“…you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why…” recognize that song - I'll give you a hint: in one month you will hear it far too many times!
Have you ever heard something and it made you do a “double” take? Some of you are wondering why in the world I quoted "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" well, it's because I've got the words "you better watch out" stuck in my mind. One of the many things I have learned about those “better watch out moments” is that they come out of nowhere! They happen to anyone! And they hurt!
Not sure what I am taking about - Ever had someone hurt you with their words? Ever heard a rumor about you? Ever had a friend lie to you? Ever had a medical emergence? Ever had a pipe burst? Ever lost a deal because of an error you made? Ever ran out of gas? Ever been in a wreck? Ever missed your flight?
Those are just a few of the “better watch out moments” that many people face today, yesterday, last week, and everyday in this thing called Life! So now what? What next? We all have heard “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” on TV, but how do you do that? We all know how to stress over it, we all know how to gossip about it, we all know how to worry about it…but the question is how do we deal with it?
Steer into the storm! Remember the passage where it reads: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (I Cor 10:13). So, steer into the storm because the Lord will provide you a way! Steer into the storm because the Lord will help you endure! Steer into the storm because God wants you to…just maybe he is wanting to teach you something, show you something, or more importantly show others.
“…you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why” because Jesus has overcome for you and I!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
How your pipes?
Have you ever had pipe issues before? Could not get one to stop dripping, could not get one unclogged, or just could not believe how much it costs to clean out your pipes. Some of us when we have these problems try to do something that others of us would not dare to do! We try to fix it ourselves!
Recently I had to speak at a meeting on the topic of confession as well as facilitate a time of confession. This was uncomfortable for me because I was not sure how to approach it. Was I supposed to go around the room asking for everyone to share their inmost secrets with the group and tell us of the sins in their life? Were we having group therapy now? Needless to say that was not the approach I took because it really does not matter to me what they would have said because it only matters to God.
I decided to speak on the example I have heard used of your Christian walk being like a “Facet Pipe” and those areas in your life that are not pleasing to the Lord is the “junk” in those pipes. So, how can God use you or should we say how can God flow through you if your pipes are clogged? Pipes can look good on the outside but the inside is more important-right? Going to church, going to your job, or your everyday walk can look good on the outside…but it’s the inside that matters!
So, are your pipes flowing or are you dipping? Are you confessing and turning over any “clogs” in your life or are you trying to fix it yourself? Are you ignoring the advice of some experienced plumbers in your life? Are you missing those opportunities around you to be a blessing to others because your pipes are not cleaned out? Ask God for help…turn it over to the real expert on the subject! That plumber has the real pipe cleaner solution for your life.
Recently I had to speak at a meeting on the topic of confession as well as facilitate a time of confession. This was uncomfortable for me because I was not sure how to approach it. Was I supposed to go around the room asking for everyone to share their inmost secrets with the group and tell us of the sins in their life? Were we having group therapy now? Needless to say that was not the approach I took because it really does not matter to me what they would have said because it only matters to God.
I decided to speak on the example I have heard used of your Christian walk being like a “Facet Pipe” and those areas in your life that are not pleasing to the Lord is the “junk” in those pipes. So, how can God use you or should we say how can God flow through you if your pipes are clogged? Pipes can look good on the outside but the inside is more important-right? Going to church, going to your job, or your everyday walk can look good on the outside…but it’s the inside that matters!
So, are your pipes flowing or are you dipping? Are you confessing and turning over any “clogs” in your life or are you trying to fix it yourself? Are you ignoring the advice of some experienced plumbers in your life? Are you missing those opportunities around you to be a blessing to others because your pipes are not cleaned out? Ask God for help…turn it over to the real expert on the subject! That plumber has the real pipe cleaner solution for your life.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Draw the Line
I like movies! More importantly I love using them in references or in quotes when I speak or write, but I have to be careful now because of a simple fact-I am getting old! The other thing I like is "Simple" truth! A couple of Sundays ago I went up to my pastor after the morning service to greet him and shake his hand, but then another member walked up and said, “Great message this morning, simple and to the point…”
Later that day two things hit me-1) That man was not complaining about our pastor's message being simple but was thankful to be reminded of the simple truth 2) A quote came to me from an old movie called Star Trek 2 “The Wrath of Khan” where Spock says, "They knew exactly where to hit us." (do not ask me how these things come to me like this...in short, God made me special.. J)
If you are old enough to remember or are just a Star Trek junky you will recall the scene in “The Wrath of Khan” where Captain Kirk and his ship was first attacked by the vengeful person named Khan. Spock's quote came after that first attack…”They knew exactly where to hit us”
Are those words not true in our life? Don’t our enemies know exactly where to hit us? So, if your answer is an absolute “Amen”, then what? What do I do with that information? I know there are those who would say “Just pray about it”. While I believe that is true I also believe there is more…”Wait, more than prayer?”…Yes, with God’s guidance and help through prayer you are now called into action! God has given you a mind, friends to help, resources to use, and maybe today this email…
So, what am I saying? If the line to not cross is really at the Fifty yard line of a football field, should you not draw your line in the sand at the twenty? If you do not want your child to hit a home run in the “sex game” and get pregnant or get someone pregnant should we not teach them how important it is to not even step into the batter's box? If you know FaceBook is replacing God’s time should you not find another way of telling people what you are doing at this moment-who cares what you are doing at that exact moment in time? I know someone who does, God!
