What if there was one quality that would change almost everything about your life for the good – would you try to get it? What if there was one thought process that lifted how you lived life to a new height – What would you pay for it? What would you do to get it?
What if there was one attitude that changed or improved you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually would you seek to have that attitude created and increased in your life?
Does it seem too good to be true? Could there really be a quality, a thought or an attitude that could change a person’s whole life? That sounds too good to be true – doesn’t it? Maybe . . . After all doesn’t common sense say – If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!
There actually is a quality that can have an almost immeasurable change on life. That quality is gratitude. Gratitude may not change the circumstances that are being played out in a person’s life but gratitude will change everything that surrounds those circumstances.
In the century before Jesus entered human history there was significant debate among the philosophers and thinkers of the day about vices (sin and evil) and virtues (goodness and rightness). One of the most brilliant thinkers and writers of that day was Marcus Tullius Cicero - often referred to as simply ‘Cicero.’ Cicero was a Roman Lawyer, Writer, Scholar, Orator and Statesman. One of the observations and quotes, regarding vices and virtues, that he is well known for is: “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”
The human body cannot function correctly without the correct amount and make-up of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is what keeps the brain suspended, protects the brain and spinal components from injury in normal life, and it helps to maintain chemical stability in the body. Gratitude is in a sense the spinal fluid running through the spiritual cord of people. If the gratitude is there then people can be healthy spiritually, emotionally, mentally and psychically.
The great GK Chesterton wrote about having gratitude is every area of life: You say grace before meals. All right! But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.
How’s your gratitude? Do you need an infusion of gratitude? Ask God to ‘grow gratitude’ in your heart – it will change almost everything in your life!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Seek Week - Share Your Story ...
Today, January 23rd, starts “Seek Week” here at South Whidbey Assembly of God. I want to encourage each of you to take time out this week to spend time with God. We have provided a simple “Seek Week” guide/handout for you. You can use the guide/handout if you want to, or recycle it. It is not meant to be ‘The Guide’ but a tool to help you if you want it.
A number of us have been praying that Seek Week will be a time of blessing in your journey with Jesus. I personally have been praying for those of you that may be in a difficult season or a time where it seems like God has been silent or distant. I believe that the Holy Spirit wants to use this week to speak to you and bring about some new growth in your life.
When someone is going through a season marked by what seems to be silence and distance on God’s part, a common reaction is to avoid seeking God so that they are not reminded of God’s silence or distance and avoiding disappointment that has characterized recent history.
God’s Word promises that when we “draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.” If you are someone who has been avoiding seeking God because your recent experience has been silence and distance, I want to encourage you to ‘by faith’ to spend time this week seeking Him.
We are expecting some great things to happen in people’s lives this week – if something happens that you would be comfortable sharing, would you share it with us? You could write it in a note and mail it or put it in the offering bag next Sunday. You could send the story to us via email. You could check the church’s Facebook page and share your story there.
We want to be able to share what God is doing with the church family.
Seek Week is not just for adults but for the whole family. It is for children, teens and adults. Could you encourage your children by reading and praying with them? Could you encourage your teen to spend some extra time ‘seeking?’ I want to encourage you to be creative as you seek Jesus.
A number of us have been praying that Seek Week will be a time of blessing in your journey with Jesus. I personally have been praying for those of you that may be in a difficult season or a time where it seems like God has been silent or distant. I believe that the Holy Spirit wants to use this week to speak to you and bring about some new growth in your life.
When someone is going through a season marked by what seems to be silence and distance on God’s part, a common reaction is to avoid seeking God so that they are not reminded of God’s silence or distance and avoiding disappointment that has characterized recent history.
God’s Word promises that when we “draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.” If you are someone who has been avoiding seeking God because your recent experience has been silence and distance, I want to encourage you to ‘by faith’ to spend time this week seeking Him.
We are expecting some great things to happen in people’s lives this week – if something happens that you would be comfortable sharing, would you share it with us? You could write it in a note and mail it or put it in the offering bag next Sunday. You could send the story to us via email. You could check the church’s Facebook page and share your story there.
We want to be able to share what God is doing with the church family.
Seek Week is not just for adults but for the whole family. It is for children, teens and adults. Could you encourage your children by reading and praying with them? Could you encourage your teen to spend some extra time ‘seeking?’ I want to encourage you to be creative as you seek Jesus.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Spectator or Participant?
