I did a survey of those that I though were reading this blog weekly, and I came up with five people. And as much as I would love to continue this for you faithful five, I am going to go to once a month. I hope what I have said in these blogs for the past year and half have moved you to a deeper walk with Jesus.
So this morning, I have a some short thoughts for us all.
1. Live the life God gave you to the fullest.
2. Do all you can do. Don't stop short.
3. But in so doing, find time to be still.
4. Jesus loves you more than you can ever know.
5. Start 2010 with a new revived passion of loving Him.
Have a great Christmas, and I will catch you in 2010.
Love you,
Phil
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
People
I have heard the statement many times through the years of ministry that "ministry would be easy if it wasn't for the people." Every time it is said it always gets at least a little chuckle. The real funny thing about that statement is that it is true. If all I had to do was prepare a worship service that would express how great Jesus is, that would be easy. But that in itself is not ministry. Oh it is a vital part of what I am called to do as the Associate Pastor of Worship, but that is far from what true ministry is.
The true definition of ministry is people. People are to be valued (not worshipped) but certainly recognized as valued.
So here is the question. How do we look at people...people in our local church body, people at work, people at the store and the malls, and even those on the street corners holding a sign that says "I will work for beer"?
The challenge...in the hustle and bustle of the season of this season, of course we want to exalt Christ above all the other trappings of Christmas. But we need to go further and love those store clerks and the people that cut in front of you in those long lines.
Most of you know that I am a Kenneth Cole clothes nut. Well we don't have a Kenneth Cole store where I am, so I go over to Dallas to the Kenneth Cole store. Well over a two year period, I am on a first name basis with all that work there. There is Ken, Bernard, Josh, Emberly (wow Emberly...there is a story and half), Stephen, and Kelek. Periodically I will stop and buy them a Starbucks card for the store to go get something together, or most like chocolate, so I bring them a box. I truly believe that one day they will all know Jesus.
So how will we bless people today?
Love you.
The true definition of ministry is people. People are to be valued (not worshipped) but certainly recognized as valued.
So here is the question. How do we look at people...people in our local church body, people at work, people at the store and the malls, and even those on the street corners holding a sign that says "I will work for beer"?
The challenge...in the hustle and bustle of the season of this season, of course we want to exalt Christ above all the other trappings of Christmas. But we need to go further and love those store clerks and the people that cut in front of you in those long lines.
Most of you know that I am a Kenneth Cole clothes nut. Well we don't have a Kenneth Cole store where I am, so I go over to Dallas to the Kenneth Cole store. Well over a two year period, I am on a first name basis with all that work there. There is Ken, Bernard, Josh, Emberly (wow Emberly...there is a story and half), Stephen, and Kelek. Periodically I will stop and buy them a Starbucks card for the store to go get something together, or most like chocolate, so I bring them a box. I truly believe that one day they will all know Jesus.
So how will we bless people today?
Love you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Heart of A Champion
Something that 99.9% of you will relate to is how a great champion of a sport is made. There are many elements that go into making a champion, but there is one that outshines them all...endurance and being sold out to the task. Scripture has ways of reminding us who we are in Him. We are overcomers...winners in this life. We are holy, we are righteous because we are covered in His righteousness. We are joint heirs, and we adopted into the Beloved. We are sons and daughters of the Most High God. On and on the Scriptures tell us that we are winners.
The biggest hindrance to becoming a champion in sports or even in music is lack of focus and endurance to finish the task. Christmas time is such a busy time in the life of a local body of believers. There are thousands of parties, musicals, and other ministry opportunites we have no other time of the year. Let me encourage you to keep going until the end. There is much that God longs to use us for.
pb
The biggest hindrance to becoming a champion in sports or even in music is lack of focus and endurance to finish the task. Christmas time is such a busy time in the life of a local body of believers. There are thousands of parties, musicals, and other ministry opportunites we have no other time of the year. Let me encourage you to keep going until the end. There is much that God longs to use us for.
pb
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