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Archive for the ‘Grace’ Category

Father, Mold Me

Posted in Formation, Grace, Leadership, Missions on February 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »

This morning I spent some time looking back through Brian McClaren’s book, Finding Our Way Again.  The book deals with regaining a sense of the contemplative life – the life that spends time in the interior aspects of our being.  McClaren does a great job reminding us that our focus on our relationship with God is not an end in and of itself – our relationship with God serves as the platform from which God affects the world.  At the close of one of the chapters I had written this prayer in a blank spot on the page – it is my prayer today and I hope it could be your prayer too.

Father – I am utterly inadequate to be an apostle.  Mold me through your word, your touch, your community – into one empowered by your Spirit – committed to making a difference around me in my world.  Not only in the lives of my family and friends but also in the lives of strangers – even in the lives of enemies!  An apostle!

Amen

Be blessed today!

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Daring Humility

Posted in Formation, Grace, Leadership on February 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

One of the books I am reading right now is titled, Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith, by Shane Hipps.  In this book, Hipps spends a chapter discussing how our perception often shapes our reality.  In fact, if the truth be told, we build our lives around what believe to be true.  And of course, that is how it should be.

But what happens when we realize that some element we have always believed to be true turns out to be false?

Stay with me – I promise I am not out in left field.  But here is what I want us to see today – we should live our lives built on the truth as best we understand it.  But when our understanding of truth becomes an arrogant certainty, we have gone too far.

Hipps uses a great phrase to remind us of where we stand with this issue of holding our ground when it comes to our beliefs:  daring humility.  He says this:

Daring humility is honest enough to admit that we see things in a mirror dimly, and bold enough to live a life of deep conviction anyway.

While we need to admit we do not have all the answers, we need to hold fast to what we believe.

Practice daring humility today!

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Successful vs. Faithful

Posted in Community, Formation, Grace, Motivational on February 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I was reminded of a vital truth that we all need to remember if we are seeking to follow in the Way.  Western culture is results driven.  You and I, if you live in the US particularly, are products of this culture.

We are not satisfied if we don’t see results from our efforts.  When we commit time and energy to something, we want to know it counted for something.  I always tell those who participate in mission trips that we may never see the fruits of our labor.  But we are not naturally conditioned by our culture to live that way.

Here is the truth for today: God does not expect us to be “successful” but God does expect us to be faithful.

Yesterday, I was leaving a local store after picking up some things for the church.  I followed a lady out who had a big bag of Ole’ Roy dog food in her electric scooter basket.  So I followed her to her car and offered to put her items in the car for her.  After loading her things, I said, “have a nice day,” and she said, “thank you.”  I walked away and she went about her day.

I did not hear an angelic chorus and the lady did not fall to her knees and begin to worship God.  It was just a simple act with no real apparent impact.  But that is the point, God does not expect us to be concerned with results – God just wants us to simply live in service to God and others.

Be faithful today – even in the small things.

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Suffering in Haiti

Posted in Grace, Hope on January 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Tough Topic Tuesday:  How is it that we serve a loving and gracious God but bad things still happen.

With the earthquake in Haiti, the age old question of why bad things happen to innocent people has been on the minds of most folks.  While I don’t have the answers, I do have some things for us to remember in the wake of such devastation and suffering.

First off, I am going to have to differ in opinion with some vocal Christian leaders quoted by the media in recent days.  I do not serve a God who punishes innocent people by “causing” this kind of suffering.  Haiti is not being punished.  God is present even in the midst of this devastation but is not its cause.

God created this world and the people in it – but along side this creation was given free-will.  Much of the suffering in the world is the result of the decisions of mankind – allowed by God but not caused by God.  Wars kill innocent people but people decide to go to war.

I am not a scientist, so I do not know the full impact the decisions of mankind have on the earth.  But I do know that mankind has lived for generations on this planet and has consistently plundered the resources with little regard to the future.

The main point I want to make is this: God loves each and every person in the country of Haiti and I believe God’s heart is aching along side each and every person in that situation.  The real issue is this – God expects us to love our brothers and sisters and have compassion for them.  So what is it that we can do to bring relief to the suffering – put another way, how can God use you and me to minister to the hurting in Haiti.

There are a number of ways to help in the effort to bring relief to the suffering.  The American Red Cross is always a good organization to support.  The Texas Baptist Men are putting together water purification systems and could use donations as well. My point is not to push a particular organization but rather to remind you that there are ways to help.

The biggest thing you can do is pray for those people.  God is not the cause of this situation but God is the answer.  Pray that God would use people to impact the suffering.

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Distorted View

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on January 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

On the back of the current issue of Weavings is a very thought provoking prayer / poem.  It is written by John Mogabgab and here is what it says,

To see the world in the

transfiguring light

of God’s grace

rather than God

in the distorting prisms

of the world

is the turning for which

we must pray daily.

Distorting – that is such a descriptive word – taking truth and twisting and mangling it to the point that it doesn’t look the same any more – like looking into an amusement park mirror.  The world in which we live is driven by values that have twisted what life is really about.

So often, I catch myself looking to God to fix this, or get involved in that area of my life – as if God’s role in the world is to make me happy.  But I think when I do that, I am looking at God through my own distorted view.  Perhaps I should learn to look at my situation through the eyes of God’s grace instead.

That is easy to say but difficult to do.  That is why it should be our prayer daily.

