If you're like me you've seen a lot in the news these past several weeks about shootings, acts of terrorism, call for more conceal gun carry permits, call for more gun laws, and the list can continue and continue. It's enough to make your head spin! How can we as the body of Christ be the salt and light of the world in times that seem more chaotic than ever? How can we seek to reconcile the world back to Jesus when the world seems more divided than ever? Well, I will tell you it is not easy, but God does call us to pray for and share the good news with Muslims all over the world. Here are some things to remember.
1) God never promises us to be safe.
Safety is very overrated in the eyes and mind of Jesus. Now, granted harm is never wished on anyone, but our priority on safety above all else is not very high on Jesus' radar. In fact Jesus' promised that the world hates you (John 15:18) and (1 John 3:13). All who live Godly for Jesus Christs will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), and all those who live for Jesus Christ will suffer trials and persecution. (1 Peter 4:12)
Those are some grim verses, and I will say that making sure your family is safe is very important. However, it cannot be the most important thing. One thing all these verses had in common was that all of them included a blessing for the oppressed, persecuted, and afflicted person because they were suffering on Jesus behalf. Throughout Christian history the church has flourished when brave Christians sought to pursue peace, spreading the gospel, loving the lost, and living bold, unashamed lives for the Kingdom. This Advent season dare to do something risky, send a card to a long lost friend, look to repair a seriously broken relationship, buy coffee for a mother who looks down on her luck, volunteer at your church, and the list can go on and on. Safety is important, but not the most important thing.
2) Balance the Bad with the Good.
Bad stories of people doing bad things sell newspapers, drive view counts on websites up, and make news outlets money. Seek to promote in your neighborhood, school, or community people doing good things. Good stories don't often empty news stands, but they uplift and encourage troubled hearts. Islam is a very deep, multi-faceted religion and is getting some very bad press. It does have good people who follow Allah. Look to highlight and promote that wherever you are. Look to pursue understanding, strike up conversations, and possibly even build friendships with Muslims and many different kinds of people that are different than you.
3) Look to have your heart changed by the Holy Spirit.
Don't ignore your feelings. If you're feeling strongly negative about Muslim people or any other major issue that is relevant in our society today. Do some soul searching about those feelings. Because more times than not our feelings our indicators of the condition of our spiritual lives. Pray regularly and pray big. Look for people who will be honest to encourage you and help build you up in the faith. And finally begin listening to Christian music or even wholesome music, because a lot of our personality and spirituality is shaped by our music. Don't ever stop trying and don't ever stop pursing Jesus Christ who will lead you in one of the most worthwhile, fulfilling journeys of your life!
Monday, December 7, 2015
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
on Proverbs 9
For many of us this time of year we come into many situations where we feel our faith is being attacked. Whether it be through the ACLU demanding a Nativity scene be taken down from a town square, a store demanding their employees to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, or even a major coffee chain not putting any holiday symbols on their coffee cups, I will say in these situations we often feel that our faith is being unjustly attacked. As we've plowed through Proverbs, one of my goals is for you to see the big picture in what God is doing in our world today. Our hope is that as life continues to unfold in this ever crazy world that we as the body of Christ would learn how to respond with love and kindness no matter what:) Here's what Proverbs 9 has to say.
Proverbs 9:4. . . "Let all who are simple come in here," Wisdom says to those who lack judgement.
Good sound judgment is something that can be taught. Let me repeat this, you can learn how to make good, Godly decisions with every area of your life. Often times people need to learn and experience the pain of making poor decisions, but in many cases good decision making skills comes from listening to wisdom, diving into the word of God, having a teachable spirit, and learning to think before speaking or making decisions.
I want you to know that you are being invited according to this verse to come into the house of wisdom. It is not an elusive thing. This holiday season, I want us to reflect and live with a spirit of thankfulness and wisdom, but in so doing I want us to examine feelings that we may have toward the church, God, and life in general. Some of these feelings may be great and others not so great. I want all of us to ask, "Why am I feeling this way?"
Proverbs 9:10. . . "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
This verse if your looking for a life verse could very well be that. I would encourage you not to be afraid of God, but rather have the word of God, the commands of God, and your relationship with God influence and affect every area of your life and decision making. You will never be the same:)
Proverbs 9:17. . . "Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious."
One of the biggest red flags for any behavior is if you have to hide it from others. Behavior that is only done in secret is often very, very wrong. Be mindful of that. Seek to hold yourself and your loved ones to a higher standards as we all vigorously pursue the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Do you see any examples of good sound wisdom in our society or any examples of poor judgement today? Let me know what you think:)
Proverbs 9:4. . . "Let all who are simple come in here," Wisdom says to those who lack judgement.
