Split personality!

“I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.”

1 Corinthians 7:32-34 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/1co.7.32-34.nlt

I love these verses. For someone who spends a lot of time in ministry, I need to be reminded it is not my whole life. As I mentioned a week ago, I have a very busy life. Between school, after school work at home, taking care of a home, sending time with my wife, being a dad and "gramps" along with my CMA ministry, my life is packed. It can easily get out of balance. All of those things have a value and I honestly believe my work time is also ministry time. The one area that gets neglected the most is family. I need to constantly remember ministry is not an excuse to neglect your family. Work is not an excuse to neglect your family. We need to split ourselves and serve Jesus at all times, with family, work,or at play.

Dear Lord, I love you dearly. The things of this world and my OWN plans for serving you get in the way of real service for you. Please help me keep my life in balance. Even though I serve you wherever I go, I can't forget my family. They need to know your love through me. They need to see my example and dedication to family. I can only stay on your path of I follow you closely. Guide my hands and my feet with your love, grace, and mercy. Amen!

Don't miss a moment!

“Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.”

Proverbs 12:27 NLT (http://bible.com/116/pro.12.27.nlt)

I'm not a hunter. I am sure I would enjoy it, but I just never have taken the time to out it in my busy schedule. When I read this verse my ind instantly went to a presentation we had this week at school.  Our entire school corporation got to hear about "Rachel's Challenge". Rachel was the first person killed in the tragic Columbine school shooting. She has left a legacy to this world. She is impacting the lives of kids all over the world. She gave us 5 challenges through an essay she wrote before her death. They are:

Fight Prejudice

Dream Big

Choose positive influences in your life

Speak with kindness

Start your own chain reaction

I think these are challenges we all can take to heart. But, throughout the presentation I realized I need to take advantage of every moment of my life. I need to concentrate on these five challenges and one more big challenge. I need to bring people to the love of Jesus. All five of Rachel's challenges are great but the one thing missing is Jesus. My moments, no matter how fleeting they are, need to be spent doing good, but I have to go the next step. God's challenge is getting people to know about him and turn their lives over to him. Accept the challenges! Take advantage of your blessedlifeto lead others to the truth.

Lord, thank you for my wonderful life. I am humbled by how you are using Rachel's life for your purposes. Please continue to use my life also. Help me take every moment I breathe and make them yours. I love you and look forward to each of those moments. Amen!

A senseless horse or mule?

“The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.””

Psalms 32:8-9 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/psa.32.8-9.nlt

The older I get the more I can see the truth of this scripture. The Lord has guided me along the best pathway for my life. He has watched over me. He has advised me and my life is wonderful. But I have to admit I have acted much like a senseless horse or a mule through parts of my life. 

I am constantly amazed at the love and patience of my wonderful Lord. How he can stay with me while I ignore his advice, try to make my own path, and fight his direction, is beyond my understanding. Even through my own resistance he has given me a wonderful life and I can't imagine there could have been a better pathway. I always come back to the knowledge that God, the Creator of the universe, knows best. Like most people, I have to constantly remind myself that HE is in charge and he knows what is best for me. Why I keep fighting him is a mystery. 

Dear Lord, I love you and am completely humbled by your amazing love. I cherish your guidance. I am thrilled with the path you have set before me. Please, Lord, forgive me for my stubbornness. Forgive me that I have fought your perfect plan and tried to substitute my own. I ask you to continue to provide me with your wisdom and guidance. My life would be a disaster without it. I praise you and honor you with all that I am. Amen!

The thief!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV)

Why did Jesus come to live with us? This verse says it all: someone has been trying to steal our lives and baby Jesus was born to give us back our lives and to make sure we are able to live them to the full. It's not much simpler than that.

Our communities are filled with people that are victims of the thief. This thief has stolen their joy. He has stolen their life. Orphans, the homeless, widows, the lost are all victims of the thief. But they are not the only victims. I see people every day that trudge through their day oblivious to the joy of the Lord. I see people that can't find the blessings sitting right before them. I know people who say they love their lives but demonstrate extreme negativity and demonstrate real hate for those around them. It's so sad to see people who can't look at life through the blessings of God. Even worse is many of these same people claim to be children of God. How can you live a life of dispair and claim Jesus as your savior?

There is an enemy out there trying to take your life. Christmas is the time to defeat this enemy. When we look at the joy of Jesus coming into our lives to save us, you have to feel victorious. One of the best ways to defeat the enemy is by sharing the joy of Christmas. It's this time of year that we see more people helping others in need. It doesn't take a lot of money to share the gospel message and this time of year more people are open to that message than any other time of the year. The fullness of life begins at Christmas, in a manger, in the little town of Bethlehem, with shepherds and Angels. Take this wonderful time of the year and commit yourself to the babe. Ćommit yourself to sharing this wonderful message of hope, peace, and love. You will be amazed how it defeats the enemy. You will be surprised how sharing the love of Jesus gives you your life back.

