1Kings 2:2-3 - David: "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires."
What does it mean to "be a man"?
Is it being tough? Independence? Not crying? Defeating a foe?
David tells his son to show himself a man by taking responsibility. Being a man (or a woman) means putting aside childish things like blame, selfishness and pride. It means owning your decisions and actions---and doing what God expects of you. Real men don't abdicate their responsibility, they embrace it and execute. God is looking for a few real men & women.
Sadly, we are pretty good at excusing ourselves instead of taking ownership. People may be long on years but short on maturity. Real men & women are hard to come by.
Real men and women choose to take responsibility. Choose to be a real man/woman starting today.
What are the responsibilities on your plate these days? What can you do about them?
A devotional on the Grace of Jesus from reading through the New Testament. Provided by Journey Christian Church of Tracy CA - www.journeycc.net
03/31/12-1Kings1 - Be All That You Can Be
1Kings 1:5 - Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.
It's common to tell teenagers: "You can be whatever you want to be." Apparently that's what Adonijah thought as well, so he found 50 people to support him and tried to be king instead of Solomon. He wanted to be king, so he made a plan and went for it. But whether or not he had the skills, God did not plan for him to be king--and Adonijah failed. (So you can't be whatever you want to be.)
These days we see that played out everywhere. People try out for American Idol who don't have the ability to sing. Parents push their kids (and the coaches) trying to turn them into professional athletes, when the kid is just average. Others try to start a business or run an organization without the skill. They want to be something that God didn't create them for.
So why do we say that to people? Actually, it's for a good desire. We want people to not limit themselves and pursue the greatest possibilities for their lives. But that can be misguided. The greatest possibility is not to be what we want to be, but what God wants us to be. And that takes a relationship with Him to find out.
Being what God wants us to be has the greatest impact, the best personal results, the wisest example, and the longest legacy. It may not be written about in the papers or gain the most income, and others may appear more successful than us, but it offers the greatest eternal pleasure.
Choose to be God's man or woman and discover His daily purpose for your life. Don't force your way to be what you want --- follow Jesus to become what God wants. That's your greatest potential career/legacy.
Then you will be ALL that you can be.
It's common to tell teenagers: "You can be whatever you want to be." Apparently that's what Adonijah thought as well, so he found 50 people to support him and tried to be king instead of Solomon. He wanted to be king, so he made a plan and went for it. But whether or not he had the skills, God did not plan for him to be king--and Adonijah failed. (So you can't be whatever you want to be.)
These days we see that played out everywhere. People try out for American Idol who don't have the ability to sing. Parents push their kids (and the coaches) trying to turn them into professional athletes, when the kid is just average. Others try to start a business or run an organization without the skill. They want to be something that God didn't create them for.
So why do we say that to people? Actually, it's for a good desire. We want people to not limit themselves and pursue the greatest possibilities for their lives. But that can be misguided. The greatest possibility is not to be what we want to be, but what God wants us to be. And that takes a relationship with Him to find out.
Being what God wants us to be has the greatest impact, the best personal results, the wisest example, and the longest legacy. It may not be written about in the papers or gain the most income, and others may appear more successful than us, but it offers the greatest eternal pleasure.
Choose to be God's man or woman and discover His daily purpose for your life. Don't force your way to be what you want --- follow Jesus to become what God wants. That's your greatest potential career/legacy.
Then you will be ALL that you can be.
03/30/12-2Sam12 - Forgiven but Not Forgotten
2Sam 12:13-Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
Forgiven doesn't mean forgotten.
My dad loves the game of golf, and has played for as long as I can remember. He had some old, worn out clubs that he let us kids use, "as long as we hit the balls WAY out in the back yard, away from the house and car". Well of course, I preferred to use the whole yard and not just the back part, so I would hit the ball around the house at targets. As you might guess, eventually I hit a shot bad enough that it shanked and crashed into the back side window of our new Ford Country Squire station wagon. Angry doesn't describe well enough the feelings my parents had about that disobedience. They forgave me, (I didn't die like I thought I would), but there was a price to pay. And after that mistake, I started hitting the golf balls away from the house!
Forty years later, I still remember that incident, and still get nervous about balls around cars. It was forgiven but no haven't forgotten. And although the consequences were small, there are other sins in my life where the consequences last much longer.
Jesus paid the price for our sin and gave us forgiveness from death (eternal separation from God), but the consequences in this life still continue. And although he forgets the sin, we remember with regret so we don't do it again.
