"Delight In You"

A song came to my mind this morning as I sat down with my guitar and started playing a few chords. It was meaningful because as I played the song, I began to sing inspired words from my heart about our journey over the last few years as my family and I have walked through ministry. I want to share those words with you now.

"A thousand miles, feels like I've been walking

 A thousand more, I will walk for You, Lord

 Even when the darkness seems to fall

 I will lift my eyes and look to You

Putting one foot in front of the other

Is what we were made to do 

Putting one foot in front of the other

Get's us one step closer to You

Jesus - I choose to delight in You

Jesus - You are the only hope that's true

Jesus - I choose to delight in You

Jesus - I cling to the only truth - and that is You"

If you've never followed a prompting of the Lord, and moved in obedience to Him, you probably won't feel these words. But if you have, than you know the loneliness, and hardships that can come along the way. Literally sometimes you simply get through by putting one foot in front of the other just to keep going. Other times you cry out to God that you are ready to be with Him and it can't come quickly enough. Some days in themselves feel like you have walked 1000 miles, and ready to stop walking. But then, the choice comes in that what you are doing is all about Jesus. The choice has to be to delight in Jesus, and cling to Him. Without it being about Him, what's the point. I love these lyrics, because they exactly represent my hearts words, and all in just a few minutes this morning. God is good. He is faithful. It's about Him. 

Applying the rebate

It wasn't too long ago that I realized I needed a new phone, and that I would have to upgrade to a smartphone if I was going to take things to the next level. I had fought it long enough, "moving on up" was what I had to do. As I looked at phones, I settled on the HTC Thunderbolt. It's a great phone as far as intelligent phones go. One of the things I liked most was that I received a $50 rebate with it as well. So, I sent it in and waited to receive it back. Yes, it eventually came and I was excited to apply it to the phone, since that is its purpose. Just this morning the Lord spoke to me concerning this. See, that rebate card is a lot like the Bible. When I received the rebate card, I had a couple of choices. I could have read it and placed it in my drawer, nullifying its value, or I could use it to APPLY to the phone. This is its purpose, to be applied to the phone. The Bibles purpose is to be APPLIED to the readers life. It's fun to have great discussions about scripture, but where real life change happens isn't at 30,000 feet looking over the landing area, it's at ground level when we bring it in for the landing. It's where we see up close how that days reading can be lived out, not just read about, and theres a HUGE difference. I challenge you, when you enter into devotion time, think application, not just observation. This is where the rubber meets the road, and lives change for the Kingdom. APPLY the rebate card to the phone. APPLY the scriptures to life. Be blessed.

Trust

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
(Psalm 49:13-19)

Scripture: Psalm 49:18-19

Observation: Some people may be looked upon in this life as "blessed" because of status, job, finances etc., but are they? The future for the one who trusts in himself or his possessions is trusting in what is temporary, not eternal. It's not wrong to have nice things, but never trust in them.

Application: Consider where my trust is. Look at what I spend my time thinking about and hoping for. Is it more of Jesus? Is it more money? Spend time praying and gaining clarity each morning for what really matters.

Prayer: "Father, help me to have right focus. Give me clarity each day for the eternal, not the temporary things, for they are fleeting. Bless me, but I don't want to trust in your blessing alone as my comfort, that job is yours, you are my comfort and joy. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Where are you found?

Last Night at Lifegroup we were discussing pride, and it was great to listen to each person & hear their input. As I lay in bed last night after getting home, I thought about this a little more. I began to think of all the things that people invest themselves into, very good things sometimes too. I thought about family and how it can be so easy to sink your identity into what your kids are doing, or where you're from. I think about finances & savings and the stock market and how easy it is to sink your identity into what those things are doing. I think about a place of employment and how easy it is to sink your identity into a new promotion or finding your way to the top of the success ladder. I think about the opposite sex and how easy it is to sink your identity into doing whatever it takes to find someone to be with, no matter what they are like, as long as there is someone. I think about the pursuit of knowledge and how easy it is to sink your identity into how many degrees you can receive or how you can debate anyone into submission. I think about church and how easy it is to sink your identity into the work you do at church and a certain status within the church. It was a busy night inside my head as my wife drifted off to sleep! :) Then God reminded me, pride is anything we choose to sink our identity into that is not Jesus Christ. It is prideful to place anything in the position that can only be occupied by Jesus. The identity of man was always meant to be in Jesus Christ, and not anything of this world. Even unbelievers' identity is meant to be in Jesus Christ, it's just elusive since like many others they look elsewhere to find this.

