2 Corinthians 4:8-9 8/28/2018*

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Life is not always easy…it’s not supposed to be.

Paul is describing Christians who have endurance and tenacity. People who confidently walk through life no matter how difficult it gets.

As a society we have lost the maturity described in these verses.  Our acceptance of a victim’s mentality, and self-centeredness has become crippling.

Maybe it is because as children we always got a trophy, we were never allowed to face disappointment …but today, more and more, we see grown men and women go completely off the rails at the slightest hint that they may not get their way.

It is embarrassing and dangerous, and as a society we need to grow up.

Life is not fair.  But you don’t have to be frail.

Walking with Jesus makes you more than a conqueror…. you can take the pressure without being crushed. You can be confused without being depressed.  You can be attacked without being devastated.

Even if you don’t get your way, you can calmly stand your ground because God is still God, and He loves you completely.

One identifying mark of a Christian should be a confidence that springs from the awareness of who you are, and whose you are…

You should have an assurance that is confusing to unbelievers. If you do, it will impact them more than any sermon. If you show maturity and stability, it will be so different from the norm that people will run to you like moths to a flame.

Life can be hard.  Once you have faced that reality without flinching, when you have shown that you can walk through the storm with composure …. only then will you be qualified to help others walk victoriously as well.

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”
- Oswald Chambers

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 8/21/2018*

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

Few people would say Ecclesiastes is their favorite book. But the need for it in our generation is indisputable.

The author was the wisest, richest, most accomplished man on the planet. He had already achieved all we yearn for… yet in this verse he says that the things we sacrifice our lives chasing, are meaningless.

More and more we read of the despair and depression of the rich and famous.  While people who haven’t achieved wealth are driven by the anticipation that it will be fulfilling, those who have attained it know it is empty.

It is the big lie. It is the great bait and switch.  Wealth is completely incapable of fulfilling the promises it makes.  You destroy your health pursuing earthly riches that you cannot enjoy as you keep running after more, confident that with just one more dollar you will be secure and happy….it is chasing the wind.  

At the end of Ecclesiastes Solomon makes a telling statement:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecc 12:13)

Stop chasing the wind. Stop stressing over your balance sheet. God knows what you need. He has a plan and He’s not worried about how to pay for it. You don’t need to frantically chase assets, instead chase righteousness.

Don’t waste another day pursuing things that don’t last…Be in awe of God, and work for things of eternal significance.

“How many are they who have made a god of their wealth, and in hasting after riches have been drowned by the weight of their worldly substance” – Charles Spurgeon

Luke 11:11-13 8/14/2018*

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Jesus appears to ask this question in frustration over the anxiety we experience because we misinterpret our relationship with God.
Good theology is when we understand who God is, and who we are. Not grasping these two points creates a constant undercurrent of worry that drives us to discontent.

If we comprehend the supremacy of God and His amazing love for us, how can we worry about the outcome of situations over which He has complete control?
This is the constant theme of Jesus when He discusses our anxiety.  His continuous refrain is that we are loved, and God is good and faithful… 
Why can’t we see that our position of value, and His position of power eliminates the need for fear? 

It is not a matter of believing that things will go the way I want - but believing that things will go the way God wants… and in the long run God’s will is the best thing that can happen in my life.

Worry is a choice, and not worrying is a discipline. 
Choosing faith is a decision to impose facts upon your emotions. The fact that God is God, and you are His child gives you the right to ignore fear.
Let’s strive to remember that even sinful men know how to take care of those they love…how much more will God take care of us?

Choose faith over worry and see how it changes your life one day at a time.

“The very essence of worry is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting of ourselves into His place, to do for Him that which we dream He either cannot or will not do!”
- Charles Spurgeon

1 John 3:18 8/7/2018*

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

What actions do you have planned today to show your love for others? 

Where is “kindness” on your to-do list this afternoon?

Our worship rightly consists of honoring God with our words. But that cannot be the end of it. That is simply vocalizing what our activities should constantly reflect. Our love for the Father should be visible in our actions toward His children.