There are two major ways that involvement in sports takes place. One way is to actually participate in the sport. Someone, involved practices for the sport and then actually ‘put on the gear’ and participate. They go out and get sweaty and dirty and sore. They are fully engaged in the game.
The other way is as a ‘spectator.’ Instead of actually practicing, gearing up, and getting sweaty, dirty and sore they watch from the sidelines while others play the sport. In every arena of sports down through history there have always been more spectators than there have been participants.
It seems to me that in the modern American church both of these types of involvement happen. It never has been the plan of God that there would be two types of people in the church – participants and spectators - but both types exist.
There are those who are actually living their faith. They practice the spiritual exercises and disciplines and are regularly ‘putting on the gear’ and going out and get sweaty, dirty and sore. Their faith is alive, growing and healthy. They pray, give, study, read, meditate, serve, love, worship and so on.
There are others who aren’t really living out their faith but instead they watch others who are participating in the life of faith. Sure they show up. Sure they cheer. Sure they know the plays, know the rules, know the players and what the game is supposed to look like but they don’t actually ‘gear up’ and participate.
The interesting thing about sports is it is a whole lot easier to be an ‘arm chair quarterback’ when living a spectator life then it is when living a participant life. Participants understand enough about what it takes to play the game, understand that there are countless obstacles and have had bad days and even bad seasons that all temper them and keeps their ‘arm chair quarterbacking’ to a minimum.
Here’s the simple question: Are you a participant or a spectator?
The other way is as a ‘spectator.’ Instead of actually practicing, gearing up, and getting sweaty, dirty and sore they watch from the sidelines while others play the sport. In every arena of sports down through history there have always been more spectators than there have been participants.
It seems to me that in the modern American church both of these types of involvement happen. It never has been the plan of God that there would be two types of people in the church – participants and spectators - but both types exist.
There are those who are actually living their faith. They practice the spiritual exercises and disciplines and are regularly ‘putting on the gear’ and going out and get sweaty, dirty and sore. Their faith is alive, growing and healthy. They pray, give, study, read, meditate, serve, love, worship and so on.
There are others who aren’t really living out their faith but instead they watch others who are participating in the life of faith. Sure they show up. Sure they cheer. Sure they know the plays, know the rules, know the players and what the game is supposed to look like but they don’t actually ‘gear up’ and participate.
The interesting thing about sports is it is a whole lot easier to be an ‘arm chair quarterback’ when living a spectator life then it is when living a participant life. Participants understand enough about what it takes to play the game, understand that there are countless obstacles and have had bad days and even bad seasons that all temper them and keeps their ‘arm chair quarterbacking’ to a minimum.
Here’s the simple question: Are you a participant or a spectator?
Friday, January 7, 2011
REST
Over the next four weeks we are going to look at the subject of REST. R – Rest. E – Exercises S – Sabbath. T – Thanksgiving. We live in a hurried, out of control world and it is almost impossible to avoid getting on the treadmill with everyone else.
You have probably said and heard others say things like: Where did the time go? Time keeps going faster and faster. There aren't enough hours in the week to get everything done. A New York Times article said: “Somewhere between trigonometry and colonoscopy, someone must have hit the fast-forward button.”
Do these ideas ring true for you? Have you said some of these things? Have you thought some of these things?
As the treadmill speeds up, we all try to control more and more things in our life. There is danger in living like that. One danger is we deceive ourselves into thinking that we can really control things. Another danger is the stress that is created when what we are trying to control slips out of our control.
Writer and teacher John Ortberg has written about the human propensity to strive to control life. He wrote: “As a general rule, the harder you work to control things, the more you lose control.”
What if REST is part of the answer to create a whole different way of living? What if REST is part of getting off the treadmill and traveling through life another way?
I hope that you ‘tune-in’ for these weeks of teaching on REST.
You have probably said and heard others say things like: Where did the time go? Time keeps going faster and faster. There aren't enough hours in the week to get everything done. A New York Times article said: “Somewhere between trigonometry and colonoscopy, someone must have hit the fast-forward button.”
Do these ideas ring true for you? Have you said some of these things? Have you thought some of these things?
As the treadmill speeds up, we all try to control more and more things in our life. There is danger in living like that. One danger is we deceive ourselves into thinking that we can really control things. Another danger is the stress that is created when what we are trying to control slips out of our control.
Writer and teacher John Ortberg has written about the human propensity to strive to control life. He wrote: “As a general rule, the harder you work to control things, the more you lose control.”
