The whole Law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love others as you love yourself.'
Galatians 5:14
Jesus tells us that our love for each other - not our doctrinal beliefs - is our greatest witness to the world. He said, "Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) God wants us to be together with other believers since we can not learn to love in isolation.
Love needs to be our highest priority.
Let love be your greatest aim.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Relationships need to be a priority because life without love is worthless, love will last forever and we will be evaluated on how we loved on this earth. The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. How will you explain those times when projects of things were more important to you than people? Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make?
Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone.
Galatians 6:10
Use every chance you have for doing good.
Ephesians 5:16
Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. Never tell your neighbor to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.
Proverbs 3:27
Friday, 28 November 2008
Saturday, 1 November 2008
When God Seems Distant
The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving him when he seems distant.
God promises repeatedly that he will never leave us or forsake us. But he did not promise that we will always feel his presence. Sometimes he may even hid his face from us.
Sometimes it is sin that disconnects us from God but more often it is a test of faith. Will we continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even when we have not sense of his presence?
We need to tell God exactly how we feel. He loves us no matter what we tell him. We need to focus on who God is: He is good, he loves me , he is with me, he knows what I am going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for my life. We need to trust him to keep his promises and we need to remember what God has already done for us. Even if he never did another thing for us he would still deserve our praise. God's Son died for us!!! And this is our biggest reason to worship.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
God promises repeatedly that he will never leave us or forsake us. But he did not promise that we will always feel his presence. Sometimes he may even hid his face from us.
Sometimes it is sin that disconnects us from God but more often it is a test of faith. Will we continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even when we have not sense of his presence?
We need to tell God exactly how we feel. He loves us no matter what we tell him. We need to focus on who God is: He is good, he loves me , he is with me, he knows what I am going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for my life. We need to trust him to keep his promises and we need to remember what God has already done for us. Even if he never did another thing for us he would still deserve our praise. God's Son died for us!!! And this is our biggest reason to worship.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
Worship That Pleases God
God wants all of us. All our heart, soul, mind and strength. We please God when our worship is accurate, authentic, thoughtful and practical. We have to make sure our worship is based in the truth of Scripture not our opinions of God. We have to mean what we say and engage our minds. We need to worship God with thanksgiving, praise, humility, repentance, offerings of money, prayer, serving others, and sharing with those in need.
When you praise God even when you don't feel like it, when you get out of bed to worship when you're tired, or when you help others when you are worn out, you are offering a sacrifice of worship to God. That pleases God.
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
I'll bring You more than a song,
because the song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within
than the way things appear.
You're looking into my heart.
When you praise God even when you don't feel like it, when you get out of bed to worship when you're tired, or when you help others when you are worn out, you are offering a sacrifice of worship to God. That pleases God.
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
I'll bring You more than a song,
because the song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within
than the way things appear.
You're looking into my heart.
The Heart of Worship
Once we know that worshipping God is our #1 purpose we need to figure out how to do that. What's at the heart? Surrender.
Surrendering means that we trust him fully. Fear will keep us from knowing him better and pride keeps us from accepting our limitations and realizing that we aren't God. One of the most difficult areas to surrender is finances.
When we fully surrender our lives to God we will experience peace, freedom and God's power in our lives.
So how do we surrender? It's not a just one time event of accepting Christ and choosing to follow him. It is a moment-by moment, lifelong choice. When we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice it is easy to get up and walk off the altar. We need to make surrender a daily habit.
Luke 9:23
If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me.
God deeply desires that we know him intimately.
Jeremiah 9:24
If any want to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me...These are the things that please me.
To develop this friendship we need to choose to be honest with God (anger, frustration, happiness, sorrow), choose to obey God in faith, choose to value what God values, and desire friendship with God more than anything else. We are as close to God as we choose to be.
Jeremiah 29:13
When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.
God wants to be included in EVERY activity, conversation, problem and thought. We need to take time to spend alone with God but that is only a small part of our waking hours. This may mean putting things in our lives to remind us throughout the day so that we train ourselves to remember God.
We also need to reading his word and thinking about his word throughout the day. It is impossible to be God's friend if we don't know what he says.
Job 23:12
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Psalm 119:97
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm 77:12
They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them.
Prayer lets you speak to God; meditation lets God speak to you. Both are essential to becoming a friend of God.
