Matthew 9:36
"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd."
Sometimes I am not the most sympathetic person. There have been instances where I have looked a Soldier in the eye and said, "Just be a man!" in response to their hurt and frustration. I am so unlike Jesus still. Now, I don't think that Jesus put up with people's shenanigans but, what he did do was connect with them regardless of what they were going through and then reached out with love. Too often I think we take a look at this life and see people who are hurting or lost and our first thought is not about them at all. Our first thought is about what we are normally thinking about... ourselves. We see ourselves as the center of the life we are living instead of side characters in a grander scheme. We value our priorities over others and don't take the time to truly sympathize. We even will use other people's real life pain for our own benefit through all kinds of trickery and manipulation. But, instead, God sent this man down to earth to actually feel our pain, experience our grief, and shed tears, just to be the shepherd we all so desperately need. When you see someone's pain how do you react? What is your first thought? How can you reach out to the distressed and dispirited in your life today?
Monday, January 30, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
27Jan17
1 Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
I have sat with people in some of the worst situations life can throw at you. I watch as families crumble or grow stronger during hardships. I listen as good natured people try to comfort those in troubles with the phrase, "Don't worry. God will never give you more than you can handle." I'm going to rant for a minute on this because that thought, although it may feel good in the moment, is destructive. Look at the verse above. Is God saying He'll never give you more than you can handle? This verse is what people are trying to quote. When we say that God will never give us more than we can handle we are putting the focus in the wrong place. First off, Paul is talking about temptations here... not tragedy. Not hardships. Not the death of a loved one. Secondly, who is providing the way out? When we say, "God will never give us more than we can handle" we attribute God with the hardship but, give ourselves the credit for the solution. We take that on ourselves and say, "I can handle this." But, most of the time you can't. Not by yourself. If God never gave us anything more than what we could handle on our own then we would never have a need for God, or our community, in the first place. We could handle it all on our own. That is such a dangerous thought. Hold fast to the promise that God WILL give you more than you can handle... but, not more than HE can handle. HE will provide a way out. It's not about you... it's about Him. What are you going through in your life right now that requires less of your effort and more of God's effort?
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."
I have sat with people in some of the worst situations life can throw at you. I watch as families crumble or grow stronger during hardships. I listen as good natured people try to comfort those in troubles with the phrase, "Don't worry. God will never give you more than you can handle." I'm going to rant for a minute on this because that thought, although it may feel good in the moment, is destructive. Look at the verse above. Is God saying He'll never give you more than you can handle? This verse is what people are trying to quote. When we say that God will never give us more than we can handle we are putting the focus in the wrong place. First off, Paul is talking about temptations here... not tragedy. Not hardships. Not the death of a loved one. Secondly, who is providing the way out? When we say, "God will never give us more than we can handle" we attribute God with the hardship but, give ourselves the credit for the solution. We take that on ourselves and say, "I can handle this." But, most of the time you can't. Not by yourself. If God never gave us anything more than what we could handle on our own then we would never have a need for God, or our community, in the first place. We could handle it all on our own. That is such a dangerous thought. Hold fast to the promise that God WILL give you more than you can handle... but, not more than HE can handle. HE will provide a way out. It's not about you... it's about Him. What are you going through in your life right now that requires less of your effort and more of God's effort?
Thursday, January 26, 2017
26Jan17
Psalm 15:3-5
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
How do you want to be remembered? Every day we are putting accomplishments and failures into the jars of our lives. Back in elementary school we would do a craft where we put different colored sands into a jar. We'd start with one color and lay down a layer and then add the next until the jar was full of different colors. Once it was full we'd put the lid on and "voilà"... art. I was so happy with mine... until I shook it up. Then all the colors blended together to reveal a nasty cacophony of color that generally just looked, like mud in a jar, brown. That's how our legacy is built though. Every day we have interactions with people that add sand to the jar. When we keep them consistent with our character, as we see in the verse above, then when it is shaken up at the end people may draw out a great color. But, when we throw in some nasty colors, horrible actions, offenses against people, then we end up with a nasty color that sums up how people remember us. No one wants to be remembered at "that guy" or "he was alright." We want to leave a lasting memory of greatness. So, start today. Add the good sand with every choice you make and every person you interact with. What does your sand art look like today?
