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
What promise from the Lord can I rest in and trust to overcome my chronic worry?
Related Readings: Luke 1:37; 5:1; 11:28; Acts 13:7; Ephesians 6:17
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Influence
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
James 3:10-12
Be intentional today about what you say and how you say it. You never know who might be listening and how they might be impacted by your commentary.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
James 3:10-12
Be intentional today about what you say and how you say it. You never know who might be listening and how they might be impacted by your commentary.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
6.20.2011
Effort
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8b-10
Notice that this passage doesn't say "do what is pleasing to the Lord," it says "try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." He's not asking for perfection from you, so don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. He's asking for effort, so put forth that effort and rest in knowing that He will honor that.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Ephesians 5:8b-10
Notice that this passage doesn't say "do what is pleasing to the Lord," it says "try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." He's not asking for perfection from you, so don't beat yourself up if you're not perfect. He's asking for effort, so put forth that effort and rest in knowing that He will honor that.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Wife Support
“Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.” Genesis 31:16
Husbands need the support of their wives. Of course, it works both ways, as the wife needs to feel the support of her husband; but for a man, support is huge. A God-fearing husband knows the Lord has placed him in a position of leadership. It is overwhelming sometimes because he can feel squeezed by the pressures of life. The last thing a husband needs to feel is distance or distrust from his wife. Wives, your encouragement may be the only thing that is preventing him from giving up, so do not underestimate the strength of your support. Your affirmation is valuable and powerful for the ongoing success of your husband. Men are not as self-sufficient as they may seem.
On the outside he may seem invincible, but on the inside he is needy and desperate for recognition and validation. A man needs to know his wife trusts his decision-making and his ability to provide for his family. Her confidence in him propels his self-confidence to higher levels. Your belief in your husband builds him up to believe in himself. It is difficult for a man to rise any higher than the opinion of his helpmate. Men long to be built up by their brides, so brag on him in public and affirm him in private. Look to your husband as the leader God has placed in your life. Pray for him to lead lovingly and wisely. Be patient, so as not to usurp his authority when things are not getting done. Trust him with God, for He can handle him. Give him over to God and trust in the accountability of the Almighty. Sometimes a man needs to fail before he can be successful.
As a husband, it is imperative in God’s sight that you lovingly lead your wife and children. You may feel your wife is more qualified, smarter, and more spiritual. These all may be very true. However, God’s plan is for you to take the position of leadership in the home. She is looking for you to do whatever God has told you. Prayer is your mantle of responsibility. See it as a privilege to enjoy and not an obligation to tolerate. She will trust you more and more as you remain trustworthy.
It takes time to overcome a track record of distrust. Remain in the process of listening to God, following His commands, and then leading your family to do the same. There are days you don’t feel like leading or even listening to the Lord. Life can be overwhelming. It can get you down to the point of wanting to walk away from all your responsibilities. But by grace, you carry on in your commitment to Christ, your wife, and your children.
It is foolish to flee from your responsibilities as a husband and father. Fools give up, but God has you in this position so you can learn about Him and His plan for you and your family. Do what He says with passion and abandon. It may mean moving to another country. It may mean downsizing for a season. It may be organizing a family vacation. It may mean planning the calendar and budget for the upcoming year. Men, love leads. Love follows God and leads his family. Give your wife the assurance that you listen to and follow God. She will respect you and trust you for this. Wives, support your husbands in ways that make him feel supported. Wife support is life support.
Taken from the June 16th reading in the 365 day devotional Seeking Daily the Heart of God.
Husbands need the support of their wives. Of course, it works both ways, as the wife needs to feel the support of her husband; but for a man, support is huge. A God-fearing husband knows the Lord has placed him in a position of leadership. It is overwhelming sometimes because he can feel squeezed by the pressures of life. The last thing a husband needs to feel is distance or distrust from his wife. Wives, your encouragement may be the only thing that is preventing him from giving up, so do not underestimate the strength of your support. Your affirmation is valuable and powerful for the ongoing success of your husband. Men are not as self-sufficient as they may seem.
On the outside he may seem invincible, but on the inside he is needy and desperate for recognition and validation. A man needs to know his wife trusts his decision-making and his ability to provide for his family. Her confidence in him propels his self-confidence to higher levels. Your belief in your husband builds him up to believe in himself. It is difficult for a man to rise any higher than the opinion of his helpmate. Men long to be built up by their brides, so brag on him in public and affirm him in private. Look to your husband as the leader God has placed in your life. Pray for him to lead lovingly and wisely. Be patient, so as not to usurp his authority when things are not getting done. Trust him with God, for He can handle him. Give him over to God and trust in the accountability of the Almighty. Sometimes a man needs to fail before he can be successful.