Good sound judgment is something that can be taught. Let me repeat this, you can learn how to make good, Godly decisions with every area of your life. Often times people need to learn and experience the pain of making poor decisions, but in many cases good decision making skills comes from listening to wisdom, diving into the word of God, having a teachable spirit, and learning to think before speaking or making decisions.
I want you to know that you are being invited according to this verse to come into the house of wisdom. It is not an elusive thing. This holiday season, I want us to reflect and live with a spirit of thankfulness and wisdom, but in so doing I want us to examine feelings that we may have toward the church, God, and life in general. Some of these feelings may be great and others not so great. I want all of us to ask, "Why am I feeling this way?"
Proverbs 9:10. . . "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
This verse if your looking for a life verse could very well be that. I would encourage you not to be afraid of God, but rather have the word of God, the commands of God, and your relationship with God influence and affect every area of your life and decision making. You will never be the same:)
Proverbs 9:17. . . "Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious."
One of the biggest red flags for any behavior is if you have to hide it from others. Behavior that is only done in secret is often very, very wrong. Be mindful of that. Seek to hold yourself and your loved ones to a higher standards as we all vigorously pursue the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Do you see any examples of good sound wisdom in our society or any examples of poor judgement today? Let me know what you think:)
Thursday, November 12, 2015
on Proverbs 8
God continues to guide and lead us. Life as we know it isn't a short jog, or even a medium sized race. Life is a marathon, and if you're like me sometimes you can get very tired from running. But, the good news of the Gospel is that we worship a Savior who will scoop us up in His arms and run for us in those moments. Let's look at Proverbs 8!
Proverbs 8:7. . . "My mouth speaks what is true. My lips detest wickedness."
I will say if you as a follower of Jesus can live this verse out and let it become the central part of your life. They you will be very near to reaching Christian perfection. Lying is one of the most damaging sins not always the most egregious, but it often has a role in many other sinful actions. Learn to find ways and people that will hold you to a higher standard and push you to be honest in school, on your taxes, at your job, in your home, and the list can go on and on.
Secondly, know your Bible. I think our country is mixed up and bankrupt morally, for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is because people have lost a lot of Biblical knowledge. Know what God's word says about big things such as politics, money, the poor, and even smaller issues which often seem big such as Starbucks' Christmas cups. Your lips will detest wickedness when this occurs in your life.
Proverbs 8:13. . . "To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
This verse really hits home to me. Because, I struggle with this a lot. I'm not a very humble person, but I know in good's word we're told the first shall be last, the meek shall inherit the earth, and God gives grace to the humble. How does one avoid prideful decisions and pursue humility? Well, unfortunately there aren't classes or a magic formula that allows one to become more humble but here are a few things to consider.
1) Thank people for what they do for you. (Thank your barista, barber, parents, etc. This will take the attention off of you and put it on someone else).
2) Pray each day for God to use you for His glory. (Many of our prayers can be self centered, but this is a prayer God will say yes to).
3) Volunteer or do something without being asked. Many folks say well, "I'd love to help but nobody asked me." That often times is true, but. . . what a huge difference you could make if you volunteered!!! Ask your parents what you can do around the house. Ask your pastor where you can volunteer in church. Ask your coach or boss if you can pick up any slack. I'm sure there are plenty of things that need done, and they'll be happy to help after they get up from having fainted because this has never happened before.
Live intentionally for the Kingdom. Don't just coast or assume things and opportunities will come to you. Pursue them joyfully and be amazed as your heart overflows with joy.
Proverbs 8:7. . . "My mouth speaks what is true. My lips detest wickedness."
I will say if you as a follower of Jesus can live this verse out and let it become the central part of your life. They you will be very near to reaching Christian perfection. Lying is one of the most damaging sins not always the most egregious, but it often has a role in many other sinful actions. Learn to find ways and people that will hold you to a higher standard and push you to be honest in school, on your taxes, at your job, in your home, and the list can go on and on.
Secondly, know your Bible. I think our country is mixed up and bankrupt morally, for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is because people have lost a lot of Biblical knowledge. Know what God's word says about big things such as politics, money, the poor, and even smaller issues which often seem big such as Starbucks' Christmas cups. Your lips will detest wickedness when this occurs in your life.
