This one hit me hard this morning, as James always does. It's like he wants to leave you so black and blue after reading his letter that you have no choice but to be more like Christ. Bold. Blunt. In-your-face. Stepping-on-your-toes. Yep, that's James. I think if I would have lived in his time I would have had difficulty approaching him for fear of getting socked in the jaw with truth proceeding from the mouth of the man who had Jesus Christ for an older brother. Yeah, try to picture that life. There are still so many questions I have about his letter (most of them start with "Did you seriously mean it when you said . . ." or "How can you say . . . when another scripture says . . ."). But it's the infallible Word of Truth, breathed and inspired by the Almighty, so I'm not so much questioning it today as I am reeling from its punches. Does the Bible ever do that to you? Sucker punch you when you least expect it? Leave you on your knees, silently begging for more, but nearly afraid to ask?
Ready? Try this one:
"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come close to God and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor."
Okay, lets explore some background before we step up to the line. Who is James addressing here? (hint: it's not the lost) The church of Jewish people he was leading - in Jerusalem and abroad. And, I'd like to argue, all believers everywhere in all generations. He's talking to us.
Did you see the sweet little nugget packed within his fist as he swung at me? I did this time I read it, and it definitely hit me differently today.
"Come close to God and God will come close to you."
Now, usually when I read or quote that part, it is conveniently absent of its violent neighbors. It's such a sweet, comforting idea. Like hot cocoa or warm apple pie. So why in the world would James have put it smack dab in the middle of these teeth-breaking blows: "Humble yourselves"? "Wash your hands, you sinners"? "purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided"? "Let there be sorrow and deep grief"? "gloom instead of joy"? Is it just me, or is this a little out of place? What in heaven's name does one have to do with the others?
EVERYTHING!
If we want to draw near to God and have Him in turn draw near to us, coming before Him bloodied and bruised by our own repentance is THE key. And let me define repentance, just in case it's simply a cliche that has lost its meaning by over-use. Repentance is "a repenting or being penitent; feeling of sorrow, etc., esp. for wrongdoing; compunction; contrition; remorse" (yourDictionary.com). Yeah. Repentance hurts. It's supposed to. It doubles us over and drops us to our knees. It brings stinging tears to our eyes and most importantly, it brings an intrinsic, passionate, needy desire to CHANGE. To turn from what hit you and walk away from the sin. Not to book a return trip. Ever.
So, yes, we can come near to God and He will come near to us. Of course. He wants us to come near to Him. Always. He never refuses us, IF. If what? If we are humble. If we realize we are nothing without Him. If we acknowledge that we have no righteousness of our own, but only that which is endued to us from His precious and beautiful Son. If we realize the wretched state of our sinfulness without His grace. It is not only imperative THAT we come close to Him, but HOW we come close to Him.
And that is James' purpose in slugging us repeatedly and painfully. Because God can't come near our sin. It has to be covered in His Son's precious blood and washed away - as far as east is from west and deeper than the ocean floor. That's what happens to our sin when we confess in repentance. We can be continually humbled by the realization that He loves us that much. And once we are bloodied by our humility, there's nothing that can keep us from His warm, cozy, comforting embrace. Not a single thing.
Were you caught in the jaw mid swing as James was aiming at me? I'd say sorry, but maybe I'm not.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
askers
It's time to pray. If you haven't done so yet today, stop and take a moment to talk to Jesus. Tell Him why you love Him; talk to Him about what you need; ask Him for His will.
Okay, now that we've started the right way, let's keep going:
"You do not have, because you do not ask God." - James 4:2d(NIV)
So there are a few things lately that I really need, and I must confess that I haven't been as diligent as I ought to in talking to God about them. I've kind of just been thinking and worrying and doing, but not really asking the Creator of the universe to work on my behalf regarding them. When I finally did get around to talking to Him about one of these matters, it ended up being more of a question like, "Why hasn't this been solved, yet, Lord?" He gently whispered the verse above to my heart. Guess what I did immediately?
And how about this one:
"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."-Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)
Does God want to give me the good things I ask for? Duh. Will He provide what is best for his child when I ask according to His will? I repeat: Duh.
How? I don't know yet. A lot of what I'm asking for does not have an easy solution. Most of these things are issues that no amount of brainstorming on my part will fix. Almost everything I'm asking Him for has nothing to do with anything I have the least bit of control over. I'm literally taking them to His capable Hands and dumping them. Not because I'm giving up. Because it's the best option for success.
