I've had conversations with so many different people this week. We are all very different. We have different perspectives about life. We have varied backgrounds. We are in different stages of life. We have different sets of problems. Some of us have children. Some have raised their children and sent them off to bother someone else. Some have grandchildren. Some are just beginning their families. Some are divorced. Some are single. Some are widowed. Some are dealing with infertility. Some are struggling with serious health issues. But the people that I'm speaking of are all believers.
As believers, we have unique gifts and skills, and yet God has assembled us together for one common purpose. Take the diversity of the believers in the worship ministries area and multiply it exponentially and you see the vastness of our church and its makeup. Take it again, multiply it exponentially, and it becomes almost overwhelming as we try to comprehend reaching this world. So many people. So many different perspectives. So many problems.
One of my favorite things to do is try to figure out why people think what they think. I love reading books on philosophy and psychology. I love observing creation, and admiring the creativity of God. Nothing man-made can compare—no work of art, literature or music—to that which God has created. I like to try to understand why people have such diverse points of view. As a violin teacher, it is amazing all the different approaches I have to try with students. Some are motivated by rewards such as stickers. Some are motivated by praise. Some are motivated by the sheer accomplishment of learning a new skill. Some are just there because their parents are making them be there, and I try my best to make it fun so they don’t grow up hating music.
When I encounter adults in daily life, I spend a lot of energy trying to figure out the same types of things—what motivates them? Why do they see things the way they do? Why do they face the issues that they face? Is it a matter of circumstance or poor choices? There are so many people with so many problems. It becomes overwhelming to try to help and encourage and understand in the midst of so much hurt and pain and frustration.
I know that you have problems, and that they are different from mine. I know that each of us has a unique set of circumstances. I know that you have to deal with hurting people with huge problems. And, quite honestly, it seems like I’ve encountered my fair share lately. Perhaps it's because my prayer has been that God would develop the relationships in my life into real, meaninful relationships and not surfacy "Hi, how are you", "in passing" relationships. Perhaps it’s because the church is growing so fast, and with that the diversity is just growing exponentially. Perhaps it’s because this is such a relational church, and what better way for satan to distract us than by causing rifts and plaguing us with the distractions that problems bring. I don’t know. But I’ve prayed for God to give me insight, and help me understand better the people and problems that I’ve encountered as of late.
Here was the answer that He gave me…it was very simple. It is tucked away in a chapter of admonitions for our daily walk, and it was in a verse that I learned as a child in preschool here at FBC:
Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
In other words, I have been asking the wrong question. I have been focusing on the reasons rather than the purpose. I have been focusing on the distractions (problems) rather than focusing on the goal. I’ve been focusing on my own strength rather than relying on Jesus’. I’ve been seeing things through my eyes, and trying to see things through "their" eyes rather than trying to see things through the perfect eyes of Christ. In the midst of every "imperfect human being" (myself at the top of that list of IHBs), we have a perfect, consistent God.
Read with me about the consistency of God from the mouth of David, one of his most inconsistent, imperfect worshipers:
Psalm 19: 7-10, 14
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
If you want a list of absolutes in this world of variables and uncertainties, there it is. In summary:
The Lord is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, sure, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey.
My prayer for you today is that your focus is not on the hardships and distractions of the day, but on Christ. ...that we become less as He becomes more. ...that our heart song today is the last verse that David writes in this Psalm:
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The World has come to us
Twenty years ago, who would have thought that Arlington, TX would be as culturally diverse as it currently is. In the past twenty years, the world has come to us. What are we doing about it?
A friend of mine from Costa Rica commented to me the other day that the biggest adjustment for her in living here is how isolated everyone is here. That comment struck me funny. The US...isolated? We have immediate access to every form of communication, to every comfort, etc. I asked her to explain. She said that she notices that everyone drives alone, that we are all so busy going from place to place that there is no time for community. She said she doesn't really think that anyone really knows anyone else. That comment hurt me, momentarily, and then as I processed it, I realized how incredibly insightful it was.
I was reading an article the other day about all of the international students in our community. The interesting part of this article was the extremely high percentage of foreign students who come and study for four years on UTA campus and never have a meal in an American home. I thought there was no way that the statistic could be true. Then I began to think through the international students I know. Just through UTA, I have met students from China, India, Jordan, Albania, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Niger, and the list goes on and on. Of all of them, I could only think of one that I've ever invited into my home. That personal record put me to shame.