Proverbs 8:13. . . "To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
This verse really hits home to me. Because, I struggle with this a lot. I'm not a very humble person, but I know in good's word we're told the first shall be last, the meek shall inherit the earth, and God gives grace to the humble. How does one avoid prideful decisions and pursue humility? Well, unfortunately there aren't classes or a magic formula that allows one to become more humble but here are a few things to consider.
1) Thank people for what they do for you. (Thank your barista, barber, parents, etc. This will take the attention off of you and put it on someone else).
2) Pray each day for God to use you for His glory. (Many of our prayers can be self centered, but this is a prayer God will say yes to).
3) Volunteer or do something without being asked. Many folks say well, "I'd love to help but nobody asked me." That often times is true, but. . . what a huge difference you could make if you volunteered!!! Ask your parents what you can do around the house. Ask your pastor where you can volunteer in church. Ask your coach or boss if you can pick up any slack. I'm sure there are plenty of things that need done, and they'll be happy to help after they get up from having fainted because this has never happened before.
Live intentionally for the Kingdom. Don't just coast or assume things and opportunities will come to you. Pursue them joyfully and be amazed as your heart overflows with joy.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
on Proverbs 7
God's word is still relevant. One of my goals in this entire journey with you is to allow you to see how vital and active God's word is for today. Proverbs 7 is written with some amazing metaphorical images as well as with some great advice to people of all ages to live by and for their lives to be filled with great meaning and hope. Let's dive in!
1) Proverbs 7:7. . . I saw among the simple. . . a youth who had no sense. This series of verses uses the "adulterous woman" as the antagonist/villain in this chapter. One thing needs to be clear in all of this, the adulterous woman refers to more than just an adulterer, this woman can refer to someone who causes you to look at inappropriate things, go to sinful places, and do sinful activities that don't have to be sexual in nature.
The good news is the adulterous woman doesn't have to have the final word. They won't always win, but they are dangerous, very dangerous. So, know where and what tempts you. Know where you're vulnerable. Protect your Achilles' heel and seek out people in your life that will understand what you're going through. Finally, pray, pray, pray, pray, and when you're finished pray some more. Know that prayer does work, changes you, and changes the heart of God.
2) Proverbs 7:25. . . Do not let your hearts stray into her path. The heart is the key. It is the lifeblood of our lives and it also is the spiritual thermometer of our souls. Wickedness and evil deeds are always an indicator of a corrupt and evil heart. Guard your heart. Fill your heart with goodness. Speak truth at all times. Above all seek the face of Jesus with all your heart and see the face of Jesus in everyone you come across. I'll be the first to tell you life is hard, complicated, and messy but works of wisdom such as Proverbs help us navigate some seriously murky waters.
1) Proverbs 7:7. . . I saw among the simple. . . a youth who had no sense. This series of verses uses the "adulterous woman" as the antagonist/villain in this chapter. One thing needs to be clear in all of this, the adulterous woman refers to more than just an adulterer, this woman can refer to someone who causes you to look at inappropriate things, go to sinful places, and do sinful activities that don't have to be sexual in nature.
The good news is the adulterous woman doesn't have to have the final word. They won't always win, but they are dangerous, very dangerous. So, know where and what tempts you. Know where you're vulnerable. Protect your Achilles' heel and seek out people in your life that will understand what you're going through. Finally, pray, pray, pray, pray, and when you're finished pray some more. Know that prayer does work, changes you, and changes the heart of God.
2) Proverbs 7:25. . . Do not let your hearts stray into her path. The heart is the key. It is the lifeblood of our lives and it also is the spiritual thermometer of our souls. Wickedness and evil deeds are always an indicator of a corrupt and evil heart. Guard your heart. Fill your heart with goodness. Speak truth at all times. Above all seek the face of Jesus with all your heart and see the face of Jesus in everyone you come across. I'll be the first to tell you life is hard, complicated, and messy but works of wisdom such as Proverbs help us navigate some seriously murky waters.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
on Proverbs 6
Proverbs is an amazingly challenging book. It causes us to really think about pertinent issues by giving the reader the encouragement and tools to pursue a life of walking in wisdom. In this day and age when information comes and changes at incredibly fast paces we need something consistent in our lives and Proverbs provides us with one overarching theme that all followers of Jesus need to live into: seek wisdom and you will end making decisions that will lead you closer to God and experiencing his blessings. Let's dive into Proverbs 6!!!
6:6: Go to the ant you sluggard. . . this short reminder is telling us to be ants!? What is the writer thinking?? Well, what we can see is that this verse is written in a commanding tone. The writer doesn't say please go, go when you have the time, the writer simply says, "Go!" The writer is urging the reader or in the original case the listener to learn from the ant to prepare for the future.
