In my mind, winning and Christianity go hand in hand. A Christian who goes through life defeated by sin, the enemy and the world has truly missed the point of what Jesus gave us through his death and resurrection. Jesus defeated sin and satan - that's winning! He then empowered each of us with the ability to overcome the circumstances of life. He is endowed us with strength, wisdom, knowledge and grace (just to name a few) & with this incredible arsenal of tools, there is no way that we should lose! Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 15:57)
So why are so many Christians going through life defeated? I think the answer is found in Romans 12:2. We are instructed to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we may prove God's good, perfect and acceptable will for our lives. Unless we change our thinking, we will live beneath our God given potential. First we need to understand that God has given us EVERYTHING we need to succeed in life! Whatever skills, character traits, special abilities we need to have be victorious God has already given them to us. But we are responsible for the develop of those gifts. We must resist the urge to "wait on God" when we define this as doing nothing until He does something. After we have heard the Word and studied the Word we must DO the Word. Here's an example Proverbs 22:29 says that a man diligent in business will stand before great men. If doesn't say that a Christian will stand before great men, it says a diligent man will stand before great men. So if I am a teacher, I don't get promotion because I am Christian, but because I am diligent. Diligence means that I work at my craft. Sadly many believers think that favor should cause us to move to the front of the line even when we are unprepared. Our diligence and commitment to excellence opens the door for favor to work on our behalf.
To demand more of ourselves is the mindset of a champion. This commitment is not just about work or school, but it should invade every area of our lives. If we are married, we should work to make our marriage the best it can be. We should never be satisfied with an "average" relationship. We should always look for ways to enhance our communication, our intimacy and our play times. The goal of a champion is to be the best, to consistently bring our A game. If we are single we should make the most out of that experience as well. We should maximize every season of our lives and refuse to buy into the mindset that we are limited because we are single or married, we are only limited by our lack of creativity...which by the way creativity is another gift God has given us.
If we are in school, we should give our all. We should refuse to go through the motions of just going to class. We should demand that we show up to every class prepared and ready to learn. If we work, we should resist the urge to be ungrateful. Thankfulness is another trait we are responsible for developing. If we no longer like our jobs, we are still required as champions to bring our best. We always have the option of pursuing other opportunities, but continued complaining is not the mark of Christian, Champions or excellence.
Finally, spiritual growth doesn't just happen. Accepting Jesus is the first step but learning to live in the kingdom is continual process. This is the reason we shouldn't neglect our personal study time or our weekly fellowship. It does matter where you go to church! You need to find a place that doesn't make you feel bad all the time, but you also need a place that doesn't make you feel good all the time. You should be encouraged, stretched and challenged to consistently offer Jesus the best you have in every area of your life. Constantly requiring more of yourself in your character equips you to overcome the challenges and attacks the enemy will certainly bring your way. A committment to winning and excellence will give you the internal fortitude you need to keep going even when times are tough.
Here's a personal challenge - at the end of every day ask yourself one question "Did I bring my A game today?" A true champion will honestly answer yes way more than they answer no!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Your time for deliverance is NOW!
Everybody has issues right? We're all dealing with something from our past, maybe our present that keeps us from experiencing the abundant life Jesus has for us. So how to we get past our issues?
First, we realize that Jesus died to set us free from every weapon of the enemy. Not just the visible enemies of sickness and poverty, but the silent killers...depression, anger, low self esteem, trust issues...whatever it is...Jesus has handled it.
Second, recognize that is Jesus has paid the price for my freedom, then walking around in bondage of any kind is unacceptable. Begin to expect freedom! Refuse to accept any issues as normal. According to Colossians 1:13-14, those who accept Jesus are translated out of darkness into the kingdom of God...It's a kingdom of love. A place of acceptance, freedom and peace. That's your inheritance!
Third, realize that deliverance begins with a decision, but is fully realized through God encounters. I must make a decision to refuse to accept anything less than what was purchased for me through the Cross and Resurrection. Then I must come to Jesus expecting Him make that deliverance a reality in my life. Trying to will myself into a place of wholeness is nothing more than secular humanism. I'm not my own God...I can't deliver myself. I can't control my mind enough to push away the pain of my past. I can manage it through controlling my mind, but managing isn't freedom...it's management.
Finally, go to God. I can't tell God what I think He wants to hear. I have to admit whatever it is. I have to pour my heart about before Him not complaining, but expecting Him to heal my heart. I must trust that if my heart is too broken to be repaired...He will give me a new one.