I have such a great desire to reach out to this world, and to invite people into my church. But I've failed miserably at just extending the hand of hospitality and inviting someone who is new to this country and this culture into my home for a meal. I'll travel to Cuba to minister and fellowship, but I don't do it here, in my home court?
My brother recently shared a meal with a Jewish family. He and his family went into the home of their new friends, and shared in their customs. What a wonderful experience for my brother and his wife and children! It wasn't just a faith difference that they experienced, but a lifestyle difference (diet, etc.). What a fantastic way to build that relationship between the families.
When you look at scripture and at the early church, that time of fellowship was so important to the Christian community. How many times did Jesus share a meal with someone in their home? It seems like it was an every day occurence. When we go out on the mission field, RELATIONSHIPS are how we reach people. That's why we go back to the same places time after time. That trust, commitment, friendship is so key in opening the door to share our faith.
How does that fit into our American culture? I don't think it does. I think our culture IS isolated. I think that we are so self-involved and so busy that we rarely sit back and evaluate the depth of relationships in our lives. I think most of us are satisfied with knowing a bunch of people, when in reality, we "know" very few. I think this is one of those places where we as Christians have to make a conscious effort to not be a part of this world (this culture), but reach out beyond it, and cultivate real relationships.
I'm terrible at New Year's resolutions, but I know what mine is going to be this year. Dennis and I sat down and discussed it this morning. We are setting the goal to invite at least one person a month, that is NOT a part of our church, into our home for a meal (and don't worry...I won't be doing the cooking!!!!).
Here's my challenge to you: Look for ways this holiday season and throughout the year to cultivate relationships that break down barriers. Look for ways to invest in other people's lives. It's not enough to simply invite them to church. We need to dig deeper, open ourselves up more, open our homes and look for ways to have a meaningful impact on our neighbors. God has brought this world to us. We must share His message of grace and love and build community with those around us.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
A friend of mine from Costa Rica commented to me the other day that the biggest adjustment for her in living here is how isolated everyone is here. That comment struck me funny. The US...isolated? We have immediate access to every form of communication, to every comfort, etc. I asked her to explain. She said that she notices that everyone drives alone, that we are all so busy going from place to place that there is no time for community. She said she doesn't really think that anyone really knows anyone else. That comment hurt me, momentarily, and then as I processed it, I realized how incredibly insightful it was.
I was reading an article the other day about all of the international students in our community. The interesting part of this article was the extremely high percentage of foreign students who come and study for four years on UTA campus and never have a meal in an American home. I thought there was no way that the statistic could be true. Then I began to think through the international students I know. Just through UTA, I have met students from China, India, Jordan, Albania, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Niger, and the list goes on and on. Of all of them, I could only think of one that I've ever invited into my home. That personal record put me to shame.
I have such a great desire to reach out to this world, and to invite people into my church. But I've failed miserably at just extending the hand of hospitality and inviting someone who is new to this country and this culture into my home for a meal. I'll travel to Cuba to minister and fellowship, but I don't do it here, in my home court?
My brother recently shared a meal with a Jewish family. He and his family went into the home of their new friends, and shared in their customs. What a wonderful experience for my brother and his wife and children! It wasn't just a faith difference that they experienced, but a lifestyle difference (diet, etc.). What a fantastic way to build that relationship between the families.
When you look at scripture and at the early church, that time of fellowship was so important to the Christian community. How many times did Jesus share a meal with someone in their home? It seems like it was an every day occurence. When we go out on the mission field, RELATIONSHIPS are how we reach people. That's why we go back to the same places time after time. That trust, commitment, friendship is so key in opening the door to share our faith.
How does that fit into our American culture? I don't think it does. I think our culture IS isolated. I think that we are so self-involved and so busy that we rarely sit back and evaluate the depth of relationships in our lives. I think most of us are satisfied with knowing a bunch of people, when in reality, we "know" very few. I think this is one of those places where we as Christians have to make a conscious effort to not be a part of this world (this culture), but reach out beyond it, and cultivate real relationships.
I'm terrible at New Year's resolutions, but I know what mine is going to be this year. Dennis and I sat down and discussed it this morning. We are setting the goal to invite at least one person a month, that is NOT a part of our church, into our home for a meal (and don't worry...I won't be doing the cooking!!!!).