As a husband, it is imperative in God’s sight that you lovingly lead your wife and children. You may feel your wife is more qualified, smarter, and more spiritual. These all may be very true. However, God’s plan is for you to take the position of leadership in the home. She is looking for you to do whatever God has told you. Prayer is your mantle of responsibility. See it as a privilege to enjoy and not an obligation to tolerate. She will trust you more and more as you remain trustworthy.
It takes time to overcome a track record of distrust. Remain in the process of listening to God, following His commands, and then leading your family to do the same. There are days you don’t feel like leading or even listening to the Lord. Life can be overwhelming. It can get you down to the point of wanting to walk away from all your responsibilities. But by grace, you carry on in your commitment to Christ, your wife, and your children.
It is foolish to flee from your responsibilities as a husband and father. Fools give up, but God has you in this position so you can learn about Him and His plan for you and your family. Do what He says with passion and abandon. It may mean moving to another country. It may mean downsizing for a season. It may be organizing a family vacation. It may mean planning the calendar and budget for the upcoming year. Men, love leads. Love follows God and leads his family. Give your wife the assurance that you listen to and follow God. She will respect you and trust you for this. Wives, support your husbands in ways that make him feel supported. Wife support is life support.
Taken from the June 16th reading in the 365 day devotional Seeking Daily the Heart of God.
5.26.2011
Avoidable Pain
"The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8
Pain is inevitable in life—but some pain can be avoided with proper preparation. There is no need to add unnecessary pain to relationships with unwise decisions and foolish behavior. For example, in marriage it takes much more than a grand wedding to create a great marriage. Promises need the backing of preparation to carry out commitments.
Wise couples get beyond the emotion of romantic love and become a student of each other. They truly accept one another for who they are, believe the best in their intentions and understand how to best communicate with their spouse. Pre-marriage preparation is a prescription for a productive and healthy life of marital maturity, however, ignoring past pain causes present pain. Avoid compounding pain by being healed of past relational hurt.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Furthermore, avoid the pain of regrets. Be wise not to create habits or routines that later cause guilt. For instance, during the parenting season of caring for your children at home—how will you adjust your schedule? Can you maintain a heavy travel schedule and be available for them? Will some hobbies need to be put on hold until a later date?
Be wise to not treat every season of life the same. Keep your commitment to Christ a constant, but be willing to flex toward the needs of those around you. People who avoid pain, actively pray for guidance from Almighty God. Indeed, pain will always be a part of life on earth; only in heaven are we pain-free. Fools rush into pain, as if they are some kind of misguided martyr. While the wise learn from pain—but avoid its unnecessary injury.
"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps." Proverbs 14:15
Lastly, some pain is unavoidable—it is a product of yours or someone else’s poor decision-making. Do not wallow in self-pity—as a victim of a painful past. By God’s grace confess your sin of holding a grudge and get beyond your anger with forgiveness. Use pain as a platform to proclaim the grace and love of God. Avoid it by making wise decisions, but if faced with pain—leverage it for the Lord’s glory. Wisdom doesn’t waste pain.
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20, NASB).
How can I make wise preparations to avoid relational pain? What pain do I have in my heart that needs the Lord’s healing?
Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 4:10; Job 2:13; 1 Peter 5:10-12; Revelation 21:4
Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Pain is inevitable in life—but some pain can be avoided with proper preparation. There is no need to add unnecessary pain to relationships with unwise decisions and foolish behavior. For example, in marriage it takes much more than a grand wedding to create a great marriage. Promises need the backing of preparation to carry out commitments.
Wise couples get beyond the emotion of romantic love and become a student of each other. They truly accept one another for who they are, believe the best in their intentions and understand how to best communicate with their spouse. Pre-marriage preparation is a prescription for a productive and healthy life of marital maturity, however, ignoring past pain causes present pain. Avoid compounding pain by being healed of past relational hurt.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Furthermore, avoid the pain of regrets. Be wise not to create habits or routines that later cause guilt. For instance, during the parenting season of caring for your children at home—how will you adjust your schedule? Can you maintain a heavy travel schedule and be available for them? Will some hobbies need to be put on hold until a later date?
Be wise to not treat every season of life the same. Keep your commitment to Christ a constant, but be willing to flex toward the needs of those around you. People who avoid pain, actively pray for guidance from Almighty God. Indeed, pain will always be a part of life on earth; only in heaven are we pain-free. Fools rush into pain, as if they are some kind of misguided martyr. While the wise learn from pain—but avoid its unnecessary injury.
"The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps." Proverbs 14:15
Lastly, some pain is unavoidable—it is a product of yours or someone else’s poor decision-making. Do not wallow in self-pity—as a victim of a painful past. By God’s grace confess your sin of holding a grudge and get beyond your anger with forgiveness. Use pain as a platform to proclaim the grace and love of God. Avoid it by making wise decisions, but if faced with pain—leverage it for the Lord’s glory. Wisdom doesn’t waste pain.
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20, NASB).
How can I make wise preparations to avoid relational pain? What pain do I have in my heart that needs the Lord’s healing?
Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 4:10; Job 2:13; 1 Peter 5:10-12; Revelation 21:4
Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
5.11.2011
Evil Exposed
“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:20-21
Evil lurks in places like the dark crevices of a compassion-less living compound. It schemes to suck life from those who give life. Evil can endure for a season in seclusion, but eventually it will be exposed along with its hellish intentions. A corrupt character thinks it can get away with the obstruction of justice, however, payday does come someday.
Evil not only is an incubator for sinful deeds, but it attacks others with its vile consequences. It is consumed with conquering righteousness with unrighteous actions. However, evil cannot stand in the presence of Almighty God. Satan, the evil one, has been defeated—the roaring lion has been defanged by the word of God living in us.
“Because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14b).
Beware, as evil tries to estrange you from the eternal truths of God’s word. Do not become cavalier with the truth and arrogantly think that it only applies to the less spiritual—those yet to arrive at your level of spiritual high mindedness. It is the sword of Scripture that keeps the enemy at bay and away from luring you into harboring sin.
Former good Christians have drifted out of the warm love of the Lord’s light into the cold character assault of the devil’s deceptions. He snatches the application of truth from proud hearts and leaves behind false promises immersed in self-denial. It’s a lie to think we can live part of our life in the light and part of our life in the darkness and not ultimately be exposed. What’s hidden comes to light—Christ uncovers cover-ups.
“He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5b).
Do you escape from fear and worry by drinking too much alcohol? Has someone at work captured your affection in deference to your spouse? Are you driven to make money, as a remedy for past financial irresponsibility? Has the Internet become a playground for evil activity? If so, seek out the light of the Lord to lead you. Darkness cannot coexist in light.
Fortunately, you do not have to live in the fear of being exposed for hiding evil intentions and sinful attitudes and actions. Come clean with Christ and with those who love and admire you. Confession is good for the soul—it also brings authenticity back to your trust in Jesus Christ and transparency to your relationships. Humility walks with Christ on His lighted path. Walk in the light, as He is the light and have fellowship with one another.
“Let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5b).
What areas of my life need exposure to the love of the Lord and His illuminating word?
Related Readings: Job 29:3; Psalm 89:15; Matthew 13:19; 1 John 1:7
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Evil lurks in places like the dark crevices of a compassion-less living compound. It schemes to suck life from those who give life. Evil can endure for a season in seclusion, but eventually it will be exposed along with its hellish intentions. A corrupt character thinks it can get away with the obstruction of justice, however, payday does come someday.
Evil not only is an incubator for sinful deeds, but it attacks others with its vile consequences. It is consumed with conquering righteousness with unrighteous actions. However, evil cannot stand in the presence of Almighty God. Satan, the evil one, has been defeated—the roaring lion has been defanged by the word of God living in us.
“Because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14b).
Beware, as evil tries to estrange you from the eternal truths of God’s word. Do not become cavalier with the truth and arrogantly think that it only applies to the less spiritual—those yet to arrive at your level of spiritual high mindedness. It is the sword of Scripture that keeps the enemy at bay and away from luring you into harboring sin.
Former good Christians have drifted out of the warm love of the Lord’s light into the cold character assault of the devil’s deceptions. He snatches the application of truth from proud hearts and leaves behind false promises immersed in self-denial. It’s a lie to think we can live part of our life in the light and part of our life in the darkness and not ultimately be exposed. What’s hidden comes to light—Christ uncovers cover-ups.
“He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5b).
Do you escape from fear and worry by drinking too much alcohol? Has someone at work captured your affection in deference to your spouse? Are you driven to make money, as a remedy for past financial irresponsibility? Has the Internet become a playground for evil activity? If so, seek out the light of the Lord to lead you. Darkness cannot coexist in light.
Fortunately, you do not have to live in the fear of being exposed for hiding evil intentions and sinful attitudes and actions. Come clean with Christ and with those who love and admire you. Confession is good for the soul—it also brings authenticity back to your trust in Jesus Christ and transparency to your relationships. Humility walks with Christ on His lighted path. Walk in the light, as He is the light and have fellowship with one another.
“Let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5b).
What areas of my life need exposure to the love of the Lord and His illuminating word?
Related Readings: Job 29:3; Psalm 89:15; Matthew 13:19; 1 John 1:7
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
5.04.2011
The Daily Verse on Influence
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6
Let this passage be an encouraging, yet sobering reminder of how your words affect those around you. What you say and how you say it can change someone's life.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Let this passage be an encouraging, yet sobering reminder of how your words affect those around you. What you say and how you say it can change someone's life.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
4.12.2011
Quiet Rest
“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’. So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” Mark 6:30-32
Wise leaders lead others into rest—they find a quiet place and rest together. After extreme busyness rest is required, as your spirit begins to rebel against the hustle and bustle of life. The joy of service for God starts to fade. People become a drain rather than a blessing. It is time to breakaway to a solitary place. Jesus took a break after a big event.