Let me challenge you to amend your schedule today.  As you prepare your calendar, intentionally set an action point to be kind to someone for no other reason than God told you to…

Be creative….Have fun with it.  Amaze someone today with your compassion and they will then be receptive to your truth.  We were created to love each other, and you will never feel more fulfilled then when you do so with your activities.

God didn’t just love us with words…He took action… difficult, expensive, sacrificial action…we should do the same.

It is your choice…. Today can be just another day… or you can choose to bless someone and make this day extraordinary for both of you.

Don’t just agree with the idea … do it.

I dare you to, on purpose, be a blessing to someone today.  I guarantee when you bless them, it will splash out all over you.

“Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” - Scott Adams

2 Corinthians 3:17 7/31/2018*

“…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

How long will we continue to daily put on the chains of sin and call it freedom?

Why do we listen to the lie that God wants to take away our liberty when His desire is to do the opposite?

We live in a world of bondage, obsession, and addiction… and only the Spirit of God can free us… only those that God has liberated are truly free.

The definition of frustration is to fight against something you cannot defeat…Without Christ you cannot defeat sin.  You can make resolutions, talk about change, go to church and determine to improve…but without Jesus you are a slave. 

The blood of Jesus is the fuel in the engine that sets you free. 

If you are living a life of frustration maybe it is because you are out of gas. You have built a fine religious vehicle, but it won’t run because you are trying to power it with your own works and have neglected the Cross.

Understand that you can be free today. Receive the gift that Jesus offers and walk out of prison.

It is not a process … it is a moment of acceptance, a change of position, and a lifetime of freedom.

Stop trying to be better, and allow Jesus to make you new… you have been redeemed at a great cost…and that redemption has opened the door to your cell. 

Where His Spirit is there is freedom.

“God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate."

- Oswald Chambers

James 3:7-8 7/24/2018*

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Do you ever think of your tongue as a restless evil?

We treat it as our ally, but this verse would indicate it can be one of our greatest advisories.

How many times has this “restless evil” poisoned my life, yet I continue to give it free reign from day to day?

I continue to think it can boost my position and give me advantage. When, in reality, it is responsible for much of the heartbreak in my life.

As a society we have abandoned any thought of taming the tongue and instead seem to encourage reckless abandon when it comes to speaking. There is no thought of truth or wisdom as we vomit out anything that might help our side win.

That should not describe children of God.  We should be different.

Animals that cannot be tamed are kept in a cage.  Do that to your tongue today.  Treat it like a dangerous animal.  Watch it carefully and never let it get in a position to hurt you…. because if it has the chance it will.

Be slow to speak and quick to listen and understand that you carry a poison in your mouth capable of destroying friendships, families, and yourself…

Never trust your tongue in the moment.

You cannot tame it, so determine today to watch it carefully and keep it in it’s cage.

“What you may not realize is that the words you say, and the words you hear from others have the power to change your entire life.”
― Alex Uwajeh

2 Chronicles 5: 14 7/17/2018*

“and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”

When is the last time God interrupted your religion with His presence?

Solomon had just spent seven years building the Temple, and the day had finally arrived to bring in the Ark of the Covenant.  An elaborate plan was in place, complete with priest, singers, musicians, and all the ceremony rightly expected for such a remarkable occasion.

As they sang about God’s love and faithfulness, His presence entered the temple…and the arrival of God stopped the ceremony…. I am sure they had planned more events for the celebration, but it all ended when God showed up.

Has that happened to you lately?  Have you been stilled by the awesomeness of God? Has His arrival at your worship service stopped you in your tracks?

We are instructed to be still and know the majesty of God. Yet we seem to always be in a hurry.  Even our church programs can push us to the point of missing the point…. Sometimes we need to just stand in amazement and remember the reason for all the activity.

Allow that to happen to you today…Don’t let the activities of your religion blind you to His majesty and power.  Allow yourself to be engulfed in the cloud of the glory of the Lord.

Your strength does not come from your religious activity, it comes from the presence of God in your life. 