Praise God for His forgiveness today. But also thank Him for using consequences to detour our lives away from repeat offenses and toward a better direction. Use your memories of the past as a positive lesson of where to drive your life in the future. Forgive, but don't try so hard to forget.
What failures in the past have you learned from? Have you sought the forgiveness of God by accepting Jesus as your Lord & Savior? Can you use those lessons to direct your life and instruct others?
Forgiven doesn't mean forgotten.
My dad loves the game of golf, and has played for as long as I can remember. He had some old, worn out clubs that he let us kids use, "as long as we hit the balls WAY out in the back yard, away from the house and car". Well of course, I preferred to use the whole yard and not just the back part, so I would hit the ball around the house at targets. As you might guess, eventually I hit a shot bad enough that it shanked and crashed into the back side window of our new Ford Country Squire station wagon. Angry doesn't describe well enough the feelings my parents had about that disobedience. They forgave me, (I didn't die like I thought I would), but there was a price to pay. And after that mistake, I started hitting the golf balls away from the house!
Forty years later, I still remember that incident, and still get nervous about balls around cars. It was forgiven but no haven't forgotten. And although the consequences were small, there are other sins in my life where the consequences last much longer.
Jesus paid the price for our sin and gave us forgiveness from death (eternal separation from God), but the consequences in this life still continue. And although he forgets the sin, we remember with regret so we don't do it again.
Praise God for His forgiveness today. But also thank Him for using consequences to detour our lives away from repeat offenses and toward a better direction. Use your memories of the past as a positive lesson of where to drive your life in the future. Forgive, but don't try so hard to forget.
What failures in the past have you learned from? Have you sought the forgiveness of God by accepting Jesus as your Lord & Savior? Can you use those lessons to direct your life and instruct others?
03/29/12-2Sam11 - Hiding is not Getting Away with It
2Sam 11:27 - After the time of mourning was over, David had Bathsheba brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.
Just because we engineer the circumstances doesn't mean we are getting away with it.
Ever heard a teen/kid say: "just don't tell my parents". They are tempted to do something that they know will upset their parents, so thy try to hide the behavior and get away with it. And unfortunately, sometimes they are successful...which only reinforces the desire to try again.
By nature, sin likes to stay hidden. When we do things that we want to keep hidden from others, it should be a sign that we are on the wrong path. Much like a kid who tries to hide their mischief from a parent, when we try to cover up our sin from God, it is not going to turn out well.
David had sinned and was able to manipulate a cover-up...but God did not like it. God loved him too much to let David get away with it. So God permitted consequences that David would have to deal with for the rest of his life. David confessed and was forgiven...but the effects of his sin remained.
Bottom line--we are not getting away with sin. There is a price to be paid-and was paid on the cross. Don't engineer the circumstances to get away with sin...confess it and face it. The consequences are far less painful.
Just because we engineer the circumstances doesn't mean we are getting away with it.
Ever heard a teen/kid say: "just don't tell my parents". They are tempted to do something that they know will upset their parents, so thy try to hide the behavior and get away with it. And unfortunately, sometimes they are successful...which only reinforces the desire to try again.
By nature, sin likes to stay hidden. When we do things that we want to keep hidden from others, it should be a sign that we are on the wrong path. Much like a kid who tries to hide their mischief from a parent, when we try to cover up our sin from God, it is not going to turn out well.
David had sinned and was able to manipulate a cover-up...but God did not like it. God loved him too much to let David get away with it. So God permitted consequences that David would have to deal with for the rest of his life. David confessed and was forgiven...but the effects of his sin remained.
Bottom line--we are not getting away with sin. There is a price to be paid-and was paid on the cross. Don't engineer the circumstances to get away with sin...confess it and face it. The consequences are far less painful.
03/28/12-2Sam7 - What Type of God do we Have?
2Sam 7:2- David said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
People think of God in at least four ways:
1. Dinosaur - God is extinct or doesn't exist...So we are our own God
2. Santa Claus - God is around when I want something...Making me lord over God
3. Business Partner - God and I work together to get what we want done, so if I stay with him I get the benefits... still makes me lord over Him
4. Lord - God is in charge and we serve him, not Him serving us
It's normal for us to progress through these stages of spiritual development (and often move back and forth as we deal with life challenges). What's powerful about this chapter is that David's desire reflects a true Lordship perspective. He shows in that moment the heart God wants us to have---the heart of true worship. True worship is desiring to please the heart of God. It makes him Lord.