If you are on the other end of the scale and do not know where you are the weakest then - ask your spouse, ask a friend, ask your pastor, or better yet pray to God for help to show you and start the process of setting up your lines in the sand far away from the “true” line you are trying to avoid! You're going to mess up, you're human and that is why we need to draw those lines…here is one last quote:”You can learn from listening or you can learn from taking your lumps.” Translation, what is God asking you to change today or what line do you need to draw for Him?
Later that day two things hit me-1) That man was not complaining about our pastor's message being simple but was thankful to be reminded of the simple truth 2) A quote came to me from an old movie called Star Trek 2 “The Wrath of Khan” where Spock says, "They knew exactly where to hit us." (do not ask me how these things come to me like this...in short, God made me special.. J)
If you are old enough to remember or are just a Star Trek junky you will recall the scene in “The Wrath of Khan” where Captain Kirk and his ship was first attacked by the vengeful person named Khan. Spock's quote came after that first attack…”They knew exactly where to hit us”
Are those words not true in our life? Don’t our enemies know exactly where to hit us? So, if your answer is an absolute “Amen”, then what? What do I do with that information? I know there are those who would say “Just pray about it”. While I believe that is true I also believe there is more…”Wait, more than prayer?”…Yes, with God’s guidance and help through prayer you are now called into action! God has given you a mind, friends to help, resources to use, and maybe today this email…
So, what am I saying? If the line to not cross is really at the Fifty yard line of a football field, should you not draw your line in the sand at the twenty? If you do not want your child to hit a home run in the “sex game” and get pregnant or get someone pregnant should we not teach them how important it is to not even step into the batter's box? If you know FaceBook is replacing God’s time should you not find another way of telling people what you are doing at this moment-who cares what you are doing at that exact moment in time? I know someone who does, God!
If you are on the other end of the scale and do not know where you are the weakest then - ask your spouse, ask a friend, ask your pastor, or better yet pray to God for help to show you and start the process of setting up your lines in the sand far away from the “true” line you are trying to avoid! You're going to mess up, you're human and that is why we need to draw those lines…here is one last quote:”You can learn from listening or you can learn from taking your lumps.” Translation, what is God asking you to change today or what line do you need to draw for Him?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Loving God, Loving People, and Serve the World
In the past year the church I attend adopted the slogan “Loving God, Loving People and Serving the World”. I had some time off over the holidays and have been thinking about the coming year and the direction the Lord is leading. Every time I have turned around these last few weeks those words kept coming back to me - to love God, love people and serve the world….
I promise that I am not the smartest person in the world, but I knew it was the Lord speaking when He told me to not recreate the wheel or try to think of some “New Year’s Resolution” for the coming year. So, I want to ask you to think about those words and see where the Lord leads you…
Loving God- I want to seek out a closer walk with the Lord. I understand and realize that the difficulty in those words is how to do that. I think it means cleaning up some sin in my life, looking forward instead of backwards, looking to the King of my Life first instead of asking for forgiveness after doing something that came from my own wisdom.
Loving People- This might be the toughest of the 3 because we want control in this area and often choose the people we want to love and associate with. I know that is not God’s view of loving people because He said whatever you do for the least of these you do for the Me. Loving people means opening up the safe of your heart and your life. It means seeking to love those people that God has placed in your life rather than just loving those you are more comfortable with. It means loving those family members that you normally try to avoid so not to cause trouble, but still remembering to put God before your family.
