SOPA Protest

My website is following  in the footsteps of Wikipedia, Google etc & will shut down today join the SOPA protest. Read about it online and consider making the same decision.

Sowing, Watering & Reaping the Harvest



This morning during my Bible study reflections, God revealed some Truth to me. My friend Megan & I have discussed this in depth recently also, concerning a friend's spiritual state.

God showed me today that I'm not always the One to harvest the seed (in relationships etc). One person may do the planting of the Word in an unbeliever's life, another the watering (through encouragement, right living etc) & still another the actual harvesting.

God alone knows what my role is in this process. It is my job to rest in His sovereignty & actively work in the Role He has prepared for me. He alone knows the heart of a person. He has gifted each person individually. He knows who will interact with them when & what specific Truth will be imparted to them. Do not strive to accomplish a work that might not be yours for the harvesting. Stay well within God's plan for your life. You will be blessed!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

DO HARD THINGS!

5 Kinds of Hard Things

1) Things that take you out of your comfort zone (taking risks in order to grow)

2) Things that go beyond what is expected or required (pursuing excellence)

3) Things that are too big to accomplish alone (daring & dreaming big)

4) Things that go against the cultural norm (taking a stand for what's right)

5) Things that don't earn immediate payoff (being Faithful & choosing integrity)

Doing hard things are not just for teenagers. We are Called to pursue righteousness, godliness & holiness in all areas of life, in all stages of life. The goal is to become ever more Christ-like. We will never "attain" that in this short lifetime.

What does this look like? How does one do this? By battling complacency, overcoming obstacles, through accountability & mentorship, by raising the bar, stretching comfort zones, pursuing excellence & integrity etc .

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

There are always hard things to do- things God has pre-purposed for us to accomplish & is Calling us to do in His power, His strength & His motivation. What are yours?

For more information, I encourage you to read Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations & Start Here: Doing Hard Things Right Where You're At by Alex & Brett Harris

Priorities



In my grandparents' generation, it was normal to be at Church every time the doors were open. In fact, it was almost expected. Now, we're "lucky" if people even show up on Sunday mornings! I'm not talking about missing Church every once in a while (being out of town or whatever). I'm talking about perpetual grumbling; the state of the heart.

What happened? Where did we go wrong? Is it too late? And most importantly, how do we change the statistics???

While things could be said towards watering down the gospel & a seeker-friendly mindset, I want to focus on our priorities. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21

I emplore you to "fall in love with the family of God" again. Seek to pattern your heart after the hearthrobs of the Father. Let what matters most to Him be of the utter importance to you. God is jealous after the affections of His Bride.

If we can't show up for Church more than once a week (grumbling even then), what does that say about our heart? If you "don't have time" for a regular Bible study (or prayer or devotions or whatever), what does that say about your relationship with God?

We have the banquet table of the King laid out before us. But too often we take it for granted. We are Called to do more than just partake of the food. We are Called to Serve. To learn & grown & the pass that knowledge on to others. We are Called to be Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16).

We need a 'heart change.' We must embrace His standard of holiness, His source of power for change (the Cross) & His motive for fighting sin (grace). Let us strive to "think God's thoughts after Him"!

For further information on this subject, I would encourage you to read Stop Dating the Church! Fall in Love with the Family of God by Josh Harris

REMEMBER! REMEMBER! REMEMBER!

"After that, a whole new generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD & served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors' who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed & worshipped various gods of the peoples around them." - Judges 2:10-13

We are Called to REMEMBER what the Lord has taught us. This includes recognizing His sovereignty in our own lives,  tracing His Providential Hand throughout history (planning the future of nations), REMEMBERING our Christian heritage, seeing the role of the Church in history... As well identifying God's Hand of Grace on the lives of us, our parents & grandparents. And passing that knowledge on to the generations to come.

I remember being at the CHEF homeschooling Conference this past June, hearing scores upon scores of strong Christian leaders hammering home the importance of remembering. Our past, what God has done in our lives, who we were, who we are & who we're going to become (by the Grace of God).