Luke 18 paints the picture of how we should come to God. It's the story of a woman who has been taken advantage of by an enemy. She goes to the king and ask him to avenge her...deliver her of her bondage...the king is wicked so he ignores her, but she's so persistent in her requests that finally he relents and gives her what she needs. She keeps coming because she knows the king is the only one who can make her whole. The point of the story is the woman's attitude. Is that the attitude we have about our issues? Are we consistent and persistent in our approach to God because we know He's the only one who can deliver us or are we content to manage our issues with food, drugs, alcohol, sex, brainless tv or whatever else we use to dummy the pain?
Come and keep on coming to God. Not because you have to convince Him to set you free, but because sometimes deliverance comes in layers b/c our pain is so deep in our hearts. Come expecting, believing and confident that your time for deliverance is NOW!
First, we realize that Jesus died to set us free from every weapon of the enemy. Not just the visible enemies of sickness and poverty, but the silent killers...depression, anger, low self esteem, trust issues...whatever it is...Jesus has handled it.
Second, recognize that is Jesus has paid the price for my freedom, then walking around in bondage of any kind is unacceptable. Begin to expect freedom! Refuse to accept any issues as normal. According to Colossians 1:13-14, those who accept Jesus are translated out of darkness into the kingdom of God...It's a kingdom of love. A place of acceptance, freedom and peace. That's your inheritance!
Third, realize that deliverance begins with a decision, but is fully realized through God encounters. I must make a decision to refuse to accept anything less than what was purchased for me through the Cross and Resurrection. Then I must come to Jesus expecting Him make that deliverance a reality in my life. Trying to will myself into a place of wholeness is nothing more than secular humanism. I'm not my own God...I can't deliver myself. I can't control my mind enough to push away the pain of my past. I can manage it through controlling my mind, but managing isn't freedom...it's management.
Finally, go to God. I can't tell God what I think He wants to hear. I have to admit whatever it is. I have to pour my heart about before Him not complaining, but expecting Him to heal my heart. I must trust that if my heart is too broken to be repaired...He will give me a new one.
Luke 18 paints the picture of how we should come to God. It's the story of a woman who has been taken advantage of by an enemy. She goes to the king and ask him to avenge her...deliver her of her bondage...the king is wicked so he ignores her, but she's so persistent in her requests that finally he relents and gives her what she needs. She keeps coming because she knows the king is the only one who can make her whole. The point of the story is the woman's attitude. Is that the attitude we have about our issues? Are we consistent and persistent in our approach to God because we know He's the only one who can deliver us or are we content to manage our issues with food, drugs, alcohol, sex, brainless tv or whatever else we use to dummy the pain?
Come and keep on coming to God. Not because you have to convince Him to set you free, but because sometimes deliverance comes in layers b/c our pain is so deep in our hearts. Come expecting, believing and confident that your time for deliverance is NOW!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Happy 2010
Hope everyone is off to a great start in 2010! Remember that God loves you and that everything you need is found in His presence so make spending time with Him a priority. I love you guys and look forward to blogging this year.
Here's a link from a message I preached last Sunday. It's about love and how the love God calls us to walk in isn't learned, but downloaded through Holy Spirit. I pray you are blessed and encouraged as you watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIVU82FfY7Y
Here's a link from a message I preached last Sunday. It's about love and how the love God calls us to walk in isn't learned, but downloaded through Holy Spirit. I pray you are blessed and encouraged as you watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIVU82FfY7Y
Friday, December 11, 2009
AN OPEN INVITATION!
This week I've been reading "When Heaven Invades the Earth" by Bill Johnson. It's a MUST read for those of are hungry for more of God. As Pastor Johnson shares his insight on God's love and plan for mankind, it caused me to think...."Why did God send Jesus in the Earth?" Of course we're all familiar with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." But what does that really mean to each of us personally?
As a parent, the thought of giving a sacrificing a child is unthinkable, but certainly not a beloved child with whom I am well pleased. What would make me sacrifice my child? Only a love that is beyond human comprehension could cause a parent to offer his/her child as a sacrifice. It's clear that God loves Jesus and is well pleased with Him, but yet He offers Him up for what? For you, for me, for every person that ever was and ever will be. God Almighty Creator of all loves each of us so passionately, so extravagantly that He took what was most precious to Him (Jesus) and offered Him as a sacrifice to redeem our right to know God not as just Creator, but as Father!
You heard me right, God Almighty desires for each of us to know Him intimately. We say things like, "God moves in mysterious ways," but His ways are only mysterious because we don't know Him. I mean don't get me wrong, we know a lot about God. We have access to more information than ever before, but reading about someone doesn't make you know them. Case in point, I can read a book about Barak Obama or Sarah Palin and gather tons of information, but I still don't know them. Unfortunately, too many believers engage God and His Word like we are gathering facts to write a report. When we do this we miss out what it means to really know Him intimately.