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
How do you want to be remembered? Every day we are putting accomplishments and failures into the jars of our lives. Back in elementary school we would do a craft where we put different colored sands into a jar. We'd start with one color and lay down a layer and then add the next until the jar was full of different colors. Once it was full we'd put the lid on and "voilà"... art. I was so happy with mine... until I shook it up. Then all the colors blended together to reveal a nasty cacophony of color that generally just looked, like mud in a jar, brown. That's how our legacy is built though. Every day we have interactions with people that add sand to the jar. When we keep them consistent with our character, as we see in the verse above, then when it is shaken up at the end people may draw out a great color. But, when we throw in some nasty colors, horrible actions, offenses against people, then we end up with a nasty color that sums up how people remember us. No one wants to be remembered at "that guy" or "he was alright." We want to leave a lasting memory of greatness. So, start today. Add the good sand with every choice you make and every person you interact with. What does your sand art look like today?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
24Jan17
Proverbs 20:5
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
"Oblah Dee Oblah Dah. Life goes on. Yeah. Nah nah nah nah life goes on." This old Beatles lyric runs through my head when I don't always get what I want or have missed out on an opportunity. I think to myself, "Oh well. Life goes on." And this helps. But, the fact that my life, your life, is a constant stream of time and experience flowing from beginning to end can be a huge eye opener. We don't get to go back. What about all those missed opportunities? What about all those lost moments of our lives? What about the years I just woke up, went to a job I didn't like just for the money, came home, played video games for achievements that meant nothing, watched a movie to experience someone else's life, and went to bed just to do it all again the next day? As life moves on it is important, vitally so, that we grab a hold of the purpose that God put us on this earth for. It's imperative that we take the time to look at ourselves to find the passions of our hearts and then apply some effort to achieving those. Our heart is a deep well. Sometimes we don't pull up the prize with the first bucket. But, if you want to find that feeling of fulfillment you must take the time to draw out of yourself that purpose, that passion, that desire. Every day without it is just another Oblah Dee Oblah Dah kinda day. What is your purpose? Have you taken the time to draw it out?
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
"Oblah Dee Oblah Dah. Life goes on. Yeah. Nah nah nah nah life goes on." This old Beatles lyric runs through my head when I don't always get what I want or have missed out on an opportunity. I think to myself, "Oh well. Life goes on." And this helps. But, the fact that my life, your life, is a constant stream of time and experience flowing from beginning to end can be a huge eye opener. We don't get to go back. What about all those missed opportunities? What about all those lost moments of our lives? What about the years I just woke up, went to a job I didn't like just for the money, came home, played video games for achievements that meant nothing, watched a movie to experience someone else's life, and went to bed just to do it all again the next day? As life moves on it is important, vitally so, that we grab a hold of the purpose that God put us on this earth for. It's imperative that we take the time to look at ourselves to find the passions of our hearts and then apply some effort to achieving those. Our heart is a deep well. Sometimes we don't pull up the prize with the first bucket. But, if you want to find that feeling of fulfillment you must take the time to draw out of yourself that purpose, that passion, that desire. Every day without it is just another Oblah Dee Oblah Dah kinda day. What is your purpose? Have you taken the time to draw it out?
