James 4:14
"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
What if yesterday was your last day on earth? What if, for some reason, you went to sleep last night and just didn't wake up this morning? What were your last words? Who did you spend your last day with? Was it worth it? If there is one thing that is true in this life it is that we are all going to stop living it at some point. I just tend to find people would rather not think about that, or think that they are going to be the exception to the rule. But, when I get called to go and tell someone that their loved one has died I am soberly reminded that, regardless of your age, death is coming. The uncertainty of that moment should give us motivation. It should push us to make the best use of our time. But, instead we let our moments slip through our fingers with fruitless endeavors; chasing after online "achievements," that are ultimately worthless, or binge watching a show that syphons our minutes into another reality. If yesterday was your last day would you go back and do something differently? Then why would you live today in the same way? It's your time (and it's short) to accomplish the most with it. Make today a day worthy of being your last.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Monday, February 27, 2017
27Feb17
Luke 19:40
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Are you better than a rock? I heard a great sermon yesterday about the meaning of praise and our part in the act of worship. It's quite challenging for some people to wrap their head around the act of giving verbal praise to God. Shoot, I think it may be hard for people to give ANY praise to anyone in our society. We horde our complements like social currency. Our "likes" have become the way that we should people if they are worth anything. So, why am I surprised when I don't hear anyone talking about their God, or singing His praises, anymore? I guess, I'm surprised because it is essential to our faith. It is essential to our being. It is essential to our relationship with the Father. Is it any wonder that the largest book in the Bible is made up of songs? Think about that. So, are you better than a rock or are they going to have to do your job for you? Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. How are you going to praise Him today?
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Are you better than a rock? I heard a great sermon yesterday about the meaning of praise and our part in the act of worship. It's quite challenging for some people to wrap their head around the act of giving verbal praise to God. Shoot, I think it may be hard for people to give ANY praise to anyone in our society. We horde our complements like social currency. Our "likes" have become the way that we should people if they are worth anything. So, why am I surprised when I don't hear anyone talking about their God, or singing His praises, anymore? I guess, I'm surprised because it is essential to our faith. It is essential to our being. It is essential to our relationship with the Father. Is it any wonder that the largest book in the Bible is made up of songs? Think about that. So, are you better than a rock or are they going to have to do your job for you? Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. How are you going to praise Him today?
Friday, February 24, 2017
24Feb17
Psalm 25:17; 21 NLT
My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all.
May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in You.
David reveals to us the full range of human emotion through the Psalms. In fact, if you were to try and argue that just because you are a Christian you cannot feel depression or embrace grief I would point you straight to the Psalms. David, in beautiful Hebrew poetry, lays out feelings of rage, deep sadness, loss, joy, fulfillment, and contentment throughout his book. But, even when David is feeling like all is lost, even when he writes that he is feeling like everything is on a downward spiral, David continues to acknowledge where his hope lies, who's in charge, and reaffirms his love for God. This is what allows him to get through. In one breath he is screaming, "Everything is going downhill!" and then he remembers that, "But, I know God can get me through this." We have to reaffirm where our hope lies in those moments. We have to be honest with ourselves about how we are feeling but, never give into the hopelessness that our emotions may want to drag us into. No matter what you are going through today, there is hope! Are you ready to rely on His strength when your problems build around you?
My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all.
May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in You.
David reveals to us the full range of human emotion through the Psalms. In fact, if you were to try and argue that just because you are a Christian you cannot feel depression or embrace grief I would point you straight to the Psalms. David, in beautiful Hebrew poetry, lays out feelings of rage, deep sadness, loss, joy, fulfillment, and contentment throughout his book. But, even when David is feeling like all is lost, even when he writes that he is feeling like everything is on a downward spiral, David continues to acknowledge where his hope lies, who's in charge, and reaffirms his love for God. This is what allows him to get through. In one breath he is screaming, "Everything is going downhill!" and then he remembers that, "But, I know God can get me through this." We have to reaffirm where our hope lies in those moments. We have to be honest with ourselves about how we are feeling but, never give into the hopelessness that our emotions may want to drag us into. No matter what you are going through today, there is hope! Are you ready to rely on His strength when your problems build around you?
Thursday, February 23, 2017
23Feb17
Proverbs 25:26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
I love watching my kids react to things. It is rarely in a moderate manner. Most of the time everything is a massive ordeal. The other day we were outside at a party and my son looked down at his soda cup (which was pretty important because he rarely gets soda) and screams out, "There's a bug!" So, my response was, "Well, fish it out. It's still good." But, he insisted (probably more correctly than I) that the drink was now contaminated and dirty. He couldn't drink it. A thing he really wanted to drink but, could not because it had a tiny bug in it. That's the way it is with compromise. When we make way for evil to enter into our lives, in any form, we automatically pollute the waters of our accomplishments. When we stand by and allow people to continue to victimize those around us, those we know or don't know, we lose not just a piece of who we are but, it sinks into everything we are. They say that the path to hell is a slow fade. You don't just one day decide you want to go there but, have made the decision over and over to compromise what you know is right until you are so polluted there is no other destination. We all compromise in little ways, we all become polluted, but God is there to help put us back on track and purify our souls. Where are you standing against the wicked? Where are you compromising?
Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
I love watching my kids react to things. It is rarely in a moderate manner. Most of the time everything is a massive ordeal. The other day we were outside at a party and my son looked down at his soda cup (which was pretty important because he rarely gets soda) and screams out, "There's a bug!" So, my response was, "Well, fish it out. It's still good." But, he insisted (probably more correctly than I) that the drink was now contaminated and dirty. He couldn't drink it. A thing he really wanted to drink but, could not because it had a tiny bug in it. That's the way it is with compromise. When we make way for evil to enter into our lives, in any form, we automatically pollute the waters of our accomplishments. When we stand by and allow people to continue to victimize those around us, those we know or don't know, we lose not just a piece of who we are but, it sinks into everything we are. They say that the path to hell is a slow fade. You don't just one day decide you want to go there but, have made the decision over and over to compromise what you know is right until you are so polluted there is no other destination. We all compromise in little ways, we all become polluted, but God is there to help put us back on track and purify our souls. Where are you standing against the wicked? Where are you compromising?
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
22Feb17
John 5:6
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
I had a running joke while we were deployed to Korea where I would, for the sake of our intelligence officer, put up quotes from Vladimir Putin. One of the quotes was, "If someone is determined to drown; you cannot save them." Putin used it in reference to struggling neighboring nations but, I actually find it to be all to true of people as well. Change starts in the heart and the heart is the thing that someone else cannot change for you. People come to me all the time talking about how they want to be a better Christian or get closer to God but, they are simply unwilling to change anything in their life to do so. They know where the sickness is, and they have had it for a long time, but they are not willing to get well. They are unwilling to make even the smallest change. But, before we judge too harshly, don't we all have something like this? Isn't there an area of your life where you can feel God saying, "Do you want to get well?" but, we like the way it is. We like the sin for the short term and so we suffer the effects of the long run. But, the long run is destined to be VERY long... like eternity long. So, when the question is asked "Do you WANT to get well?" what is your response?
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
I had a running joke while we were deployed to Korea where I would, for the sake of our intelligence officer, put up quotes from Vladimir Putin. One of the quotes was, "If someone is determined to drown; you cannot save them." Putin used it in reference to struggling neighboring nations but, I actually find it to be all to true of people as well. Change starts in the heart and the heart is the thing that someone else cannot change for you. People come to me all the time talking about how they want to be a better Christian or get closer to God but, they are simply unwilling to change anything in their life to do so. They know where the sickness is, and they have had it for a long time, but they are not willing to get well. They are unwilling to make even the smallest change. But, before we judge too harshly, don't we all have something like this? Isn't there an area of your life where you can feel God saying, "Do you want to get well?" but, we like the way it is. We like the sin for the short term and so we suffer the effects of the long run. But, the long run is destined to be VERY long... like eternity long. So, when the question is asked "Do you WANT to get well?" what is your response?
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
21 Feb 17
Ephesians 4:16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I just got back from spending three days in the middle of nowhere, Texas, at a camp with the Fort Hood Garrison youth group. Specifically, I was the middle school boys' leader and group preacher. I want to share with you something that I shared with them this weekend as we moved rocks to form trails, moved rocks to even out landscaping, moved rocks to make BMX tracks, and moved rocks to fill in holes (notice the trend?). I think a lot of times people believe they can do this whole "faith" thing all on their own. That because someone, somewhere, once told them that it was about a relationship and not religion they believe that they don't need the church or Christian community. That's a bold faced lie. It's like trying to win the super bowl without a team... although Tom Brady might be able to pull that off. You need the body. You need to be able to contribute to the body. There isn't a single person who doesn't have a job to do that is drastically and dramatically important to the world's salvation. But, when we separate ourselves from the church, from community, we always stagnate. At that point we will only be as much as we ourselves can be. In fact, the verse prior to the one above states that in order to mature in our faith we HAVE to be part of a community otherwise we stay immature, stunted, childlike, in our understanding. So, who are you connected to? What part are you playing to build up that community?
