I have always been the type of person that had the thought that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I try not to find myself in the midst of things that I can't do well. Oh, psycologist would say that I need to do things that are uncomfortable for me so I can get over fears. I don't necessarily disagree with that, but through the years, I have come to know what I should not try to even discuss let alone try to do. (Hmmm...any kind of sports comes to mind...)
Obviously I have a passion to worship the Lord. And I have a tendency to want everyone to be as energetic as I am about that. I have to be transparent and say I will never understand how someone can stand with their hands folded or in their pockets with a scouring face while we are in the midst of lifting up praises to the One that has the power over sin and death and His lifeblood is flowing through us. Well, that is me.
But what about you? What is it that gets you so excited that it makes you want to shout "get on board with me...NOW!" What is it that is your passion? Go for it! Live in freedom and go for it with all of your efforts and might. It will change your life.
In the seven months I have been here, I think of Al screaming Hallelujah because the Holy Spirit touches him deeply. I think of Rachel Stephens longing to dance before the Lord. I think of the drama team that gave a great sketch yesterday.
You know the old beer commercial really is true...you only go around once in life, so grab for all the gusto you can. We really do have this one moment that is guaranteed...go for it...Jesus said, "I come to give you life and give it to you abundantly."
So think about it....can the life we live be described as abundant?
Have a great week...
pb
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Words
Psalm 19 says "may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, O God." In Ephesians 4:29 Paul exhorts us to let every word that proceeds from our mouths be words that edify.
Have you ever noticed how much we complain every day? We are a society of whiners. I am so guilty of this. I expect good service at a restaurant. I expect people to follow through on their word. I expect...I expect...I expect. Whether we say anything out loud since we are not supposed to complain about one person's action to another person...that is except that person that gave us the offense in the first place, we think it.
I find it far easier to do the first part of Psalm 19 and Ephesian 4:29 than the last part of Psalm 19. Meditation. What do I meditate on?
Philippians 4:8 tells us what our minds should be fixed on...whatever is pure, lovely, of good repute...let your mind dwell on these things. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that we can have perfect peace if our mind is on Him.
So why is it that we struggle so much with this? I submit to you that it all comes back to the ninth part of the fruit of the Spirit...self-control. We don't practice taking the thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. So instead of us controlling our thoughts or meditations, they control us.
Yet, 1st John 5:4 says that we are over comers. That is the good news. We can overcome! We have the Holy Spirit inside of us that is ready and willing to get our thoughts in line with Scripture. It is a matter of the will of our mentality.
So for me...it comes down to choice. Do I want to live in the mire of negative meditations or soar with eagles on the purity of God? Ahhhh choice...don't you love it?
Think about it.
pb
Have you ever noticed how much we complain every day? We are a society of whiners. I am so guilty of this. I expect good service at a restaurant. I expect people to follow through on their word. I expect...I expect...I expect. Whether we say anything out loud since we are not supposed to complain about one person's action to another person...that is except that person that gave us the offense in the first place, we think it.
I find it far easier to do the first part of Psalm 19 and Ephesian 4:29 than the last part of Psalm 19. Meditation. What do I meditate on?
Philippians 4:8 tells us what our minds should be fixed on...whatever is pure, lovely, of good repute...let your mind dwell on these things. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that we can have perfect peace if our mind is on Him.
So why is it that we struggle so much with this? I submit to you that it all comes back to the ninth part of the fruit of the Spirit...self-control. We don't practice taking the thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. So instead of us controlling our thoughts or meditations, they control us.
Yet, 1st John 5:4 says that we are over comers. That is the good news. We can overcome! We have the Holy Spirit inside of us that is ready and willing to get our thoughts in line with Scripture. It is a matter of the will of our mentality.
So for me...it comes down to choice. Do I want to live in the mire of negative meditations or soar with eagles on the purity of God? Ahhhh choice...don't you love it?
Think about it.
pb
Monday, May 11, 2009
In the Midst of the Storm
And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” Matthew 8:23-25
Maybe today you feel like the disciples did when they saw Jesus sleeping in the midst of the storm. Perhaps you’re thinking, “God, don’t you care about me? Can’t you see that I’m hurting here?” This is a natural, human reaction when it seems that God is distant or unconcerned in the midst of our pain and struggle. But the fact is… if we are a child of God… He is there in the boat with us. He will either calm the storm or at least brave it with us.
Look at the first line again in the Scripture. When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Sometimes we complicate our struggles simply because we miss the first step. They followed Him. If they had not followed Him into the boat, the disciples would have never experienced what Jesus could do in the midst of the storm.
But until we are on the other side of the storm, we must remember that trusting God produces questions we won’t be able to answer. I think that’s worth repeating: Trusting God produces questions we won’t be able to answer.
If we really stop to think about it, disbelief is pretty easy. Anyone can not believe! That is an easy one. Choosing to trust in God and believe in His promises in spite of our questions… in spite of our problems… that’s the real challenge! To suffer and hurt and not know why… but to keep believing and hoping… that’s extremely difficult.