He uses the example of an ant storing its food during the summer, so when harvest comes he has enough to eat. The command and tone of this series of verses is simple: work hard, prepare, learn, and regardless do something with your life and your time on this earth.
6:16-19: There are six things the Lord hates, seven things that are detestable. . . The writer than goes on to list those things and spell very clearly what God truly hates. I do want to point out that in that list most of the things that the Lord hates are deemed somewhat small and near the bottom in our fictional conception of the "sin ladder." The only one, hands that shed innocent blood, would be near the top and probably be labeled as a "bad sin." Most of the sins we would see as minor such as haughty eyes or a lying tongue.
I don't want you to miss the principle or the idea here. The main idea is that all sin destroys our relationship with God, eliminates closeness with Jesus, and will effect us whether or not we choose to admit it or not. This year make it a priority to pray as a family, attend worship, serve together, forgive each other, and encourage each other.
6:27: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without being burned?
The answer is no. When you as a person stray to close to sin you will get hurt and others around you will get hurt. Because we as humans do not live in a vacuum we live with each other and our decisions affect others. Understand what tempts you, your weaknesses, and be honest with friends and family of how through their help and the power of the Holy Spirit you can overcome them.
Question (Feel free to reply below or on Facebook) What role does the Holy Spirit play in our Christian walk as we pursue wisdom?
6:6: Go to the ant you sluggard. . . this short reminder is telling us to be ants!? What is the writer thinking?? Well, what we can see is that this verse is written in a commanding tone. The writer doesn't say please go, go when you have the time, the writer simply says, "Go!" The writer is urging the reader or in the original case the listener to learn from the ant to prepare for the future.
He uses the example of an ant storing its food during the summer, so when harvest comes he has enough to eat. The command and tone of this series of verses is simple: work hard, prepare, learn, and regardless do something with your life and your time on this earth.
6:16-19: There are six things the Lord hates, seven things that are detestable. . . The writer than goes on to list those things and spell very clearly what God truly hates. I do want to point out that in that list most of the things that the Lord hates are deemed somewhat small and near the bottom in our fictional conception of the "sin ladder." The only one, hands that shed innocent blood, would be near the top and probably be labeled as a "bad sin." Most of the sins we would see as minor such as haughty eyes or a lying tongue.
I don't want you to miss the principle or the idea here. The main idea is that all sin destroys our relationship with God, eliminates closeness with Jesus, and will effect us whether or not we choose to admit it or not. This year make it a priority to pray as a family, attend worship, serve together, forgive each other, and encourage each other.
6:27: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without being burned?
The answer is no. When you as a person stray to close to sin you will get hurt and others around you will get hurt. Because we as humans do not live in a vacuum we live with each other and our decisions affect others. Understand what tempts you, your weaknesses, and be honest with friends and family of how through their help and the power of the Holy Spirit you can overcome them.
Question (Feel free to reply below or on Facebook) What role does the Holy Spirit play in our Christian walk as we pursue wisdom?
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
on Proverbs 5
We have been so blessed to see God's goodness and wisdom pour out through Solomon in these short but powerful Proverbs. Always remember that following God and doing what he says produces relationships that are blessed, situations and experiences filled with joy, and a life that has few if any regrets.
Proverbs 5 starts out with a dire warning: beware of adultery. This is especially true today when sexuality is more confused and twisted than ever before. Proverbs 5 is a grave reminder that our sexuality is a gift but if used in the wrong way it has grave consequences. My challenge to you is to make a commitment to pray every day for God to be Lord over every area of your life including your sexuality and that is far more reaching than many people think.
Proverbs 5:2, "That you maintain discretion and your lips preserve knowledge. . ." Discretion is absolutely huge! In a society where we live to get the excess, indulge in any pleasure, and have little to no self control learning discretion in all areas of life is crucial. I'll be the first to tell you: discretion is hard but not impossible. Know where you are weak. Have the humility to allow others to tell help you and hold you accountable. This is a process not an event, be patient as you learn discretion and you will find wisdom.
Proverbs 5:11-12, "When your flesh and body are spent you will say, 'How I hate discipline. . ."
Proverbs is a hauntingly beautiful book, because Solomon one of the most wise men in the world indulged in pleasure after pleasure often despising discipline. He should have learned and seen the pain that David endured with Bathsheba but he didn't learn. Solomon was blessed by God with great wisdom and an amazing opportunity to build the temple, but I can't help but think these two verses apply to his life better than most any other verses in the Bible.
My prayer is that you fall in love with the word of God again each and every day.