Surrendering means that we trust him fully. Fear will keep us from knowing him better and pride keeps us from accepting our limitations and realizing that we aren't God. One of the most difficult areas to surrender is finances.
When we fully surrender our lives to God we will experience peace, freedom and God's power in our lives.
So how do we surrender? It's not a just one time event of accepting Christ and choosing to follow him. It is a moment-by moment, lifelong choice. When we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice it is easy to get up and walk off the altar. We need to make surrender a daily habit.
Luke 9:23
If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me.
God deeply desires that we know him intimately.
Jeremiah 9:24
If any want to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me...These are the things that please me.
To develop this friendship we need to choose to be honest with God (anger, frustration, happiness, sorrow), choose to obey God in faith, choose to value what God values, and desire friendship with God more than anything else. We are as close to God as we choose to be.
Jeremiah 29:13
When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.
God wants to be included in EVERY activity, conversation, problem and thought. We need to take time to spend alone with God but that is only a small part of our waking hours. This may mean putting things in our lives to remind us throughout the day so that we train ourselves to remember God.
We also need to reading his word and thinking about his word throughout the day. It is impossible to be God's friend if we don't know what he says.
Job 23:12
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Psalm 119:97
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm 77:12
They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about them.
Prayer lets you speak to God; meditation lets God speak to you. Both are essential to becoming a friend of God.
Purpose #1 - Planned for God's Pleasure
Revelation 4:11
You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.
We were created to bring enjoyment to God and to live for his pleasure. By worshipping him we bring him pleasure.
Psalm 147:11
The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love.
Anything we do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship, it's a lifestyle. Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. We can accomplish this by doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by having continual conversation with Him. We seem to think that worship is just about music but how could those who are non musical ever worship? I think it's easy to get caught up in how worshipping the Lord makes us feel (for me it's especially in music) but it's not about me and how I feel! It's not for my benefit it for God's!! How many times haven't I walked away from church and said "I didn't get anything out of church/worship today." When we realize that it's for God's benefit not ours we should never be able to say this.
Colossi ans 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Romans 12:1
Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering.
So the smile of God becomes the goal in our life. More than anything I want to meet Jesus one day and see a big smile on his face as he tells me how much pleasure I brought him. God smiles when we love him over anything else, when we trust him completely, when we obey him wholeheartedly, when we praise and thank him continually, and when we use the abilities he's given us.
Hosea 6:6
I don't want your sacrifices---I want your love; I don't want your offerings---I want you to know me.
Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Psalm 119:33
Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. (spoken by David)
Psalm 69:30-31
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord. (spoken by David)
Psalm 37:23
The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.
The fact that every thing I do, except sin can be done for God's pleasure if it's done with an attitude of praise has been a very freeing experience. When we realize this we can use every task, every conversation, every moment to please God. It's about continually living our lives like He is right beside us. It's not spending time with Him for 1 hour a day, it's walking with Him all day. I often have felt guilty for not spending time with God each day but I am when I include Him and talk to Him constantly throughout the day.
Our focus has to change from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?"
You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.
We were created to bring enjoyment to God and to live for his pleasure. By worshipping him we bring him pleasure.
Psalm 147:11
The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love.
Anything we do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship, it's a lifestyle. Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. We can accomplish this by doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by having continual conversation with Him. We seem to think that worship is just about music but how could those who are non musical ever worship? I think it's easy to get caught up in how worshipping the Lord makes us feel (for me it's especially in music) but it's not about me and how I feel! It's not for my benefit it for God's!! How many times haven't I walked away from church and said "I didn't get anything out of church/worship today." When we realize that it's for God's benefit not ours we should never be able to say this.
Colossi ans 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Romans 12:1
Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering.
So the smile of God becomes the goal in our life. More than anything I want to meet Jesus one day and see a big smile on his face as he tells me how much pleasure I brought him. God smiles when we love him over anything else, when we trust him completely, when we obey him wholeheartedly, when we praise and thank him continually, and when we use the abilities he's given us.
Hosea 6:6
I don't want your sacrifices---I want your love; I don't want your offerings---I want you to know me.
Hebrews 11:6
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Psalm 119:33
Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. (spoken by David)
Psalm 69:30-31
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord. (spoken by David)
Psalm 37:23
The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.
The fact that every thing I do, except sin can be done for God's pleasure if it's done with an attitude of praise has been a very freeing experience. When we realize this we can use every task, every conversation, every moment to please God. It's about continually living our lives like He is right beside us. It's not spending time with Him for 1 hour a day, it's walking with Him all day. I often have felt guilty for not spending time with God each day but I am when I include Him and talk to Him constantly throughout the day.