If you continually push yourself you will eventually lose all energy and perspective. A driven heart becomes a judgmental heart. You begin to look down on others because they are not pulling their weight. Your joy is replaced with jaded criticism. You feel you are the only one who is really committed. Your peers have become slackers in your mind.
Furthermore, be careful you may be serving out of your own strength and not the Spirit’s. It is the Holy Spirit that sustains you over the long haul. Wise leaders understand the danger of an unsustainable schedule. You begin to sacrifice relationships in reach of unrealistic goals. Indeed, God gives us goals as a guide and motivation, but do not be driven by the goal—rather be lead by the Holy Spirit.
Otherwise the goal can become your god. Unchecked goal setting can lead you down the path of disappointment and disillusionment. You may need to better pace yourself. Be patient. Develop the team around you and watch God work through them way beyond your capacity. Indeed, some of your team development comes in the quiet places.
Find a quiet spot and calendar a time today for you and your team. They desperately need this enrichment both personally and professionally. Without a retreat they may be unable to advance. Some may be on the verge of burnout or quitting because of discouragement. Solitary places allow you and your team to recalibrate with the vision and mission of the organization. Quiet times together build camaraderie and trust.
A retreat is an investment. By taking time to pause you are able to continue—and you continue with more effectiveness and efficiency. A quiet place is an opportunity to get on the same page with God. Your soul is refreshed and replenished. The words of the Bible leap from the pages and lodge in the crevices of your heart and mind. A retreat is an exercise of trust that routine matters will be taken care of in your absence.
Take a retreat for your sake and sanity—and for the morale of the team. We hear more clearly when it is quiet. Our comprehension expands. Our bodies rest. Our soul is renewed. A solitary place provides strength and stamina to finish well. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is rest in a quiet place!
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15
When can I calendar a retreat time with my team for rest and reflection?
Related Readings: Job 3:25-26; Psalm 37:7; John 6:37; 1 John 3:19
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Wise leaders lead others into rest—they find a quiet place and rest together. After extreme busyness rest is required, as your spirit begins to rebel against the hustle and bustle of life. The joy of service for God starts to fade. People become a drain rather than a blessing. It is time to breakaway to a solitary place. Jesus took a break after a big event.
If you continually push yourself you will eventually lose all energy and perspective. A driven heart becomes a judgmental heart. You begin to look down on others because they are not pulling their weight. Your joy is replaced with jaded criticism. You feel you are the only one who is really committed. Your peers have become slackers in your mind.
Furthermore, be careful you may be serving out of your own strength and not the Spirit’s. It is the Holy Spirit that sustains you over the long haul. Wise leaders understand the danger of an unsustainable schedule. You begin to sacrifice relationships in reach of unrealistic goals. Indeed, God gives us goals as a guide and motivation, but do not be driven by the goal—rather be lead by the Holy Spirit.
Otherwise the goal can become your god. Unchecked goal setting can lead you down the path of disappointment and disillusionment. You may need to better pace yourself. Be patient. Develop the team around you and watch God work through them way beyond your capacity. Indeed, some of your team development comes in the quiet places.
Find a quiet spot and calendar a time today for you and your team. They desperately need this enrichment both personally and professionally. Without a retreat they may be unable to advance. Some may be on the verge of burnout or quitting because of discouragement. Solitary places allow you and your team to recalibrate with the vision and mission of the organization. Quiet times together build camaraderie and trust.
A retreat is an investment. By taking time to pause you are able to continue—and you continue with more effectiveness and efficiency. A quiet place is an opportunity to get on the same page with God. Your soul is refreshed and replenished. The words of the Bible leap from the pages and lodge in the crevices of your heart and mind. A retreat is an exercise of trust that routine matters will be taken care of in your absence.
Take a retreat for your sake and sanity—and for the morale of the team. We hear more clearly when it is quiet. Our comprehension expands. Our bodies rest. Our soul is renewed. A solitary place provides strength and stamina to finish well. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is rest in a quiet place!
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Isaiah 30:15
When can I calendar a retreat time with my team for rest and reflection?
Related Readings: Job 3:25-26; Psalm 37:7; John 6:37; 1 John 3:19
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
3.31.2011
The Daily Verse on Truth
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
Too often we lie to ourselves. If we lie to ourselves, chances are we are also lying to God. Go ahead and tell yourself and God the truth. You both will know if you're not and we might as well deal with our issues head on if we expect them to be moved by our own doing or God's.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Too often we lie to ourselves. If we lie to ourselves, chances are we are also lying to God. Go ahead and tell yourself and God the truth. You both will know if you're not and we might as well deal with our issues head on if we expect them to be moved by our own doing or God's.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
3.30.2011
The Daily Verse on Perspective
But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.
