11/19/13:

TFTD: “…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” -1 Peter 3:15-16

The summer before I got married I had a job building grain bins. The first day on the job it was somewhere close to 105 degrees outside and 125 inside the bin. It was brutal! Along with the heat and heavy lifting, the crew that did the work was pretty rough, tough, and worldly. They were your average Joe working class citizens and I was warned by my foreman that most of them didn't go to church or believe in God. Peter, in his letter, tells us to be ever ready to give a defense of the hope that we have and do it with all gentleness and respect because you never know when you will be confronted about your faith. Which brings me to one conversation I will never forget. His name was Johnny, and he was a guy who had a little church background, who had read the bible cover to cover, and who had a negative experience in the church that caused him to doubt its relevance. One day as we were putting on a dryer fan he caught me off guard and asked me this question: “I know that you are a church guy, but how the hell do you believe all of that crap (but he didn't say crap).” We talked for a bit and I told him my reasons and beliefs, and we continued on with our day.

See Johnny had the idea that there were a bunch of things that he HAD to do for the church in order to receive any forgiveness and grace. He thought that by giving his offering and doing his time in the pew that God would give him everything he asked for. He missed Jesus. God doesn't require us to give an offering so that our loved ones can be healed, or require an attendance record so that we can be prosperous and get everything that we have ever wanted. What God requires of us is a repentant heart. Us knowing that we are no good, dirty rotten, filthy sinners who don’t deserve heaven, but because of the perfect ransom that was paid on our behalf none of that crap matters. Because of what Christ did on the cross we are forgiven and viewed as perfect and sinless children of God. Because of the Holy Spirit we see the importance in offerings and how our good works are really fruits of His labor. I don’t know if Johnny ever understood that, but I sure hope that he knows he is loved by a gracious God.

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

11/18/13:

TFTD: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” –Romans 12:12

There is so much that could be said about trials and tribulations. So much complaining that could be done, and so much destruction that could be done as well. But there is also a lot of positive things that can come from trials and tribulations. When is the easiest time to ask for God’s help? When we are at our worst. Often times we hear about people realizing God’s greatness when they are at their rock bottom because they have lost all hope and they go to God not knowing if He is real, if He cares, or if He will even listen. They grasp on to another small sliver of hope that there is a God and that He is powerful enough to save us and get us through whatever may be. The author of Romans says it very simply, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Regardless of what we are going through we can make the choice to find the positives in people or situations and know that there is something better on its way. We are on this place called earth temporarily, and there is a new home coming and Jesus is our king who is mightier than we could ever imagine. Yet He was still willing to come to earth and pay an eternal price so that we don’t have to suffer for all of eternity… Because He Love Us! That’s my King, and that is why I can rejoice and look for positives among all the negatives in this world.

“Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty.” –Thomas S. Monson

11/14/13:

TFTD: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” –Mark 8:38

First of all I just want to say that if you haven’t read the book of Mark you definitely should. Of course that “should” applies to the entire bible (which I have not read all of either). But the book of Mark is written in a style that I think most of us would understand the best. It is short and to the point. Chapter 8 is the perfect example of this because there are a couple of stories that show up in other Gospels, but are short and sweet in Mark. Anyway, on to my idea for the morning: shame. If you ask my wife, for those of you who know her, she would probably tell you that I don’t have much shame. There aren’t too many things I wouldn’t do because I would be too embarrassed or afraid of what others might think of me if I did (which helps when you are doing youth ministry). But I always find myself struggling, when talking to someone new or someone that I don’t know, to ask them about their beliefs or stance on certain issues. It’s weird right. I am in school to do this for a living and it is the biggest struggle that I have. It’s not that I am ashamed of my beliefs or my God… or is it?

            It is so easy for us in today’s society to want the approval of others that we forget that we already have all the approval we need. If someone were to be standing in front of you and ask you about your beliefs, how much easier would it be to disregard our Father in heaven rather than the person who is standing across from you because God doesn't appear to be with us or physically present. But what is the promise that Jesus makes the disciples and ultimately makes to us? I will be with you always, to the end of the age. That is the promise. There is nothing greater than knowing that He is always with us, that we have already received His approval, and there was and is nothing we can do to deserve it. Nothing! I encourage you to live the Romans 1:16 version of the Gospel: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” I am unashamed!