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Terrifying Change

Posted in Church, Community, Grace on January 12, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Do new ideas make you nervous?  How about the thought of change?

Now before you get pious and think, “I am ready for change – the church needs to change;” let me suggest to you that all of us resist change.  Change is not an issue as long as the change does not touch on areas that are dear to us.  All of us have levels of comfortability and as long as the change is not encroaching on that untouchable area of comfort then we are fine.

The problem is, each one of us has a different threshold when it comes to change.  You might say, “We should be more inclusive in our church,” and be completely honest in your suggestion.  But what if a woman convicted of indecency with a child wants to join the fellowship – and teach Sunday School?

Granted, that is an explosive topic and would present many varied issues, but I throw that example out to get us to think about the ramifications of change.

Matthew 2:3-4 speaks of the fear of change.  You can read here that Herod and all of Jerusalem were frightened when they heard that God was coming to Earth.  Herod was the leader of the Jews and Jerusalem was the center of Judaism.  Now why would the religious leaders of the time be frightened at this news?

When it comes to religion, change is difficult.  We don’t like it when God wants to move us into the unknown.

I ran across this prayer from Eugene Peterson this morning and want you to think about it today and pray it if you can:

Prevent, O God, the Herodian spirit from filtering into my life: the spirit that uses religion to protect itself, and jealous of any hint of rivalry, responds to your Spirit only with suspicious fear.  Amen.

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Miracle in a Burning Bush

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on January 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In his children’s book, Does God Have a Big Toe?, Marc Gellman writes a story about God’s calling of Moses in the wilderness.  He paints the picture of shepherds out on the hillsides watching their sheep, all of them busy with their daily routine.

In the midst of the activity, God decided to call out to one of them by setting a bush on fire.  The bush burned and burned but did not burn up.  But in the midst of this strange happening, no one stopped to notice.  Finally, one shepherd took the time to stop and see what was going on and he heard from God.

Now this may not be a completely Biblical retelling of the Moses story but don’t miss this one line from the book: “No one took the time to sit long enough to watch the miracle happen.”  Wow!  No one took the time!

I don’t know about you but I don’t want that to be something said about me.  Unfortunately, all too often it is true of me and I am sure of you as well.

Where is that bush burning in your life?  Today, right now, take the time to sit long enough to watch the miracle happen.  Find God and watch – look for God and see!

Take the time and listen – God will not disappoint.

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A Word In The Wilderness

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on December 16, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Most of us know the Christmas story well.  We focus our attention on Jesus’ birth at this time of year and it is wonderful to do so.  I was reading an article on the second week of advent earlier this week and the scripture used to begin the article came out of Luke 3.

The verse that has been floating around in my head since reading it is this: “The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.”  Now this word was for John to be the forerunner for Jesus, paving a path for Jesus and the message he would bring.

But what I want you to see today is found in this little verse.  The word came to John where?  In the wilderness!  Earlier in Luke we see that John lived in the desert and wilderness areas of Israel most of his life.  Those who made that choice spent their lives seeking God and what God would have them do.  By living in the wilderness part of their lives, they were freeing themselves of the distractions of life in order to focus.  (Where did Jesus go for 40 days immediately following his baptism?)

The point I am making is this – do you ever find yourself in the wilderness?  Do you ever feel lost and disoriented with life?  Do you ever feel abandoned and forgotten?

It is in the wilderness that we find God.  But the key is to transition our attention from ourselves and the self-pity we may be feeling and place it on God, the creator of all life.  We may dread “wilderness” times in our lives, but both John and Jesus went to the desert.  We can learn something from that fact.

Have you lost your way today?  God has a word for you – just ask.

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Burning Desire For God

Posted in Formation, Grace on December 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I used Thomas Merton’s devotional book, A Book of Hours, this morning in my prayer time.  One of the prayers he wrote awoke in me a new desire to remain in God’s presence.

Father, Father, whom we thought so hidden

Somewhere behind the jealous walls of Mars,

Oh how You visit us, at the deep roots of life

With glad reprisals

When is the last time you felt God visited you?  When is the last time you truly yearned for more of God?

Today is the day.   Stop what you are doing right now and pray for God to become real to you in this moment  and throughout the rest of this day.

Father, move among us today!  Wash over us with Your love!

Amen

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Struggles Are A Part of Life

Posted in Grace, Motivational on November 19, 2009| 1 Comment »

I have been reminded this week that life brings all kinds of trials, whether it be the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job or just difficulties at school.  We may be tempted to ask, “Why?”  But we must remember that we live in an imperfect world where struggles are a part of existence – we can’t escape them, no one is immune.

As I think about those trials and struggles the reality sets in that we really only have two options when faced with trials.  The first is give up and check out and the second is to hang on and lean on the hope that God has better days ahead for us.  The weak give up and check out – trying to remove themselves, at least mentally or emotionally, from the situation.  The strong face the struggles and strive to grow through them.

Now here is another reality – we all have days that we are strong and brave and we all have days that we are weak and defeated.  The key is to remember who’s we are as followers of the way.

Earlier this week I talked about being transformed.  Trials are the very workshop in which that transformation takes place.  No matter the struggles and trials you are facing today, God is still God and we never will be.  God loves you and has a plan for you.  There are better days ahead.  So be strong in God’s strength knowing that those who persevere will be stronger, wiser and more fit for God’s service on the other side of the struggle.

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