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” -Matthew 19:26b (NLT)
What do you need to ask God for today? What can you dump into His hands and watch Him do the impossible? Have you asked Him to bless your group this term? Have you requested that He use you as His tool to touch lives with love and grace? Have you sought His will for your leadership?
Let's be askers - He tells us to, after all.
Okay, now that we've started the right way, let's keep going:
"You do not have, because you do not ask God." - James 4:2d(NIV)
So there are a few things lately that I really need, and I must confess that I haven't been as diligent as I ought to in talking to God about them. I've kind of just been thinking and worrying and doing, but not really asking the Creator of the universe to work on my behalf regarding them. When I finally did get around to talking to Him about one of these matters, it ended up being more of a question like, "Why hasn't this been solved, yet, Lord?" He gently whispered the verse above to my heart. Guess what I did immediately?
And how about this one:
"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."-Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)
Does God want to give me the good things I ask for? Duh. Will He provide what is best for his child when I ask according to His will? I repeat: Duh.
How? I don't know yet. A lot of what I'm asking for does not have an easy solution. Most of these things are issues that no amount of brainstorming on my part will fix. Almost everything I'm asking Him for has nothing to do with anything I have the least bit of control over. I'm literally taking them to His capable Hands and dumping them. Not because I'm giving up. Because it's the best option for success.
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” -Matthew 19:26b (NLT)
What do you need to ask God for today? What can you dump into His hands and watch Him do the impossible? Have you asked Him to bless your group this term? Have you requested that He use you as His tool to touch lives with love and grace? Have you sought His will for your leadership?
Let's be askers - He tells us to, after all.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Next Level
“May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “ – 2 Peter 1:2-8 (NLT)
Okay - I know it's a longer passage than I usually post, but I can't cut any of it out. It's all just too good! And where do I start? Who doesn't want more grace and peace? And how? By growing in our knowledge of Him (which comes, as you know, by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God - EVERY DAY!!) And we give all glory to God alone, because it is only through Him that we have anything good that we have. He has made promises to us that He always keeps, so what do WE do? RESPOND to his promises by growing to the next level. Picture this passage with me by thinking of stepping blocks, each ascending higher and higher, closer and closer to Jesus:
Love for Everyone
Brotherly Affection
Godliness
Patient Endurance
Self-Control
Knowledge
Moral Excellence
Faith
So where are you? What step do you find yourself on today? How can you grow in your knowledge of Him and His Word in order to step up to the next level?
And where are the people you are leading? How can you deliberately speak into their lives to lead them to that next level that is waiting for them? How can you teach them to receive all of the promises God has in store for them?
As we journey as a church together to the Next Level, may we all be looking at how we personally can grow in our walk with Jesus, as well as how we can bring others along with us, leading them closer to Him by the things we do and say, and by the way we allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light through us. Because who doesn't want to be more "productive and useful" for Him?
Okay - I know it's a longer passage than I usually post, but I can't cut any of it out. It's all just too good! And where do I start? Who doesn't want more grace and peace? And how? By growing in our knowledge of Him (which comes, as you know, by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God - EVERY DAY!!) And we give all glory to God alone, because it is only through Him that we have anything good that we have. He has made promises to us that He always keeps, so what do WE do? RESPOND to his promises by growing to the next level. Picture this passage with me by thinking of stepping blocks, each ascending higher and higher, closer and closer to Jesus:
Love for Everyone
Brotherly Affection
Godliness
Patient Endurance
Self-Control
Knowledge
Moral Excellence
Faith
So where are you? What step do you find yourself on today? How can you grow in your knowledge of Him and His Word in order to step up to the next level?
And where are the people you are leading? How can you deliberately speak into their lives to lead them to that next level that is waiting for them? How can you teach them to receive all of the promises God has in store for them?
As we journey as a church together to the Next Level, may we all be looking at how we personally can grow in our walk with Jesus, as well as how we can bring others along with us, leading them closer to Him by the things we do and say, and by the way we allow the Holy Spirit to shine His light through us. Because who doesn't want to be more "productive and useful" for Him?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
stigma
Okay, so I've been following Christ for at least 12 years and have known a lot about God since childhood, but there is still so much to wrap my brain around when it comes to who He is and how we relate to Him. For a long time I've grappled with the phrase "fear of the Lord" and my understanding of it continues to grow the more I grow in my walk with Him.
There's obviously a stigma attached to fearing the Lord, as if to do so would be to acknowledge Him as this scary vindictive being who wants to dominate us with His power. So in effort to steer clear of this image, I think we've lost the true meaning of the Word. It's almost as if some believers want to jump over the verses that talk about fearing the Lord and move on to more pleasant, comprehensible passages of His Word. I had an epiphany this morning in my devotions and I just have to share it.
"LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness, that we may learn to fear You." -Psalm 130: 3-4
God's motive behind offering forgiveness is not so that we will take advantage of His grace and use it as a license to sin. His intentions are to teach us to respect and honor Him more, to learn how NOT to contradict Him and His will. His mercy is intended to draw us nearer to His unending love and lovingkindess so that we will reciprocate that love in obedience. His grace is meant to woo us to Himself. The understanding of this grace, and subsequent life of surrender to His will is the essence of fearing Him.
And the cycle continues with:
" . . . the LORD's delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love." - Psalm 147:11
The more we walk in hopeful, trusting, loving fear of Him, the more He delights in us; delights in offering the forgiving grace that spans the distance between us that is sin.
And thus the spiral of drawing nearer to God tightens and quickens like a park slide. The more God loves us and shows us His loving mercy, the more we want to honor and obey Him in love, and then the more He delights in us and in offering us his lovingkindness, and we are won over by His efforts to capture our hearts in devotion.
Sometimes I run out of words to describe how much I adore Him. I'm so thankful that He initiated love first by offering forgiveness through the bloody sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. I still stand amazed that He would go to such great lengths for me. Fearing Him is equated to loving Him; to honoring Him for the power He holds; to desiring to follow His plan and His ways; to doing everything in my power to worship Him alone.
There's obviously a stigma attached to fearing the Lord, as if to do so would be to acknowledge Him as this scary vindictive being who wants to dominate us with His power. So in effort to steer clear of this image, I think we've lost the true meaning of the Word. It's almost as if some believers want to jump over the verses that talk about fearing the Lord and move on to more pleasant, comprehensible passages of His Word. I had an epiphany this morning in my devotions and I just have to share it.
"LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness, that we may learn to fear You." -Psalm 130: 3-4
God's motive behind offering forgiveness is not so that we will take advantage of His grace and use it as a license to sin. His intentions are to teach us to respect and honor Him more, to learn how NOT to contradict Him and His will. His mercy is intended to draw us nearer to His unending love and lovingkindess so that we will reciprocate that love in obedience. His grace is meant to woo us to Himself. The understanding of this grace, and subsequent life of surrender to His will is the essence of fearing Him.
And the cycle continues with:
" . . . the LORD's delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love." - Psalm 147:11
The more we walk in hopeful, trusting, loving fear of Him, the more He delights in us; delights in offering the forgiving grace that spans the distance between us that is sin.
And thus the spiral of drawing nearer to God tightens and quickens like a park slide. The more God loves us and shows us His loving mercy, the more we want to honor and obey Him in love, and then the more He delights in us and in offering us his lovingkindness, and we are won over by His efforts to capture our hearts in devotion.
Sometimes I run out of words to describe how much I adore Him. I'm so thankful that He initiated love first by offering forgiveness through the bloody sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. I still stand amazed that He would go to such great lengths for me. Fearing Him is equated to loving Him; to honoring Him for the power He holds; to desiring to follow His plan and His ways; to doing everything in my power to worship Him alone.
Friday, July 10, 2009
When God says, "I promise"
If the Bible is my feasting table, then my favorite dishes are most likely the verses and chapters that are seasoned with His promises for me. Psalm 91 is one of these very tasty little entrees:
"He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection . . .
The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.
I wil protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.'"
-Psalm 91:4, 14-16
Trusting God means taking Him at His word and believing that He will do what He says. Do we love Him? Do we trust in His Name? If so, then we can be assured of these promises listed in the Psalm. We will be sheltered and protected in dangerous situations; we will be rescued, even when we're in the deepest trouble of our lives. If the LORD is our God, and no other, we are guaranteed eternal salvation along with every day and minute that He has destined for us to be alive.
If that does not bring hope to the hopeless, I don't know what will. I am encouraged this week and my body and soul are strengthened from feasting on His promises.
My prayer for you - taste and see that the Lord is good, that His promises are true, if you love Him and trust in His name.
"He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection . . .
The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.
I wil protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.'"
-Psalm 91:4, 14-16
Trusting God means taking Him at His word and believing that He will do what He says. Do we love Him? Do we trust in His Name? If so, then we can be assured of these promises listed in the Psalm. We will be sheltered and protected in dangerous situations; we will be rescued, even when we're in the deepest trouble of our lives. If the LORD is our God, and no other, we are guaranteed eternal salvation along with every day and minute that He has destined for us to be alive.