Merry Christmas and enjoy th fullness of life that starts with the birth of Jesus!

I learn from the best and the worst!

“Now here’s a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right —using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.” (Luke 16:8-9 MSG)

You can learn from anyone! I have had some great mentors in my life. There have been people I have modeled my life after because of their great wisdom. I have learned life is about relationships from my father. I have leaned about service and true Christianity from some great leaders in my past, Ted and Lynn Blosser, Jim Rousseau, and famous people like Chuck Swondol and Billy Graham. My mother and my grandparents are other great role models. But, I have also learned how to live from some terrible people. I know you can think of some people you know that are terrible leaders. You know those christians that just don't live the life they promote. We can sure learn a lot how NOT to do things and how NOT to treat people. This is the case for this story. The crooked manager was a true example how not to live your life. Using people, manipulating situations to make yourself look good is a lifestyle we should all avoid.

We need to be life long learners of Christ. We need to constantly search for a better way. We can find that through studying the bible, worshipping with our Christian brothers and sisters, or living life observing others, both good and bad. Regardless, we always need to have our hearts and minds ready to learn. Praise God he provides me with lessons to move me closer to the life he wants me to lead. Lord, continue to mold me, shape me, use me for your wonderful purpose, not my own.

Until then!

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (Philippians 1:23-24 NIV)

I overheard someone making a comment about their struggles in life being "better than the alternative", meaning that a life of misery is preferred over death. I have to disagree!

I certainly love my life. Being with my family is a gift I never get enough of. The idea of separation from the ones I love makes me think twice about leaving to live in eternity. Yet, the promise of glory, for eternity, with Jesus is a powerful alternative to the struggles of this life. To think of no more stress, pain, crying, sin, death, and destruction, is a great promise that draws me. I am also greatly comforted knowing my family will join me there. Each of my family members have chosen to follow Jesus. Leaving here will not be a goodbye. So, we can all look forward to Heaven with our loved ones and the King of all kings. It is glorious to picture my entire family sitting around the feet of Jesus.

Praise God for the home he builds in eternity! I look forward to that day. Until then I will continue to serve him, love life and praise his name right here where I am! 

Simplify

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31 NIV)

Do you remember when life was simple? I really remember lying on my back in our yard on county line road in Greenwood, Indiana, as an early elementary age kid, watching the clouds go by, washing my bike, killing bees and feeding them to the ants, building forts, playing outside until it got dark, walking to the corner store to get bubble gum cigars and candy cigarettes, using a baseball bat as a machine gun, playing war with my buddies, vacationing with my grandparents, spending summers with my cousins on the lake, countless baseball and football games, and nothing more important than spending time with family and friends. I'm sure my parents had worries about feeding six kids, bills, jobs, stress, but I was oblivious to it. 

That was the simple life. 

Now I'm not sure even the kids of our modern society get to enjoy the simple life. We have complicated life to the extent there's no joy. Sometimes I think we have complicated our faith in such a way it also steals the joy. That includes how we have complicated the Bible and it's message. This verse sums it up. The Bible is written that we may know Jesus is the son of God and if we believe, we will have eternal life. It's really as simple as that. Sure the Bible is also full of great resources for living today. But, it all points to this simple statement of the truth.

Dear Lord, please help us simplify life to the point it is all about you. It's not about money, schedules, jobs, bills, or THINGS. We are three days away from vacation. May it be a time to refocus on the simplicity of life. May it be a time of refreshing and resting in the knowledge that you are God and there is no other. Amen!

The consequences of my life!

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16 NIV)

Practice what you preach. That is the message of this verse from Timothy. People are greatly affected by what you do. Your "hearers" can be saved just by watching you. Just think about who your hearers are. Your wife/husband, kids, grandkids, friends, coworkers, anybody you come in contact may be lost or saved by your own life. That is a powerful thought. Your life and the way you live out your Christian witness affects more than just your own life and we all need to take that seriously. 

Living a life as a Christian hypocrit could discourage someone from ever coming to accept Christ. Living a life of immoral choices affects the choices of others and their own salvation. Live like you know that. I need to live like I understand the gravity of my own life. If the beliefs you live by don't match the beliefs you confess, you need to do some serious re-evaluation.

