6/28/13:

TFTD: "And a ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"…When Jesus hear this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich." Luke 18:18-23

What can we do to inherit eternal life? In the story a man with some wealth comes to Jesus and says how do I go to heaven? Jesus says well follow the 10 commandments. The ruler has the guts to fool himself that he has followed them. So Jesus takes a more personal route to this guy. Go and sell all of your things, give them to the poor and follow me. In society today people follow the common quote of "he who dies with the most things wins". As fun and empty as that may be it really just comes down to he who dies with the most stuff, dies with a lot of crap. We don't get to take anything with us to heaven. No motorcycles, PS3's, TV's, money, nothing, we take nothing. Which is kind of a bummer because I like some of my things. The point here is that we can use our things to help serve others instead. I have a friend of mine who has taken this story very personally and is doing an awesome thing. She is in the process of selling her house and a lot of her things to go and do mission work in Africa. She has this awesome perspective of service which I can only hope to emulate even a little bit.

            I read on a napkin from Caribou Coffee once that life is about buying someone a cup of coffee. Now I don’t know about you but I am a recent graduate from college. That means I am broke, but one of my joys is doing little things for others. Whether I tip well, or buy someone coffee, I can just see a glimpse of what it must have been like to sell all of your things to take up the cross and follow Christ. Now, I don’t expect you to go and sell all of your things like my friend is doing, but maybe share a cup of coffee or a lunch with someone. Its kind of fun and you might just get addicted.

"Success is not measured by what you do compared to what others do; it is measured by what you do with the ability (or funds) God gave you."- Zig Ziglar (parenthesis mine)

6/27/13:

TFTD: "For as the rains and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11

We hear all the time about how all we need to do is share the message of Christ with those that we come in contact with and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. Sometimes that just seems so plain and unfair. We want to see the fruit of our labors because we want to know that we have done good. In Isaiah we get reminded by God that His word will not return empty but it will accomplish what He has sent it here to do. So if you are preaching the Gospel of Christ to willing listeners, people who need to hear it, or people who don’t want to hear it, keep telling the Good News. Be encouraged, it will accomplish what God has sent it here to do. We may not get to see its fruits, but that’s okay.

"The last human freedom you and I possess is the ability to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances."- Viktor Frankl

6/26/13:

TFTD: "But you , Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; fear not, for I am with you; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:8-10

Fear is crippling. It paralyzes you and causes you not to do some things that you really want to do. This morning was my first attempt giving a message to the kids in our summer care program and they range from 2 years old up to 5th graders. Personally I am much more comfortable being with high school kids because they can hold a pretty good conversation and can make me think about things in a different way, but I am not nearly as comfortable, sometimes even fearful, of the younger kids because I struggle to connect with them. I struggle to get on their level and meet them where they are at. Thankfully, I have people who encourage me to just be with them and give them the message because they need to hear it even if they are little. Jesus even said let the little ones come to me. Isn't it great that our God isn’t afraid to come to us and meet us where we are at! He tells us through the prophet Isaiah that  "I am with you; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". He comes to us in our fears, big or small, and reminds us that He is a personal God. He takes us under His wing and lets us know we are capable of anything, even giving a message to the littlest ones. I'm sure thankful for that!

"The only thing to fear is fear itself."- Franklin Roosevelt

6/25/13:

TFTD: "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.""
 1 Corinthians 1"30-31

"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." Boasting is probably one of the easiest things to do in today's society. When was the last time you watched someone give the I am the greatest look to someone else? Maybe it was you. I know that I fall into this trap of boasting or bragging. I really enjoy to play softball and when I am having a good game sometimes I get the "I am hot stuff" mindset. I make sure people saw my hit or play and if they didn’t I will tell them exactly what happened which might be a little exaggerated because I want to make myself sound like I was awesome.

            Now, when was the last time you boasted in Christ? Boasted in Christ? What does that even mean? Boasting is usually an inward focused act. I boast in the things that I can do well, but it is too prideful to ask why I can do them well. Lecrae, a Christian rapper, has a song called boasting and it really reminds me of what boasting truly is when it says "If this life has anything to gain at all I'll count it loss if I can't hear you, feel you, 'cause I need you. Can't walk this earth alone. I recognize I'm not my own, so before I fall I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone." We are here to boast on God! We are here to give God the glory for what He has done in the world and in our lives and what He is continuing to do. Our gifts and talents come from Him and should be used in a way to glorify Him. I for one fail at this and will continue to fail at this over and over, but I want to do better at boasting His name and not mine because I am nothing without it. So I challenge you to see how boasting His name can change how you live your life.