Here's my challenge to you: Look for ways this holiday season and throughout the year to cultivate relationships that break down barriers. Look for ways to invest in other people's lives. It's not enough to simply invite them to church. We need to dig deeper, open ourselves up more, open our homes and look for ways to have a meaningful impact on our neighbors. God has brought this world to us. We must share His message of grace and love and build community with those around us.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
'Tis the Season
This is the season of expectation. I've been wrapping my mind around that word, EXPECTATION, for several weeks now. It can apply to so many areas in our lives. Expectations of your marriage, expectations for your career, expectations of a contract, expecting people to have the same views and same perspectives you do. It's a big word to wrap your mind around. But this season of expectation stems from that feeling of knowing something good is coming.
It's also a season of busy-ness, fear, frustration, depression, stress, short tempers, etc. I can tell you from personal experience that I've dealt with people representing those characteristics just this past week. I've heard short tempers flare. I've had people in my office, frustrated with the details of the season. I've heard tears from people suffering with depression. I've heard from people who are afraid they won't be able to accomplish everything on their list, and are even more afraid of how they'll pay for it if they do! Checklists, frantic shoppers, heavy traffic, short tempers, no time, full calendars. This describes an American's Christmas.
Two nights ago, we took care of our neighbor while his family dealt with a health issue. Our neighbor is 9. While coming home from Abby's gymnastics, with all 3 kids in the car, I decided to take them to see Christmas lights. Of course, we had to go and see my kids' favorite house--the Kulez' house (Ben says it looks like the sun). On our way there, I took them through several neighborhoods that had huge homes & gorgeous lights. Places that would be more than we could ever afford. I have to admit...that was where my focus was...the money, the expensive details of the house, the beautiful landscaping, the electric bills they must have.
One of the homes had nothing but a lighted Nativity scene out front. As we passed it, my 9 year old, unchurched neighbor spoke up from the back seat and said, "You know, I think that the Baby Jesus invented Christmas." In that moment, he wasn't impressed by the lights or the homes or the neighborhood. He was amazed at the Baby Jesus. He knew that in the midst of all of the lights, presents, and other hoopla, Jesus was at the center of this season.
It was in that moment that my whole Christmas season came into focus again--this time with the right focal point. Until we've stopped to worship the Baby Jesus, the rest is meaningless. So, if you haven't had that moment of simple faith and obedience this year, STOP. Kneel at the manger. Worship the baby--the Saviour of the world! It's simple, it's peaceful, it restores joy. But most of all, it overwhelms us with how unimportant our lists are in comparison to the fact that the Saviour of the world came into this broken world to live with us, model for us, love us, grace us and die for us! I'm so grateful for the words of that 9 year old boy.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
It's also a season of busy-ness, fear, frustration, depression, stress, short tempers, etc. I can tell you from personal experience that I've dealt with people representing those characteristics just this past week. I've heard short tempers flare. I've had people in my office, frustrated with the details of the season. I've heard tears from people suffering with depression. I've heard from people who are afraid they won't be able to accomplish everything on their list, and are even more afraid of how they'll pay for it if they do! Checklists, frantic shoppers, heavy traffic, short tempers, no time, full calendars. This describes an American's Christmas.
Two nights ago, we took care of our neighbor while his family dealt with a health issue. Our neighbor is 9. While coming home from Abby's gymnastics, with all 3 kids in the car, I decided to take them to see Christmas lights. Of course, we had to go and see my kids' favorite house--the Kulez' house (Ben says it looks like the sun). On our way there, I took them through several neighborhoods that had huge homes & gorgeous lights. Places that would be more than we could ever afford. I have to admit...that was where my focus was...the money, the expensive details of the house, the beautiful landscaping, the electric bills they must have.
One of the homes had nothing but a lighted Nativity scene out front. As we passed it, my 9 year old, unchurched neighbor spoke up from the back seat and said, "You know, I think that the Baby Jesus invented Christmas." In that moment, he wasn't impressed by the lights or the homes or the neighborhood. He was amazed at the Baby Jesus. He knew that in the midst of all of the lights, presents, and other hoopla, Jesus was at the center of this season.