If that does not bring hope to the hopeless, I don't know what will. I am encouraged this week and my body and soul are strengthened from feasting on His promises.
My prayer for you - taste and see that the Lord is good, that His promises are true, if you love Him and trust in His name.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
flint-jawed
The kind of people I admire most are those who can choose to walk closer to God when the world is trying to drag them away. When the malicious are throwing punches, these are the people who stand flint-jawed, their eyes focused on Jesus alone. I know some people like this, and they continue to be among those I respect most.
The Bible says, "O God, don't stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame them those who want to harm me. But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just." -Psalm 71:12-16 (NLT)
With God's help, we can make this choice to seek and glorify Him, regardless of what the world attempts to throw in our faces. When I read these verses and when I observe people, or read about those who persevere in the midst of slander and gossip, who shout His praises above the persecution, I'm encouraged. I'm emboldened to do the same - because God deserves our loyalty and our lives of praise and servitude no matter what anyone else may think or say.
Lord Jesus, help us all to follow you in the middle of the storm, when the wind of the enemy's lies threaten to blow us to the ground, when the rain and hail of the world's mockery pelt our heads, when those who do not know you try to sabotage Your plans for us - help us to stand for You. Strengthen us to keep fighting, keep walking, keep praising You, and keep loving You.
The Bible says, "O God, don't stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame them those who want to harm me. But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just." -Psalm 71:12-16 (NLT)
With God's help, we can make this choice to seek and glorify Him, regardless of what the world attempts to throw in our faces. When I read these verses and when I observe people, or read about those who persevere in the midst of slander and gossip, who shout His praises above the persecution, I'm encouraged. I'm emboldened to do the same - because God deserves our loyalty and our lives of praise and servitude no matter what anyone else may think or say.
Lord Jesus, help us all to follow you in the middle of the storm, when the wind of the enemy's lies threaten to blow us to the ground, when the rain and hail of the world's mockery pelt our heads, when those who do not know you try to sabotage Your plans for us - help us to stand for You. Strengthen us to keep fighting, keep walking, keep praising You, and keep loving You.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A second helping
"Please let me inherit a double portion of your Spirit and become your successor" (Elisha to Elijah) -2 Kings 2:9b (NLT)
Elijah had performed his incredible miracles and had been extremely bold and courageous to speak the word of the LORD and the whole truth to the kings and nations of Judah and Isreal. Elisha had seen this, and yet believed that God could have even more in store for his own life's purpose.
Sometimes I look at the success of others and think, "If only that could be me . . . if only I could have what they have and do what they do . . . oh, for that person's success to be mine . . . "
But, perhaps, God would want me, like Elisha, to dream even bigger . . . Maybe he has more in store for my life's purpose than I give Him credit for . . . Maybe I'm longing to emulate someone that God would not have me emulate . . . Am I coveting another person's success, or am I seeking after more of His Spirit?
O Lord, give me a double share of your Spirit. Do more through me than I ever thought possible. Dream your biggest dreams and plan your biggest plans through me. I am Yours; have Your way in me.
Elijah had performed his incredible miracles and had been extremely bold and courageous to speak the word of the LORD and the whole truth to the kings and nations of Judah and Isreal. Elisha had seen this, and yet believed that God could have even more in store for his own life's purpose.
Sometimes I look at the success of others and think, "If only that could be me . . . if only I could have what they have and do what they do . . . oh, for that person's success to be mine . . . "
But, perhaps, God would want me, like Elisha, to dream even bigger . . . Maybe he has more in store for my life's purpose than I give Him credit for . . . Maybe I'm longing to emulate someone that God would not have me emulate . . . Am I coveting another person's success, or am I seeking after more of His Spirit?
O Lord, give me a double share of your Spirit. Do more through me than I ever thought possible. Dream your biggest dreams and plan your biggest plans through me. I am Yours; have Your way in me.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
but the LORD . . .
Sometimes timidity gets the best of us. We worry what our friends will think of us if we share the Good News of God's grace. We feel like sales people, trying to make a pitch for salvation. We wonder if they will really "get it," or if in the end we will have done the Gospel justice in our communication of it.
I've felt a new freedom as of late in sharing Jesus that I found buried in 1 Chronicles 16:
"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among the peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy in His dwelling place." (vs. 23-27) David declared this in celebration after they successfully brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. He was celebrating the fact that God is God, and eventually everyone will have the opportunity to acknowledge Him as such.