2 Chronicles 25:8
Often times, we assume the way that life and the world treats us is God's heart for us. Let us not fall prey to that lie. Go, act and be strong for the battle and lean into the truth that God is for you.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
2 Chronicles 25:8
Often times, we assume the way that life and the world treats us is God's heart for us. Let us not fall prey to that lie. Go, act and be strong for the battle and lean into the truth that God is for you.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
3.24.2011
Romans 5:3 - The Daily Verse on Endurance
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance...
Romans 5:3
Think back on one of your most intense times of suffering. Reflect on how you've grown because of it in wisdom, discernment, maturity, patience and endurance. Allow that reminder to comfort you amidst whatever your current circumstances of suffering may be.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
Romans 5:3
Think back on one of your most intense times of suffering. Reflect on how you've grown because of it in wisdom, discernment, maturity, patience and endurance. Allow that reminder to comfort you amidst whatever your current circumstances of suffering may be.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
3.15.2011
You Must Fight for Your Life
Until we come to terms with war as the context of our days, we will not understand life. We will misinterpret 90 percent of what is happening around us and to us. It will be very hard to believe that God's intentions toward us are life abundant; it will be even harder not to feel that somehow we are just blowing it. Worse, we will begin to accept some really awful things about God. That four-year-old little girl being molested by her daddy- that is "God's will "? That ugly divorce that tore your family apart-God wanted that to happen too? And that plane crash that took the lives of so many-that was ordained by God?
Most people get stuck at some point because God appears to have abandoned them. He is not coming through. Speaking about her life with a mixture of disappointment and cynicism, a young woman recently said to me, "God is rather silent right now." Yes, it's been awful. I don't discount that for a moment. She is unloved; she is unemployed; she is under a lot. But her attitude strikes me as deeply naive, on the level of someone caught in a cross fire who asks, rather shocked and with a sense of betrayal, "God, why won't you make them stop firing at me?" I'm sorry, but that's not where we are right now. It's not where we are in the Story. That day is coming, later, when the lion shall lie down with the lamb and we'll beat swords into plowshares. For now, it's bloody battle.
It sure explains a whole heckuva lot.
You won't understand your life, you won't see clearly what has happened to you or how to live forward from here, unless you see it as battle. A war against your heart.
(Waking the Dead , 17-18)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Most people get stuck at some point because God appears to have abandoned them. He is not coming through. Speaking about her life with a mixture of disappointment and cynicism, a young woman recently said to me, "God is rather silent right now." Yes, it's been awful. I don't discount that for a moment. She is unloved; she is unemployed; she is under a lot. But her attitude strikes me as deeply naive, on the level of someone caught in a cross fire who asks, rather shocked and with a sense of betrayal, "God, why won't you make them stop firing at me?" I'm sorry, but that's not where we are right now. It's not where we are in the Story. That day is coming, later, when the lion shall lie down with the lamb and we'll beat swords into plowshares. For now, it's bloody battle.
It sure explains a whole heckuva lot.
You won't understand your life, you won't see clearly what has happened to you or how to live forward from here, unless you see it as battle. A war against your heart.
(Waking the Dead , 17-18)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
3.07.2011
We Are at War
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you even know he spoke them at the same time? I mean, he says them in one breath. And he has his reasons. By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn't just roll in on a tray. There is a thief. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. Why won't we face this? I know so few people who will face this. The offer is life, but you're going to have to fight for it, because there's an Enemy in your life with a different agenda.
There is something set against us.
We are at war.
I don't like that fact any more than you do, but the sooner we come to terms with it, the better hope we have of making it through to the life we do want. This is not Eden. You probably figured that out. This is not Mayberry, this is not Seinfeld's world, this is not Survivor. The world in which we live is a combat zone, a violent clash of kingdoms, a bitter struggle unto the death. I am sorry if I'm the one to break this news to you: you were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great battle, involving all the forces of heaven and hell and played out here on earth.
Where did you think all this opposition was coming from?
(Waking the Dead , 12-13)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you even know he spoke them at the same time? I mean, he says them in one breath. And he has his reasons. By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn't just roll in on a tray. There is a thief. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. Why won't we face this? I know so few people who will face this. The offer is life, but you're going to have to fight for it, because there's an Enemy in your life with a different agenda.
There is something set against us.
We are at war.
I don't like that fact any more than you do, but the sooner we come to terms with it, the better hope we have of making it through to the life we do want. This is not Eden. You probably figured that out. This is not Mayberry, this is not Seinfeld's world, this is not Survivor. The world in which we live is a combat zone, a violent clash of kingdoms, a bitter struggle unto the death. I am sorry if I'm the one to break this news to you: you were born into a world at war, and you will live all your days in the midst of a great battle, involving all the forces of heaven and hell and played out here on earth.
Where did you think all this opposition was coming from?
(Waking the Dead , 12-13)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
2.23.2011
Inspect What’s Expected
“Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:43
Excellent work requires regular inspection. We all do better when others are watching, especially when it’s the Lord and those we respect. Work is an expression of the worker, so it’s imperative the work is intentional and with integrity. If we resist someone looking over our shoulder to verify our efforts then we miss out on our much needed accountability.