It was in that moment that my whole Christmas season came into focus again--this time with the right focal point. Until we've stopped to worship the Baby Jesus, the rest is meaningless. So, if you haven't had that moment of simple faith and obedience this year, STOP. Kneel at the manger. Worship the baby--the Saviour of the world! It's simple, it's peaceful, it restores joy. But most of all, it overwhelms us with how unimportant our lists are in comparison to the fact that the Saviour of the world came into this broken world to live with us, model for us, love us, grace us and die for us! I'm so grateful for the words of that 9 year old boy.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Psalm 8
Find a quiet place this morning, and turn to Psalm 8. Before you read, think of some of the most beautiful places you’ve seen on earth. Think of some of the most beautiful creations you’ve seen. Take a moment and bask in the wonder of those creations. Now, read Psalm 8:1-2.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Take a moment now to bask in our Creator. Think of the Names of the Lord, or adjectives to describe Him. Fill your lips and your hearts with praise and adoration of Him. If you need some help getting started: Almighty God, Beautiful, Comforter, our Deliverer, Everlasting, Faithful…keep going….
After you’ve taken a moment to adore and praise Him, continue on: Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
The God of the Universe crowned us with glory and honor. The God who set the moon and stars in place… The God who created the mountains and the oceans, who commands the lightning to strike and who created light... He is mindful of us! And He crowns us! What an awesome thought! Read on: Psalm 8:6-8
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
With one word, He brought incredible things into being, and yet, He makes us ruler over His creation. He trusts us to care for it. Wow! What a responsibility, but even more so, what an honor!!! Praise with your whole heart the last verse of this great Psalm:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Take the opportunity today to see some of the works of His hand. Enjoy today the sweet fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. We have the highest, most wonderful opportunity today—and that is to worship Him. Make today a day of worship. May our hearts be abandoned in everything to His praise!
O Lord, OUR LORD, How MAJESTIC is Your NAME in ALL the Earth!
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
Take a moment now to bask in our Creator. Think of the Names of the Lord, or adjectives to describe Him. Fill your lips and your hearts with praise and adoration of Him. If you need some help getting started: Almighty God, Beautiful, Comforter, our Deliverer, Everlasting, Faithful…keep going….
After you’ve taken a moment to adore and praise Him, continue on: Psalm 8:3-5
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
The God of the Universe crowned us with glory and honor. The God who set the moon and stars in place… The God who created the mountains and the oceans, who commands the lightning to strike and who created light... He is mindful of us! And He crowns us! What an awesome thought! Read on: Psalm 8:6-8
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
With one word, He brought incredible things into being, and yet, He makes us ruler over His creation. He trusts us to care for it. Wow! What a responsibility, but even more so, what an honor!!! Praise with your whole heart the last verse of this great Psalm:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Take the opportunity today to see some of the works of His hand. Enjoy today the sweet fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. We have the highest, most wonderful opportunity today—and that is to worship Him. Make today a day of worship. May our hearts be abandoned in everything to His praise!
O Lord, OUR LORD, How MAJESTIC is Your NAME in ALL the Earth!
Salt and Light Version 2
Matthew 5:13-16 says,
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
As I was reading this originally, I was thinking, “Yes…of course we are to be salt and light. That’s our whole purpose in life.” But, then I began thinking about what people actually SEE when they see us. What do our facial expressions show? Our demeanor as we encounter bad drivers, busy schedules, slow waiters, etc? What to people think who have never spoken to us, but just see our outward appearance? My prayer is that we radiate with joy as we “minister” through our days—that they don’t see another grumpy, dissatisfied, joyless, faceless person...but that we make an impact.
I remember being in Cuba last summer (July). It was so hot there that every time we drank a bottle of water, it just ran out our pores. It felt like hydration was futile! But, there was one night that this woman came up to me. I could tell by the look on her face that she was blessed by the service, and in her broken English, she said to me, “I come here every night, and I see your face—and the sweat that pours off of you. You are so hot and sweaty….” Okay…at this point I was thinking “You came all the way over here to tell me that? Thanks for pointing out the obvious.” But then she continued, “…but God has blessed us through your music and through the worship here. The joy is evident in your face.” Whew….she hadn’t just seen me sweat! She had worshiped God & seen joy.