What if REST is part of the answer to create a whole different way of living? What if REST is part of getting off the treadmill and traveling through life another way?
I hope that you ‘tune-in’ for these weeks of teaching on REST.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Made in the image of God
The Genesis creation account says that God “created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NLT)
The phrase ‘in the image of God’ has significant importance that over the centuries has lost much of its significance. When Moses, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, wrote what we know as the book of Genesis the world was significantly different than it is today.
In the years that Moses walked the earth and down through the centuries the common practice of people and nations was to make ‘images’ of the gods that people served and of the kings that were in power. There were no newspapers, TV, or Internet. In order that people would remember the ‘god’ that they were to serve people would erect a statue of the ‘god.’ The statues would be found in all kinds of places and they would be all different sizes. The statues were to serve as a continual reminder of who was god.
Kings would likewise erect statues of themselves across the region that they ruled. One of the common artifacts that archeologists find is statues of kings. The statues were scattered throughout the kingdom and served to remind the people in the region who was in charge.
The closest practice that modern Americans have is the portrait of the President, who is in currently in power, which is displayed in many Post Offices across the country. The portrait reminds people, as they walk into the Post Office, who the leader of the land is.
The significance of God creating people ‘in His own image’ is found in these practices. Everywhere a person walks, sits, works or plays there is the image of God. There is a living representation of the God of the universe. There is a living representation of the God who is the king of the land.
The 2nd Commandment that God gave to Moses on the mountain was to make no ‘image’ of God or a statue that would represent any god or power. God commanded people that they were not to worship any image.
Why? God created people – living beings – to be his ‘image’ in the world. God’s intention was that people would look at one another and they would be reminded of God and reminded of who the King is.
The phrase ‘in the image of God’ has significant importance that over the centuries has lost much of its significance. When Moses, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, wrote what we know as the book of Genesis the world was significantly different than it is today.
In the years that Moses walked the earth and down through the centuries the common practice of people and nations was to make ‘images’ of the gods that people served and of the kings that were in power. There were no newspapers, TV, or Internet. In order that people would remember the ‘god’ that they were to serve people would erect a statue of the ‘god.’ The statues would be found in all kinds of places and they would be all different sizes. The statues were to serve as a continual reminder of who was god.
Kings would likewise erect statues of themselves across the region that they ruled. One of the common artifacts that archeologists find is statues of kings. The statues were scattered throughout the kingdom and served to remind the people in the region who was in charge.
The closest practice that modern Americans have is the portrait of the President, who is in currently in power, which is displayed in many Post Offices across the country. The portrait reminds people, as they walk into the Post Office, who the leader of the land is.
The significance of God creating people ‘in His own image’ is found in these practices. Everywhere a person walks, sits, works or plays there is the image of God. There is a living representation of the God of the universe. There is a living representation of the God who is the king of the land.
The 2nd Commandment that God gave to Moses on the mountain was to make no ‘image’ of God or a statue that would represent any god or power. God commanded people that they were not to worship any image.
Why? God created people – living beings – to be his ‘image’ in the world. God’s intention was that people would look at one another and they would be reminded of God and reminded of who the King is.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Chasing God
Anyone who has been around cats very much has probably had occasion to be entertained by watching a cat chase its tail. Round and round and round the cat goes, the tip of the tail just out of reach. Eventually the cat tires and gives up. Then out of the corner of his eye he sees a tail twitch and the entertainment starts up again as the cat goes round and round and round with the tail illuding him one more time.
I was talking to someone recently who is living life like that. He is spending his life, at the cost of health, relationships and his ‘soul’ chasing after the illusive money, illusive pleasure, illusive fulfillment, illusive success and illusive ‘attainment.’ I asked him about all the chasing in his life and his response was accurate. He responded: “People are made to chase.” I agree with him. People are made to chase. The question is what are people made to chase? Are humans designed to chase money, pleasure, fame, fortune, power and success or something or someone else?
The Bible is a record of people chasing after the illusive ‘twitching of the tail.’ The twitching forbidden fruit caught Eve’s eye. The twitching lure of power caught Saul’s eye. The twitch lure of beauty and lust caught David’s eye. The twitching lure of possessions, success and a bigger empire caught Solomon’s eye. Each generation and every person experiences the allure of chasing the ‘twitching tail.’