Jesus is alive and He holds the means to show Himself to people. If I can introduce people to Him, He can handle the proving part. He is the only true God who possesses the strength, joy, and salvation for which people are so very hungry. The burden of evangelism does not rest in our frail hands alone . . . we are yoked alongside the King of the universe, remember?
If we can do our part, we can trust Him to do His part. He is, after all, the One who made the heavens, and the One who has offered to rescue every soul. He alone is powerful; He alone is God. And He's on our side.
I've felt a new freedom as of late in sharing Jesus that I found buried in 1 Chronicles 16:
"Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among the peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy in His dwelling place." (vs. 23-27) David declared this in celebration after they successfully brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. He was celebrating the fact that God is God, and eventually everyone will have the opportunity to acknowledge Him as such.
Jesus is alive and He holds the means to show Himself to people. If I can introduce people to Him, He can handle the proving part. He is the only true God who possesses the strength, joy, and salvation for which people are so very hungry. The burden of evangelism does not rest in our frail hands alone . . . we are yoked alongside the King of the universe, remember?
If we can do our part, we can trust Him to do His part. He is, after all, the One who made the heavens, and the One who has offered to rescue every soul. He alone is powerful; He alone is God. And He's on our side.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A dichotomy
Okay, so I have a paradox that I've grappled with for just about all of my adult life. On one hand is the command to be thankful in all circumstances, and on the other is the desire to achieve the goals and purpose God has planted in my heart. Here's an example of this dichotomy:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain" - 1 Timothy 6:6
"Discontent is the first necessity of progress" - Thomas Edison
So which should we keep at the forefront of our hearts, our desires, our motivation? Contentment or discontent?
My answer today: both. We all need to constantly and consistently keep a balance of thankfulness and desire. Especially when it comes to altering our world. We can praise God for the good we see Him doing in lives, and we can at the same time, in the same prayer ask Him to do more. Godliness is something we'll always need to seek after - we'll never achieve it in completion until we are glorified in Heaven. Contentment is also an attitude that needs continual renewal - it doesn't necessarily come naturally (at least to me).
So, how do you find your balance . . . ?
"But godliness with contentment is great gain" - 1 Timothy 6:6
"Discontent is the first necessity of progress" - Thomas Edison
So which should we keep at the forefront of our hearts, our desires, our motivation? Contentment or discontent?
My answer today: both. We all need to constantly and consistently keep a balance of thankfulness and desire. Especially when it comes to altering our world. We can praise God for the good we see Him doing in lives, and we can at the same time, in the same prayer ask Him to do more. Godliness is something we'll always need to seek after - we'll never achieve it in completion until we are glorified in Heaven. Contentment is also an attitude that needs continual renewal - it doesn't necessarily come naturally (at least to me).
So, how do you find your balance . . . ?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Eyes
A few years ago I had lasik eye surgery. I had watched kids in my home and saved for the better part of a year to earn enough money to pay for it. I had worn glasses or contacts since third or fourth grade, and my eyes had deteriorated for all those years, getting worse and worse the older I got. They got so near-sighted that I could not even read a book unless it was about 5 inches from my face. The day I went to see if I was a candidate for the surgery, the technician looked at my test results and uttered a shocked - "Oh!"
"Oh!?" I repeated. "What do you mean, 'Oh'?"
"Let's just say I know why you're here," she replied. Yeah - my eyes were that bad!
I was so excited the day I went into the clinic - I was basically going to get new eyes. It was over in 10 minutes or less and after the doctor was finished, he asked me to look at the clock across the room that I had tried to read before he had started. I could read it!! I could even see the second hand!!
The entire following week I saw the world around me differently - so much better than I had seen it even with glasses or contacts. I saw leaves - yes, individual leaves on the trees. I saw clouds in the sky - not just blurry white blobs. I even saw people's faces differently - I could read their expressions better than ever before, my eyes saw even their emotions and feelings.
There is a song by Brandon Heath that goes:
"Give me Your eyes for just one second;
Give me your eyes so I can see-
Everything that I keep missing;
Give me Your Love for humanity.
. . . All those people goin' somewhere,
Why have I never cared?"
I've made this my prayer this week. I want to see afresh. I want to see people like Jesus does. Who is hurting? Who needs me to love them? Who needs to hear the Good News? Why are they broken, stressed, alone . . . ? If we could see our world the way Jesus does, what would we see? And if we did actually look with His eyes, would it change the way we lived?
Dare to pray this with me over the course of the next few weeks and tell me what happens in your life . . . What would be different in your Life Group if you prayed this before you met? . . . How would Crossroads Church be different if everyone prayed this?