Serving the World- In Matthew 14 Jesus asks the disciples to bring him what they had in order to feed the 5000, in the same way God is asking you to do your part in bringing what you have to Him. God's ways are not our ways - we may not think so, but the little things do make a difference in the Kingdom of God. We often wish we knew the impact our efforts make for the Kingdom but unfortunately we still see through the glass dimly but be patient good and faithful servants because God will reward your efforts for those little things you have done to the least of those around you.
So, here is my disclaimer in this posting….do not get mad at me if God is poking your heart strings and telling you to consider changes for the coming year. Do not worry about tomorrow because you have enough to worry about today!
I promise that I am not the smartest person in the world, but I knew it was the Lord speaking when He told me to not recreate the wheel or try to think of some “New Year’s Resolution” for the coming year. So, I want to ask you to think about those words and see where the Lord leads you…
Loving God- I want to seek out a closer walk with the Lord. I understand and realize that the difficulty in those words is how to do that. I think it means cleaning up some sin in my life, looking forward instead of backwards, looking to the King of my Life first instead of asking for forgiveness after doing something that came from my own wisdom.
Loving People- This might be the toughest of the 3 because we want control in this area and often choose the people we want to love and associate with. I know that is not God’s view of loving people because He said whatever you do for the least of these you do for the Me. Loving people means opening up the safe of your heart and your life. It means seeking to love those people that God has placed in your life rather than just loving those you are more comfortable with. It means loving those family members that you normally try to avoid so not to cause trouble, but still remembering to put God before your family.
Serving the World- In Matthew 14 Jesus asks the disciples to bring him what they had in order to feed the 5000, in the same way God is asking you to do your part in bringing what you have to Him. God's ways are not our ways - we may not think so, but the little things do make a difference in the Kingdom of God. We often wish we knew the impact our efforts make for the Kingdom but unfortunately we still see through the glass dimly but be patient good and faithful servants because God will reward your efforts for those little things you have done to the least of those around you.
So, here is my disclaimer in this posting….do not get mad at me if God is poking your heart strings and telling you to consider changes for the coming year. Do not worry about tomorrow because you have enough to worry about today!
When did the spoon become a spoon?
When did the spoon become a spoon was the question asked? I heard the story behind the spoon in a marriage class at my church recently. The teacher played a scene from a movie where a wife is talking about how her first anniversary gift to her husband was a spoon from their first date in the park. Her face was glowing and there was a gleam in her eye as she talked about this spoon and the significance of it, but then she asked the question: "At what point did that spoon become just a spoon?".
Has this happened to you? Has there been something in your life you used to have a glow about when you described it? A spouse, a car, a church, a friend, a game, a sport, a cause, a job or a ministry? I asked this question at the HopeLine last night- when did the spoon become just a spoon and has the HopeLine now become just the HopeLine? One of the many things I have discovered is that the HopeLine is never ending. Serving with the HopeLine is not a one time only thing…or an annual event thing…or some temporary service thing…it is almost a life thing! My challenge was: please do everything possible to protect yourself and not let the “spoon become just a spoon” with this ministry.
I was reminded again of the story of Peter walking on water and again wondering why he was the only one out of the boat. One getting wet while the other 11 were staying dry…one stepping out to Jesus and others not…one not letting the spoon just become a spoon in his life anymore.
My prayer is that the place where you serve has not become that spoon…that your marriage has not become that spoon…that your Christian walk has not become that spoon. Be intentional to keep working at it…be intentional to keep praying about it…be intentional to keep stepping out of the boat in faith for whatever the Lord lays upon your heart.
Has this happened to you? Has there been something in your life you used to have a glow about when you described it? A spouse, a car, a church, a friend, a game, a sport, a cause, a job or a ministry? I asked this question at the HopeLine last night- when did the spoon become just a spoon and has the HopeLine now become just the HopeLine? One of the many things I have discovered is that the HopeLine is never ending. Serving with the HopeLine is not a one time only thing…or an annual event thing…or some temporary service thing…it is almost a life thing! My challenge was: please do everything possible to protect yourself and not let the “spoon become just a spoon” with this ministry.
I was reminded again of the story of Peter walking on water and again wondering why he was the only one out of the boat. One getting wet while the other 11 were staying dry…one stepping out to Jesus and others not…one not letting the spoon just become a spoon in his life anymore.
My prayer is that the place where you serve has not become that spoon…that your marriage has not become that spoon…that your Christian walk has not become that spoon. Be intentional to keep working at it…be intentional to keep praying about it…be intentional to keep stepping out of the boat in faith for whatever the Lord lays upon your heart.
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