Our focus has to change from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?"
Thursday, 9 October 2008
The Reason for Everything
The ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God. God made it all for his glory. In the entire universe, only two of God's creations fail to bring glory to him: fallen angels (demons) and us (people). All sin, at its root, is failing to give God glory. It is loving anything else more than God.
So how can we bring glory to God? We glorify God by fulfilling our purpose here on earth.
John 17:4
I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. (stated by Jesus)
We bring glory to God through these five purposes:
1) Worshiping Him - God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty.
2) Loving Other Believers - We need to belong and learn to love as God does.
Romans 15:7
Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified.
3) Becoming Like Christ
2 Corinthians 3:18
As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
4) Serving Other With Our Gifts
1 Peter 4:10-11
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you...Are you called to help other? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory.
5) Telling Other About Him -
2 Corinthians 4:15
As God's grace brings more and more people to Christ,...God will receive more and more glory.
We can't do these things without checking our priorities, schedules, relationships and more. It may mean choosing a difficult path.
So how can we bring glory to God? We glorify God by fulfilling our purpose here on earth.
John 17:4
I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. (stated by Jesus)
We bring glory to God through these five purposes:
1) Worshiping Him - God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty.
2) Loving Other Believers - We need to belong and learn to love as God does.
Romans 15:7
Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified.
3) Becoming Like Christ
2 Corinthians 3:18
As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
4) Serving Other With Our Gifts
1 Peter 4:10-11
God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you...Are you called to help other? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory.
5) Telling Other About Him -
2 Corinthians 4:15
As God's grace brings more and more people to Christ,...God will receive more and more glory.
We can't do these things without checking our priorities, schedules, relationships and more. It may mean choosing a difficult path.
Life Is a Temporary Assignment
This is God's third view of our lives. Our life here on earth is very short when compared with eternity and yet we seem to be living more for today than for the unending life we will someday spend with Jesus. Why? What draws us to the temporal when the eternal will last so much longer. We were made for so much more and even though we will have happy times here on earth this is nothing compared to what God has planned for us.
2 Corinthians 4:18
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Seeing Life from God's View
God's Views
1) Life on earth is a TEST - All of life is a test, God is constantly watching how we respond to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointments and even the weather! Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love or to depend on God. And ALL have eternal implications.
Thankfully God wants us to pass this test...
1 Corinthians 10:13
God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
James 1:12
Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
2) Life on earth is a Trust - God is the owner of everything and everyone on earth. We just get to enjoy it for awhile. He has entrusted us to care and mange our time on earth, our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships and resources. If we are faithful God promises 3 rewards in eternity: Affirmation ("Good Job!"), Promotion and Celebration.
1 Corinthians 4:7
What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I AM PUTTING YOU IN CHARGE."
Matthew 25.21
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.
1) Life on earth is a TEST - All of life is a test, God is constantly watching how we respond to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointments and even the weather! Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love or to depend on God. And ALL have eternal implications.
Thankfully God wants us to pass this test...
1 Corinthians 10:13
God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
James 1:12
Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
2) Life on earth is a Trust - God is the owner of everything and everyone on earth. We just get to enjoy it for awhile. He has entrusted us to care and mange our time on earth, our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships and resources. If we are faithful God promises 3 rewards in eternity: Affirmation ("Good Job!"), Promotion and Celebration.
1 Corinthians 4:7
What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I AM PUTTING YOU IN CHARGE."
Matthew 25.21
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.
Made to Last Forever
Life offers us many choices but when we look at eternity there are only 2: heaven or hell. How we live our lives here will determine how and where we spend eternity. If this isn't incentive then what gives? We are here today to prepare for eternity.
Paul says in Philippians 3:7, "I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done."
The other thing that amazes me is that everything we do here on earth has eternal consequences. I find this hard to swallow since the bible talks about EVERY act of our lives not just the obvious wrongs we do...EVERYTHING!
I guess there is something to be said for living each day like it is our last.
Paul says in Philippians 3:7, "I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done."
The other thing that amazes me is that everything we do here on earth has eternal consequences. I find this hard to swallow since the bible talks about EVERY act of our lives not just the obvious wrongs we do...EVERYTHING!