“For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.”- C.S. Lewis

6/24/13:

TFTD: “ For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning(or repentance) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,… Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:15,18

What a giant punch right in the gut. Over and over again in the bible, much more bluntly in the Old Testament and more subtly in the New Testament, we are told and reminded by God that if we just repent and trust in Him we will be blessed and saved. But here is the kicker. We are sinful. Our sinful self gets in the way and we become “unwilling” to follow Christ. We, like the Israelites, push away the urge of the Holy Spirit and turn to our own devises, sins, and idols. It’s just so easy to do. We get caught up in the ideas of culture that tell us we need to make more money. You need the newest Igadget because it will make you happy. You need to forget what God is telling you because it’s wrong. But our God is gracious. Isaiah tells the Israelites who are intentionally pushing God away “the Lord waits to be gracious to you”. Our God is patient and can wait as long as it takes for us to hear and follow the Holy Spirit. He will forgive all of our sins. Not just some, but all, and what a relief that is!! We can turn to God again and again and say I am sorry and here is what happens. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We get to walk with Christ and never look back because Our God is Greater!

“The true follower of Christ will not ask, “If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?” Rather he will say, “This is the truth, God help me to walk in it, let come what may!””- A. W. Tozer

6/23/13:

TFTD: “The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself...” Mark 12:31

How often do you go and get new clothes? Go get some coffee? Go out to eat? Now, how often do you do those things for others? Pick up a coffee for someone else? Buy someone lunch? Help someone pay for their clothes? Not as often is it? Yes I’m sure that you do these things sometimes but do you it as often as you do things for yourself? When Jesus was asked by the teachers of the law which commandment is the greatest, they were expecting to just get one. Jesus intentionally adds an addendum. Love your neighbor as yourself. Oof. Love others as much as I love me? Cant I just love them like half as much? Or maybe less? Fortunately there is no loop hole there. I am expected to love others as much as I love myself. Which can be quite a lot sometimes. But if you think about it as you GET to love others as much as you love yourself it changes things. You get to serve others and serve God’s family, a lot!! So go and love others!!

“The highest and best way to love others is to apply the SALT principle:

            See others as Jesus sees them.

            Accept others as Jesus accepts them.

            Love others as Jesus loves them.

            Touch others as Jesus touches them.”

-Ike Reighard

6/22/13:

TFTD: “…Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:28-30

Have you ever been in class and asked the teacher what do I HAVE to do? Isn’t that exactly what the teachers of the law are doing to Jesus? Which commandment is the one that is the most important and that I have to make sure I follow? If I slip up on some of the others rats and drat blast but I am going to be sure that I follow this one 100 percent. I can just imagine that being the first thought in their mind. I’m sure it would probably have been mine. But how does a mindset change when you hear, “do all these things with ALL of your”. You mean I have to give all of me? Not just the parts I want to give? I think that what we are to take away here in part is that if you are giving your everything to God, you can be excited about everything you are doing for Him because you are doing it in His name. Yes you are going to slip up and not be able to follow that 100 percent because you are sinful and so am I. But it is sure comforting to know that I am forgiven and can try again to give all I am and do everything in the name of Jesus.

“Realistically, we can be happier and more enthusiastic about everything we do, provided we are doing it for Jesus.”- Zig Ziglar

6/21/13:

TRTD: “…I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

Yesterday as I was looking for resources I came across a video series about Ed Dobson. He is a retired pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. About 11 or so years ago he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease which, for those of you who don’t know, is a degenerative disease and slowly takes away your health and freedoms. In his video he reminds us that no matter what our struggles are, whether you have something as destructive as Lou Gehrig’s, or as worrisome as bills to pay, there is Hope in all situations and we are not alone. He (Christ) has endured and overcome the trials and tribulations of this world. “…the Father is with me” I am not alone!

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope” Martin Luther King Jr.

6/20/13:

TFTD:”And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know this ministry and the apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:24-26

This week is VBS and there are a lot of young-ins running around hearing bible stories, playing games, singing songs, and having snacks of course. The theme is go tell it on the mountain. More specifically for those who are working/volunteering their time “tell it”. We are all proclaimers of the Gospel message of Christ, but how did we acquire this job or task. Well, it is very similar to Matthias’ story of how he became an apostle. Hopefully for you it started with baptism (if not maybe you should look into that). Then it comes down to you knowing and being around the Gospel message. Being with other believers and growing in your faith. In a way, “the lot fell on” you! Regardless of age or ability, you have been chosen to go and tell the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. What an honor that is!

“The Great Comission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed.”- Judson Taylor

6/19/13:

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respect them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as  it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:9-11

Discipline is a double edged sword. It is the consequences for when we make mistakes but it is also a way to grow our faith. Discipline as consequences is necessary to show us that we are not perfect. Like when you were little and mom, dad, grandma or grandpa had to sit you down and tell you, that’s not how we act. Discipline in a spiritual sense does a similar thing. It guides and grows our faith. No matter how much or little we partake, whether you are in the Word on a daily basis or just whenever,remember, you are still growing in your faith and in relationship with God. You will be amazed at what kind of attitude change it can give you! So get in and grow!

"You can alter your life by altering your attitude"- William James

6/18/13:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

How often do we doubt and get tossed around? It seems like every week, maybe every day there is some new stress that wants us to doubt and believe that we are alone. Maybe it causes us to want sympathy and a woe is me. James tells us that we are not alone! In prayer ask God not to take our problems or stresses away but to give us the strength to face them one day at a time!

"Sympathy is no substitute for action"- David Livingston