Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Why is vital to identify your purpose?
So much has been said about knowing your purpose, but do you know yours? Do you even know why it is vital to identify your purpose? Understanding the calling God has placed on your life and walking in it will change your mindset, your heart and even the direction of your life. But how do you get there? There's no magic trick to learning your God given purpose. It starts with spending time with the Lord in prayer, meditation and just being quiet in His presence, staying true to abiding in His Word not just in study but in obedience, this establishes discernment (Philippians 1:9-11; Hebrews 5:14) and a power experience bearing fruit that blesses you and brings glory to God (John 15:1-11). Stop talking, stop asking for your wants and needs and simply let God guide you.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Defining What It Means to Be a Father
Defining what it means to be a father is a challenge. In fact, it may be easier to describe what a father isn't, at least according to our culture. With so many fathers acting like sperm donors and not the connected, involved and loving men we need them to be, it is almost understandable why we have a hard time identifying the qualities of a father. So, when we see a man being a "dad", "father", "God fearing leader", "friend" and "teacher", let's encourage them. We rejoice that there are still good men that are great fathers! Happy Father's Day! (Ps 112:1-3; NASU) (Ps 128)
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Are you a "safe" Christian?
Are you a "safe" Christian? Are you comfortable influencing those in your immediate circle and never daring to challenge yourself to do more? I dare you to think BIG. Have you ever considered asking God to help you accomplish something radically BIG for His Kingdom? You are gifted with talents, skills and passion. Imagine all that you do to change lives when you study, fellowship with other believers and prayer (Acts 2:42). Why not become a dangerously, "On Fire" kind of Christian that makes an impact in a different, new and innovative way? God can open doors and hearts in incredible ways, are you willing to be His arms and legs? Acts 2
Friday, May 20, 2011
To All The Moms:
Do you know that you are in a unique and gifted position to positively influence the next generation? Your children, even your grandchildren, are looking to you as their guide on how to handle situations. Your words and actions matter to your children because they are watching you. So, if you cuss and fuss, they will too. If you are calm and loving, that is what they will emulate. Even if there is no husband or father in the house, you are responsible for rearing your child for Christ. You are so awesome!
Read 2 Timothy 1:5 and 2 Timothy 3:15
Read 2 Timothy 1:5 and 2 Timothy 3:15
Monday, February 21, 2011
Daily Stress
Study Passages: Philippians 4:4-5; 1Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 1:3
Has stress taken over your life?
Our society has placed so many demands on us that it often feels like all we are doing is making decisions. We are constantly bombarded with images and criteria that we must measure up to in order to feel loved and valuable. Everything from our dress size to the kind of car we drive is under scrutiny. We are evaluated based on if we are democrat or republican, tall or short, rich or poor, married or single, educated or uneducated.
Our tensions seem to multiply on a daily basis causing us to lose the joy and pleasure of living (Philippians 4:4-5; 1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
In many cases God is not making any of these demands. It is not that we cannot experience joy, because we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). It is the external pressures in our lives, as determined by the world’s standards, blocking our internal joy from being experienced each day.
For example, there was a young man that owned a 1976 Buick Electra 225. Although an older car, it drove well yet he was not happy. He was embarrassed and did not want to be seen driving it. He completely missed the blessing that it was paid for and he owned a vehicle that ran without any major problems.
Why let the pressure of what others think determine your happiness? The only pressure we should be experiencing should be from the molding done at the hands of the Potter (Jeremiah 18:4-6).
Consider Colossians 3:1-4:
“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Luke 12:22-23; 25-26 states;
“And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for {your} life, {as to} what you shall eat; nor for your body, {as to} what you shall put on. For life are more than food, and the body than clothing. And which of you by being anxious can add a {single} cubit to his life's span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters?”
Has stress taken over your life?
Our society has placed so many demands on us that it often feels like all we are doing is making decisions. We are constantly bombarded with images and criteria that we must measure up to in order to feel loved and valuable. Everything from our dress size to the kind of car we drive is under scrutiny. We are evaluated based on if we are democrat or republican, tall or short, rich or poor, married or single, educated or uneducated.