"Oh!?" I repeated. "What do you mean, 'Oh'?"
"Let's just say I know why you're here," she replied. Yeah - my eyes were that bad!
I was so excited the day I went into the clinic - I was basically going to get new eyes. It was over in 10 minutes or less and after the doctor was finished, he asked me to look at the clock across the room that I had tried to read before he had started. I could read it!! I could even see the second hand!!
The entire following week I saw the world around me differently - so much better than I had seen it even with glasses or contacts. I saw leaves - yes, individual leaves on the trees. I saw clouds in the sky - not just blurry white blobs. I even saw people's faces differently - I could read their expressions better than ever before, my eyes saw even their emotions and feelings.
There is a song by Brandon Heath that goes:
"Give me Your eyes for just one second;
Give me your eyes so I can see-
Everything that I keep missing;
Give me Your Love for humanity.
. . . All those people goin' somewhere,
Why have I never cared?"
I've made this my prayer this week. I want to see afresh. I want to see people like Jesus does. Who is hurting? Who needs me to love them? Who needs to hear the Good News? Why are they broken, stressed, alone . . . ? If we could see our world the way Jesus does, what would we see? And if we did actually look with His eyes, would it change the way we lived?
Dare to pray this with me over the course of the next few weeks and tell me what happens in your life . . . What would be different in your Life Group if you prayed this before you met? . . . How would Crossroads Church be different if everyone prayed this?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
“Our generation has an incredible amount of realism, yet at the same time it loves to complain and not really change. Because, if it does change, then it won't have anything to complain about.” – Tori Amos (Musical artist; most likely NOT a follower of Christ, but very insightful, regardless)
So, we say we're open to change, but maybe we're fooling ourselves. Maybe all we're really open to is complaining. Unfortunately, the two are mutually exclusive. You can either be a changer, or a complainer, but rarely, if ever, will you be both. We've been talking about Innovate, and Alter Your World, and "doing church in new ways that have never been done before", and breaking out of the box, but this quote really challenged me to a new dimension of change.
Does my idea of change go beyond talking about what needs to change, and actually move into the realm of working toward the change? Are we open to face the hard work that is ALWAYS associated with change? Change is uncomfortable. It stretches me. It pushes me. It challenges the way I've always thought of things.
Moses was an agent of change. His was one of the hardest tasks in all of the Bible: lead over 1 million people to passionately worship God and move into the land and life He had promised generations before. Ha. Easier said than done. You can bet the Israelites did not like change. They said repeatedly that they would rather go back to slavery than make the changes God asked of them. They were not changers, they were expert complainers. All but two men out of that entire generation Moses was leading out of Egypt lacked the gusto for change.
New Wineskins. Innovate. Alter Your World. Spread the Good News of His Grace. Love People into His Kingdom.
These are no easy tasks. These are monumental, audacious goals. This kind of change will take stretching, sacrifice, and stronghold suicide. Am I ready for this? Are you?
As Life Group Leaders, you have taken on the challenge to lead people closer to Jesus in the context of Doing Life Together. That kind of leadership takes a pioneer. You'll do things differently than you may have in the past. You'll reach into people's lives who are at the opposite personality spectrum as yourself. You'll find ways of bringing up matters of faith that never occurred to you before. Are you ready for that kind of change? If not, how do you think God might need to prepare you or stretch you?
Leave a comment here - we'd all benefit from what God is showing you.
So, we say we're open to change, but maybe we're fooling ourselves. Maybe all we're really open to is complaining. Unfortunately, the two are mutually exclusive. You can either be a changer, or a complainer, but rarely, if ever, will you be both. We've been talking about Innovate, and Alter Your World, and "doing church in new ways that have never been done before", and breaking out of the box, but this quote really challenged me to a new dimension of change.
Does my idea of change go beyond talking about what needs to change, and actually move into the realm of working toward the change? Are we open to face the hard work that is ALWAYS associated with change? Change is uncomfortable. It stretches me. It pushes me. It challenges the way I've always thought of things.
Moses was an agent of change. His was one of the hardest tasks in all of the Bible: lead over 1 million people to passionately worship God and move into the land and life He had promised generations before. Ha. Easier said than done. You can bet the Israelites did not like change. They said repeatedly that they would rather go back to slavery than make the changes God asked of them. They were not changers, they were expert complainers. All but two men out of that entire generation Moses was leading out of Egypt lacked the gusto for change.
New Wineskins. Innovate. Alter Your World. Spread the Good News of His Grace. Love People into His Kingdom.