Many times in life we call God our lord in title but not in action. We worship Him on Sunday and then complain about what His plan for our life is on Monday. If God is Lord, then He deserves our complete obedience with a thankful attitude instead of our wish list. The proof of a Lordship perspective is in our actions, not in our words.
So confess His Name... call Him Lord... and give your life to Him. But grow a heart of desire to please Him and hands that are quick to obey.
Ask God today what you can do to please Him ... What is His answer?
People think of God in at least four ways:
1. Dinosaur - God is extinct or doesn't exist...So we are our own God
2. Santa Claus - God is around when I want something...Making me lord over God
3. Business Partner - God and I work together to get what we want done, so if I stay with him I get the benefits... still makes me lord over Him
4. Lord - God is in charge and we serve him, not Him serving us
It's normal for us to progress through these stages of spiritual development (and often move back and forth as we deal with life challenges). What's powerful about this chapter is that David's desire reflects a true Lordship perspective. He shows in that moment the heart God wants us to have---the heart of true worship. True worship is desiring to please the heart of God. It makes him Lord.
Many times in life we call God our lord in title but not in action. We worship Him on Sunday and then complain about what His plan for our life is on Monday. If God is Lord, then He deserves our complete obedience with a thankful attitude instead of our wish list. The proof of a Lordship perspective is in our actions, not in our words.
So confess His Name... call Him Lord... and give your life to Him. But grow a heart of desire to please Him and hands that are quick to obey.
Ask God today what you can do to please Him ... What is His answer?
03/27/12-2Sam5 - Ask for Permission
2Sam 5:19- David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
It's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission...or is it?
A friend told me that for years, and almost got me to believe he was right ...until his teen used the statement as a reason for their decision. I never heard it out of his mouth after that (lol).
It may be easier to ask for forgiveness but it's not necessarily right.
David had already defeated the Philistines in the past, and they were coming out to battle him again. Most people wouldn't bother to ask--they would just take up the battle at hand. But David chose to ask anyways. Every time David asked first it worked out well---but when he chose his own path it often didn't (ir Bathsheba, dealing with his son, etc).
Learning to ask is a lifelong lesson. Better to keep asking for clarity than having to ask for forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness often means facing pain, seeing consequences, and broken relationships. It may get something done quicker but can be a lonely destination.
Practice the ask---and confirm Gods will. (You won't regret it :)
How can u help build more asking of God into your life?
It's easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission...or is it?
A friend told me that for years, and almost got me to believe he was right ...until his teen used the statement as a reason for their decision. I never heard it out of his mouth after that (lol).
It may be easier to ask for forgiveness but it's not necessarily right.
David had already defeated the Philistines in the past, and they were coming out to battle him again. Most people wouldn't bother to ask--they would just take up the battle at hand. But David chose to ask anyways. Every time David asked first it worked out well---but when he chose his own path it often didn't (ir Bathsheba, dealing with his son, etc).
Learning to ask is a lifelong lesson. Better to keep asking for clarity than having to ask for forgiveness. Seeking forgiveness often means facing pain, seeing consequences, and broken relationships. It may get something done quicker but can be a lonely destination.
Practice the ask---and confirm Gods will. (You won't regret it :)
How can u help build more asking of God into your life?
03/26/12-1Sam17 - Playing Dress Up
1Sam 17:39 - "I cannot go in these (clothes to fight Goliath),” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.
One of the fun games that kids play is what we called "Dress-Up". Boys would dress up in costumes or old men's clothes, wanting to be a fireman, police officer, doctor, etc. Girls would get all dressed up as a princess or a professional. Then the rest of the game was acting out the role of what they dressed up to be - it was imaginatory, fun, and a way to live in the make-believe land of their choice.
Dress-Up is still practiced today in our not-so-make-believe land of adulthood. As adults, we see what other people are and want to "dress" like them. We see an admired leader, and want to do the things he/she does. We see an athlete or weight loss expert, and want to follow their prescription of how to become the same in skill or physique. Dressing Up elevates to a whole new level, because we try not only to make believe we're like them, but acquire the power, possessions, or potential that they have. Unfortunately there's one problem: We're not Them!
Trying to be something we're not is the first step on the road to failure. God made us who we are for a unique & special purpose. He designed us to be exactly what He needs, and accomplish what He has purposed. Trying to be like others is more a hindrance to our progress instead of a help.
David knew he would fail if he tried to dress up as a military warrior. Instead, he chose to fight with what God had already given him, the tools of a shepherd - a sling and some stones. And by remaining himself, God was able to use him to defeat a giant.