Humans were not created to chase whatever catches the eye. Humans were created to chase God. Paul told the people of Athens:
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. (Acts 17:26-27 MSG)
What are you chasing? Are you chasing the latest ‘twitching tail’ that caught your eye or are you chasing the one who created us to ‘seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him.’
Chase after God!
I was talking to someone recently who is living life like that. He is spending his life, at the cost of health, relationships and his ‘soul’ chasing after the illusive money, illusive pleasure, illusive fulfillment, illusive success and illusive ‘attainment.’ I asked him about all the chasing in his life and his response was accurate. He responded: “People are made to chase.” I agree with him. People are made to chase. The question is what are people made to chase? Are humans designed to chase money, pleasure, fame, fortune, power and success or something or someone else?
The Bible is a record of people chasing after the illusive ‘twitching of the tail.’ The twitching forbidden fruit caught Eve’s eye. The twitching lure of power caught Saul’s eye. The twitch lure of beauty and lust caught David’s eye. The twitching lure of possessions, success and a bigger empire caught Solomon’s eye. Each generation and every person experiences the allure of chasing the ‘twitching tail.’
Humans were not created to chase whatever catches the eye. Humans were created to chase God. Paul told the people of Athens:
Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. (Acts 17:26-27 MSG)
What are you chasing? Are you chasing the latest ‘twitching tail’ that caught your eye or are you chasing the one who created us to ‘seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find Him.’
Chase after God!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Specimens of Holiness?
Oswald Chambers in his classic daily devotional My Utmost For His Highest wrote: “God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum.”
Recently, when I read those words, I was challenged to consider how I view holiness, what holiness means and how it is worked out in a person’s life. Is God trying to make me into a ‘specimen of holiness’ to show off? I don’t think so. If that is what He is trying to do – may I be bold enough to say: He’s not doing a very good job. He’ll never have a trophy for His trophy case.
God is at work to make us like Jesus. God is at work to get our will to the place where we are open and available for His work. The Old Testament book of Zechariah records a conversation between the Devil and God regarding the High Priest Jeshua and it reveals an interesting truth about humans.
And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. … this man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire."
Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.
So the angel said to the others standing there, "Take off his filthy clothes." And turning to Jeshua he said, "See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes." (Zechariah 3:2- 4 NLT)
God is not looking for perfect people, even perfect High Priests or perfect Prophets. He is looking for people who He can ‘take away their sins’ and make them into a ‘burning stick.’ Where does God find those people? He ‘snatches them from the fire.’
God is looking for people to ‘snatch from the fires’ of life and then HE takes their sins away and HE gives them ‘fine new clothes.’
God isn’t trying to find trophies or make trophies. God is looking for people to transform and then to use to ‘snatch from the fire’ and ‘take away their sins’ and ‘give them new clothes’ and then do it all over again with someone in the fires of life!
That is what Biblical holiness is – God transforming one so that He can use them. Over and Over and Over again!
Here we are Lord, Rescue us from the ‘fires’ of life. Take away our sins. Give us clean clothes. Use us to rescue others. Amen
Recently, when I read those words, I was challenged to consider how I view holiness, what holiness means and how it is worked out in a person’s life. Is God trying to make me into a ‘specimen of holiness’ to show off? I don’t think so. If that is what He is trying to do – may I be bold enough to say: He’s not doing a very good job. He’ll never have a trophy for His trophy case.
God is at work to make us like Jesus. God is at work to get our will to the place where we are open and available for His work. The Old Testament book of Zechariah records a conversation between the Devil and God regarding the High Priest Jeshua and it reveals an interesting truth about humans.
And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. … this man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire."
Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.
So the angel said to the others standing there, "Take off his filthy clothes." And turning to Jeshua he said, "See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes." (Zechariah 3:2- 4 NLT)
God is not looking for perfect people, even perfect High Priests or perfect Prophets. He is looking for people who He can ‘take away their sins’ and make them into a ‘burning stick.’ Where does God find those people? He ‘snatches them from the fire.’
God is looking for people to ‘snatch from the fires’ of life and then HE takes their sins away and HE gives them ‘fine new clothes.’
God isn’t trying to find trophies or make trophies. God is looking for people to transform and then to use to ‘snatch from the fire’ and ‘take away their sins’ and ‘give them new clothes’ and then do it all over again with someone in the fires of life!
That is what Biblical holiness is – God transforming one so that He can use them. Over and Over and Over again!