I guess there is something to be said for living each day like it is our last.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
What to Believe?
I've been a little frustrated lately with knowing what I can "sink-my-teeth-into" believe. With so many different ideas and suggestions flying around, I find it hard to figure out what is the Truth. Anyway, I think I've come to a conclusion today...
I think we know in our hearts what is right...that's not to say that we can't believe something and then years later come to a different conclusion. It's just to say that our heart knows what we can handle and when I say our heart, I mean that we hear God's Truths through how we feel about something that we have studied and thought about...If we are seeking the Truth we will find it in some form.
Now with this conclusion we have to be careful that we are seeking the answers and not just listening to what someone has said. That we are studying what God has to say to us in the Bible. Others may direct some of our thoughts but if we take the time to think about it we may be able to say that we agree completely or in part with whatever it is we are learning about.
We are all at different levels spiritually and we may not be able to understand, comprehend or handle ideas the way the next person can. God knows this and I believe only allows us to go as far as each of us is able to individually.
Got to think on this more....any suggestions?
I think we know in our hearts what is right...that's not to say that we can't believe something and then years later come to a different conclusion. It's just to say that our heart knows what we can handle and when I say our heart, I mean that we hear God's Truths through how we feel about something that we have studied and thought about...If we are seeking the Truth we will find it in some form.
Now with this conclusion we have to be careful that we are seeking the answers and not just listening to what someone has said. That we are studying what God has to say to us in the Bible. Others may direct some of our thoughts but if we take the time to think about it we may be able to say that we agree completely or in part with whatever it is we are learning about.
We are all at different levels spiritually and we may not be able to understand, comprehend or handle ideas the way the next person can. God knows this and I believe only allows us to go as far as each of us is able to individually.
Got to think on this more....any suggestions?
Monday, 28 April 2008
"Filled to the Measure"
Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrections and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrections from the dead.
Ephesians 5:18-19
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord...
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in you inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
These verses speak clearly on what our only goal should be...everything else will follow. We need to know Him intimately. Once we begin to be filled we will long for this for others. Paul shows us how to pray for those that we are longing to know Christ intimately. And speaks also of the amazing power that we are given if we believe...this power is compared to the mighty strength which God used to raise Christ from the dead. Do you believe we can achieve this kind of power through Christ?
Ephesians 1: 17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Pastor Tass was speaking in our church on March 23rd and his message touched on these thoughts. He talked about the Power of the Resurrection and what that means. He used a triangle to illustrate and at each point were the following:
1) Incredible - this is the starting point, the place that ignites the spark or desire. Feelings of alarm, wonder and even fear.
2) Impossible - At this point we may feel doubt or unbelief. Luke 24 tells us of the unbelief in the apostles when the 3 women return from the tomb to tell them that the tomb was empty and that Christ had risen. (Luke 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.) Shortly after this Jesus appears to the disciples on the road and Jesus says to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:38-39) To combat this doubt or unbelief we need two things: Experiential knowledge and Factual knowledge. We can also ask Christ for peace and belief like the father of the demon possessed son who says to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
AND...this leads to...
3) Irrevocable Faith - Thomas' confessed and went from doubter to believer. Peter was convicted and went from denying Christ to being passionately convicted. Paul was converted and went from persecutor to preacher. The disciples were challenges with the great commission. So for us this will mean cost and commitment.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ -- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrections and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrections from the dead.
Ephesians 5:18-19
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord...
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in you inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
These verses speak clearly on what our only goal should be...everything else will follow. We need to know Him intimately. Once we begin to be filled we will long for this for others. Paul shows us how to pray for those that we are longing to know Christ intimately. And speaks also of the amazing power that we are given if we believe...this power is compared to the mighty strength which God used to raise Christ from the dead. Do you believe we can achieve this kind of power through Christ?
Ephesians 1: 17-21
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Pastor Tass was speaking in our church on March 23rd and his message touched on these thoughts. He talked about the Power of the Resurrection and what that means. He used a triangle to illustrate and at each point were the following:
1) Incredible - this is the starting point, the place that ignites the spark or desire. Feelings of alarm, wonder and even fear.
2) Impossible - At this point we may feel doubt or unbelief. Luke 24 tells us of the unbelief in the apostles when the 3 women return from the tomb to tell them that the tomb was empty and that Christ had risen. (Luke 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.) Shortly after this Jesus appears to the disciples on the road and Jesus says to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:38-39) To combat this doubt or unbelief we need two things: Experiential knowledge and Factual knowledge. We can also ask Christ for peace and belief like the father of the demon possessed son who says to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
AND...this leads to...