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I just got back from spending three days in the middle of nowhere, Texas, at a camp with the Fort Hood Garrison youth group. Specifically, I was the middle school boys' leader and group preacher. I want to share with you something that I shared with them this weekend as we moved rocks to form trails, moved rocks to even out landscaping, moved rocks to make BMX tracks, and moved rocks to fill in holes (notice the trend?). I think a lot of times people believe they can do this whole "faith" thing all on their own. That because someone, somewhere, once told them that it was about a relationship and not religion they believe that they don't need the church or Christian community. That's a bold faced lie. It's like trying to win the super bowl without a team... although Tom Brady might be able to pull that off. You need the body. You need to be able to contribute to the body. There isn't a single person who doesn't have a job to do that is drastically and dramatically important to the world's salvation. But, when we separate ourselves from the church, from community, we always stagnate. At that point we will only be as much as we ourselves can be. In fact, the verse prior to the one above states that in order to mature in our faith we HAVE to be part of a community otherwise we stay immature, stunted, childlike, in our understanding. So, who are you connected to? What part are you playing to build up that community?
Friday, February 10, 2017
10Feb17
Proverbs 24:16 ESV
"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."
What do you do when your life just can't seem to get right; when you feel like you've done all the right things but, you keep failing over and over again? It may seem cliché to say but, "You get back up again." If your cause is righteous, and you are following God's purpose for your life, then even when (not if) you fall it is not the end. I like this verse for a number of reasons but, especially because it doesn't presuppose that life is going to be roses and pancakes even if you are totally righteous (meaning living as God wants you to). It just says you will rise back up again and again. I see people struggle almost daily with whether they have the strength to keep going in the face of, what some would say are, some minor or temporary problems in life. When we don't have our hearts set on our purpose in God and haven't spent the time to align ourselves with him then when we fall we make it into a calamity. We turn it into the worst thing ever and let ourselves sink into a pit of despair. But, it is time to rise again. Take a moment, realign your heart today, and stand back up. Struggle, overcome, learn, and accomplish what God has for you today!
"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity."
What do you do when your life just can't seem to get right; when you feel like you've done all the right things but, you keep failing over and over again? It may seem cliché to say but, "You get back up again." If your cause is righteous, and you are following God's purpose for your life, then even when (not if) you fall it is not the end. I like this verse for a number of reasons but, especially because it doesn't presuppose that life is going to be roses and pancakes even if you are totally righteous (meaning living as God wants you to). It just says you will rise back up again and again. I see people struggle almost daily with whether they have the strength to keep going in the face of, what some would say are, some minor or temporary problems in life. When we don't have our hearts set on our purpose in God and haven't spent the time to align ourselves with him then when we fall we make it into a calamity. We turn it into the worst thing ever and let ourselves sink into a pit of despair. But, it is time to rise again. Take a moment, realign your heart today, and stand back up. Struggle, overcome, learn, and accomplish what God has for you today!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
08Feb17
Proverbs 20:6
"Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?"
This week I have talked to so many people that have gotten, or are getting, married in a short period of time. I sit down with couples a lot and we talk about their conflicts and their issues that lead them to a place where they just "don't love each other anymore." This verse in Proverbs reminds me of the two types of love that God has for us and expects us to emulate for others. The first is unfailing love. This is the kind of love that motivates you to move mountains, the kind of love that makes you want to spend every waking moment in the arms of another person, or the kind of love that just makes you want to be a better person. This is the kind of love that we normally see at the starting of a relationship but, is scattered throughout a lifetime of wedded bliss. It's an important, and necessary, kind of love. God loves us like this. (Crazy thought right)? But, at some point, you have to incorporate the faithful love. This is love in action, love over time, love "in spite of." This is the choice to love regardless of the faults (Once again, the type of love God has for us!). The first type of love can be seen as quite selfish sometimes because it is about how you feel and getting what you want out of a relationship. But, a faithful love is selfless love. It says, "I know I'm not getting what I want from this relationship right now but, I will remain true." We need less people singing songs about, promising, or claiming to have an unfailing love for someone else. We need men and women who choose to be faithful. Where are you at today in your relationships?
"Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?"
This week I have talked to so many people that have gotten, or are getting, married in a short period of time. I sit down with couples a lot and we talk about their conflicts and their issues that lead them to a place where they just "don't love each other anymore." This verse in Proverbs reminds me of the two types of love that God has for us and expects us to emulate for others. The first is unfailing love. This is the kind of love that motivates you to move mountains, the kind of love that makes you want to spend every waking moment in the arms of another person, or the kind of love that just makes you want to be a better person. This is the kind of love that we normally see at the starting of a relationship but, is scattered throughout a lifetime of wedded bliss. It's an important, and necessary, kind of love. God loves us like this. (Crazy thought right)? But, at some point, you have to incorporate the faithful love. This is love in action, love over time, love "in spite of." This is the choice to love regardless of the faults (Once again, the type of love God has for us!). The first type of love can be seen as quite selfish sometimes because it is about how you feel and getting what you want out of a relationship. But, a faithful love is selfless love. It says, "I know I'm not getting what I want from this relationship right now but, I will remain true." We need less people singing songs about, promising, or claiming to have an unfailing love for someone else. We need men and women who choose to be faithful. Where are you at today in your relationships?