We must teach our children about what the LORD has done in our lives. We must pass on our Christian heritage. We must hold on to the Promises. We must not lose our convictions or our sensitivity to the Spirit's touch! Our time on this earth is short. None of us know when our time might come. This is of the utmost importance. Too much is at stake!

"Those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat it." - George Santyana

Over & over again we see the Israelites going through a repetitive cycle of forgetting the Lord, commiting sin again His Name, remembering their God, repenting, being restored & forgetting Him all over again... We do not want these aparent "memory lapses" evident in our own lives...

"My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will utter the hidden things, things from of old- things we have heard & known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendents; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power & the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob & established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, & they would in turn tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God & would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands. They would not be like their ancestors- a stubborn & rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him..." - Psalm 78 (especially verses 1-8)

"Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is One. Love the LORD your God with all of your heart & with all your soul & with all your strength. These commandments I give to you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home & when you walk along the road, when you lie down & when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands & bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses & on your gates." - Deuteronomy 6:6-9

"Be very careful then, how you live- not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's Will is." - Ephesians 5:15-17

Familiarity Breeds Contempt?

"Our Primary Calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him & for Him. First & foremost we are Called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics or teaching), or to somewhere (such as in the inner city or Outer Mongolia). Our secondary Calling, considering who God is as Sovereign, is that everyone everywhere, & in everything should think, speak, live & act entirely for Him. Secondary Callings matter, but only because the Primary Calling matters." - Os Guinness

WOW. One of those elementary Truths of the Gospel that I've known & regularly take for granted, but never really meditated on or fully realized or appreciated. I especially LOVE the last sentence- "Secondary Callings matter, but only because the Primary Calling matters." EVERYTHING matters ONLY because of Christ & His redemptive work on the Cross!

Tying that in with another quote I read this morning...

"In some ways, it's those of us who are most familiar with the Spirit's Promises who are in the greatest danger. Someone has said that familiarity may not breed contempt, but it takes the edge off of awe. Something like this is true about the rich texts & glory-filled Promises that drop the jaws of newcomers but provoke no more than a raised eyebrow from those who have ceased to dream." - Jim McGuiggan

May we NEVER become so familiar with the Word of God that we become bored by it! May we ever grow in our knowledge & relationship with Him, while still possessing the "new believer's" passion, yearning & desire to ever know MORE of Him!!!

BETTER Hearing the Voice of God



Are you overwhelmed by the mounting pressure? Have you picked up too many responsibilities that God didn't call you to undertake (Luke 10:38-42)? Is too much of your identity bound up in doing great things for God rather than simply enjoying being with Him?

Why do we not hear God sometimes? Sometimes unrepentant, unconfessed sin stands in our way. Sometimes our lives are too loud. Sometimes we are proud & stubborn, unwilling to bow our heads & bend our knees. Sometimes our prayers are too one-sided, focusing more on our "needs" & "wants," rote & routine, without stopping to hear His answer. Sometimes we don't want to hear what He's telling us.

How do we better hear the Voice of God? Repent of all unconfessed sin (both intentional & unintentional). Ask God where you need to change. Be willing to obey, to follow where He leads. Be humble to receive instruction. When in prayer, be in an attitude of waiting on the Lord (Psalm 46:10). Rest in Him. Trust in His grace. Continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be ready & willing to be used of God, for His Glory & your Good (Romans 8:28). Take the time to sit at His feet, enjoying His Presence. Remove yourself from the distractions. Quiet the noise. Learn from other people (their decisions, lifestyles, experiences etc). Seek a quiet place to be alone with God. Weigh everything against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Seek confirmation. Grow your prayer life. Read His written Word. Be in relationship with other Christians. Actively look for godly input & influence. Quiet your soul. Actively seek Him. Cut down on the commotion, slow down & really listen to God. He will answer, but not always in the way we were expecting! Return to your first love. Draw near to God & He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Focus on Him; because NOTHING else matters!