God is not hiding from us, but often we are running from Him. We love God, but we fear Him, like the children of Israel we want to see His provision and His miracles, but we run from His presence. Why? Because we know that in His presence we are changed! As we begin to cry out to God to know Him (not just know about Him), He by His Holy Spirit begins to reveal the things in our hearts that keep us separated from Him. To our flesh it's easier to just know about Him because we can avoid the pain of the change that intimacy with a Holy God requires. But if we choose that path we miss out of the reason that Jesus was born, died and resurrected: INTIMACY WITH GOD!
What makes Christianity different from every other religion? First it's not a religion no matter who says it is. It's an invitation into a loving relationship with the God of the Ages. Second, our God offers us an open invitation to know Him intimately as HE abides in us through the Precious Holy Spirit. Until we come to know Him by allowing Him to abide in us and give us personal experiences with Him, we will always question whether He still heals or is willing to heal. We will struggle to love Him with our whole hearts and never come close to loving others as ourselves. We will miss out on the privilege to sit in the lap of God Almighty and know what's in His heart.
Sounds like we are at a point of decision...Keep going as we are collecting facts about God but never experiencing Him or push pass the safety net of religion and dare to experience Him as He always planned? Obviously the choice is yours, but no this...every moment of your life you have an OPEN INVITATION!
As a parent, the thought of giving a sacrificing a child is unthinkable, but certainly not a beloved child with whom I am well pleased. What would make me sacrifice my child? Only a love that is beyond human comprehension could cause a parent to offer his/her child as a sacrifice. It's clear that God loves Jesus and is well pleased with Him, but yet He offers Him up for what? For you, for me, for every person that ever was and ever will be. God Almighty Creator of all loves each of us so passionately, so extravagantly that He took what was most precious to Him (Jesus) and offered Him as a sacrifice to redeem our right to know God not as just Creator, but as Father!
You heard me right, God Almighty desires for each of us to know Him intimately. We say things like, "God moves in mysterious ways," but His ways are only mysterious because we don't know Him. I mean don't get me wrong, we know a lot about God. We have access to more information than ever before, but reading about someone doesn't make you know them. Case in point, I can read a book about Barak Obama or Sarah Palin and gather tons of information, but I still don't know them. Unfortunately, too many believers engage God and His Word like we are gathering facts to write a report. When we do this we miss out what it means to really know Him intimately.
God is not hiding from us, but often we are running from Him. We love God, but we fear Him, like the children of Israel we want to see His provision and His miracles, but we run from His presence. Why? Because we know that in His presence we are changed! As we begin to cry out to God to know Him (not just know about Him), He by His Holy Spirit begins to reveal the things in our hearts that keep us separated from Him. To our flesh it's easier to just know about Him because we can avoid the pain of the change that intimacy with a Holy God requires. But if we choose that path we miss out of the reason that Jesus was born, died and resurrected: INTIMACY WITH GOD!
What makes Christianity different from every other religion? First it's not a religion no matter who says it is. It's an invitation into a loving relationship with the God of the Ages. Second, our God offers us an open invitation to know Him intimately as HE abides in us through the Precious Holy Spirit. Until we come to know Him by allowing Him to abide in us and give us personal experiences with Him, we will always question whether He still heals or is willing to heal. We will struggle to love Him with our whole hearts and never come close to loving others as ourselves. We will miss out on the privilege to sit in the lap of God Almighty and know what's in His heart.
Sounds like we are at a point of decision...Keep going as we are collecting facts about God but never experiencing Him or push pass the safety net of religion and dare to experience Him as He always planned? Obviously the choice is yours, but no this...every moment of your life you have an OPEN INVITATION!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
My prayer for you!
Father,
I pray for every person that will read this prayer. Give us a desire to know You and not just know about You. By Your Spirit draw us closer to You! Transform us into the Image of Your Dear Son, Jesus!
Help us to love You more than we love our own lives.
Help us to love others as much as we love ourselves.
Help us to use our resources to build your kingdom and not our own.
Help us to flee sin instead of making excuses for it.
Help us to win the lost instead of leaving the responsibility to another.
Help us to use our talents, skills and abilities for Your Glory.
Help us to love what You love and hate what You hate.
Help us to forgive those who least deserve it as You forgive us.
Help us to love Your Word and rightly discern it.
Help us to obey as an act of love.
Help us to please You!
Help us to want You even when we don't want you!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Pass this on to a friend!
I pray for every person that will read this prayer. Give us a desire to know You and not just know about You. By Your Spirit draw us closer to You! Transform us into the Image of Your Dear Son, Jesus!
Help us to love You more than we love our own lives.
Help us to love others as much as we love ourselves.
Help us to use our resources to build your kingdom and not our own.
Help us to flee sin instead of making excuses for it.
Help us to win the lost instead of leaving the responsibility to another.
Help us to use our talents, skills and abilities for Your Glory.