Friday, January 20, 2017
20Jan17
Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Recently I have been obsessed with the song "Heathens" by 21 Pilots. The main lyric is, "All my friends are heathens take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don't make any sudden moves. You don't know the half of the abuse." It just resonates so deeply with what we deal with in the Army on a frequent basis. I have been surprised by the level of monstrous experiences that many Soldiers have overcome, or are working on overcoming, to get to where they are today. Often I am convicted that, given the chance, Jesus would rather hang out with some of them than me. It is what drove me to the Army in the first place. I often will say, "I joined the Army, not the girl scouts." But, as Christians we are so eager to make sinners act like saints. We are so quick to group up and spend our time only with the like-minded in our lives. The problem with that is Jesus. All His friends were heathens and He loved them, respected them, even honored them. It's the most effective way to share the love with the world... act like He did. Who are your friends? Are you a loving influence in their lives?
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Recently I have been obsessed with the song "Heathens" by 21 Pilots. The main lyric is, "All my friends are heathens take it slow. Wait for them to ask you who you know. Please don't make any sudden moves. You don't know the half of the abuse." It just resonates so deeply with what we deal with in the Army on a frequent basis. I have been surprised by the level of monstrous experiences that many Soldiers have overcome, or are working on overcoming, to get to where they are today. Often I am convicted that, given the chance, Jesus would rather hang out with some of them than me. It is what drove me to the Army in the first place. I often will say, "I joined the Army, not the girl scouts." But, as Christians we are so eager to make sinners act like saints. We are so quick to group up and spend our time only with the like-minded in our lives. The problem with that is Jesus. All His friends were heathens and He loved them, respected them, even honored them. It's the most effective way to share the love with the world... act like He did. Who are your friends? Are you a loving influence in their lives?
Thursday, January 19, 2017
19Jan17
Daniel 3:17-18
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Compromise. We are told by relationship professionals that compromise is the key to a happy healthy marriage, workplace contentment, familial harmony, and many other things. The problem is that we are consistently told that we need to yield in so many areas of our lives for other peoples' benefit and to ensure that they are not "offended" by us that it slowly seeps into our faith. Forget that. It doesn't slowly seep... it makes a quick jump. I was challenged on this while leading the Garrison's high school boys in Bible study last night. In Daniel chapter 3 we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being told they have to bow down to the golden statue of the king they, and their nation, is enslaved by. When they refused due to their faith in God, they are given one more personal chance by the king. But, they respond with the above passage of Scripture. They don't make excuses. They don't rationalize their position. They could say something like, "well, God's forgiving. I can just do this and ask for forgiveness." They don't rationalize and say, "I can do so much for my country and my faith in the position I'm in. If I do this then I can do so much more good later on." Nope. They don't compromise and they are thrown in a furnace to die. You can read the rest of the story from there. But, today I want you to think about where you are compromising. Are you willing to die for your faith? Are you willing to live for it? What is it that you rationalize doing in your own life?
"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Compromise. We are told by relationship professionals that compromise is the key to a happy healthy marriage, workplace contentment, familial harmony, and many other things. The problem is that we are consistently told that we need to yield in so many areas of our lives for other peoples' benefit and to ensure that they are not "offended" by us that it slowly seeps into our faith. Forget that. It doesn't slowly seep... it makes a quick jump. I was challenged on this while leading the Garrison's high school boys in Bible study last night. In Daniel chapter 3 we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being told they have to bow down to the golden statue of the king they, and their nation, is enslaved by. When they refused due to their faith in God, they are given one more personal chance by the king. But, they respond with the above passage of Scripture. They don't make excuses. They don't rationalize their position. They could say something like, "well, God's forgiving. I can just do this and ask for forgiveness." They don't rationalize and say, "I can do so much for my country and my faith in the position I'm in. If I do this then I can do so much more good later on." Nope. They don't compromise and they are thrown in a furnace to die. You can read the rest of the story from there. But, today I want you to think about where you are compromising. Are you willing to die for your faith? Are you willing to live for it? What is it that you rationalize doing in your own life?