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
07Feb17
1 Corinthians 15:58
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
Do you ever feel like what you are doing just doesn't matter? When I started out in the workforce as a fry cook for McDonalds, at the age of 16, I was so excited to actually have a job. I didn't care what I was doing I just wanted that cash and responsibility. But, that luster soon faded and I found myself, day after day, drudging myself into work just to go home covered in grease and smelling like a chicken nugget. I began to ask myself, what is it all for? So, I quit that job and moved onto retail. I was so pumped to be out of fast food... for about a month. Then the same question nagged at me. What am I doing this for? So, I moved departments within the store, eventually quit, worked at a video game store, worked at a bank, worked at a restaurant, and eventually joined the Army. Everywhere I worked, everything I have done, that question has plagued me. But, I finally found the answer. It's about something bigger. It always has been. God can use you no matter what you are doing. But, you have to do it for a higher reason. You can't just do it for money, position, or pride. You have to do it for more or it will always be less than you expect. Then what you do won't be done in vain... it will be done for the Lord. How are you working for Him today?
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
Do you ever feel like what you are doing just doesn't matter? When I started out in the workforce as a fry cook for McDonalds, at the age of 16, I was so excited to actually have a job. I didn't care what I was doing I just wanted that cash and responsibility. But, that luster soon faded and I found myself, day after day, drudging myself into work just to go home covered in grease and smelling like a chicken nugget. I began to ask myself, what is it all for? So, I quit that job and moved onto retail. I was so pumped to be out of fast food... for about a month. Then the same question nagged at me. What am I doing this for? So, I moved departments within the store, eventually quit, worked at a video game store, worked at a bank, worked at a restaurant, and eventually joined the Army. Everywhere I worked, everything I have done, that question has plagued me. But, I finally found the answer. It's about something bigger. It always has been. God can use you no matter what you are doing. But, you have to do it for a higher reason. You can't just do it for money, position, or pride. You have to do it for more or it will always be less than you expect. Then what you do won't be done in vain... it will be done for the Lord. How are you working for Him today?
Friday, February 3, 2017
03Feb17
Psalm 90:12 ESV
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
On this day in 1924 American President Woodrow Wilson died at the age of 68. He is quoted as saying, "Tell me what is right and I will fight for it." During his eight years as president he faced many challenges including the entrance of America into WWI and suffering two massive strokes that forced him to use his wife to communicate for him. He also won a Nobel peace prize for his work after WWI in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles and supported the 19th amendment that brought women the right to vote. He is also quoted as saying, "The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it." His life was not easy, not handed to him, not boring. His life was numbered to this day in 1924 and he did amazing things with it. He worked against the flow in order to bring change he thought was right. He lead America through a World War! He struggled for peace in his time. Not bad for a school teacher with dyslexia. We only have so many days on this earth. What are you doing with them? What's your excuse? What will you do with today?
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
On this day in 1924 American President Woodrow Wilson died at the age of 68. He is quoted as saying, "Tell me what is right and I will fight for it." During his eight years as president he faced many challenges including the entrance of America into WWI and suffering two massive strokes that forced him to use his wife to communicate for him. He also won a Nobel peace prize for his work after WWI in negotiating the Treaty of Versailles and supported the 19th amendment that brought women the right to vote. He is also quoted as saying, "The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it." His life was not easy, not handed to him, not boring. His life was numbered to this day in 1924 and he did amazing things with it. He worked against the flow in order to bring change he thought was right. He lead America through a World War! He struggled for peace in his time. Not bad for a school teacher with dyslexia. We only have so many days on this earth. What are you doing with them? What's your excuse? What will you do with today?
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
1Feb17
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Why do we expect people to supply us with things? It seems like we move from a parental relationship right into another dependent relationship on the systems we find ourselves in. For most of you reading this, that is the Army. We enter into a contract with these organizations who then provide for our needs. But, rarely are we satisfied with that. Just like many other places in life, contentment eludes us. We barely recognize the great thing we have because we are too busy looking at what we think we deserve or desire. But, the Bible makes a stark contrast to this selfish behavior with the fulfilment of God's presence; essentially saying, "You don't need anything else... you've got me." When we downplay the gift that God has given us in His very presence and start to think that having free this, or free that, or nicer digs, or better threads you lose contentment and are stuck in the bottomless pit of envy and ultimately anger or resentment. Is God with you? Then let Him bring you contentment for what you have been provided. Don't mourn over things you've never been given and so have not lost. Life is good. What has been provided for you today? What do you need to let go of?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)