Proverbs 5 starts out with a dire warning: beware of adultery. This is especially true today when sexuality is more confused and twisted than ever before. Proverbs 5 is a grave reminder that our sexuality is a gift but if used in the wrong way it has grave consequences. My challenge to you is to make a commitment to pray every day for God to be Lord over every area of your life including your sexuality and that is far more reaching than many people think.
Proverbs 5:2, "That you maintain discretion and your lips preserve knowledge. . ." Discretion is absolutely huge! In a society where we live to get the excess, indulge in any pleasure, and have little to no self control learning discretion in all areas of life is crucial. I'll be the first to tell you: discretion is hard but not impossible. Know where you are weak. Have the humility to allow others to tell help you and hold you accountable. This is a process not an event, be patient as you learn discretion and you will find wisdom.
Proverbs 5:11-12, "When your flesh and body are spent you will say, 'How I hate discipline. . ."
Proverbs is a hauntingly beautiful book, because Solomon one of the most wise men in the world indulged in pleasure after pleasure often despising discipline. He should have learned and seen the pain that David endured with Bathsheba but he didn't learn. Solomon was blessed by God with great wisdom and an amazing opportunity to build the temple, but I can't help but think these two verses apply to his life better than most any other verses in the Bible.
My prayer is that you fall in love with the word of God again each and every day.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
on Proverbs 4
The word of God is very relevant to our society and our current culture. Proverbs' overarching message: pursue wisdom, understanding, and discernment speaks volumes in a time when it seems that we all hear is noise. Our desire in this journey is that you would take the words of Proverbs to heart and learn to seek wisdom, ask questions, listen before you speak, and follow Jesus passionately.
Proverbs 4 brings out an incredible habit that all young people should follow: listen to your parents.
Vs. 4:1- Begins the chapter listen to your father's instruction. Now, I will say that a mother's instruction is just as valuable and sometimes even more so than a father's. But, what I'm getting at is we need to be teachable people. No one has fully arrived in terms of having a perfect character, ability, or spiritual life and trust me this list can go on and on. Have the humility to be teachable, admit a mistake, and learn from others it will go a long way in building a satisfying, spiritual life.
4:5- "Do not forget my words or swerve from them. . ." If you've ever read the book Pilgrim's Progress it is a great allegory of our spiritual lives as followers of Jesus. Christian is on a journey to the Celestial City, and on his journey he is tempted by many different people and events that try to swerve him off his journey and goal. Our life is the exact same way. We are all tempted by various events, people, and things and we begin to lose sight of wisdom and understanding when we allow these temptations to cause to swerve. Recognize what tempts you and begin to pray powerfully that the Holy Spirit would equip you with the courage to resist the temptation.
4:24- "Put away perversity from your mouth. . ." Wow! What a nugget of wisdom. Proverbs has many abstract ideas and metaphors, but the book has very concrete things to do. This is very concrete as the verse finishes by saying keep corrupt talk from your lips. Words are powerful. They can heal, destroy, build, and tear-down. One big step many of us need to make is to have our speech be filled with life giving words of hope. Let's hold each other accountable to that.
Proverbs 4 brings out an incredible habit that all young people should follow: listen to your parents.
Vs. 4:1- Begins the chapter listen to your father's instruction. Now, I will say that a mother's instruction is just as valuable and sometimes even more so than a father's. But, what I'm getting at is we need to be teachable people. No one has fully arrived in terms of having a perfect character, ability, or spiritual life and trust me this list can go on and on. Have the humility to be teachable, admit a mistake, and learn from others it will go a long way in building a satisfying, spiritual life.
4:5- "Do not forget my words or swerve from them. . ." If you've ever read the book Pilgrim's Progress it is a great allegory of our spiritual lives as followers of Jesus. Christian is on a journey to the Celestial City, and on his journey he is tempted by many different people and events that try to swerve him off his journey and goal. Our life is the exact same way. We are all tempted by various events, people, and things and we begin to lose sight of wisdom and understanding when we allow these temptations to cause to swerve. Recognize what tempts you and begin to pray powerfully that the Holy Spirit would equip you with the courage to resist the temptation.
4:24- "Put away perversity from your mouth. . ." Wow! What a nugget of wisdom. Proverbs has many abstract ideas and metaphors, but the book has very concrete things to do. This is very concrete as the verse finishes by saying keep corrupt talk from your lips. Words are powerful. They can heal, destroy, build, and tear-down. One big step many of us need to make is to have our speech be filled with life giving words of hope. Let's hold each other accountable to that.
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