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
18Jan17
Jeremiah 32:17
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
On our vacation I had the chance to go to the Grand Canyon for the first time in my life. When we arrived it was late and the sun had already gone by. I was 10 hours into driving, the kids were being a little rowdy, and the roads around that area were not well marked or lit. So, I got a little turned around while we were trying to find our cabin in the middle of the night. We finally found it and I went to sleep. We got up the next morning and walked about half a mile to the edge of the canyon to watch the sunrise. It was one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen. I felt really small. But, what I found interesting is that, while driving around the night before, I had driven right next to the canyon. I was right next to this amazing work of God's hands and I couldn't see it! I was frustrated, tired, and it was dark. But, right next to me was an experience that would change my perspective on my place in the world.
Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, like something is too big for us, or tired we completely miss out on what God is trying to show us. The world seems really dark but, all we have to do is wait until morning and there is something amazing waiting at the sunrise. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle. While I looked at that huge hole in the ground, feeling so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, I was reminded that when you serve the God who could create something like that in an instant... nothing this world could throw at me would be too hard. I just may have to wait until the morning to see it.
"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."
On our vacation I had the chance to go to the Grand Canyon for the first time in my life. When we arrived it was late and the sun had already gone by. I was 10 hours into driving, the kids were being a little rowdy, and the roads around that area were not well marked or lit. So, I got a little turned around while we were trying to find our cabin in the middle of the night. We finally found it and I went to sleep. We got up the next morning and walked about half a mile to the edge of the canyon to watch the sunrise. It was one of the single most beautiful things I have ever seen. I felt really small. But, what I found interesting is that, while driving around the night before, I had driven right next to the canyon. I was right next to this amazing work of God's hands and I couldn't see it! I was frustrated, tired, and it was dark. But, right next to me was an experience that would change my perspective on my place in the world.
Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed, like something is too big for us, or tired we completely miss out on what God is trying to show us. The world seems really dark but, all we have to do is wait until morning and there is something amazing waiting at the sunrise. Nothing is too difficult for God to handle. While I looked at that huge hole in the ground, feeling so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, I was reminded that when you serve the God who could create something like that in an instant... nothing this world could throw at me would be too hard. I just may have to wait until the morning to see it.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
17Jan17
Isaiah 43:2
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."
Life isn't raindrops and gummy bears most of the time. In fact, there are a lot of times that I, like King David in the Psalms, pray, "Where are you
God?" or, "Why?" But, I was reading in my devotional the other morning and came across an idea that I want to share with you. When we are suffering in one area of our life we have a choice to make. We can become supremely myopic and focus in on that issue, on that one area of our life, and let it consume us and cut us off from God or recognize a truth about life and that is this: life is not one set of railroad tracks going from point a to point b. It's more like a whole bunch of intersecting and parallel tracks that are all moving at the same time. On one track you may be in a tunnel or deep in a valley but, on others you may be on the mountaintop or along the smooth plains. You see, God doesn't leave us alone. He's there and blessing you. But, sometimes the blessing isn't on the track that you are focusing on in the moment. Lift your eyes and cling to the hope of those blessings, clinging to the good while riding through the seemingly bad. Rarely have I experienced a time in my life where every track has been awesome. But, there has never been a moment when I was not loved by Him. What track are you focused on today?
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."
Life isn't raindrops and gummy bears most of the time. In fact, there are a lot of times that I, like King David in the Psalms, pray, "Where are you
God?" or, "Why?" But, I was reading in my devotional the other morning and came across an idea that I want to share with you. When we are suffering in one area of our life we have a choice to make. We can become supremely myopic and focus in on that issue, on that one area of our life, and let it consume us and cut us off from God or recognize a truth about life and that is this: life is not one set of railroad tracks going from point a to point b. It's more like a whole bunch of intersecting and parallel tracks that are all moving at the same time. On one track you may be in a tunnel or deep in a valley but, on others you may be on the mountaintop or along the smooth plains. You see, God doesn't leave us alone. He's there and blessing you. But, sometimes the blessing isn't on the track that you are focusing on in the moment. Lift your eyes and cling to the hope of those blessings, clinging to the good while riding through the seemingly bad. Rarely have I experienced a time in my life where every track has been awesome. But, there has never been a moment when I was not loved by Him. What track are you focused on today?