3) Irrevocable Faith - Thomas' confessed and went from doubter to believer. Peter was convicted and went from denying Christ to being passionately convicted. Paul was converted and went from persecutor to preacher. The disciples were challenges with the great commission. So for us this will mean cost and commitment.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
What Drives Your Life?
What Drives Your Life? Guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, the need for approval...all these lead to are a dead end: unused potential, unnecessary stress, and an unfulfilled life. We all need a purpose.
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life...Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I am planning for you...I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.
Ephesians 3:20
God...is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of---infinitely beyond our highest prayer, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life...Your purpose becomes the standard you use to evaluate which activities are essential and which aren't. If you can't get it all done, it means you're trying to do more than God intended for you to do. We can all use a lesson in living a simpler lifestyle...especially in today's world.
Isaiah 26:3
You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.
Knowing your purpose focuses your life...It concentrates your effort and energy on what's important. You become effective by being selective. We need to focus.
Ephesians 5:17
Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
Paul encourages us...
Philippians 3:13
"I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."
Philippians 3:15
"Let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us."
Knowing your purpose motivates your life...purpose always produces passion.
Knowing your purpose prepares your for eternity...what ultimately matters most will not be what others way about your life but what God says. You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
Romans 14:10b
Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God...Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
Fortunately, God wants us to pass this test, so he has given us the questions in advance. First, "What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?" God won't ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?
John 14:6
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me."
Second, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What did you do with your life---all the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources God gave you? Did you spend them on yourself, or did you use them for the purposes God made you for?
What challenges...how will I answer these one day? Will I be prepared?
Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life...Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I am planning for you...I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.
Ephesians 3:20
God...is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of---infinitely beyond our highest prayer, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Knowing your purpose simplifies your life...Your purpose becomes the standard you use to evaluate which activities are essential and which aren't. If you can't get it all done, it means you're trying to do more than God intended for you to do. We can all use a lesson in living a simpler lifestyle...especially in today's world.
Isaiah 26:3
You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.
Knowing your purpose focuses your life...It concentrates your effort and energy on what's important. You become effective by being selective. We need to focus.
Ephesians 5:17
Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
Paul encourages us...
Philippians 3:13
"I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."
Philippians 3:15
"Let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us."
Knowing your purpose motivates your life...purpose always produces passion.
Knowing your purpose prepares your for eternity...what ultimately matters most will not be what others way about your life but what God says. You weren't put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.
Romans 14:10b
Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God...Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
Fortunately, God wants us to pass this test, so he has given us the questions in advance. First, "What did you do with my Son, Jesus Christ?" God won't ask about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him?
John 14:6
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me."
Second, "What did you do with what I gave you?" What did you do with your life---all the gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources God gave you? Did you spend them on yourself, or did you use them for the purposes God made you for?
What challenges...how will I answer these one day? Will I be prepared?
You Are Not an Accident
I'm not an accident. God didn't need to create me he created me so he could love me.
Psalm 139:15
You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
He described every single detail of my body...race, skin, hair, natural talents and the uniqueness of my personality. He planned when I would be born, how long I would live (Psalm 139:16), where I'd be born and where I'd live (Acts 17:26). He even decided how I would be born and to whom.
God is not haphazard; he planned it all with great precision...gives us pause to think about how we feel about ourselves and how we complain about the things we wish were different and yet we are exactly how we should be.
Isaiah 46:3-4
I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you.
Psalm 139:15
You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
He described every single detail of my body...race, skin, hair, natural talents and the uniqueness of my personality. He planned when I would be born, how long I would live (Psalm 139:16), where I'd be born and where I'd live (Acts 17:26). He even decided how I would be born and to whom.
God is not haphazard; he planned it all with great precision...gives us pause to think about how we feel about ourselves and how we complain about the things we wish were different and yet we are exactly how we should be.
Isaiah 46:3-4
I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you.
It All Starts with God
It's not about me. This is were I started...reading "The Purpose Driven Life". We were born by His purpose and for His purpose.
Ephesians 1:11
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
3 things from this verse:
- your identity and purpose are discovered through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- our purpose predates our conception - God planned it long ago...we can choose our spouse, career, hobbies, etc. but we can't chose our purpose.
