Life is NOT a Snapshot

I received a call today from someone with a real and immediate need.  This person had been betrayed and hurt at a level deeper than most of us can comprehend.  I don't want to go into detail but I promise that most people don't know the level and depth of this person's pain.  This person called me and before they could get out the first word, all I heard were tears and sobs.  They started telling me their story and I began to cry with them.  This person is a Christian and couldn't understand how this could happen.  And in the midst of our tears while I was giving them scripture that I hoped would comfort, God reminded me of a line from a Josh Wilson song that says "Life is not a Snapshot".  This song was written out of a hopeless situation where God brought in hope.

God wants you to know that life is not a snapshot.  So often, we experience pain that we can't comprehend and situations that we don't understand and we ask God "why?".  In that moment of hurt, it feels like this situation can never be better than it is now.  You may think "this is what my life will always be like because I can't imagine not hurting".  Like the guy says in the video link above, if we trust God with our eternity why don't we trust Him with our now?

While my friend was crying, I reminded them that God loves a broken and contrite heart and He will be near them (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17) and that Jesus said "...I will be with you always, even to the end of the earth" (Matt 28:20).  I also told them that no matter how dismal this very moment seems, it's only a moment in time and God will provide healing; "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).  Jesus said "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9). 

When we got off the phone, my friend was still crying and still hurting.  I couldn't take my friends hurt away just like I can't take your hurt away.  All I can do today is encourage you just like I tried to encourage this person.  Please click the link above and hear and example of how a family put their faith in God even when everyone told them not to.  I believe you will be encouraged just like I was.  Please remember that when you are down, alone, upset, and broken God is always with you and He hears your broken heart crying out to Him if you let it.

God loves you and I do too!  Merry Christmas.

Intention vs. Direction

On November 25th I wrote about good intentions.  I think we all have good intentions of doing something good.  I was talking with Jon Sweet yesterday at lunch and among the many various topics we discussed, Intention vs. Direction was one of them that kept me thinking long after we parted ways.

What gets you where you want to go?  What gets you from point A to point B?  Is it your intentions?  Just because you intend to go to Nashville tomorrow does that mean you will be in Nashville tomorrow?  If you intend to buy your best friend a Christmas present does that mean your friend will have a present from you under the tree?  No, of course not.  Just because you intend to do something doesn't mean it's going to happen. 

Now, let's go one step further.  If you intend on being a good person today, does that mean you will be?  If you intend on getting up early to read your bible does that mean you will?  If you intend to do the right thing, will you? 

The fact is; you aren't getting to Nashville until you start heading that direction.  You won't buy your friend a present until you go to the store (or shop on-line).  You won't be a good person today if you don't learn how to be one.  You won't get up early to read your bible if you don't set your alarm.  You won't do the right thing unless you just do it.

The point is that the saying "hell is paved with good intentions" is true.  How many people do you know that intend on going to hell?  Now, how many people do you know intend on going to Heaven?  See, no one wants to go or intends on going to hell.  Anyone that believes in heaven intends on going there.  But those intentions aren't enough.  There must be direction.  Just like our trip to Nashville, if we don't start heading down the path to get us where we want to go, we will never get there.

Therein lies the problem many of us have; getting started.  We all have or have had intentions of doing something grand in or with our lives.  Are there things that you have intended to do with your Christian life and you just haven't done?  I know a lot of people that read this blog are over 25 years old.  For those people, have you been the Christian that you "intended" on being when you were 15 or 20? 

Luckily, this is a situation that is easily fixed.  If you aren't heading where you want to go you simply stop, turn around, and start heading the right direction.  For some, this will seem like you are actually going backwards and you are right.  Here's a funny story to make my point.  Some time back, Jon and I were going to Nashville to meet up with Kim and Brooke.  We were heading down 321 and hamming it up as we pretty much always do.  Out of habit, I took I-75S...to go to Nashville.  Those of you who know how to get to Nashville know that I have messed up.  We made it about 15 miles when I realized what I did.  Well, there isn't a good shortcut to get to I-40W from where I was so my only option was to turn around and go back to 321 where I started and this is what I did.  Once I made it back to where I started, I could continue to I-40W.  Its the same way with our Christian walk.  When we head down the wrong path, we have to return to our first love before we can do anything else for Him (Rev 2:4-6). 

Intentions get you no where without adding direction to it.  The Devil will make you feel good about yourself because you have such good intentions even though something always seems to get in the way and you didn't accomplish what you intended.  He wants to see you fail and the best way to do that is to make you feel OK about not doing what you want because your mindset is "Well, I intended to do that but....(insert excuse here)".

Decide what direction to go and then go.

God loves you and I do too!  Merry Christmas

Layaway heros

I listen to K-love if I'm not listening to my ipod in my truck.  One story that they have been reporting on a lot lately is how there are a lot of people across the country that are secretly paying off people's layaway accounts at places like K-mart and Wal-Mart.  I thank God that there are people that have the means to help people and they are doing it.

I was thinking about what a great thing these people are doing and something hit me.  These people are just obeying God (or simply helping people if they aren't Christians).  God has blessed them financially and they are just doing a good work.  It's sad that we live in a day and time where people helping people has become so news worthy.   Isn't helping others part of "Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt 22:39)?    James 2:15-17 asks what good is it for you to pray for someone in need rather than actually doing something for them.  Jesus told the rich young ruler that he needs to sell everything he owns and give it to the poor (Luke 18:22).  God intends for Christians to take care of people.  When we became Christians, we gave God everything which includes our money so it is His to tell us how we should use it.  We gave Him our abilities so they are His to tell us who to help with them.  We gave him our time so it is His to tell us how to spend it.