But no matter what we may be going through today… remember this: Jesus is present in the midst of everything even though He may seem to be absent. In God’s own time and in His own way… if we will wait on Him and trust in Him… He will calm our storms!
It is awesome to know that The One who has power over demons, The One who has power over disease, and The One who has power over death also has power over despair and the pains in our life. Jesus is our peace in the middle of the storm. If we will follow Him into the boat and watch Him in action, we will be amazed.
Phil
Maybe today you feel like the disciples did when they saw Jesus sleeping in the midst of the storm. Perhaps you’re thinking, “God, don’t you care about me? Can’t you see that I’m hurting here?” This is a natural, human reaction when it seems that God is distant or unconcerned in the midst of our pain and struggle. But the fact is… if we are a child of God… He is there in the boat with us. He will either calm the storm or at least brave it with us.
Look at the first line again in the Scripture. When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Sometimes we complicate our struggles simply because we miss the first step. They followed Him. If they had not followed Him into the boat, the disciples would have never experienced what Jesus could do in the midst of the storm.
But until we are on the other side of the storm, we must remember that trusting God produces questions we won’t be able to answer. I think that’s worth repeating: Trusting God produces questions we won’t be able to answer.
If we really stop to think about it, disbelief is pretty easy. Anyone can not believe! That is an easy one. Choosing to trust in God and believe in His promises in spite of our questions… in spite of our problems… that’s the real challenge! To suffer and hurt and not know why… but to keep believing and hoping… that’s extremely difficult.
But no matter what we may be going through today… remember this: Jesus is present in the midst of everything even though He may seem to be absent. In God’s own time and in His own way… if we will wait on Him and trust in Him… He will calm our storms!
It is awesome to know that The One who has power over demons, The One who has power over disease, and The One who has power over death also has power over despair and the pains in our life. Jesus is our peace in the middle of the storm. If we will follow Him into the boat and watch Him in action, we will be amazed.
Phil
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Coincidence
Some say that a coincidence has occurred when an event takes place that can’t be explained why it happened as it happened. Some say that there is not such an occurrence but rather everything happens for a reason. If I believe God is in control, which I absolutely do, then everything happens for a reason whether or not I understand why.
This past weekend I led worship and taught two small group breakout sessions at a conference outside Knoxville TN. The way this particular conference is set up on Saturday is that it has a morning part and an afternoon part. I was originally scheduled to fly out Sunday morning because there is not a late enough flight out to get back to DFW. About two weeks ago I was called informing me that the afternoon part was cancelled which meant I could fly back on Saturday night and not have to miss Sunday morning service at Wedgwood. So after a $150.00 flight change fee, I was booked to fly back to DFW Saturday. Bad weather happens and the flight was cancelled out of Knoxville. Of course if it is weather related, the airline will not pay for hotel which ended up being another $130.00. So after almost $300.00 including overpriced food and me missing Sunday morning anyway, we were back to the original scenario that would not have cost anything extra. WHY? Was there some reason I was supposed to be in Knoxville? Was there a reason I wasn’t supposed to be at Wedgwood on Sunday morning? OR, was it not about me at all? Was there some other master plan? Who knows?
Whatever the reason that I probably will not know this side of heaven, I know that my God is in control even when I am out of control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Healer in the midst of a virus outbreak. He is the One that owns the cattle on a thousand hills during economic dilemmas. He is God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is truly my All in All. There is no one greater. The US may win or lose battles. Terrorists may do really stupid self-serving things in the name of a god, but there is only One true God. Jehovah, our Provider.
Isn’t it great to know…GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!
pb
This past weekend I led worship and taught two small group breakout sessions at a conference outside Knoxville TN. The way this particular conference is set up on Saturday is that it has a morning part and an afternoon part. I was originally scheduled to fly out Sunday morning because there is not a late enough flight out to get back to DFW. About two weeks ago I was called informing me that the afternoon part was cancelled which meant I could fly back on Saturday night and not have to miss Sunday morning service at Wedgwood. So after a $150.00 flight change fee, I was booked to fly back to DFW Saturday. Bad weather happens and the flight was cancelled out of Knoxville. Of course if it is weather related, the airline will not pay for hotel which ended up being another $130.00. So after almost $300.00 including overpriced food and me missing Sunday morning anyway, we were back to the original scenario that would not have cost anything extra. WHY? Was there some reason I was supposed to be in Knoxville? Was there a reason I wasn’t supposed to be at Wedgwood on Sunday morning? OR, was it not about me at all? Was there some other master plan? Who knows?
Whatever the reason that I probably will not know this side of heaven, I know that my God is in control even when I am out of control. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Healer in the midst of a virus outbreak. He is the One that owns the cattle on a thousand hills during economic dilemmas. He is God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is truly my All in All. There is no one greater. The US may win or lose battles. Terrorists may do really stupid self-serving things in the name of a god, but there is only One true God. Jehovah, our Provider.
Isn’t it great to know…GOD IS IN CONTROL!!!!!
pb
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