When facing our giants, take the time to learn from others and gain wisdom from their experiences or skillsets, but don't try to be like others. Be yourself - the person God designed you to be - and let Him do the work He wants to do through you.
What giants are you facing in life? Whom are you trying to be to overcome them?
One of the fun games that kids play is what we called "Dress-Up". Boys would dress up in costumes or old men's clothes, wanting to be a fireman, police officer, doctor, etc. Girls would get all dressed up as a princess or a professional. Then the rest of the game was acting out the role of what they dressed up to be - it was imaginatory, fun, and a way to live in the make-believe land of their choice.
Dress-Up is still practiced today in our not-so-make-believe land of adulthood. As adults, we see what other people are and want to "dress" like them. We see an admired leader, and want to do the things he/she does. We see an athlete or weight loss expert, and want to follow their prescription of how to become the same in skill or physique. Dressing Up elevates to a whole new level, because we try not only to make believe we're like them, but acquire the power, possessions, or potential that they have. Unfortunately there's one problem: We're not Them!
Trying to be something we're not is the first step on the road to failure. God made us who we are for a unique & special purpose. He designed us to be exactly what He needs, and accomplish what He has purposed. Trying to be like others is more a hindrance to our progress instead of a help.
David knew he would fail if he tried to dress up as a military warrior. Instead, he chose to fight with what God had already given him, the tools of a shepherd - a sling and some stones. And by remaining himself, God was able to use him to defeat a giant.
When facing our giants, take the time to learn from others and gain wisdom from their experiences or skillsets, but don't try to be like others. Be yourself - the person God designed you to be - and let Him do the work He wants to do through you.
What giants are you facing in life? Whom are you trying to be to overcome them?
03/25/12-1Sam16 - Impressive People Really Aren't
1Sam 16:7 - But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Watching little kids play their first year of baseball is so much fun! All these kids, running around in their uniforms, but with no idea yet how to play as a team. Most enjoyable of all is seeing the difference between some who are ready (so they think) for the ball to come their way, while others are oblivious to what's happening, staring at the sky or picking grass, sometimes even SITTING in the field. They all look like baseball players in their uniform, but some just don't have the heart or the skill.
When God chooses people for an assignment, he doesn't look at their uniform. God knows every man's heart, and knows how they will perform. He knows what level of devotion they will have toward Him, and when they will fall short. The world may be impressed with what a person looks like, but God is impressed with what a person lives like. When He chooses, it's never about image, but about devotion.
What would it be like to live a week spending more time on devotion than image? How many minutes a day are spent worried/working on the image - what we look like, how we dress to impress, how beautiful our car or house looks, etc. - instead of spending some of those minutes on growing a heart for God. Just the few minutes spent reading this blog is more than many will spend thinking about God and His desires.
Make a choice to be a devoted player instead of an impressive one. Don't just wear the uniform, get in the game for God.
What do you need to do today to work on your heart for God?
Watching little kids play their first year of baseball is so much fun! All these kids, running around in their uniforms, but with no idea yet how to play as a team. Most enjoyable of all is seeing the difference between some who are ready (so they think) for the ball to come their way, while others are oblivious to what's happening, staring at the sky or picking grass, sometimes even SITTING in the field. They all look like baseball players in their uniform, but some just don't have the heart or the skill.
When God chooses people for an assignment, he doesn't look at their uniform. God knows every man's heart, and knows how they will perform. He knows what level of devotion they will have toward Him, and when they will fall short. The world may be impressed with what a person looks like, but God is impressed with what a person lives like. When He chooses, it's never about image, but about devotion.
What would it be like to live a week spending more time on devotion than image? How many minutes a day are spent worried/working on the image - what we look like, how we dress to impress, how beautiful our car or house looks, etc. - instead of spending some of those minutes on growing a heart for God. Just the few minutes spent reading this blog is more than many will spend thinking about God and His desires.
Make a choice to be a devoted player instead of an impressive one. Don't just wear the uniform, get in the game for God.
What do you need to do today to work on your heart for God?
03/24/12-1Sam15 - Mirror or Mission?
1Sam 15:17- Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel?
Mirrors are an amazing tool - they are crucial to have for safe driving, they help when walking around blind corners, and are great for helping to see the dirty spots we missed after washing up. But often, mirrors also can be the source of distraction. (Ever seen a person looking at their hair or makeup in the rear view mirror while in a car? That wasn't the intention of the mirror... :)
Many people spend too much time looking in the mirror - focusing their time and energy on self-image. Some use the mirror to help make themself the most attractive they can, in order to get attention and be recognized. Others look in the mirror and loathe what they see, seeing themselves as much less than God created. Either way, mirrors can consume our focus.