Do you have clarity in what’s expected of you in your role at work? If not, seek out your supervisor and confirm his or her expectations and make sure they align with your understanding. Like a team sport, you want to make sure you are both playing the same game and executing the same plays. Excellent execution requires alignment of expectations. Be grateful you have a boss who cares to look closely at what you do.
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23).
Do you serve in a position of authority at work or home? Perhaps you supervise a small team at work, maybe you are a sole proprietor with only an assistant or you are responsible at home to oversee the domestic duties. If you are a supervisor—do you lovingly supervise? A responsible manager takes time to instruct the team members in expected outcomes, define the process and then oversees the systematic implementation.
Organizations undisciplined in follow-up and follow through find themselves missing deadlines with inferior results. Wise are the men and women who up front understand and embrace the plan and who regularly give a status report in their area of expertise. These are the conscientious ones who steward well their responsibilities at work.
Is your home in disarray or is there a well-defined structure around who is responsible for what chores? Maybe you start with the husband proactively caring for the outside needs and for all of the house maintenance, while the wife manages the inside tasks. Engage the children to keep their room clean and organized, while helping dad and mom. Review regularly who is responsible for what and reward good results done with a good attitude.
Above all ask, “What are the Lord’s expectations?” It’s an attractive attitude at work and home that flows from a faith that first seeks to follow Christ’s instructions. Make sure you lay your work before the Lord at His altar of excellence. Is He pleased with your productivity? Are you supervising His resources and relationships as His wise steward?
“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:42-43).
Related Readings: Genesis 43:16; Luke 16: 1-14; Hebrews 2:1; 1 Peter 4:10
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Excellent work requires regular inspection. We all do better when others are watching, especially when it’s the Lord and those we respect. Work is an expression of the worker, so it’s imperative the work is intentional and with integrity. If we resist someone looking over our shoulder to verify our efforts then we miss out on our much needed accountability.
Do you have clarity in what’s expected of you in your role at work? If not, seek out your supervisor and confirm his or her expectations and make sure they align with your understanding. Like a team sport, you want to make sure you are both playing the same game and executing the same plays. Excellent execution requires alignment of expectations. Be grateful you have a boss who cares to look closely at what you do.
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23).
Do you serve in a position of authority at work or home? Perhaps you supervise a small team at work, maybe you are a sole proprietor with only an assistant or you are responsible at home to oversee the domestic duties. If you are a supervisor—do you lovingly supervise? A responsible manager takes time to instruct the team members in expected outcomes, define the process and then oversees the systematic implementation.
Organizations undisciplined in follow-up and follow through find themselves missing deadlines with inferior results. Wise are the men and women who up front understand and embrace the plan and who regularly give a status report in their area of expertise. These are the conscientious ones who steward well their responsibilities at work.
Is your home in disarray or is there a well-defined structure around who is responsible for what chores? Maybe you start with the husband proactively caring for the outside needs and for all of the house maintenance, while the wife manages the inside tasks. Engage the children to keep their room clean and organized, while helping dad and mom. Review regularly who is responsible for what and reward good results done with a good attitude.
Above all ask, “What are the Lord’s expectations?” It’s an attractive attitude at work and home that flows from a faith that first seeks to follow Christ’s instructions. Make sure you lay your work before the Lord at His altar of excellence. Is He pleased with your productivity? Are you supervising His resources and relationships as His wise steward?
“The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:42-43).
Related Readings: Genesis 43:16; Luke 16: 1-14; Hebrews 2:1; 1 Peter 4:10
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
2.21.2011
Love Always Protects
“It always protects... “ 1 Corinthians 13:7
Love always protects. It protects because it loves, and it loves because it protects. Love protects physically; if you love someone, you do not want him or her to suffer bodily harm. You provide for them an environment that protects them from the elements. You shield them from harmful substances that might damage their bodies. You keep them safe by obeying the speed limit and not driving recklessly. You protect them by not endangering their lives with unnecessary risks. If you love someone, you protect them.
Wives love to be protected; it makes them feel valued and cherished. They yearn for physical, financial, and emotional protection. Husbands, when you keep your wife safe and sound, you speak their love language. Your provision of a dependable automobile and a secure home screams love. Because you love your family, you protect them from unwise financial exposure.
For example, you don’t “bet the farm” and place your house at risk. Your temperament might be able to handle high risk, and even thrive on it, but, because you love your family, you do not personally expose them to on-the-edge endeavors. You do not want them to fear being unprotected within an unstable home environment.
Love protects emotionally because it understands the sensitive nature of others. Emotional protection allows children to grow up well-adjusted and loved. Adolescents are vulnerable and tender; they still need the loving protection of their parents. Love prays for the protection of the ones it loves. Pray for their hearts to be protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and from unwise influences.