Here we are Lord, Rescue us from the ‘fires’ of life. Take away our sins. Give us clean clothes. Use us to rescue others. Amen
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is a great day to spend with family and other loved ones. Almost everyone looks forward to the week of Thanksgiving and the day. There are lots of reasons for that. For some the shortened work week is a much anticipated respite. For others it is the time with family. For others it is the turkey and dressing. For others it is the endless football.
The scriptures teach that thanksgiving is not only a ‘day’ but that it should be a way of life. From the earliest days of Israel’s history the people of God would respond to life with a line that is recorded dozens of times in the Old Testament --- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV)
Jesus half-brother James wrote: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)
The Apostle Paul wrote: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
A good verse to live the rest of life by is: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2 NIV)
Thankfulness centers our heart on the reality that everything we have is not ours because of our strength, ingenuity, talents, beauty or family heritage. What we have does come from the Father. What about what doesn’t happen? Has tragedy, struggle, sickness, etc not happened to us because of our ability to control all of life, protect ourselves and keep ‘bad’ away? No! The truth is protection and ‘being spared from’ things is also a gift from the Father above.
In different settings I’ve been personally challenged by people who start EVERY prayer with thanksgiving. My tendency is to jump into business. There are so many needs in life. There are things that I would really like to see God do. There are people who need miracles. So I just jump into business.
I walk away from those times of praying with others challenged to slow down, to not be in such a rush to get to business but instead to take time to give thanks.
I need to grow in making thanksgiving a way of life. How about you?
The scriptures teach that thanksgiving is not only a ‘day’ but that it should be a way of life. From the earliest days of Israel’s history the people of God would respond to life with a line that is recorded dozens of times in the Old Testament --- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV)
Jesus half-brother James wrote: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17 NIV)
The Apostle Paul wrote: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
A good verse to live the rest of life by is: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2 NIV)
Thankfulness centers our heart on the reality that everything we have is not ours because of our strength, ingenuity, talents, beauty or family heritage. What we have does come from the Father. What about what doesn’t happen? Has tragedy, struggle, sickness, etc not happened to us because of our ability to control all of life, protect ourselves and keep ‘bad’ away? No! The truth is protection and ‘being spared from’ things is also a gift from the Father above.
In different settings I’ve been personally challenged by people who start EVERY prayer with thanksgiving. My tendency is to jump into business. There are so many needs in life. There are things that I would really like to see God do. There are people who need miracles. So I just jump into business.
I walk away from those times of praying with others challenged to slow down, to not be in such a rush to get to business but instead to take time to give thanks.
I need to grow in making thanksgiving a way of life. How about you?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Jesus - The Defining Reality
What is the ‘defining reality’ of your life? What is it about your life that defines everything else about you? If some part of your life were to be taken away – what part would have the most impact on who you are and how you live?
The answers to those questions are complex and they are varied. For some the ‘defining reality’ is their racial class. For some it is their work, for some it is there roll as a parent, for some it is their talents, for some it is their marriage and for some it is their standard of living. There are many ways that a person defines their life.
For those who ‘define reality’ by their race – if that were changed or taken away – the reference point for everything else is taken away. For those who ‘define reality’ by their work, their parenting, their marriage, their talents, and so on - when the ‘defining reality’ is taken away – the reference point for everything is taken away.
For a follower of Jesus – the ‘defining reality’ is meant to be Jesus. Disciples are meant to define everything in life based on Jesus. Jesus is the point by which everything else in life finds a ‘relative place.’ Just like the North Star and the North Pole are points upon which navigation is calculated Jesus is the point where all of life is calculated. Just like all clocks are coordinated relative to Greenwich Mean Time Jesus is what everything in life is coordinated to.
Paul wrote to the church in Colossi - “…, set your hearts on things above, … Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. … your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, …” (Colossians 3:1-4 NIV)
Set your hearts on things above – navigate by that. Set your minds on things above – coordinate to Jesus.
Notice the last four words – Christ, who is your life ….
There is the defining reality of life. Christ, who is your life. Christ, who is my life.
Jesus, help us to define everything else in our life by you and not you by the other things in our life. Amen.
The answers to those questions are complex and they are varied. For some the ‘defining reality’ is their racial class. For some it is their work, for some it is there roll as a parent, for some it is their talents, for some it is their marriage and for some it is their standard of living. There are many ways that a person defines their life.