Saul was a mirror guy. He was looking in the mirror before God called him to kingship, and he was still looking in the mirror afterwards. Saul cared more about what men saw him to be than what God called him to be. And it caused his downfall.
Jesus warned us at being distracted by the mirror - he told us that life is more than what we have, what we look like, or what others think of us. What matters in life is what God thinks of us. And He already proved that by sending Jesus to die on a cross for us.
Use the mirror, but don't focus on it. Stop looking in the rear view mirror to see what your hair looks like, and start looking in it for direction adjustments. Focus on the mission --- where we're supposed to be going --- instead of the mirror.
How can you focus on the mission more than the mirror today?
Mirrors are an amazing tool - they are crucial to have for safe driving, they help when walking around blind corners, and are great for helping to see the dirty spots we missed after washing up. But often, mirrors also can be the source of distraction. (Ever seen a person looking at their hair or makeup in the rear view mirror while in a car? That wasn't the intention of the mirror... :)
Many people spend too much time looking in the mirror - focusing their time and energy on self-image. Some use the mirror to help make themself the most attractive they can, in order to get attention and be recognized. Others look in the mirror and loathe what they see, seeing themselves as much less than God created. Either way, mirrors can consume our focus.
Saul was a mirror guy. He was looking in the mirror before God called him to kingship, and he was still looking in the mirror afterwards. Saul cared more about what men saw him to be than what God called him to be. And it caused his downfall.
Jesus warned us at being distracted by the mirror - he told us that life is more than what we have, what we look like, or what others think of us. What matters in life is what God thinks of us. And He already proved that by sending Jesus to die on a cross for us.
Use the mirror, but don't focus on it. Stop looking in the rear view mirror to see what your hair looks like, and start looking in it for direction adjustments. Focus on the mission --- where we're supposed to be going --- instead of the mirror.
How can you focus on the mission more than the mirror today?
03/23/12-1Sam10 - No More Upgrades
1 Sam 10:6 -The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power...and you will be changed into a different person.
With the advent of technology we have all learned a new word: upgrade. Technology is always evolving and is not ever complete... there is always a bug to fix, an additional feature needed, or a new version that's faster or better. We have learned to live for the upgrade - looking for the next version of our I-phone, the newest release of car model, the better coffee maker. Upgrades are a part of life, and even when we buy something we know it will be outdated soon.
So many people approach their spiritual life the same. They don't want to make a radical change in their lives - they want to simply upgrade a portion of it. Wives want their husbands to go to church so it will upgrade their marriage, people look to God for the fixes they need in order to have better lives, more money, improved happiness. We don't want everything changed - just the few areas of problems and bugs.
But God is not interested in a version upgrade of our lives, he wants to transform us into a whole new product. He didn't send Jesus to the cross to make our lives 10% better - He wanted to do something in our lives that radically changed us from the temporary to the eternal. He wanted to replace our spirit with a totally transforming new Spirit.
When we live for the upgrade, we're still trying to be lord of our lives. But when we pursue transformation, God takes control and changes us completely.
Saul's change was radical - the least of Israel changed into the king of Israel. Yet instead of embracing the transformation, he later returns back to the upgrade mentality - swapping out the Spirit of God for his own controlling spirit again. Don't live for the upgrade any longer - seek the total transformation! It will last forever...
With the advent of technology we have all learned a new word: upgrade. Technology is always evolving and is not ever complete... there is always a bug to fix, an additional feature needed, or a new version that's faster or better. We have learned to live for the upgrade - looking for the next version of our I-phone, the newest release of car model, the better coffee maker. Upgrades are a part of life, and even when we buy something we know it will be outdated soon.
So many people approach their spiritual life the same. They don't want to make a radical change in their lives - they want to simply upgrade a portion of it. Wives want their husbands to go to church so it will upgrade their marriage, people look to God for the fixes they need in order to have better lives, more money, improved happiness. We don't want everything changed - just the few areas of problems and bugs.
But God is not interested in a version upgrade of our lives, he wants to transform us into a whole new product. He didn't send Jesus to the cross to make our lives 10% better - He wanted to do something in our lives that radically changed us from the temporary to the eternal. He wanted to replace our spirit with a totally transforming new Spirit.
When we live for the upgrade, we're still trying to be lord of our lives. But when we pursue transformation, God takes control and changes us completely.