And then, of course, this got me to thinking about what I do to help people.  Do I do enough with what God has given me to take care of someone simply because it's the right thing to do?  Have I turned a blind eye to someone in need?  How about you?  Are you doing what God wants you to with your money, time, and abilities?

Of course we're not going to discuss what we do here because the bible tells us to not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing (Matt 6:3). 

This is the time of year when most people do the most for those in need and I think that is absolutely great.  I hope we all take part in these charitable events.  I encourage you to look to help those in need all year.  Remember, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).

God loves you and I do too!

Praise God today?

Have you given praise to God today? Not for what He has done for you but for who He is? God is so awesome and He desires our praise. He said that He inhabits the praise of His people (Psalms 22:3).  That means if you want to know that God is with you, simply praise him because he said He'd be there.  One thing is for sure, praising God doesn't require talent or even intelligence (not that you don't have both).  All it requires is a thankful heart.  One of my favorite things to do is to give thanks and praise to the creator of life.  There isn't much in life that I'm good at but one thing I sure enjoy is telling my God "thank you". 

If you don't know how to praise God there is a great song that can teach you called "Revelation Song".   I'm also including a link to an awesome video for this song.  If you have 6 minutes, I strongly suggest that you watch it.  What I like about "Revelation Song" is that it has nothing to do with me.  It is all about God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3LK3wIHnVE&feature=related

Give praise to God today.  You can start by singing this song to God:


Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat


Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!


Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah


Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!


Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery


Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!


Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU…




Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory


God loves you and I do too!

The "Christian Family" Part 2, what God wants

Yesterday I explained in general how I believe that the typical or cliché “Christian Family” lives.  I did this because, in my opinion, this way of living is aiding the destruction of Christians today.  The reason I believe this is that the devil isn’t in a hurry to destroy you.  Yes, he came to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10) but he doesn’t care if he does it today or tomorrow.  His ultimate goal is for us to go to Hell.  If he can make our lives miserable along the way then that’s an added bonus but that isn’t his end goal.  The best way to destroy the body of Christ, the Church, is from within using the family structure.  So today I will discuss briefly what I believe that God wants out of our Christian Families.

First and foremost, God wants us to have a personal relationship with him through his son Jesus.  He just doesn’t want to hear from us or be on our minds on Sunday.  Remember the “pray without ceasing” part (1 Thes 5:17)?  This is a big part of that relationship.  Think about the most important relationship you have on this earth.  It may be with your mom or your dad.  It could be with a friend or your kids.  If you’re married, I hope it’s with your spouse but if it isn’t, you should at least be honest with yourself for this exercise.  Thinking about this most important relationship, how often do you nurture it or how often do you take advantage of it?  How many things do you encounter throughout the day that reminds you of this person in a good way?  How often do you talk to or want to talk to this person?  God wants this kind of relationship with you.  If parents have this kind of relationship with God, their children will know it.  I guarantee that your children know exactly who your best friend is. 

Next, he wants you to be “prayed up” if for no other reason than to have indescribable peace (Philippians 4:6,7).  But He just doesn’t want those times of earnest prayer (which He does want) but he also wants those times when something reminds you of Him and you thank Him for it.  He wants to be that most important relationship that you thought about earlier.  Having a heart or attitude that prays without ceasing is the best way to maintain your daily Christian walk.  Now with all of that said, he does desire those times when it is just you and Him and you are pouring your heart and soul out to Him.  Maybe it is a time of praise or a time of bearing your soul, but either way He desires that alone time.

God wants us to have great marriages.  That’s why He has rules in place to protect it.  The purposes for having a great marriage far exceed what I can write about here but the reasons do seem obvious to me but they all boil down to Jesus’ statement that He came that we have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10…again).  When you are fighting with your spouse, do you feel like you are living abundantly?  Abundantly bad maybe.  A solid, loving relationship between husband and wife is the primary basis for what God wants out of a “Christian Family”.  Without that true love (not lust, infatuation, or the “in-love” feeling) the “Christian Family” that God wants will become the complaisant family that many see today where husband and wife begrudge each other.  One of my most favorite scriptures is Matt 22:36-40;

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If husband and wife can have this kind of love for each other, the devil CAN NOT destroy your family!

God wants moms and dads to work for him.  God not only wants part of your money (tithe) but he wants your time too.  He wants you to show Him that you love him through your works; “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).  Read James chapter 2 and you will see that not only should we have faith but God wants our works or our actions too.  He wants us to do everything as though we are doing it unto Him (Col 3:23).  He wants us to talk about Him and spread his word (Mark 16:15).

This is what I believe God wants from us.  Does it exist?  Yes.  If you aren’t living this now, can you?  Yes.  It is never too late to conform to God’s will.  If you really want to make a change and have an impact for God, start at home.  Start with Matt 22:36-40 and go from there.  If husband and wife will love God first and then love each other, I believe God will bring peace to that family and allow them to truly start impacting their community.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you disagree and let me know if you need more information.

God loves you and I do too!