“If we wait until we know everything before we start sharing, we will never share because no one knows all the mysteries of God.” –Zig Ziglar

11/13/13:

TFTD: “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

–Exodus 3:11-12

As we near the holiday season and we are in the hustle and bustle of life we forget about things. That may be as little as what we had for breakfast, or maybe as big as forgetting a child at the store or at home. A few years ago my family decided that for thanksgiving, instead of having a huge meal and family get together they were going to spend time serving at our local salvation army. Unfortunately this was to no avail because, amazingly, thanksgiving is one of the only days that we don’t forget that others are in need and regardless of how overwhelmed and run down we feel, we choose to take time out of our busy and scheduled lives to give back. But every other day of the year, for a lot of us, we forget that those people who got helped thanksgiving day need help every other day of the year until they can get back on their own two feet and it’s part of our calling to be servants to all. But what if we are too scared or anxious about going and helping when there aren’t a million other people helping.

            It makes me wonder if these aren’t the feelings that Moses had that day by the burning bush. He was in the hustle and bustle of life and had pushed away the idea or notion of ever wanting to go back to Egypt and God Himself brings it back to his attention. Moses brings up the point that he is a nobody now and he is really unqualified to go and bring his people out of Egypt. Here’s the kicker. God makes it very blatant to Moses that He will be with him. He does the same thing for us today. When we find ourselves in a service opportunity or too anxious to do something, God reminds us that He is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us, and will give us the tools and confidence to complete it. I am very grateful for that.

“Other people and things can stop you temporarily. You are the only one who can do it permanently.” –Zig Ziglar

11/5/13:

TFTD: “I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14

I read a post on Facebook the other day and it was Glatitude. Glatitude is a made up, smashed together word but it holds a lot of weight right now. It’s this idea of having an attitude of gladness regardless of our circumstances, and I really think that this is what John is getting at in the passage for today, and my experience last night was a testament to this idea. I lead a college aged bible study twice a month, and last night we met like usual. We started going over the book of Philippians (which we should read every November because it is awesome!).

Now usually I am discouraged by numbers, because with less people less discussion etc. etc. But last night, with 5 people, we had a wonderful discussion about Paul’s conversion and being glad in all circumstances. The reason that we can be glad in all circumstances is this: “children… you know the Father.” We know and have an intimate relationship with God. He is there with us and guiding our lives, and all we have to do is have faith. It really is a blessing to know the Father, and have the freedom to discuss His word to us anywhere and anytime.

“Read your Bible. It’s easy to understand if you’ll ask the Author to guide you in it. And He is always available.” –Zig Ziglar

11/4/13:

TFTD: “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:5-6

If I were to tell you that I had the key to a happy and content life you would probably want me to tell you what it was right? I could sell it as a get rich quick scheme, or write a self-help book to draw all sorts of attention to the fact that I held the key to a happy and content life. I would probably have to make a video and all sorts of resources because I’d want as many people to know it and everyone would get it differently. I could label it “The life you could only imagine!” or something along those lines, and then tell people that the secret could be theirs for only 3 easy payments of $99.95 right? Well what if I told you that I DO have the key to a happy and content life, and you can to. The key is faith in Jesus Christ.

We all hold the key to a happy and content life it’s just a matter of what we do with it and how we address it to others who don’t have the key yet. So what do you do for a living? Are you a teacher? Business man? Coach? Manager? How often do you come in contact with others who are unbelievers? Probably every day right? We are given ample opportunity to share the key to life every day, but when we are talking to unbelievers it’s tough. That is why Paul writes in Colossians that we need to let our “speech always be gracious” and “seasoned with salt”. We need to approach those who don’t know Christ in a way that isn’t forceful or abrasive but rather in a kind and gentle way knowing that all we have to do is plant a seed that the Holy Spirit can grow. So get out there, and share that free gift of happiness and contentment!

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” –Frederick Douglass