The fact of the matter is, each one of us is being observed, even when we don’t realize it. We may be observed by another team church member, a neighbor, a child or a stranger. We need to protect our witness at every turn. As you make that extra effort each day to be a witness, remember that your touch or hug to a person may be the only one he/she receives today. As your voice is tired, or your arms ache from playing, remember that the message that you sing and play may fall on ears that are opened to the Gospel for the first time. As you keep your cool during a frustrating traffic jam, remember that you may be just the person to help calm another soul. As you bring a Christmas gift to an orphan or a person less fortunate, remember that you may be the only “Jesus with skin on” that they see this Christmas. Souls can be won to Christ even today through your everyday living of life.
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. You know…I didn’t mind that the Cuban woman saw me sweat, as long as she was somehow pointed to my Father in Heaven, and blessed because of it.
Father, help us to serve you with joy today. As we ache, fill us with Your strength. As our minds and attitudes grow weary, fill us with Your joy. Help us to be aware that we are witnesses 24/7, and help the people everywhere to see You through our daily lives. All of the glory is Yours, Father. We love You! Amen.
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
As I was reading this originally, I was thinking, “Yes…of course we are to be salt and light. That’s our whole purpose in life.” But, then I began thinking about what people actually SEE when they see us. What do our facial expressions show? Our demeanor as we encounter bad drivers, busy schedules, slow waiters, etc? What to people think who have never spoken to us, but just see our outward appearance? My prayer is that we radiate with joy as we “minister” through our days—that they don’t see another grumpy, dissatisfied, joyless, faceless person...but that we make an impact.
I remember being in Cuba last summer (July). It was so hot there that every time we drank a bottle of water, it just ran out our pores. It felt like hydration was futile! But, there was one night that this woman came up to me. I could tell by the look on her face that she was blessed by the service, and in her broken English, she said to me, “I come here every night, and I see your face—and the sweat that pours off of you. You are so hot and sweaty….” Okay…at this point I was thinking “You came all the way over here to tell me that? Thanks for pointing out the obvious.” But then she continued, “…but God has blessed us through your music and through the worship here. The joy is evident in your face.” Whew….she hadn’t just seen me sweat! She had worshiped God & seen joy.
The fact of the matter is, each one of us is being observed, even when we don’t realize it. We may be observed by another team church member, a neighbor, a child or a stranger. We need to protect our witness at every turn. As you make that extra effort each day to be a witness, remember that your touch or hug to a person may be the only one he/she receives today. As your voice is tired, or your arms ache from playing, remember that the message that you sing and play may fall on ears that are opened to the Gospel for the first time. As you keep your cool during a frustrating traffic jam, remember that you may be just the person to help calm another soul. As you bring a Christmas gift to an orphan or a person less fortunate, remember that you may be the only “Jesus with skin on” that they see this Christmas. Souls can be won to Christ even today through your everyday living of life.
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. You know…I didn’t mind that the Cuban woman saw me sweat, as long as she was somehow pointed to my Father in Heaven, and blessed because of it.
Father, help us to serve you with joy today. As we ache, fill us with Your strength. As our minds and attitudes grow weary, fill us with Your joy. Help us to be aware that we are witnesses 24/7, and help the people everywhere to see You through our daily lives. All of the glory is Yours, Father. We love You! Amen.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Fear
Devotion (Day 2)
What is it that you are afraid of?
Right now, list out some specific fears in your life before God. Some may include:
ü Fear of failure
ü Fear of commitment
ü Fear of declining health
ü Fear of the future and what it holds
ü Fear of new situations
Now, list out some specific fears related to foreign missions. Some may include:
ü Fear of not being able to communicate because of language
ü Fear of getting sick
ü Fear of people not liking me
ü Fear of the food
ü Fear of not having enough time to accomplish all that I’ve been asked to do
Right now, lay out these fears before God.
My biggest fear in life is fear of failure. I am so afraid to fail. I stay up at night until every task on my work list is completed because I’m afraid I’ll forget something or let someone down (that’s why so often you’ll see emails from me at 1:00—I’m completing my list). I feel such a sense of responsibility to the things I’m committed to, that I can’t stand the thought of failing. This fear of failure gets me in more trouble and sin than anything else. It gets me into trouble and into sinful worrying because it causes me often to draw from my own strength, which wears me down fast to where I truly am useless. It causes sinful anxiety. This is something that I battle every day. I can’t stand the thought of me failing or allowing something to fail.