Pray for the testimony of those you love to remain unsoiled and fresh in their walk with Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to protect well-meaning loved ones from straying away from God’s best in relationships. Furthermore, pray for protection from yourself. If not careful, you can talk yourself into almost anything. Sometimes, you can become your own worst enemy, so pray for protection for yourself, and be accountable.
Lastly, think of ways to protect your friends and work associates. Your wisdom and counsel provides loving protection (Proverbs 4:6). A small, encouraging word may protect peers from over-commitment. Your colleagues may need your permission to say no, just so they can let go. Do not underestimate your actions, for what you do provides protection.
Your model of appropriate behavior with the opposite sex protects you and provides an example of discretion for those you influence (Proverbs 2:11). You love others by creating an environment of protection. Therefore, pray for God’s protection and provide protection. Love always, always protects.
Taken from the February 18th reading in the 365 day devotional book, Seeking Daily the Heart of God
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Love always protects. It protects because it loves, and it loves because it protects. Love protects physically; if you love someone, you do not want him or her to suffer bodily harm. You provide for them an environment that protects them from the elements. You shield them from harmful substances that might damage their bodies. You keep them safe by obeying the speed limit and not driving recklessly. You protect them by not endangering their lives with unnecessary risks. If you love someone, you protect them.
Wives love to be protected; it makes them feel valued and cherished. They yearn for physical, financial, and emotional protection. Husbands, when you keep your wife safe and sound, you speak their love language. Your provision of a dependable automobile and a secure home screams love. Because you love your family, you protect them from unwise financial exposure.
For example, you don’t “bet the farm” and place your house at risk. Your temperament might be able to handle high risk, and even thrive on it, but, because you love your family, you do not personally expose them to on-the-edge endeavors. You do not want them to fear being unprotected within an unstable home environment.
Love protects emotionally because it understands the sensitive nature of others. Emotional protection allows children to grow up well-adjusted and loved. Adolescents are vulnerable and tender; they still need the loving protection of their parents. Love prays for the protection of the ones it loves. Pray for their hearts to be protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and from unwise influences.
Pray for the testimony of those you love to remain unsoiled and fresh in their walk with Christ. Pray for the Holy Spirit to protect well-meaning loved ones from straying away from God’s best in relationships. Furthermore, pray for protection from yourself. If not careful, you can talk yourself into almost anything. Sometimes, you can become your own worst enemy, so pray for protection for yourself, and be accountable.
Lastly, think of ways to protect your friends and work associates. Your wisdom and counsel provides loving protection (Proverbs 4:6). A small, encouraging word may protect peers from over-commitment. Your colleagues may need your permission to say no, just so they can let go. Do not underestimate your actions, for what you do provides protection.
Your model of appropriate behavior with the opposite sex protects you and provides an example of discretion for those you influence (Proverbs 2:11). You love others by creating an environment of protection. Therefore, pray for God’s protection and provide protection. Love always, always protects.
Taken from the February 18th reading in the 365 day devotional book, Seeking Daily the Heart of God
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
"Do You Want to Get Well?"
The shriveled figure lay in the sun like a pile of rags dumped there by accident. It hardly appeared to be human. But those who used the gate to go in and out of Jerusalem recognized him. He was disabled, dropped off there every morning by someone in his family, and picked up again at the end of the day. A rumor was going around that sometimes (no one really knew when) an angel would stir the waters, and the first one in would be healed. Sort of a lottery, if you will. And as with every lottery, the desperate gathered round, hoping for a miracle.
It had been so long since anyone had actually spoken to him, he thought the question was meant for someone else. Squinting upward into the sun, he didn't recognize the figure standing above him. The misshapen man asked the fellow to repeat himself; perhaps he had misheard. Although the voice was kind, the question felt harsh, even cruel.
"Do you want to get well?"
He sat speechless, blinking into the sun. Slowly, the words seeped into his consciousness, like a voice calling him out of a dream. Do I want to get well? Slowly, like a wheel long rusted, his mind began to turn over. What kind of question is that? Why else would I be lying here? Why else would I have spent every day for the past thirty-eight seasons lying here? He is mocking me. But now that his vision had adjusted to the glare, he could see the inquisitor's face, his eyes. The face was as kind as the voice he heard. Apparently, the man meant what he said, and he was waiting for an answer. "Do you want to get well? What is it that you want?"
It was Jesus who posed the question, so there must be something we're missing here. He is love incarnate. Why did he ask the paraplegic such an embarrassing question?
(Desire , 33-34)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
It had been so long since anyone had actually spoken to him, he thought the question was meant for someone else. Squinting upward into the sun, he didn't recognize the figure standing above him. The misshapen man asked the fellow to repeat himself; perhaps he had misheard. Although the voice was kind, the question felt harsh, even cruel.
"Do you want to get well?"