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
11Jan17
Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another.
I have a tendency to get distracted when I am talking to people. If there is a TV on I will glance over and check out what's on even if I'm not at all interested in the show. If there is a notification sound I feel the impulse to stop whatever I am doing and check it even though I know it will not be an emergency. If there is something shiny, or a squirrel passes by, it grabs my attention. The problem with this is that I am sending a message to the person I am interacting with when I get distracted by these things. That message is, "This is more important to me than you." That's not the message I want to send but, I have set myself up for it. I have used my freedom to choose what I do to cater to my own entertainment and gratification so much that it overrides other peoples' priority.
One of the major lessons I have always tried to teach my children is that people come first. People come first before your money. People come first before your time. People come first before you. I have to drill this in because this is not the way that our society thinks. America is the land of individual freedoms. It's all about me. But, when you are looking at Facebook while sitting on the couch with someone you supposedly love what are you saying to them? When you answer the phone to talk to someone else when you are supposed to be spending quality time with them what are you saying? When you hear a "ding" and you HAVE to check you phone in the middle of a conversation what are you saying? What really comes first?
For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another.
I have a tendency to get distracted when I am talking to people. If there is a TV on I will glance over and check out what's on even if I'm not at all interested in the show. If there is a notification sound I feel the impulse to stop whatever I am doing and check it even though I know it will not be an emergency. If there is something shiny, or a squirrel passes by, it grabs my attention. The problem with this is that I am sending a message to the person I am interacting with when I get distracted by these things. That message is, "This is more important to me than you." That's not the message I want to send but, I have set myself up for it. I have used my freedom to choose what I do to cater to my own entertainment and gratification so much that it overrides other peoples' priority.
One of the major lessons I have always tried to teach my children is that people come first. People come first before your money. People come first before your time. People come first before you. I have to drill this in because this is not the way that our society thinks. America is the land of individual freedoms. It's all about me. But, when you are looking at Facebook while sitting on the couch with someone you supposedly love what are you saying to them? When you answer the phone to talk to someone else when you are supposed to be spending quality time with them what are you saying? When you hear a "ding" and you HAVE to check you phone in the middle of a conversation what are you saying? What really comes first?
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
10Jan17
John 16:33 ESV
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
I have never been a huge sports guy. In fact, I think I have cared more about sports over the last year, due to my awesome Chaplains Assistant's interest, than I ever have in my life. I had to go out and learn what teams play basketball and which ones play football just so I could have conversations. (I'm not really that bad). I say this because there is a phenomenon that I don't understand. I don't understand the whole "my team won, I'm so happy" or "my team lost, my day is horrible" mentality. We wrap up so much of our lives into whether our "teams" win or lose. It affects our mood, our outlooks, our hopes. But, I just haven't understood that very well because my team has already won. Wins every day. Will win forever. I don't identify with a sports team. I identify with a Savior. This doesn't mean that there won't be problems or bad days. It means that I will have peace regardless. What do you identify with? Whose your "team?"
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
I have never been a huge sports guy. In fact, I think I have cared more about sports over the last year, due to my awesome Chaplains Assistant's interest, than I ever have in my life. I had to go out and learn what teams play basketball and which ones play football just so I could have conversations. (I'm not really that bad). I say this because there is a phenomenon that I don't understand. I don't understand the whole "my team won, I'm so happy" or "my team lost, my day is horrible" mentality. We wrap up so much of our lives into whether our "teams" win or lose. It affects our mood, our outlooks, our hopes. But, I just haven't understood that very well because my team has already won. Wins every day. Will win forever. I don't identify with a sports team. I identify with a Savior. This doesn't mean that there won't be problems or bad days. It means that I will have peace regardless. What do you identify with? Whose your "team?"
Monday, January 9, 2017
09Jan17
Hosea 12:6
"Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually."