- Our purpose gits into a much larger purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Ephesians 1:11
It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
3 things from this verse:
- your identity and purpose are discovered through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- our purpose predates our conception - God planned it long ago...we can choose our spouse, career, hobbies, etc. but we can't chose our purpose.
- Our purpose gits into a much larger purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
The Beginning
I guess I'll start at the very beginning...I was raised in a wonderful, Christian home. My parents taught me, along with my two sisters (Danae & Candace), to love God and that through His Son Jesus I could have the path to Salvation (Eternal Life). We went to church regularly and were taught about the Bible just like all the rest of our family and friends. Life was essentially status quo for the most part.
Around the age of 12, I remember my Grandfather's death...I will never forget that day when my parents called me at school and said that he had died. My neighbour lady came to pick me up and take me home so that I could finish baking buns for my mom while they went to be with the family. And although this sounds like a crazy situation (that my mom was so worried about those silly buns getting done) I spent that afternoon wondering where I would go when I died and how I knew that someday I would see my Grandfather again.
Looking back I clearly see that God was at my side over the next few years...I did not have friends that my parents would have considered good examples and yet I never felt pressured or interested in doing the things that they were doing...was this my mom's faithful prayers?
At the age of 16 I was baptized and at the age of 18 I married Cam, the guy I fell in love with as a teenager. The Thanksgiving before I got married my Dad had a terrible accident with a tractor and nearly lost his life. Amazingly enough he survived and was able to walk me down the aisle the following June (1996). Again, I knew that God was working in the midst of our lives.
The month after I got married my Mom got sick and needed surgery...soon after she got worse and they needed to repeat the surgery...I remember being very newly married and living in the City and having to visit my mom in the hospital when I should have been able to spend time with her learning to be a wife. She then fell into a severe depression and spent the next year (or two) working to get better. I felt like I was letting her down...I was busy in my new life and my sisters at home were the ones to help her through this...this was difficult for me because I felt disconnected from my family...I couldn't be there for my mom the way my sisters could and I felt far away from them. At this point I still believed that God was there and that I could count on Him but that was as far as my relationship went.
In 1999 we decided Cam would go back to school and it fell on my shoulders to provide an income for us...I didn't resent this, it was just how it was. In 2000 we decided we would try to start our family...this however took longer than we anticipated and was a difficult time. I couldn't understand what was wrong and the longer it took the worse it felt...especially when our friends started to have children and we were still having trouble. Finally we found out we were going to have our baby. Cam has since told me that one particular night when I was having a really hard time he wrapped his arms around me as I slept and prayed over me asking God to give us a child. Soon after that I found out I was expecting. What an answer to prayer! In June 2001 we had our first child...our son, Micah...and our first big miracle! That feeling when they put him into my arms after a hard delivery is something I will never ever forget. I felt God all around us in that hospital room as we got to know our little baby. Cam had just finished school for the summer (with a work experience semester to begin in fall) so we had time to ourselves to adjust to our new life.
Two years later we had our daughter, Chenoa. Again, the feeling of holding that new life in my arms was unexplainable. I delivered her in the comfort of our home and the experience was amazing.
In the fall of 2004 we bought a different house just down the street...little did we know that we were expecting our 3rd child. I have no idea what prompted us to move, but after moving in and a month later finding out that we would have a third child, I know that God was providing us with a more suitable house (our other house only had 2 bedrooms).
In March of 2005 I finally convinced Cam to go see a doctor...he didn't seem himself and seemed to be struggling with depression...sure enough after seeing the Dr. he was diagnosed with depression and put on medication...this was something we thought would fix itself with a little medication. After several different medications and lots of Dr's appointments, Cam was referred to a psychologist who could prescribe stronger medications. Again we dealt with several changes to medication and lots of appointments. In the meantime, we had our 2nd Son, Caleb in July of 2005. And this seemed to boost all our spirits for a time...until October. Cam was going to his appointment with his psychologist and I was busy with the kids at home when I got a call from him at the hospital telling me that I needed to come there. The hospital was not going to let him leave. They felt that he may be a suicide risk...WOW!!! WHAT A SHOCK!!! I had never suspected this nor had Cam ever shared anything about this. I am so glad that he had Dr's in place who could recognize the signs and help to prevent this from happening. I had never needed God more than I did at that moment. There I was a mother of three children (4 and under) and a severely depressed husband in the hospital. You have no idea how much having family close to me helped me through this time...I look back and wonder what I would have done had they not been there and I think I would have collapsed.