He sat speechless, blinking into the sun. Slowly, the words seeped into his consciousness, like a voice calling him out of a dream. Do I want to get well? Slowly, like a wheel long rusted, his mind began to turn over. What kind of question is that? Why else would I be lying here? Why else would I have spent every day for the past thirty-eight seasons lying here? He is mocking me. But now that his vision had adjusted to the glare, he could see the inquisitor's face, his eyes. The face was as kind as the voice he heard. Apparently, the man meant what he said, and he was waiting for an answer. "Do you want to get well? What is it that you want?"
It was Jesus who posed the question, so there must be something we're missing here. He is love incarnate. Why did he ask the paraplegic such an embarrassing question?
(Desire , 33-34)
Source: Ransomed Heart Ministries by John Eldredge
Famous Father
“Lord I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
Most are not famous—but God is the most famous—as His fame is from everlasting to everlasting. He is famous now—He was famous in the past—and He will be famous in the future. No one person or no event is more famous than God. He is the famous One. God’s name is inscribed on the heavenly walk of His stars.
His fame stretches from universe to universe. Its expanse is from galaxy to galaxy. No amount of light years can capture the fame of God. His fame is beyond time. The fame of the Lord God Almighty covers the earth. It races from sea to shining sea. God is famous. He is on center stage as Creator, Savior and Lord. God is our heavenly hero.
He is famous and His fame is not to be hijacked by competing heroes. No one, no gods, and no religions can compete with the fame of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is famous for a reason. He is famous so His followers can proclaim His fame to the nations. The fame of God is our entrée to love people. As ambassadors of Christ His reputation precedes us. We have the amazing opportunity to represent our famous Father!
Missionaries take His fame to the darkest recesses of the world. Bible teachers proclaim His fame to eager students. Normal Christians reflect the fame of God in their everyday lives. His fame is shown in classrooms, homes, businesses, hospitals, resorts and churches all over His globe. We serve, represent and lovingly share the most famous Someone ever.
Christ is a celebrity of righteousness and holiness. Indeed, the attention of believers and unbelievers cannot ultimately ignore His fame. Are you an excellent steward of this level of notoriety? You cannot shirk this responsibility. You are the son or daughter of a celestial celebrity. It is something to be proud of—God is your heavenly Father.
The channels of intimacy are always open to the creator of the free world and to those still in bondage. What an awesome privilege. What a sobering responsibility. Use your famous relationship with Jesus to leverage the gospel. Take advantage of God’s notoriety to help people. Doors have and will swing wide open because you are a Christ follower. Time is short. His fame is infinite and glorious. We worship and proclaim the famous one, God. You are a son or daughter of the most famous One: the Lord Jesus Christ!
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19).
In what ways can I honor my heavenly Father by sharing His fame with friends and foes?
Related Readings: Joshua 9:9; 1 Kings 10:1; Ruth 4:14
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
Most are not famous—but God is the most famous—as His fame is from everlasting to everlasting. He is famous now—He was famous in the past—and He will be famous in the future. No one person or no event is more famous than God. He is the famous One. God’s name is inscribed on the heavenly walk of His stars.
His fame stretches from universe to universe. Its expanse is from galaxy to galaxy. No amount of light years can capture the fame of God. His fame is beyond time. The fame of the Lord God Almighty covers the earth. It races from sea to shining sea. God is famous. He is on center stage as Creator, Savior and Lord. God is our heavenly hero.
He is famous and His fame is not to be hijacked by competing heroes. No one, no gods, and no religions can compete with the fame of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is famous for a reason. He is famous so His followers can proclaim His fame to the nations. The fame of God is our entrée to love people. As ambassadors of Christ His reputation precedes us. We have the amazing opportunity to represent our famous Father!
Missionaries take His fame to the darkest recesses of the world. Bible teachers proclaim His fame to eager students. Normal Christians reflect the fame of God in their everyday lives. His fame is shown in classrooms, homes, businesses, hospitals, resorts and churches all over His globe. We serve, represent and lovingly share the most famous Someone ever.
Christ is a celebrity of righteousness and holiness. Indeed, the attention of believers and unbelievers cannot ultimately ignore His fame. Are you an excellent steward of this level of notoriety? You cannot shirk this responsibility. You are the son or daughter of a celestial celebrity. It is something to be proud of—God is your heavenly Father.
The channels of intimacy are always open to the creator of the free world and to those still in bondage. What an awesome privilege. What a sobering responsibility. Use your famous relationship with Jesus to leverage the gospel. Take advantage of God’s notoriety to help people. Doors have and will swing wide open because you are a Christ follower. Time is short. His fame is infinite and glorious. We worship and proclaim the famous one, God. You are a son or daughter of the most famous One: the Lord Jesus Christ!
“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations” (Isaiah 66:19).
In what ways can I honor my heavenly Father by sharing His fame with friends and foes?
Related Readings: Joshua 9:9; 1 Kings 10:1; Ruth 4:14
Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey
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