Here are the things satan often whispers in my ear. Perhaps you’ve experienced some of the same words. “You are not good enough.” “One person can’t change the world.” “You are not making a difference.” “You are inadequate.” “What you are doing is not important.” “You are going to fail.”
You know what? These statements are ALL true statements “apart from God’s Power.” Apart from God’s Power, we aren’t good enough, we aren’t going to change the world, we aren’t going to make a difference….etc. But what satan underestimates is God’s Power. When we tap into His Power, His Strength, His Presence, we are good enough. We can change the world. What we are doing is of the utmost importance.
Let’s take a moment and read two passages that remind us of who He is—of His power and His strength.
*Read Psalm 19:7-14
*Read Job 38-41 You can read the whole thing, or just get the gist of it. (after 37 chapters of Job moaning and groaning and questioning, God answers him in a powerful way—these are perhaps my favorite chapters of the Old Testament because they remind me of who God is).
Job follows that up, and replies to God:
*Read Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”
Now, read Matthew 6:25-34. Be reminded of how important you are to God. Be reminded that He will take care of your worries and fears. Remember to seek Him first and His Kingdom, and everything else will fall into place.
My prayer for you today is to take those fears that you listed above. Place them in God’s hands, and on His shoulders. Read Matthew 11:28-30:
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Right now, cast every fear, every doubt and every inadequacy upon Him. Stop drawing from your own strength, and make the commitment right now that you will draw from His strength.
Here’s the bottom line: God is God, and we are not. His strength is perfect. His methods are right. He loves us, and has our best interests at heart. Take those earlier statements of inadequacy that are so often whispered in your ear, and replace them with these truths. Again: God is God, and we are not. His strength is perfect. His methods are right. He loves us, and has our best interests at heart.
I want to close this devotion with another of my favorite uplifting passages of scripture, taken from Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
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.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.”
As Christians trying to live our lives in this world AND spread the Good News, there is a lot of work to be done. There are a lot of new people to minister to—some within our own family or neighborhood. Step out of your comfort zone—God has your back! Draw from His strength. Walk, run, soar!
What is it that you are afraid of?
Right now, list out some specific fears in your life before God. Some may include:
ü Fear of failure
ü Fear of commitment
ü Fear of declining health
ü Fear of the future and what it holds
ü Fear of new situations
Now, list out some specific fears related to foreign missions. Some may include:
ü Fear of not being able to communicate because of language
ü Fear of getting sick
ü Fear of people not liking me
ü Fear of the food
ü Fear of not having enough time to accomplish all that I’ve been asked to do
Right now, lay out these fears before God.
My biggest fear in life is fear of failure. I am so afraid to fail. I stay up at night until every task on my work list is completed because I’m afraid I’ll forget something or let someone down (that’s why so often you’ll see emails from me at 1:00—I’m completing my list). I feel such a sense of responsibility to the things I’m committed to, that I can’t stand the thought of failing. This fear of failure gets me in more trouble and sin than anything else. It gets me into trouble and into sinful worrying because it causes me often to draw from my own strength, which wears me down fast to where I truly am useless. It causes sinful anxiety. This is something that I battle every day. I can’t stand the thought of me failing or allowing something to fail.
Here are the things satan often whispers in my ear. Perhaps you’ve experienced some of the same words. “You are not good enough.” “One person can’t change the world.” “You are not making a difference.” “You are inadequate.” “What you are doing is not important.” “You are going to fail.”
You know what? These statements are ALL true statements “apart from God’s Power.” Apart from God’s Power, we aren’t good enough, we aren’t going to change the world, we aren’t going to make a difference….etc. But what satan underestimates is God’s Power. When we tap into His Power, His Strength, His Presence, we are good enough. We can change the world. What we are doing is of the utmost importance.
Let’s take a moment and read two passages that remind us of who He is—of His power and His strength.
*Read Psalm 19:7-14
*Read Job 38-41 You can read the whole thing, or just get the gist of it. (after 37 chapters of Job moaning and groaning and questioning, God answers him in a powerful way—these are perhaps my favorite chapters of the Old Testament because they remind me of who God is).