When I was starting college I made the decision to stay in Alaska while may family moved South to CA. I wanted to do things my way and on my own but, I eventually (through some pretty rough lessons) decided I needed to return home and start over again. So, I moved to Benicia, CA and started some community college classes there as well. Then my parents moved again and I stayed to finish out my semester alone in CA. I returned to my family again in Puyallup, WA and then they moved off to Springfield, IL. I don't think I was getting some kind of hint here but, I just kept returning. Every time I struck out on my own and then had to return to my family system, to my father's rules, there was a period of adjustment. I knew what was right but, I was so used to doing things my own way. The same is true of returning to anything: work, school, job, family. There is a period of adjustment. But, if you think they need to adjust to you and not visa versa then there is a problem. When you return, remember what you are returning to. The standards have not changed, although you may have. God welcomes you back every time you return, just like my family did, but He may need to send you through a period of adjustment. Don't think for a second He is going to conform to your rules. Return to God and do what He asks in order to be a part of His family, then you will be home. How are you adjusting to the "returns" in your life? Is it time for a return for you?
"Therefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually."
When I was starting college I made the decision to stay in Alaska while may family moved South to CA. I wanted to do things my way and on my own but, I eventually (through some pretty rough lessons) decided I needed to return home and start over again. So, I moved to Benicia, CA and started some community college classes there as well. Then my parents moved again and I stayed to finish out my semester alone in CA. I returned to my family again in Puyallup, WA and then they moved off to Springfield, IL. I don't think I was getting some kind of hint here but, I just kept returning. Every time I struck out on my own and then had to return to my family system, to my father's rules, there was a period of adjustment. I knew what was right but, I was so used to doing things my own way. The same is true of returning to anything: work, school, job, family. There is a period of adjustment. But, if you think they need to adjust to you and not visa versa then there is a problem. When you return, remember what you are returning to. The standards have not changed, although you may have. God welcomes you back every time you return, just like my family did, but He may need to send you through a period of adjustment. Don't think for a second He is going to conform to your rules. Return to God and do what He asks in order to be a part of His family, then you will be home. How are you adjusting to the "returns" in your life? Is it time for a return for you?
Friday, January 6, 2017
06Jan17
Psalm 119:105
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
This morning I Googled "Read through the Bible in a year" and got about 47,700,000 results. First off, it's a computer search engine why does it not know exactly how many results it got?. Secondly, that's 47 million ways for you to read through the Bible this year. I use an app on my phone called youBible and it reminds me every morning with "bite sized" chunks of Scripture to read. But, I would encourage you to get into it this year! Don't wait. Even if it takes you two years to get through, START TODAY! You can do it. But, more importantly, if you call yourself a Christian you SHOULD do it. I find this true of anyone who claims a faith that has written scriptures. How can you claim to be a member of a faith that you have never personally researched at all? Some say they are Christians but, really what they are saying is, "I follow the Jesus that my pastor talks about on Sundays." The great thing about our modern culture is you don't have to do that. You shouldn't do that. Make your faith real and your own by reading it for yourself. One time through. You can do it. It will change you, your direction, and your purpose... I promise. In the time it took you to read this you could have already been started. What is it that is stopping you from digging into the Word today?
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
This morning I Googled "Read through the Bible in a year" and got about 47,700,000 results. First off, it's a computer search engine why does it not know exactly how many results it got?. Secondly, that's 47 million ways for you to read through the Bible this year. I use an app on my phone called youBible and it reminds me every morning with "bite sized" chunks of Scripture to read. But, I would encourage you to get into it this year! Don't wait. Even if it takes you two years to get through, START TODAY! You can do it. But, more importantly, if you call yourself a Christian you SHOULD do it. I find this true of anyone who claims a faith that has written scriptures. How can you claim to be a member of a faith that you have never personally researched at all? Some say they are Christians but, really what they are saying is, "I follow the Jesus that my pastor talks about on Sundays." The great thing about our modern culture is you don't have to do that. You shouldn't do that. Make your faith real and your own by reading it for yourself. One time through. You can do it. It will change you, your direction, and your purpose... I promise. In the time it took you to read this you could have already been started. What is it that is stopping you from digging into the Word today?