I spent the next two weeks surviving...trying to take care of my children (Caleb being only 2 1/2 months old - still trying to adjust to sleeping, feeding, etc.) and driving daily to the hospital to try to support my husband. Cam spent those two weeks adjusting to some even stronger medications (now the Dr's were really serious) and trying to be functional. At Thanksgiving they gave him a pass for the weekend and I spent that Thanksgiving thanking God that my husband was beside me.
The next several months were a challenge as Cam was off work on disability. Money was an issue but God always provided. God also gave me a lot of patience and strength to deal with the four other people living in the house and I know that if it weren't for his arms around me I could not have survived. Things have since been very up and down in our lives...at times I didn't know what our day was going to be like until it had started...I could count on nothing except the hope that I had for tomorrow. You know the saying "Tomorrow's Another Day" from Gone With The Wind...well...that was my motto. I had to keep going on. At times I felt on the verge of collapse and that I could not make it through another horrible day...but somehow I did. Looking back I realize that at those times God was definitely carrying me. What makes this even more amazing was that I wasn't carrying my end of the relationship...I knew that He was there and when it really got tough I would ask for His help but outside of that I didn't have the time. He still loved me and carried me when I most needed Him. I realized that I needed (and wanted) to have more than a working relationship with my God...but I didn't know where to begin.
I was reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and something in it hit home. The author of this book said that "many who claim to believe the Bible 'from cover to cover' have never read it from cover to cover." I decided right then to make this happen. So 2007 brought me this challenge: to read the entire Bible. I felt this was probably not enough but it would be a start. In the spring of 2007 a friend asked if I would lead a small bible study group and I said that I would. We started with "The Purpose Driven Life" and I started discovering a new faith for myself...not just the one my parents had passed on. Some things remained the same but others I needed to claim for myself. In fall we started a new bible study by Beth Moore: "Believing God". Again, I have been extremely challenged by this woman and know that I have a long way to go to have the relationship I want with my Father. But...I am on the journey. I thank God for the women that He has placed in my life who can share this journey with me. Life now is not perfect (not even close)...in fact at times I feel like I have so much to work on in my life that I am completely defeated. But I will keep on keeping on...knowing that "Tomorrow is another day." I hope that I can one day reach heaven and meet my Lord face to face and say that I have "run the race"...not walked or sauntered but actually RUN this race and done my very best to win!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up."
Hebrews 12:1-4
"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize."
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Around the age of 12, I remember my Grandfather's death...I will never forget that day when my parents called me at school and said that he had died. My neighbour lady came to pick me up and take me home so that I could finish baking buns for my mom while they went to be with the family. And although this sounds like a crazy situation (that my mom was so worried about those silly buns getting done) I spent that afternoon wondering where I would go when I died and how I knew that someday I would see my Grandfather again.
Looking back I clearly see that God was at my side over the next few years...I did not have friends that my parents would have considered good examples and yet I never felt pressured or interested in doing the things that they were doing...was this my mom's faithful prayers?
At the age of 16 I was baptized and at the age of 18 I married Cam, the guy I fell in love with as a teenager. The Thanksgiving before I got married my Dad had a terrible accident with a tractor and nearly lost his life. Amazingly enough he survived and was able to walk me down the aisle the following June (1996). Again, I knew that God was working in the midst of our lives.
The month after I got married my Mom got sick and needed surgery...soon after she got worse and they needed to repeat the surgery...I remember being very newly married and living in the City and having to visit my mom in the hospital when I should have been able to spend time with her learning to be a wife. She then fell into a severe depression and spent the next year (or two) working to get better. I felt like I was letting her down...I was busy in my new life and my sisters at home were the ones to help her through this...this was difficult for me because I felt disconnected from my family...I couldn't be there for my mom the way my sisters could and I felt far away from them. At this point I still believed that God was there and that I could count on Him but that was as far as my relationship went.