Job follows that up, and replies to God:
*Read Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”
Now, read Matthew 6:25-34. Be reminded of how important you are to God. Be reminded that He will take care of your worries and fears. Remember to seek Him first and His Kingdom, and everything else will fall into place.
My prayer for you today is to take those fears that you listed above. Place them in God’s hands, and on His shoulders. Read Matthew 11:28-30:
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Right now, cast every fear, every doubt and every inadequacy upon Him. Stop drawing from your own strength, and make the commitment right now that you will draw from His strength.
Here’s the bottom line: God is God, and we are not. His strength is perfect. His methods are right. He loves us, and has our best interests at heart. Take those earlier statements of inadequacy that are so often whispered in your ear, and replace them with these truths. Again: God is God, and we are not. His strength is perfect. His methods are right. He loves us, and has our best interests at heart.
I want to close this devotion with another of my favorite uplifting passages of scripture, taken from Isaiah 40:28-31
“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
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.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.”
As Christians trying to live our lives in this world AND spread the Good News, there is a lot of work to be done. There are a lot of new people to minister to—some within our own family or neighborhood. Step out of your comfort zone—God has your back! Draw from His strength. Walk, run, soar!
Becoming Less
Devotion: Day 1: We Must become Less so that Christ becomes More (these next 5 entries are devotions I wrote for a missions worship team, but are some of my favorite devotions based on some of my favorite passages of scripture)
Psalm 34 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”
This devotion focuses on one central thing: We must become less so that Christ can become more.
One of the most incredible depictions of this comes from John the Baptist. John knew that his purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus—to get the word out. But he also knew that Jesus was the main man—that all people wouldn’t be saved through John and his great works and testimony, but that all people would be saved through Jesus. Read Mark 1:7-8: “And this was his (John’s) message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” Once Jesus came, and was baptized by John, John’s visibility decreases, and Jesus’ increases. That’s how we should be. We have a message to proclaim—and through the proclaiming of that message, we need to become less and Jesus should become more!
In a church as big as ours, and a congregation as diverse, how do we unite and work together—we who see each other in passing, but don’t collectively really KNOW each other?
Philippians is probably my favorite book of the Bible, and I believe it answers that question. Read Philippians 2:2-4:
“…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Those are easy words to read and understand, but they are difficult words to act out! Stop with me right now. Pray right now that you would be able to place every selfish ambition and every self-interest aside. That’s no small task in our own strength, but God can purify our hearts and help us to focus on Him if we ask Him. Read on—Philippians 2:5-11.
If Jesus could make himself nothing, who are we to make demands or hold ourselves in high esteem? He made himself nothing….and became obedient to death. I never fully understood the depth of the words to the great hymn “I Surrender All” until my last trip to Cuba. I am terribly afraid of flying. We had to get from one side of the island to the other, and our only option was a Cuban plane. As we prepared for take-off, there were two stark reminders that I was no longer in control: 1. The “emergency rope” above us (we decided that was so you could hang yourself before the plane crashed because there certainly was no place to climb to!!!) and 2. The smoke and exhaust that filled the cabin as we took off. I remember singing that song to God, thinking He really did have a sense of humor. But I remember saying to Him, “Okay…if we die on this plane, I’m okay with that. That means that you have accomplished everything you needed to accomplish through me. I don’t think you have (hint, hint), but I want you to know that I truly do surrender all to you right now.” You can’t help but laugh a little with God when you’re in a situation like that. Things were TOTALLY out of my hands, and TOTALLY in His.
God’s not asking us to risk our lives on a daily basis—thank God we live in a free society. He’s asking us to take a much more challenging risk. He’s asking us to surrender—to make ourselves nothing so that His glory can be revealed…so that His purposes can be achieved. We must become less, so that He can become more. Read that passage again: Philippians 2:5-11—it’s the Gospel message in a nutshell. Bask in those wonderful words of who Jesus is!
Every knee WILL bow, and every tongue WILL confess—one day. But we need to share the joy now! People who choose later miss out on so much joy, and so much LIFE! It is up to us to share His love and His life with the lost. It is up to us to bask in His glory with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Read Philippians 2:12-16
What powerful words in verse 16 – “as you hold out the word of life…”
We are “stars”, shining. …Perhaps the only stars some of the people we encounter will ever see! Start off this journey right. Surrender every expectation, every opinion, every selfish desire, every comfort to the Lord. Turn it over to Him. Let’s make the commitment to fade into the background, leaving only God’s Glory, Love and Truth to shine!