Please consider today what you may be sinking your identity into that may seem harmless but is pointing away from the real core of who you are. There are many wonderful things God has blessed us with in life, but the identity our souls are longing for is only found in one place, Jesus Christ. When we accept this, pride is crushed and we do what we do for a much higher purpose.

Have a wonderful day friends.

Thanks

One of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving is each year watching "March of the Wooden Soldiers." Each year Laurel & hardy would start the day off right, along with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. With the smell of wonderful food cooking, and the anticipation of family coming over to celebrate, I felt secure and comfortable. There is something really great about Thanksgiving time, and this time of year alltogether. Here are a few things all of us would do well to remember this Thanksgiving.

1. Thank God. He is the ultimate provider.
2. Fellowship. We were designed to be with others.
3. Eat. We should eat to the glory of God! (Plus, Thanksgiving dinner is so good!)
4. Give. Find how we can give to those in need.
5. Bless. Be a walking blessing to those around you in word & action.
6. Love. Make sure your love is felt by your family & friends, not just heard.
7. Laugh. Getting together with others is best accompanied by laughter!

Just a few thoughts as we enter into such a wonderful season of the year. Have a blessed Thanksgiving friends!

"Good" or "God"?

I was reminded this morning of how great the cost of following Jesus really is (Luke 9:57-62). There are a lot of "good" things we desire to take care of sometimes before serving Jesus, but they are not "Gods" things. These things take on the appearance of being highly important, but they are avenues that lead us away from serving God wholeheartedly. I then thought of how lukewarm we can be as believers. We place a toe in to test the water, then a little more but don't dive in and become submerged in the service of our savior. Lukewarm isn't good however...the lukewarm are a bad taste in Jesus' mouth. The lukewarm get spit out (Rev.3:16). If we keep our eyes on what is behind us, like we are missing out on some great things we are leaving behind due to following Jesus, we are lukewarm...and lukewarm is a bad taste to the savior. Don't be a bad taste...I encourage you to let go of the "good" stuff and grab hold of the "God" stuff. It is the cost of following Jesus.

Overcoming the fear of fear

President Franklin Roosevelt said in His first inaugural address to the nation in 1933 that "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself..." He of course was referring to the nation's future in coming out of the great depression and belief in itself that better days lay ahead. As I thought about this statement, a very spiritual truth seems hidden inside it as well.

As believers we are called to reach people with the good news of salvation from our sin and sure eternal death through the payment given by Jesus Christ himself. We are called to share the good news, wherever we are called by Him. Many times we are faced with decisions to go where we may not desire to go, but we follow (if we know what's good for us!). And sometimes the place that He leads may take us out of safety and into the unknown and uncertainty of the future. I can hear God speaking even now in my mind, saying to the believer, "the only thing you have to fear is fear itself my child". Truthfully, the only thing we have to be afraid of, is being afraid. If your life is about glorifying God and living in a oneness with Him (John 15), than what do you have to fear? What's the worst that can happen? Death? Jesus states in Matthew 10:28 that as disciples we are not to fear "those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul". We become so worried about harm & even death while Jesus says "Is that all your worried about?" Do not fear man, because all he can take is the life of the body, not the life of the eternal soul. We must come to the place where we overcome the fear of fear, and replace it with the joy of obedience to the creator. Not an easy task, but one we must get.

As I write this, I find myself struggling in this as much as the next person, but as long as we're taking steps in the right direction we are being obedient to Christ. Join me in continuing to die to self and live for Christ, because no one can take that from us. Take risks...share the gospel...go where called, and know that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain".

Amen!