These are no easy tasks. These are monumental, audacious goals. This kind of change will take stretching, sacrifice, and stronghold suicide. Am I ready for this? Are you?
As Life Group Leaders, you have taken on the challenge to lead people closer to Jesus in the context of Doing Life Together. That kind of leadership takes a pioneer. You'll do things differently than you may have in the past. You'll reach into people's lives who are at the opposite personality spectrum as yourself. You'll find ways of bringing up matters of faith that never occurred to you before. Are you ready for that kind of change? If not, how do you think God might need to prepare you or stretch you?
Leave a comment here - we'd all benefit from what God is showing you.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
"action-based worship"
For our newest blog discussion, please post your comments about this quote from Louie Giglio, founder of Passion, and the following thoughts to ponder:
"It is clear to me that something significant has absolutely shifted with this generation. I think it is God's great kindness stirring our hearts to show his great kindness to the world. With this behind us, the students at Passion aren't the ones who look good, and this generation doesn't look like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something generation. God looks good. And God looks like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something God. I think that is what this generation wants - an action-based worship. There's nothing wrong with jumping to a David Crowder tune and telling God he's great - that is worship. But worship is also doing the right thing and sharing with others in need. Those are the things that make God happy, and this is a generation that wants to make God happy. They demonstrate this by moving in action to touch the last and least of these in the world."
Thoughts to ponder:
What would it look like if we as individuals practiced action-based worship more often? (Dream with me a little . . . )
How can we be the innovators among our spheres of influence in serving others? (If I could lead people to do something tangible for God, it would be to . . . )
What does this look like if we apply it to the Life Groups of Crossroads Church? (If we tried, I bet we could make a real difference in the lives of . . . )
I've been brainstorming too, but I don't want to box you all in with my ideas. Share your biggest
"hands-on, get-involved, do-something" dreams in a comment below . . .
"It is clear to me that something significant has absolutely shifted with this generation. I think it is God's great kindness stirring our hearts to show his great kindness to the world. With this behind us, the students at Passion aren't the ones who look good, and this generation doesn't look like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something generation. God looks good. And God looks like a hands-on, get-involved, do-something God. I think that is what this generation wants - an action-based worship. There's nothing wrong with jumping to a David Crowder tune and telling God he's great - that is worship. But worship is also doing the right thing and sharing with others in need. Those are the things that make God happy, and this is a generation that wants to make God happy. They demonstrate this by moving in action to touch the last and least of these in the world."
Thoughts to ponder:
What would it look like if we as individuals practiced action-based worship more often? (Dream with me a little . . . )
How can we be the innovators among our spheres of influence in serving others? (If I could lead people to do something tangible for God, it would be to . . . )
What does this look like if we apply it to the Life Groups of Crossroads Church? (If we tried, I bet we could make a real difference in the lives of . . . )
I've been brainstorming too, but I don't want to box you all in with my ideas. Share your biggest
"hands-on, get-involved, do-something" dreams in a comment below . . .
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hello, my wonderful Life Group Leaders,
As promised, here are your awards:
(please see me on Sunday for the symbol of your reward and "medal" of achievement)
Pastor Kris: Sword of Truth Award - for clearly, boldly, and consistently speaking and teaching the word of God to further life-transforming change among people in New Journey, Chase the Lion, and Crossroads Church
Pastor Jamie: Flexibility Award - for being willing and able to lead two different groups of our choosing (Contagious Christianity and Chase the Lion), and for doing so with passion and excellence
Fred B.: Most Creative Group Award - for coming up with the idea of and pursuing a Bowling Life Group, and for leading people closer to Jesus through the vehicles of fun, laughter, and a little friendly competition
Melinda B.: Crucial Support Award - for helping to organize the Bowling Life Group, supporting the leader, your husband, in his endeavors, and for being the quiet, yet boldly visible model you are of God's righteousness and peace
Teresa K.: Cheerleader Award - for being a prevalently encouraging presence on the Life Group Leadership team, and for spurring us all on to love and good deeds.