Saul's change was radical - the least of Israel changed into the king of Israel. Yet instead of embracing the transformation, he later returns back to the upgrade mentality - swapping out the Spirit of God for his own controlling spirit again. Don't live for the upgrade any longer - seek the total transformation! It will last forever...
03/22/12-1Sam9 - The Best Leaders are not Leading
“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.” (1 Samuel 9:16)
A mom was signing up her teen for an after-school program and said to her daughter: don't be a follower, be a leader. That directive is recited by just about every good parent I know of (including myself) to our kids, trying to convince them not to follow the crowd but to stand strong against temptation and wrong actions. Yet if every kid is expected to be the leader, then who follows?
We live in a generation that values leadership. People see leaders as "made", by study, development, training, opportunity, etc. Great value is placed on being the leader, and little value is associated with those who are followers. Yet Jesus called his disciples to be followers first. In fact, Jesus VALUES followership. He saw in 12 men their potential to change the crowd and took them on in his 3-year training program to be good followers.
Leadership is not about taking on a position of authority to protect ourselves or gain something for ourselves. And it certainly is not a role given to people for the purpose of satisfying their egos or their checkbooks. Leadership is a responsibility --- it is the act of following something greater than ourselves and serving those we lead with what's best for them. Leadership really has very little to do with us, and more to do with others.
Maybe instead of encouraging our kids to be leaders instead of followers, we need to tell them to be followers of the right person first. Better that our children learn to follow Jesus first, than try to lead without a right role model to emulate. Instead of telling our kids to be a leader instead of a follower, maybe we should tell them to be a follower of the right leader.
That might just make them a better leader too...
A mom was signing up her teen for an after-school program and said to her daughter: don't be a follower, be a leader. That directive is recited by just about every good parent I know of (including myself) to our kids, trying to convince them not to follow the crowd but to stand strong against temptation and wrong actions. Yet if every kid is expected to be the leader, then who follows?
We live in a generation that values leadership. People see leaders as "made", by study, development, training, opportunity, etc. Great value is placed on being the leader, and little value is associated with those who are followers. Yet Jesus called his disciples to be followers first. In fact, Jesus VALUES followership. He saw in 12 men their potential to change the crowd and took them on in his 3-year training program to be good followers.
Leadership is not about taking on a position of authority to protect ourselves or gain something for ourselves. And it certainly is not a role given to people for the purpose of satisfying their egos or their checkbooks. Leadership is a responsibility --- it is the act of following something greater than ourselves and serving those we lead with what's best for them. Leadership really has very little to do with us, and more to do with others.
Maybe instead of encouraging our kids to be leaders instead of followers, we need to tell them to be followers of the right person first. Better that our children learn to follow Jesus first, than try to lead without a right role model to emulate. Instead of telling our kids to be a leader instead of a follower, maybe we should tell them to be a follower of the right leader.
That might just make them a better leader too...
03/21/12-1Sam8 - Knowing Better is not Always Best
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. (1 Samuel 8:19)
Ever put something in the freezer to get cold quicker and then forgot it was there? I've done that with soda bottles/cans before and it didn't turn out so well. I knew better but thought I could handle the risks.
There are moments in life when we think we know better than God. When our circumstances seem overwhelming, or our problems are personal, or our pain is great --- or even when things are going well and we believe we know how to control our futures. Those are the moments that we tend to implement our own plan instead of asking and listening to God.
We were made to be capable thinkers, but the question is not "can we handle it" but "will we listen to God"? Listening means more than hearing...it means to examine and understand the speaker's perspective. If we hear God speak but instead follow our own plans, we are not listening.
Deciding to choose our own way is the decision to have a different king. Just as the Israelites chose ti have their own king, we choose to be our own king every time we make our own plans. Be careful...it will cost us in the end.
Instead of figuring out our own plan, go back to God and really listen to His! Don't fear the circumstances, but follow the Lord. Then maybe you won't have a mess on your hands later.
Learn a lesson from the soda can explosion...
Ever put something in the freezer to get cold quicker and then forgot it was there? I've done that with soda bottles/cans before and it didn't turn out so well. I knew better but thought I could handle the risks.
There are moments in life when we think we know better than God. When our circumstances seem overwhelming, or our problems are personal, or our pain is great --- or even when things are going well and we believe we know how to control our futures. Those are the moments that we tend to implement our own plan instead of asking and listening to God.
We were made to be capable thinkers, but the question is not "can we handle it" but "will we listen to God"? Listening means more than hearing...it means to examine and understand the speaker's perspective. If we hear God speak but instead follow our own plans, we are not listening.