For those who ‘define reality’ by their race – if that were changed or taken away – the reference point for everything else is taken away. For those who ‘define reality’ by their work, their parenting, their marriage, their talents, and so on - when the ‘defining reality’ is taken away – the reference point for everything is taken away.
For a follower of Jesus – the ‘defining reality’ is meant to be Jesus. Disciples are meant to define everything in life based on Jesus. Jesus is the point by which everything else in life finds a ‘relative place.’ Just like the North Star and the North Pole are points upon which navigation is calculated Jesus is the point where all of life is calculated. Just like all clocks are coordinated relative to Greenwich Mean Time Jesus is what everything in life is coordinated to.
Paul wrote to the church in Colossi - “…, set your hearts on things above, … Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. … your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, …” (Colossians 3:1-4 NIV)
Set your hearts on things above – navigate by that. Set your minds on things above – coordinate to Jesus.
Notice the last four words – Christ, who is your life ….
There is the defining reality of life. Christ, who is your life. Christ, who is my life.
Jesus, help us to define everything else in our life by you and not you by the other things in our life. Amen.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Seeing the Future
If I could only see the future! We just finished a prolonged season of political commentators, reading the tea leaves of the political polls and giving us a daily forecast of the political weather. We’ve heard a lot the last few months about ‘La Nina’ and the strong winter we are going to have. After the record high temperatures this week, one news anchor reported that they had gone back to 1949-50, the previous record for high temperature in November, to find out what had happened in the winter of 1950. Seattle had 51”of snow that winter – then she said: I’m not forecasting but …
It will be only a few short weeks until we hear all of the forecasters telling us what 2011 will be like in the area of finances, politics, weather, sports and even the relationship of the ‘stars.’ These predictions will be online, in the tabloids, on TV, radio and in most newspapers. Some will start out … “Nostradamus predicts…”
How much of the future do we really see? As followers of Jesus, the One who knows the future, we really see very little. Nicki Gumble, the teacher for the ALPHA series, uses an illustration of the headlights on a vehicle for how far we really see into the future. Just as a car’s headlights only light a minimal amount of the road ahead, God usually only shows people a minimal amount of the road ahead. We can’t see around the corner. We can’t see over the hill. We can’t see what is off the side of the road. We see only that short distance ahead.
Here are some thoughts by Eugene Peterson, author of the Message Bible, regarding ‘seeing the future:’
•When we follow Jesus, it means that we don’t know exactly what it means, at least in detail. We follow him, letting him pick the roads, set the timetables, tell us what we need to know but only when we need to know it.
•When Jesus says “Follow me” and we follow, we don’t know where we will go next or what we will do next.
•No matter how much we know, we don’t know enough to know what Jesus is going to do next.
•Following Jesus doesn’t get us where we want to go. It gets us to where Jesus goes…
Following Jesus requires continually listening for His direction, trusting that He knows best, remembering that He will not forsake us and then walking in the direction that we hear His voice calling us.
Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.
Jesus, help us to hear you more clearly and follow you more thoroughly. Amen.
It will be only a few short weeks until we hear all of the forecasters telling us what 2011 will be like in the area of finances, politics, weather, sports and even the relationship of the ‘stars.’ These predictions will be online, in the tabloids, on TV, radio and in most newspapers. Some will start out … “Nostradamus predicts…”
How much of the future do we really see? As followers of Jesus, the One who knows the future, we really see very little. Nicki Gumble, the teacher for the ALPHA series, uses an illustration of the headlights on a vehicle for how far we really see into the future. Just as a car’s headlights only light a minimal amount of the road ahead, God usually only shows people a minimal amount of the road ahead. We can’t see around the corner. We can’t see over the hill. We can’t see what is off the side of the road. We see only that short distance ahead.
Here are some thoughts by Eugene Peterson, author of the Message Bible, regarding ‘seeing the future:’
•When we follow Jesus, it means that we don’t know exactly what it means, at least in detail. We follow him, letting him pick the roads, set the timetables, tell us what we need to know but only when we need to know it.
•When Jesus says “Follow me” and we follow, we don’t know where we will go next or what we will do next.
•No matter how much we know, we don’t know enough to know what Jesus is going to do next.
•Following Jesus doesn’t get us where we want to go. It gets us to where Jesus goes…
Following Jesus requires continually listening for His direction, trusting that He knows best, remembering that He will not forsake us and then walking in the direction that we hear His voice calling us.
Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself.
Jesus, help us to hear you more clearly and follow you more thoroughly. Amen.
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