When His Spirit invades your ceremony…slow down, let your program end, and stand in awe of the God you serve.

“We are two free from wonder now days, too easy with the word of God; we do not use it in breathless amazement ...”
- Oswald Chambers 

Isaiah 55:8-9 7/10/2018*

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Have we lost our awareness of the majesty of God? 

Some people acknowledge the existence of God, but disagree with His management style, so they are not interested in knowing Him.  But that approach is intellectually flawed.

If you are convinced there is no God, then defend that position. But, to say that God exist and that you disagree with His actions, is a little like a hamster arguing against Einstein’s theory of relativity. You cannot argue what you do not have the capacity to comprehend.

If you have admitted there is a God that created you. You cannot demand He appear before you, so you can deliver judgement on His conduct.  It is logically inconsistent to believe that the created, can judge the Creator. 

God does exist… and He has made sure that in our hearts we all know that to be true. (Romans 1:19).  What we seem to have forgotten is that His complexity, supremacy, and intellect are beyond our wildest imaginations.

Our apathy towards God is a product of us trying to make Him into our image.  We water down His greatness until we end up with a god not worthy of our devotion. Perhaps we don’t want to serve God because we have completely missed who and what He is…. Maybe for our comfort, we have defined Him in such a way that we can put Him in a convenient box. 

The fact that we do not endorse what God does is not an inditement of His character, but of our capacity to understand Him.

Spend some time today striving to comprehend the actual God of the bible. You will only have the ability to understand a fraction of His glory. You will only be capable of seeing a glimpse.… but if you see it…that glimpse will be enough to change you forever.

“If you can’t see the sun you will be impressed with a street light. … And if you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God you’ll fall in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.”

John Piper

Proverbs 12:27-28 7/3/2018*

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

When is the last time you had a sentence formulated in your mind and you just swallowed it because it wasn’t necessary?

Can you remember passing up a comment simply because it wasn’t uplifting, or helpful?

We tend to believe quick witted, snarky comments are sign of intellectual prowess… but according to this scripture it is the activity of fools.

What would happen today if you only said things that built others up?  How many words could you save if you eliminated all the self-serving, and careless comments you make.

I want to challenge you to answer that question. 

Let’s conduct an experiment…. put every word you say today through a filter.  Don’t let a syllable out of your mouth that isn’t necessary and intended to build up those to whom it is directed. Instead of vomiting out every word that enters your mind, first make sure they are worth saying.

Begin this morning with the concept that, by their value, every word must earn the right to leave your mouth - and see where it takes you.

I think you will be amazed at how much less you say.

Using words with restraint will change your countenance and the image you present to others. According to scripture you will appear more knowledgeable and people will consider you to be wise.

… you may want to make it a habit.

“The less men think, the more they talk.”
-  Charles de Montesquieu

Leviticus 19:32 6/26/2018*

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged…”

Unfortunately, our society has drifted away from this instruction.

We mistakenly believe we are honoring our elders by struggling to make them live longer, when they would really prefer to live better.

Having confused honor with preservation, we work solely on longevity, and then blame them for their resilience. We fight to keep them alive but fail to remind them how valuable they truly are to us.

Perhaps we have forgotten that no sum of money can purchase wisdom, and no amount of intelligence can replace experience. In life, the elderly are the experts and the rest of us are novices. We must not forget the importance of that fact.

No rookie, no matter how gifted, can outplay a seasoned veteran because they don’t fully understand the complexity of the game yet…. the same applies in the game of life. Senior citizens know the game, and their proven wisdom can provide depth and direction to our existence.

Let’s get back to “standing in their presence”.  Commit to spending time with the elderly God has placed in your life.  Be the rookie that listens when the veterans make recommendations. 

Pay attention and you will find that it helps both of you.

The bottom line is, God is not making a suggestion in this verse, He is issuing a command. He is demanding we value and respect the elderly in our lives.

Be intentional in this… we reap what we sow, and the next generation is watching.

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.
- Stanislaw Jerzy Lec