Deciding to choose our own way is the decision to have a different king. Just as the Israelites chose ti have their own king, we choose to be our own king every time we make our own plans. Be careful...it will cost us in the end.
Instead of figuring out our own plan, go back to God and really listen to His! Don't fear the circumstances, but follow the Lord. Then maybe you won't have a mess on your hands later.
Learn a lesson from the soda can explosion...
03/20/12-1Sam3 - Hearing is not about the Ears
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Ever notice how sometimes we can't hear what someone says standing in front of us, but CAN hear the whispers in a conversation across the room? (I can hear the TV 10 feet away but can't hear my wife sitting next to me...) It goes to show us that hearing is not just an auditory function, that our heads and hearts affect our ears.
The same principle applies when trying to hear God. Often hearing God is not an issue with Him trying to talk with us ... it's an issue of us wanting to listen. Our hearts and heads get in the way of our ears.
Sometimes the biggest detriment for hearing God is our hearts...we don't want to humble ourselves as servants to God's will, and don't want to listen to what He is saying.
Sometimes the problem is with our minds... We think we know better or doubt the possibility and excuse ourselves from believing what He says.
The boy Samuel had not yet heard the voice of God, yet he was more willing to listen and act on whatever the voice told him than Eli (the one who knew the voice well). Samuel was as humble as a child and had no inhibitions to doing whatever the voice said.
God is speaking to us all the time - and has much to say. In fact, He wanted to share with us His thoughts, so he used the authors of Scripture to make it very accessible. And God didn't want distance or poor hearing to be a problem, so He gave us a conscience to speak through. But if we are going to hear from God it starts with the heart and mind. Our heart must be humbled as a servant and our mind must be ready to accept whatever He says to do.
You can hear a conversation across the room because you want to. Have the same desire to tune into Gods whispers and listen to His Word as a willing servant. "Speak Lord..."
Ever notice how sometimes we can't hear what someone says standing in front of us, but CAN hear the whispers in a conversation across the room? (I can hear the TV 10 feet away but can't hear my wife sitting next to me...) It goes to show us that hearing is not just an auditory function, that our heads and hearts affect our ears.
The same principle applies when trying to hear God. Often hearing God is not an issue with Him trying to talk with us ... it's an issue of us wanting to listen. Our hearts and heads get in the way of our ears.
Sometimes the biggest detriment for hearing God is our hearts...we don't want to humble ourselves as servants to God's will, and don't want to listen to what He is saying.
Sometimes the problem is with our minds... We think we know better or doubt the possibility and excuse ourselves from believing what He says.
The boy Samuel had not yet heard the voice of God, yet he was more willing to listen and act on whatever the voice told him than Eli (the one who knew the voice well). Samuel was as humble as a child and had no inhibitions to doing whatever the voice said.
God is speaking to us all the time - and has much to say. In fact, He wanted to share with us His thoughts, so he used the authors of Scripture to make it very accessible. And God didn't want distance or poor hearing to be a problem, so He gave us a conscience to speak through. But if we are going to hear from God it starts with the heart and mind. Our heart must be humbled as a servant and our mind must be ready to accept whatever He says to do.
You can hear a conversation across the room because you want to. Have the same desire to tune into Gods whispers and listen to His Word as a willing servant. "Speak Lord..."
03/19/12-1Sam2 - I Can Do It Myself
As a child it was a statement of independence and accomplishment. We were proud of the fact we could tie our shoes or hammer a nail, and our parents were glad they didn't have to keep doing it for us! That may work in childrearing but no so much in relationships.
Hannah prayed: He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; (1 Samuel 2:9 NIV84)
It wasn't her strength or methods that allowed Samuel to be born. It was the hand of the Lord. She couldn't do it herself...she needed help from her eternal parent.
God enables us to do the things He wants done and helps us in accomplishing them. Don't assume the power or the credit, and have faith in His ability to do what we cannot do. Ask him for the help u need to accomplish what He wants done.
Hannah prayed: He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; (1 Samuel 2:9 NIV84)
It wasn't her strength or methods that allowed Samuel to be born. It was the hand of the Lord. She couldn't do it herself...she needed help from her eternal parent.
God enables us to do the things He wants done and helps us in accomplishing them. Don't assume the power or the credit, and have faith in His ability to do what we cannot do. Ask him for the help u need to accomplish what He wants done.
03/18/12-1Sam1 - The Best Parent in the Bible
So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:28)
Hannah's greatest desire in life was to have a child. For years she tried, prayed, served, etc. Then when she finally had a son, she gave him over to God to raise.