Help us to love what You love and hate what You hate.
Help us to forgive those who least deserve it as You forgive us.
Help us to love Your Word and rightly discern it.
Help us to obey as an act of love.
Help us to please You!
Help us to want You even when we don't want you!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Pass this on to a friend!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Hi!
I just want to thank all of you who take the time to read the blog! I pray that it inspires and challenges you to know God and pursue Him daily! Many of you email me personally and I appreicate it so much! But I know that others would be encouraged by your comments so please share some of your comments on the blog so others can read them. Finally, please pass this blog on to someone you know who might enjoy it!
Thanks!
Have a fabulous day!
Thanks!
Have a fabulous day!
Respond Radically!
When the religious leaders asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment, He responded, "To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind. And the second is just as important to love thy neighbor as thyself." To love someone with everything you have is to love radically! Why does God ask for that? Because it's the type of love He gives us. He displayed the extremeness of His love for mankind when He sent His beloved Son as the payment for the sins of the world. As Christians we graciously and happily receive His gift, but yet we sometimes struggle to respond in the same manner.
This love life that God has called us to outrageous! It calls for us to love God with every fiber of our being and to love our enemies, the unlovable and those without the ability to love us back just as we would love ourselves. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? It is for a natural man, but according to Romans 5:5, this same love that God shows to us has been placed in our heart by His Holy Spirit. In other words, HE has downloaded the ability to love radically in the hearts of every believer. So the question is no longer, can we love like that, but will we?
This love causes us to give to others even when it hurts or causes our discomfort. It demands that we keep praying, keep reaching out and keep responding the hurts of humanity even when we'd rather just put a good movie in and ignore all the drama. For God, loving radically is not optional, it's a commandment. In 1 John, He tells us that without this love, we don't even belong to Him! How sad it would be to spend your life going to church doing the "right" things only to discover you had neglected what was most important: cultivating and sharing God's radical love.
Matthew 25 tells us how serious love is for God. There are people who stand before Jesus and He tells them that He never knew them. Why? Because when they saw the hungry, they refused to feed them. They saw needs and refused to meet them because they were consumed with meeting their own needs. Jesus tells those people who lived selfishlessly to depart from Him b/c He doesn't know them. In other words, they had no love and you can't have Jesus without having love b/c He is LOVE!
Often when someone challenges us to give up more for God, we are quick to say, "It doesn't take all that", but scripture after scripture tells us that it does indeed take all that! God isn't asking for what we can spare....He's asking for it all!
What's the last radical thing you've done for God? When's the last time you've been out of your comfort zone to respond to the needs of another? When's the last time you shared the gospel with someone who wasn't already saved? No matter what you've been told, these things aren't suggestions from God, but commandments!
"If you love Me, keep my commandments." The greatest commandment is love...are you responding radically with love? I challenge you to pray for a heart to love like God does and for opportunities to respond radically with love to someone daily!
This love life that God has called us to outrageous! It calls for us to love God with every fiber of our being and to love our enemies, the unlovable and those without the ability to love us back just as we would love ourselves. Sounds impossible, doesn't it? It is for a natural man, but according to Romans 5:5, this same love that God shows to us has been placed in our heart by His Holy Spirit. In other words, HE has downloaded the ability to love radically in the hearts of every believer. So the question is no longer, can we love like that, but will we?
This love causes us to give to others even when it hurts or causes our discomfort. It demands that we keep praying, keep reaching out and keep responding the hurts of humanity even when we'd rather just put a good movie in and ignore all the drama. For God, loving radically is not optional, it's a commandment. In 1 John, He tells us that without this love, we don't even belong to Him! How sad it would be to spend your life going to church doing the "right" things only to discover you had neglected what was most important: cultivating and sharing God's radical love.
Matthew 25 tells us how serious love is for God. There are people who stand before Jesus and He tells them that He never knew them. Why? Because when they saw the hungry, they refused to feed them. They saw needs and refused to meet them because they were consumed with meeting their own needs. Jesus tells those people who lived selfishlessly to depart from Him b/c He doesn't know them. In other words, they had no love and you can't have Jesus without having love b/c He is LOVE!
Often when someone challenges us to give up more for God, we are quick to say, "It doesn't take all that", but scripture after scripture tells us that it does indeed take all that! God isn't asking for what we can spare....He's asking for it all!
What's the last radical thing you've done for God? When's the last time you've been out of your comfort zone to respond to the needs of another? When's the last time you shared the gospel with someone who wasn't already saved? No matter what you've been told, these things aren't suggestions from God, but commandments!
"If you love Me, keep my commandments." The greatest commandment is love...are you responding radically with love? I challenge you to pray for a heart to love like God does and for opportunities to respond radically with love to someone daily!
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