Dear Lord, help me be clear about what I believe. Help me to align those beliefs with you and the life you want me to lead. I know I am not the person I want tobe, but know you love me and will help me through this life of growth. You are amazing and I love you! Amen!

If you could have planned your life, would you be better off right now?

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV)

Here's a thought: If you could have planned your life, would you be better off right now?

My answer is NO WAY! I might be one of the few that would say that. I have been with Christ for most of my life, 40 years to be exact. I have had a roller coaster faith journey, yet God has led me to this great place in my life. I wouldn't change a thing and I certainly would have messed this up if I were in charge. Yes, you heard it right, I wouldn't change a thing. From that you would think I've led an ideal life. I have not. I have gotten off the path God has set for me. Every time he has brought me back to his journey and I'm always better off. 

God's plans are perfect for us. That doesn't mean trouble free. I can testify, growth comes from trials. The Bible will back me on that. There you will see countless examples of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary hardships. When they emerge, they are better off than before. A whole nation can testify to that. The apostles will testify, Peter will testify, Paul will testify, and the list goes on and on. All of these and more know that trials led to triumph.

We can not fathom the things God has planned for us. We can not conceive where our lives will lead if we rely on him. We don't have the wisdom or the power to build a better life. Why try?

Praise God he loves me enough to build a special life just for me. I'm humbled by your presence in my life, the greatest of sinners! Thank you  Lord for blessing me and taking away my sins to make my life an amazing blessing! Amen!

Be all you can be!

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

Do you remember the Army AD campaign to "be all that you can be"? The whole idea is that you can't reach your potential unless you join the army. Even though it was a little presumptuous, it was a great campaign slogan. 

God could have used the same slogan, but it would be true. You really can't reach your true potential with out Christ. I know some great people who are not Christians. They exhibit great skill at their jobs, or in other areas of their lives. Yet, they still haven't reached where they could. 

All of us could make improvements in our lives. The greatest improvements occur when you accept Christ as your savior. Your life changes to focus on others. Your life is less about what you can get versus what you give. It's ok that you will never reach perfection. We all need to direct our lives to get better. If you don't accept Christ you are missing out on a better life, a life filled with blessings that make life amazing. 

PEACE AND LIFE!

Romans 8

 ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Have you ever met anyone "Hostile" to God. If you spend all your Christian life in Church you probably haven't. But trust me, there are people hostile to God. They hate the Church, they hate the "institution" and they hate anyone who is associated with it.  They view Christ as the enemy to fun and living a full life. They don't know what they're missing. These same people also have a tendency being hostile toward anyone who disagrees with them. They hate their bosses. They hate their families. They hate their life. 

I know what the Bible says about life with Christ. "The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." If you've read this blog you know that my life is not always full of peace. But, I can tell you that I AM at Peace even through the tough times. I am completely amazed that I can remain at peace even when I feel the stress and pressure all around me. That has not always been true. But, the more I grow toward Christ, the more I grow in Peace. I may be asked to make some serious decisions over the next several months and yet I AM AT PEACE. I have been through so many troubling times, and survived. I am at complete peace. I do not feel hostile toward my enemies or those that are against me. I am at peace about who they are and what they are doing. I am at Peace because I am focusing on the Spirit. I can't imagine going through life feeling hostility toward other people and certainly can't imagine feeling hostility toward my creator. I am looking forward to eternal life with my God. I do not fear death because in Christ I will not see death. Peace and Life. Peace AND Life! PEACE AND LIFE!

With God we can achieve more.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (The Message)

"Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!"

Monday officially start the athletic season for my high school teams.  Everyone gets a fresh start and there is always a great optimism and excitement. All the plans have been made and finally we get to start implementing that plan. Will we reach our full potential?

Every August after a month or more of rest and vacation, I share the same enthusiasm as the kids.  I have renewed my spirit and am ready for a great school year.  What would happen if I approached every day the same way?  After getting a good night sleep, (I have to confess this does not always happen), I should feel renewed and ready to achieve the potential God expects of me. Sadly, I do not always reach that potential. Who's to blame?  Certainly not God. It usually is my own doing.  I don't get the rest I should,  I don't renew my body, I don't renew my mind, and my attitude suffers. I usually live smaller than I am. In order to "Live Openly and Expansively", I need to take care of myself physically, mentally, and more importantly spiritually. God wants so much more for me and my sinfullness makes me so much less.

Lord, help me to reach the riches and the blessings you have in store for me each day.  May your spirit prompt me to prepare myself by reading your word, sharing time with you and taking care of myself. Please renew my spirit each night so I can be a servant for you in everything I do. Thank you Lord for the limitless possibilities if I remain in you and follow your plan.  Amen!