Our tensions seem to multiply on a daily basis causing us to lose the joy and pleasure of living (Philippians 4:4-5; 1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
In many cases God is not making any of these demands. It is not that we cannot experience joy, because we are blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). It is the external pressures in our lives, as determined by the world’s standards, blocking our internal joy from being experienced each day.
For example, there was a young man that owned a 1976 Buick Electra 225. Although an older car, it drove well yet he was not happy. He was embarrassed and did not want to be seen driving it. He completely missed the blessing that it was paid for and he owned a vehicle that ran without any major problems.
Why let the pressure of what others think determine your happiness? The only pressure we should be experiencing should be from the molding done at the hands of the Potter (Jeremiah 18:4-6).
Consider Colossians 3:1-4:
“If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Luke 12:22-23; 25-26 states;
“And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for {your} life, {as to} what you shall eat; nor for your body, {as to} what you shall put on. For life are more than food, and the body than clothing. And which of you by being anxious can add a {single} cubit to his life's span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why are you anxious about other matters?”
Monday, February 7, 2011
What Does Your Love for God Look Like?
Study Passages: John 6:44; Romans 3:11, Luke 12:22-36, Hebrews 1:3, Matthew 22:36-40, John 13:34-35, John 14:15
Are you in love with Christ or is He simply your insurance to get into heaven? Do you turn to Jesus for help in your time of need or is simply an afterthought, someone to turn to when all else fails?
Anything or anyone that has won our heart controls or, at the very least, has tremendous influence over our will. For example, if we love money we will work overtime in a heartbeat. If money drives us, we may even play the lottery, secretly or openly.
When we love something, it also influences our time. If we love football then we often spend hours in front of the television every Sunday watching game after game. We won’t even check the time on our watch unless it’s to see when the next game starts. The high cost of a ticket won’t faze us because we will spend whatever is necessary to get the best seat.
While watching the news the other day, a commercial came on that showed a man who went to all the Super Bowl games. He said he missed special moments in his life, such as babies being born, birthdays of family members, and anniversary celebrations. He loves the game so much that it did not matter where the game was, what was going on personally or how much the ticket cost; he was going to be at every Super Bowl game.
You might view him as an extreme, but the reality is people do not mind spending money or going through a challenge for something they love. We always find a reason to legitimize why we need to spend and sacrifice more for the things we love.
How does our love for God look when we express it? There is no question He loves us. He drew us to Himself to be saved (John 6:44; Romans 3:11), He provides for us daily (Luke 12:22-36), He sustains everything through His Word so we can function day by day (Hebrews 1:3), He died for each believer (John 3:16), He intercedes for each believer (Romans 8:26) and He provides each believer a place after death (John 14:2-3).
How does our love for Him express itself? He said love should lead to us to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40), love each other (John 13:34-35), it should lead believers to abide in His Word (John 14:15), and it would lead us to worship Him and serve Him.
When our words say we love God, do our actions say the same?
Are you in love with Christ or is He simply your insurance to get into heaven? Do you turn to Jesus for help in your time of need or is simply an afterthought, someone to turn to when all else fails?
Anything or anyone that has won our heart controls or, at the very least, has tremendous influence over our will. For example, if we love money we will work overtime in a heartbeat. If money drives us, we may even play the lottery, secretly or openly.
When we love something, it also influences our time. If we love football then we often spend hours in front of the television every Sunday watching game after game. We won’t even check the time on our watch unless it’s to see when the next game starts. The high cost of a ticket won’t faze us because we will spend whatever is necessary to get the best seat.
While watching the news the other day, a commercial came on that showed a man who went to all the Super Bowl games. He said he missed special moments in his life, such as babies being born, birthdays of family members, and anniversary celebrations. He loves the game so much that it did not matter where the game was, what was going on personally or how much the ticket cost; he was going to be at every Super Bowl game.
You might view him as an extreme, but the reality is people do not mind spending money or going through a challenge for something they love. We always find a reason to legitimize why we need to spend and sacrifice more for the things we love.