Thursday, January 5, 2017
05Jan17
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,"
It's about that time when we throw back the covers of our bed so early in the morning and, after a nice break for the Holidays, go back to work. For some of you there may be a dread in your heart for this moment because maybe your work doesn't bring you fulfillment or purpose, or maybe you really don't like who you work for or with. But, God is very clear that regardless of your job, from paper pusher to burger flipper, you are significant. God cares about how you do the work you do. Because God is all about the heart, it is not a stretch for me to say that the way that you approach your job in the morning, the way you approach your boss in the morning, is a telling example of how you will approach your real boss (God) one day when He asks you to do something. God uses these jobs, bosses, and coworkers to teach us something about what it means to be a servant. The goal in heaven is NOT to be your own boss but, just like a lot of things on earth, it is the exact opposite. We should be training to be the lowest we can be, the most helpful we can be, and the most satisfied in that work. So, if you are dreading work, bosses, co-workers this morning... remember they're just helping to train you to be a better follower of God. Work for Him, not them.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,"
It's about that time when we throw back the covers of our bed so early in the morning and, after a nice break for the Holidays, go back to work. For some of you there may be a dread in your heart for this moment because maybe your work doesn't bring you fulfillment or purpose, or maybe you really don't like who you work for or with. But, God is very clear that regardless of your job, from paper pusher to burger flipper, you are significant. God cares about how you do the work you do. Because God is all about the heart, it is not a stretch for me to say that the way that you approach your job in the morning, the way you approach your boss in the morning, is a telling example of how you will approach your real boss (God) one day when He asks you to do something. God uses these jobs, bosses, and coworkers to teach us something about what it means to be a servant. The goal in heaven is NOT to be your own boss but, just like a lot of things on earth, it is the exact opposite. We should be training to be the lowest we can be, the most helpful we can be, and the most satisfied in that work. So, if you are dreading work, bosses, co-workers this morning... remember they're just helping to train you to be a better follower of God. Work for Him, not them.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
04Jan17
Matthew 4:22
They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind
Happy New Year! Merry Christmas! It's good to be back at FT Hood and recharged from a great time of leave with my family. I hope and pray it was good for all of you as well. I talked to a number of people this year about "resolutions" for the New Year and found a disturbing trend. People aren't making them. Because year after year they try and they fail they have now given up on the attempt. They've become jaded. I want to encourage you this morning and spur you on to good things. The verse today was taken from the calling of James and John while they were fishing. Jesus asked them to follow Him and they "immediately" followed Him. These two brothers would make mistakes, deny Christ, and call for the blood of innocent people while Jesus still lived. Some, looking at those moments, would wonder why they started in the first place. But, they started "immediately" and finished well. Your journey may be rough and you may make mistakes but, don't give up. Even if there is the slightest chance for success... start. Start now. Start Immediately. Start your new year with a goal in mind. God bless you!
They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind
Happy New Year! Merry Christmas! It's good to be back at FT Hood and recharged from a great time of leave with my family. I hope and pray it was good for all of you as well. I talked to a number of people this year about "resolutions" for the New Year and found a disturbing trend. People aren't making them. Because year after year they try and they fail they have now given up on the attempt. They've become jaded. I want to encourage you this morning and spur you on to good things. The verse today was taken from the calling of James and John while they were fishing. Jesus asked them to follow Him and they "immediately" followed Him. These two brothers would make mistakes, deny Christ, and call for the blood of innocent people while Jesus still lived. Some, looking at those moments, would wonder why they started in the first place. But, they started "immediately" and finished well. Your journey may be rough and you may make mistakes but, don't give up. Even if there is the slightest chance for success... start. Start now. Start Immediately. Start your new year with a goal in mind. God bless you!
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