Tim C.: "Least of These" Award (see Matthew 25:35-40) - for giving a helping hand and leading others to give to and serve those in need through the Food Bank Group
Andrew H.: Passion for the Lost Award - for sharing in Jesus' passion for the lost, and for being bold and willing to reach them at their level of comfort and place of contact in the context of your life and through the Parent's Night Out group
Amanda H.: Perseverance Award - for being resilient to discouragement and for pushing through a difficult scheduling issue and hosting the PNO group with passion, despite of all of the obstacles you faced. (Amanda also wins an honorary creativity award for a very innovative idea for a group)
Annette S: Most Time Given Award - for dedicating several hours every Tuesday morning at the Beth Moore Ladies Bible Study, for many hours spent on daily homework for your study, and for attending the most monthly Life Group Leadership meetings on Saturdays; thank you for the sacrificial love offering to serve God in this way and for being an example for all of us to do the same
Mark P.: Redeeming Technology for the Kingdom Award - for utilizing a video (Nooma) series that was culturally relevant and generated discussion as you led people of your sphere of influence to seek God in new ways
Jen S.: Step up to the Plate Award - for answering God's call on your life to serve the elderly through the Nursing Home Outreach group and for stepping out of your comfort zone to lead and organize others to serve alongside you
Andy V.: Most Willing to Suffer for the Kingdom Award -for being so willing to reach the youth of this community and so passionate about competitive sports, that you would suffer bodily injury for the sake of the Youth Sports and Game Night; may we all be as willing to give so sacrificially of ourselves
Adrienne V.: Spotlight Award - for your gift and passion to see each person's unique need, and to do what it takes to push the crowd aside and minister to the individual, in youth ministry, children's ministry, and in the way you live your life
If you would like to leave an encouraging note for a fellow Life Group Leader on this blog, please feel free to do so. I'm also looking forward to adding a few new leaders to our team, and would appreciate your prayers over these new groups and leaders, as we finalize our preparations.
Thank you for your time and dedication for this ministry,
Robyn
As promised, here are your awards:
(please see me on Sunday for the symbol of your reward and "medal" of achievement)
Pastor Kris: Sword of Truth Award - for clearly, boldly, and consistently speaking and teaching the word of God to further life-transforming change among people in New Journey, Chase the Lion, and Crossroads Church
Pastor Jamie: Flexibility Award - for being willing and able to lead two different groups of our choosing (Contagious Christianity and Chase the Lion), and for doing so with passion and excellence
Fred B.: Most Creative Group Award - for coming up with the idea of and pursuing a Bowling Life Group, and for leading people closer to Jesus through the vehicles of fun, laughter, and a little friendly competition
Melinda B.: Crucial Support Award - for helping to organize the Bowling Life Group, supporting the leader, your husband, in his endeavors, and for being the quiet, yet boldly visible model you are of God's righteousness and peace
Teresa K.: Cheerleader Award - for being a prevalently encouraging presence on the Life Group Leadership team, and for spurring us all on to love and good deeds.
Tim C.: "Least of These" Award (see Matthew 25:35-40) - for giving a helping hand and leading others to give to and serve those in need through the Food Bank Group
Andrew H.: Passion for the Lost Award - for sharing in Jesus' passion for the lost, and for being bold and willing to reach them at their level of comfort and place of contact in the context of your life and through the Parent's Night Out group
Amanda H.: Perseverance Award - for being resilient to discouragement and for pushing through a difficult scheduling issue and hosting the PNO group with passion, despite of all of the obstacles you faced. (Amanda also wins an honorary creativity award for a very innovative idea for a group)
Annette S: Most Time Given Award - for dedicating several hours every Tuesday morning at the Beth Moore Ladies Bible Study, for many hours spent on daily homework for your study, and for attending the most monthly Life Group Leadership meetings on Saturdays; thank you for the sacrificial love offering to serve God in this way and for being an example for all of us to do the same
Mark P.: Redeeming Technology for the Kingdom Award - for utilizing a video (Nooma) series that was culturally relevant and generated discussion as you led people of your sphere of influence to seek God in new ways
Jen S.: Step up to the Plate Award - for answering God's call on your life to serve the elderly through the Nursing Home Outreach group and for stepping out of your comfort zone to lead and organize others to serve alongside you
Andy V.: Most Willing to Suffer for the Kingdom Award -for being so willing to reach the youth of this community and so passionate about competitive sports, that you would suffer bodily injury for the sake of the Youth Sports and Game Night; may we all be as willing to give so sacrificially of ourselves
Adrienne V.: Spotlight Award - for your gift and passion to see each person's unique need, and to do what it takes to push the crowd aside and minister to the individual, in youth ministry, children's ministry, and in the way you live your life
If you would like to leave an encouraging note for a fellow Life Group Leader on this blog, please feel free to do so. I'm also looking forward to adding a few new leaders to our team, and would appreciate your prayers over these new groups and leaders, as we finalize our preparations.
Thank you for your time and dedication for this ministry,
Robyn
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