How does our love for God look when we express it? There is no question He loves us. He drew us to Himself to be saved (John 6:44; Romans 3:11), He provides for us daily (Luke 12:22-36), He sustains everything through His Word so we can function day by day (Hebrews 1:3), He died for each believer (John 3:16), He intercedes for each believer (Romans 8:26) and He provides each believer a place after death (John 14:2-3).
How does our love for Him express itself? He said love should lead to us to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40), love each other (John 13:34-35), it should lead believers to abide in His Word (John 14:15), and it would lead us to worship Him and serve Him.
When our words say we love God, do our actions say the same?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Believing in Fantasy or Choosing Truth?
Study Passages: 2 Samuel 11:1-15
Several years ago, Barney The Purple Dinosaur, beloved friend to millions of children, was hurt. During filming of the Barney & Friends show, a cooling fan inside the sixty-pound dinosaur suit short-circuited and started to smoke. The actor playing Barney quickly got out of the suit but suffered smoke inhalation. He was taken to the hospital and soon released.
The story of the accident was carried on the news, and many children were scared and worried. Scores of parents called the television station to say their children were afraid that Barney had been burned, or worse, that he was a fake.
A spokeswoman for the producers of the program said, “It can be really devastating to a three-year-old. They love Barney and they think that something terrible has happened to him, or that he’s not real.” Fantasies like Barney can bring a person good feelings and we want to cling to it, as if it were real. But a fantasy is a fantasy, and sooner or later the truth comes out.
A teacher was once asked what is truth? The old teacher was silent as he walked across the room. He picked up a tuning fork and struck it. He said, “This sound represented an A. It is an A today; it was an A five thousand years ago, and it will be an A ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall is flat on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune. But the tuning fork is always an A.” Truth never needs to be updated.
We are often quick to say that Jesus “is the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Yet when we deny any Biblical principle that directs the decisions of our lives, we are denying Christ and choosing to live a lie. So, for example, if God says in His Word that we are not to fornicate or live together without marriage and we are currently cohabitating, we are not in obedience to God. The end result therefore is not life. Life is empowered by the Spirit, based on truth, who produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, a lie is about nothing. It is based on something that does not exist and has no foundation. Now consider the truth. The truth is “the body of real events or facts”.
The purple dinosaur named Barney never existed but the truth always did. The man inside the suit, along with his cooling system, inside represents more truth than the costumed character ever could or would. Christ lives forever and is the only truth. It does not matter how life looks He is the only way to experience truth and enjoy life.
Several years ago, Barney The Purple Dinosaur, beloved friend to millions of children, was hurt. During filming of the Barney & Friends show, a cooling fan inside the sixty-pound dinosaur suit short-circuited and started to smoke. The actor playing Barney quickly got out of the suit but suffered smoke inhalation. He was taken to the hospital and soon released.
The story of the accident was carried on the news, and many children were scared and worried. Scores of parents called the television station to say their children were afraid that Barney had been burned, or worse, that he was a fake.
A spokeswoman for the producers of the program said, “It can be really devastating to a three-year-old. They love Barney and they think that something terrible has happened to him, or that he’s not real.” Fantasies like Barney can bring a person good feelings and we want to cling to it, as if it were real. But a fantasy is a fantasy, and sooner or later the truth comes out.
A teacher was once asked what is truth? The old teacher was silent as he walked across the room. He picked up a tuning fork and struck it. He said, “This sound represented an A. It is an A today; it was an A five thousand years ago, and it will be an A ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall is flat on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune. But the tuning fork is always an A.” Truth never needs to be updated.
We are often quick to say that Jesus “is the way the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Yet when we deny any Biblical principle that directs the decisions of our lives, we are denying Christ and choosing to live a lie. So, for example, if God says in His Word that we are not to fornicate or live together without marriage and we are currently cohabitating, we are not in obedience to God. The end result therefore is not life. Life is empowered by the Spirit, based on truth, who produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, a lie is about nothing. It is based on something that does not exist and has no foundation. Now consider the truth. The truth is “the body of real events or facts”.
The purple dinosaur named Barney never existed but the truth always did. The man inside the suit, along with his cooling system, inside represents more truth than the costumed character ever could or would. Christ lives forever and is the only truth. It does not matter how life looks He is the only way to experience truth and enjoy life.
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