Deny Him

The Lord has been showing me that priorities, (what truly is most important to me) guides my life. There is no real doubt that the above statement is true for everyone. Statistically speaking when parents are asked what they value most where their kid is concerned unfortunately is not that they love the Lord with all of their heart, but that they get a good education, especially one that will make them money. I have some friends that I believe know the Lord, "work" diligently in their local church, but what is admittedly most important to them where their two boys and their daughter are concerned is not that they walk deeply with Jesus, but that they get a good education from a fine upstanding university so their "future" will be set.

God is drawing me (again) to the simple fact that there is absolutely nothing more important than knowing Him, loving Him, and letting Him work in me. There is no desire, talent, gifting, or ministry more important than knowing Him.

The bottom line of it all is that to the extent that Jesus has control of my life dictates every decision and action of my life.

Once again my favorite verse..."that I may know Him..." Philippians 3;10. Oh to go deeper, oh to let my life be engulfed and obsessed in the relationship I have with Jesus Christ! It is better than anything else.

Mary chose the best...to sit at the Master's feet.

Like always...think about it.

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Union

I have been reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning. He is one of the few writers of Christian literature that dares to be honest. We as Christians have become a people that take the words "JUST FINE" to a whole new level. We hide our hurts and "issues" away in the effort to protect ourselves from ridicule from fellow believers. When I was at First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs, we had this I.T. guy named Jeff. It became a joke with us that when I had a problem with my computer I would call him and say, "Jeff! I have issues." I was walking through Macy's one day and saw a shirt that read, "I have issues." I took a picture of the shirt and when I had a problem with my computer, I would text Jeff the picture.

We all have issues. We all struggle with one thing or another, and for most of us that "another" is "another(s)".

The furious longing of our Abba Father; the relentless tenderness of Jesus; the gospel that transcends our deepest hurts and issues screams to us and says, "I love you unconditionally. I long for you. I want to be in union with you." In John 17:22-23, Jesus asked the Father to perfect us in unity and to make us one as He and His Father are One. In Galatians 2:20 Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God." Union with the Lord...intimacy, letting go to the point that He so moves "into" our lives that we are one with Him as He is with the Father.

Think about it!

Love you,

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Moving On

Sometimes our lives can be characterized by one event to another. I received a text on Saturday night from a friend of mine that just finished a competition. The text in as few of words possible and of course "text-isms" told of the next event almost forgetting about the win that was just done.

Last night after Easter Sunday, I found myself already thinking about the next "big event" and what that is going to entail.

Years ago Stormie Omartian penned the words of a song that for some reason, come to my mind at least once a month. The lyric says "you're looking so hard for the flower, when the hour is still ahead." In the context of the song, she was saying we look so hard for the next thing that we miss what is right in front of us...what God is doing now.

For those that know me, there is one thing that people say about me all the time. I AM A PLANNER. I have to admit...guilty on all charges. So it is very easy for me to think of the next event and miss celebrating what God has done in the one just finished.

So what is the point of my ramblings? Just one point...it is fine to think ahead and plan but always being careful to see what God is doing now. So I leave you with one question? What did God do yesterday that was something that only He could have done? Celebrate it! When we get to tomorrow and we look back on today...celebrate it. God is doing incredible things in our midst. We don't want to miss it because we are on to the next "big event" before we look at what God has done today.

Think about it!

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The Main Goal

What is the main goal of a Christian? Is it to know Scripture backwards and forwards and have a brain full of knowledge of the Lord? Although this is a great thing and certainly will help in our walk, it can't be the main goal. Is it to be at the church building every time the doors are open, or to give the required tithe to the Lord? Well, being at the building when services and other great worship times are going on is very much an important aspect of our lives. And certainly we are to be obedient in giving financially. We must not be selfish with financial gifts.

But as 1 Corinthians 13 says, we can do all these things and just be clanging cymbals. Cymbals are great. They give accent to a piece of music, but if all you have is clanging cymbals, the song is void of rhythm and melody.

I submit that the main goal of a Christian is Christ Himself. Paul said in Philippians 3 to "press on toward the high calling of Christ." The highest call in a Christian's life is simply to know Jesus. Everyday making strides to know Jesus better. I challenge you and me this week to do just one thing everyday to know Jesus better.

Think about it!

Love you,

Phil