Finally, trust Him—He’s been working way ahead of us!!!!!
God, help us to do nothing out of our own agendas. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Place Your hand on us this very moment. Make Your presence known. We humble ourselves before You. We desire to be Your obedient servants. We surrender all to you, and know that we are in Your precious hands. Please, take what little we have to offer and multiply it to Your Kingdom. May the love of Christ radiate from our faces, our hearts, our voices, our instruments. Lord, we are Yours. Use us. Accomplish what You desire through us in this world. Here am I, send me!
Psalm 34 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”
This devotion focuses on one central thing: We must become less so that Christ can become more.
One of the most incredible depictions of this comes from John the Baptist. John knew that his purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus—to get the word out. But he also knew that Jesus was the main man—that all people wouldn’t be saved through John and his great works and testimony, but that all people would be saved through Jesus. Read Mark 1:7-8: “And this was his (John’s) message: ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’” Once Jesus came, and was baptized by John, John’s visibility decreases, and Jesus’ increases. That’s how we should be. We have a message to proclaim—and through the proclaiming of that message, we need to become less and Jesus should become more!
In a church as big as ours, and a congregation as diverse, how do we unite and work together—we who see each other in passing, but don’t collectively really KNOW each other?
Philippians is probably my favorite book of the Bible, and I believe it answers that question. Read Philippians 2:2-4:
“…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Those are easy words to read and understand, but they are difficult words to act out! Stop with me right now. Pray right now that you would be able to place every selfish ambition and every self-interest aside. That’s no small task in our own strength, but God can purify our hearts and help us to focus on Him if we ask Him. Read on—Philippians 2:5-11.
If Jesus could make himself nothing, who are we to make demands or hold ourselves in high esteem? He made himself nothing….and became obedient to death. I never fully understood the depth of the words to the great hymn “I Surrender All” until my last trip to Cuba. I am terribly afraid of flying. We had to get from one side of the island to the other, and our only option was a Cuban plane. As we prepared for take-off, there were two stark reminders that I was no longer in control: 1. The “emergency rope” above us (we decided that was so you could hang yourself before the plane crashed because there certainly was no place to climb to!!!) and 2. The smoke and exhaust that filled the cabin as we took off. I remember singing that song to God, thinking He really did have a sense of humor. But I remember saying to Him, “Okay…if we die on this plane, I’m okay with that. That means that you have accomplished everything you needed to accomplish through me. I don’t think you have (hint, hint), but I want you to know that I truly do surrender all to you right now.” You can’t help but laugh a little with God when you’re in a situation like that. Things were TOTALLY out of my hands, and TOTALLY in His.
God’s not asking us to risk our lives on a daily basis—thank God we live in a free society. He’s asking us to take a much more challenging risk. He’s asking us to surrender—to make ourselves nothing so that His glory can be revealed…so that His purposes can be achieved. We must become less, so that He can become more. Read that passage again: Philippians 2:5-11—it’s the Gospel message in a nutshell. Bask in those wonderful words of who Jesus is!
Every knee WILL bow, and every tongue WILL confess—one day. But we need to share the joy now! People who choose later miss out on so much joy, and so much LIFE! It is up to us to share His love and His life with the lost. It is up to us to bask in His glory with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Read Philippians 2:12-16
What powerful words in verse 16 – “as you hold out the word of life…”
We are “stars”, shining. …Perhaps the only stars some of the people we encounter will ever see! Start off this journey right. Surrender every expectation, every opinion, every selfish desire, every comfort to the Lord. Turn it over to Him. Let’s make the commitment to fade into the background, leaving only God’s Glory, Love and Truth to shine!
Finally, trust Him—He’s been working way ahead of us!!!!!
God, help us to do nothing out of our own agendas. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Place Your hand on us this very moment. Make Your presence known. We humble ourselves before You. We desire to be Your obedient servants. We surrender all to you, and know that we are in Your precious hands. Please, take what little we have to offer and multiply it to Your Kingdom. May the love of Christ radiate from our faces, our hearts, our voices, our instruments. Lord, we are Yours. Use us. Accomplish what You desire through us in this world. Here am I, send me!
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On Top of Pecos Baldy
...what a memory!