Most good parents see their kids as their own...ownership is a part of responsibility. But the truth is that children, like all things in life, are a stewardship. We are responsible for them a short time. God is the one that owns them.
The best parenting of all is to raise kids up to be God's children. Great parents are those who turn their kids over to God daily. And little by little, they grow up to know the Lord.
That makes Hannah one of the best moms in the Bible.
Hannah's greatest desire in life was to have a child. For years she tried, prayed, served, etc. Then when she finally had a son, she gave him over to God to raise.
Most good parents see their kids as their own...ownership is a part of responsibility. But the truth is that children, like all things in life, are a stewardship. We are responsible for them a short time. God is the one that owns them.
The best parenting of all is to raise kids up to be God's children. Great parents are those who turn their kids over to God daily. And little by little, they grow up to know the Lord.
That makes Hannah one of the best moms in the Bible.
03/17/12-Ruth4 - Pursuing ur estate or Gods Kingdom?
He said: “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate." Ruth 4:6
When our treasure and goals matter more than Gods plan we miss out on what God has in store for us. This unnamed man didn't want to risk his estate by doing right for Ruth and lost out on a historic moment to be part of Jesus' ancestry.
More than we care to admit, we choose to focus on our own desires versus pursuing Gods --- and become unname examples of halfhearted people. Better to risk the things of this world and pursue Gods plan than to accumulate them for our grave and have neither.
Stop looking at our estates today and start looking at people! They are our eternal assets.
When our treasure and goals matter more than Gods plan we miss out on what God has in store for us. This unnamed man didn't want to risk his estate by doing right for Ruth and lost out on a historic moment to be part of Jesus' ancestry.
More than we care to admit, we choose to focus on our own desires versus pursuing Gods --- and become unname examples of halfhearted people. Better to risk the things of this world and pursue Gods plan than to accumulate them for our grave and have neither.
Stop looking at our estates today and start looking at people! They are our eternal assets.
The Danger of Reflection
When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near! (various)
Reflection is a great tool for personal development. Through reflection we can learn from successes and mistakes, we can capture learnings that save future generations time, and we can gain insight into what God is doing. But when reflection becomes our focus, our dreams go into hibernation.
So practice dreaming a little more - spend more time thinking about the future than reflecting on the past. Use your reflection time as a resource for answering how to make the dreams a reality. Don't get paralized by your past, but let it be a textbook for future victories.
God told Joshua - Be Strong & Take Courage... Joshua had much to spend time reflecting on, but what he needed was God's direction to dream and make the dream a reality. Reflecting on 40 years in the desert was not going to help him defeat a city like Jericho. What he needed was some dreams.
We need dreamers - not those that pursue self-centered interests, but those who dream God-driven dreams. Start considering what God could do & would do ... let them become your dreams.
Reflection is a great tool for personal development. Through reflection we can learn from successes and mistakes, we can capture learnings that save future generations time, and we can gain insight into what God is doing. But when reflection becomes our focus, our dreams go into hibernation.
So practice dreaming a little more - spend more time thinking about the future than reflecting on the past. Use your reflection time as a resource for answering how to make the dreams a reality. Don't get paralized by your past, but let it be a textbook for future victories.
God told Joshua - Be Strong & Take Courage... Joshua had much to spend time reflecting on, but what he needed was God's direction to dream and make the dream a reality. Reflecting on 40 years in the desert was not going to help him defeat a city like Jericho. What he needed was some dreams.
We need dreamers - not those that pursue self-centered interests, but those who dream God-driven dreams. Start considering what God could do & would do ... let them become your dreams.
Online Inspiration Begins!
Welcome to the Journey CC Blog!
As part of your online experience, we're using this Blog to share our Pastor's thoughts & notes, along with other writings to inspire & encourage you. We'll also use this site as a way of communicating ideas, notes, and activities for the purpose of developing our church family. Add your thoughts and ideas as well, along with your own testimonies of what God is doing around you.
Sign up, use it off our website (www.journeycc.net), or download the APP to gain access from your handheld device.
As part of your online experience, we're using this Blog to share our Pastor's thoughts & notes, along with other writings to inspire & encourage you. We'll also use this site as a way of communicating ideas, notes, and activities for the purpose of developing our church family. Add your thoughts and ideas as well, along with your own testimonies of what God is doing around you.
Sign up, use it off our website (www.journeycc.net), or download the APP to gain access from your handheld device.
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