In 1999 we decided Cam would go back to school and it fell on my shoulders to provide an income for us...I didn't resent this, it was just how it was. In 2000 we decided we would try to start our family...this however took longer than we anticipated and was a difficult time. I couldn't understand what was wrong and the longer it took the worse it felt...especially when our friends started to have children and we were still having trouble. Finally we found out we were going to have our baby. Cam has since told me that one particular night when I was having a really hard time he wrapped his arms around me as I slept and prayed over me asking God to give us a child. Soon after that I found out I was expecting. What an answer to prayer! In June 2001 we had our first child...our son, Micah...and our first big miracle! That feeling when they put him into my arms after a hard delivery is something I will never ever forget. I felt God all around us in that hospital room as we got to know our little baby. Cam had just finished school for the summer (with a work experience semester to begin in fall) so we had time to ourselves to adjust to our new life.
Two years later we had our daughter, Chenoa. Again, the feeling of holding that new life in my arms was unexplainable. I delivered her in the comfort of our home and the experience was amazing.
In the fall of 2004 we bought a different house just down the street...little did we know that we were expecting our 3rd child. I have no idea what prompted us to move, but after moving in and a month later finding out that we would have a third child, I know that God was providing us with a more suitable house (our other house only had 2 bedrooms).
In March of 2005 I finally convinced Cam to go see a doctor...he didn't seem himself and seemed to be struggling with depression...sure enough after seeing the Dr. he was diagnosed with depression and put on medication...this was something we thought would fix itself with a little medication. After several different medications and lots of Dr's appointments, Cam was referred to a psychologist who could prescribe stronger medications. Again we dealt with several changes to medication and lots of appointments. In the meantime, we had our 2nd Son, Caleb in July of 2005. And this seemed to boost all our spirits for a time...until October. Cam was going to his appointment with his psychologist and I was busy with the kids at home when I got a call from him at the hospital telling me that I needed to come there. The hospital was not going to let him leave. They felt that he may be a suicide risk...WOW!!! WHAT A SHOCK!!! I had never suspected this nor had Cam ever shared anything about this. I am so glad that he had Dr's in place who could recognize the signs and help to prevent this from happening. I had never needed God more than I did at that moment. There I was a mother of three children (4 and under) and a severely depressed husband in the hospital. You have no idea how much having family close to me helped me through this time...I look back and wonder what I would have done had they not been there and I think I would have collapsed.
I spent the next two weeks surviving...trying to take care of my children (Caleb being only 2 1/2 months old - still trying to adjust to sleeping, feeding, etc.) and driving daily to the hospital to try to support my husband. Cam spent those two weeks adjusting to some even stronger medications (now the Dr's were really serious) and trying to be functional. At Thanksgiving they gave him a pass for the weekend and I spent that Thanksgiving thanking God that my husband was beside me.
The next several months were a challenge as Cam was off work on disability. Money was an issue but God always provided. God also gave me a lot of patience and strength to deal with the four other people living in the house and I know that if it weren't for his arms around me I could not have survived. Things have since been very up and down in our lives...at times I didn't know what our day was going to be like until it had started...I could count on nothing except the hope that I had for tomorrow. You know the saying "Tomorrow's Another Day" from Gone With The Wind...well...that was my motto. I had to keep going on. At times I felt on the verge of collapse and that I could not make it through another horrible day...but somehow I did. Looking back I realize that at those times God was definitely carrying me. What makes this even more amazing was that I wasn't carrying my end of the relationship...I knew that He was there and when it really got tough I would ask for His help but outside of that I didn't have the time. He still loved me and carried me when I most needed Him. I realized that I needed (and wanted) to have more than a working relationship with my God...but I didn't know where to begin.
I was reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and something in it hit home. The author of this book said that "many who claim to believe the Bible 'from cover to cover' have never read it from cover to cover." I decided right then to make this happen. So 2007 brought me this challenge: to read the entire Bible. I felt this was probably not enough but it would be a start. In the spring of 2007 a friend asked if I would lead a small bible study group and I said that I would. We started with "The Purpose Driven Life" and I started discovering a new faith for myself...not just the one my parents had passed on. Some things remained the same but others I needed to claim for myself. In fall we started a new bible study by Beth Moore: "Believing God". Again, I have been extremely challenged by this woman and know that I have a long way to go to have the relationship I want with my Father. But...I am on the journey. I thank God for the women that He has placed in my life who can share this journey with me. Life now is not perfect (not even close)...in fact at times I feel like I have so much to work on in my life that I am completely defeated. But I will keep on keeping on...knowing that "Tomorrow is another day." I hope that I can one day reach heaven and meet my Lord face to face and say that I have "run the race"...not walked or sauntered but actually RUN this race and done my very best to win!
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up."
Hebrews 12:1-4
"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize."
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
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