Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

The Ink of Doctrine and the Blood of Life

Posted in Church, Formation, Hope, Motivational on February 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

I have had the blessing of being able to attend a preaching conference at Truett Seminary on Baylor’s campus this week.  The environment of being back on a college campus is always refreshing but the conference was especially meaningful this year.  We had the privilege to sit and listen to one of the country’s premier orators – Dr. Robert Smith, preaching professor at Beason Divinity School in Alabama.   Each session I made my way out of the chapel inspired and depressed at the same time.

Inspired by his words and his passion for the Word.  I walked out of there with a renewed passion for speaking God’s truth.  But I also walked out a bit dejected in knowing I most likely will never be able to deliver a message with the excitement and eloquence of Dr. Smith.  He is a true communicator and I am glad I have had the privilege to sit at the feet of an artist that can paint with words.

But here is what I am thinking about this morning as a prepare for my long drive.  I am thinking about how Dr. Smith defined the goal of preaching.  He said the goal is to take the ink of doctrine and turn it into the blood of life.

I should stop there and let you join me in meditating on that statement.  In fact, I do challenge you to meditate on that thought today.  But I challenge you to take it out of the context of preaching and think about our role as followers in the Way.

Shouldn’t that be our goal each and every day as we get out of bed and prepare for our hurried life?  Shouldn’t our goal be to take what we say we believe and put it to practice.  Shouldn’t the pages of our doctrine, our beliefs – the Bible – take on human form and action?

Our understanding of Jesus – as limited as it is – should course through our veins as the very blood that gives life.

Today, as you rush through your To Do list and responsibilities, how is your belief in Jesus going to affect what you do, what you say and with whom you interact?

Think about it.

Read Full Post »

Created To Influence

Posted in Church, Community, Hope, Leadership on February 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I reflected on a friend and the influence he has had on my life.  (You can read about Bill here).

Since that time I have been thinking about influence.  Influence, by definition, is the ability to affect change in others.  And I believe influence in its purest form is the ability to affect change in others through respect.

Respect is not something that has to be requested – and it can never be commanded.  In fact, if one has to ask for another’s respect, it most likely has not been earned.  Character breeds respect.  And respect leads to influence.

As believers, we are called to be influencers.  Jesus is the ultimate change agent.  In his short life here on earth, he started a revolution that has lasted over 2000 years.  As his followers, we are to be change agents – influencers for him.  Every single believer is called to this, it is not a choice.  This is not a calling for a select few.  It is not the destiny of those gifted with the ability to speak.  This calling is for each and every one of us.

The cool thing is that each and every one of us has a sphere of influence.  We each have those we do life with – those with whom we relate each day.  It may be those we work with or those who work where we shop.  And most definitely those we live with under the same roof.

So here’s the deal.  God has given you a sphere of influence.  What are you doing to influence others?  Are you living in such a way that others respect you?

That is the call.  And it is not a call for the faint of heart.  But you can do it!

So go influence someone today for the sake of the Kingdom.

Read Full Post »

Stay Faithful

Posted in Community, Grace, Hope, Motivational on February 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Last year, our church began an effort to put adult believers in front of 2nd graders in our community.  We call it Reading Buddies.  Twice per month for an hour each time, an adult volunteer goes into the Primary School, signs in, and meets up with their assigned Reading Buddy in the computer lab.  For an hour or so, the two interact.  The basic activity normally focuses on reading.  But there is so much more that goes on.  Relationships are built – concerns are shared – the hope and love of Jesus are shared.

We now have 39 adults going into the school each month.  God has blessed this ministry.  I hear all kinds of stories about how these adults are impacting the kids (and visa versa).  I have to say, my experience has been a little different.

I began meeting with my buddy in September.  He is shy and doesn’t really say much.  In fact, I haven’t been certain that he even cared that I was there.  Now, I know that my feeling of satisfaction is not what this ministry is about, so I have stayed with it.

Last month was the first time I saw much interest in my being there.  But today, it was obvious.  I was already standing at the computer lab door when the class came around the corner.  Nearly the entire class was into the room before I heard the teacher say, “He’s here,” to two stragglers that had not rounded the corner of the hall yet.  When I heard her say that, I looked up and here he came bounding around the corner in a half run half skip with a huge smile on his face.

The look in his eye told me that he was glad to see me.

I tell this story not to brag but to confess.  This morning, I had thousands of things on my mind.  I had a list of things to do as long as my arm.  My attitude about going and spending an hour was not what it should have been.  But when I saw my little guy’s face, I knew that there was not much else more important for me to do today.

God calls us to be faithful – even when we don’t feel like it.

I find it amazing how God can use faithfulness to make a difference.

Stay faithful today!

Read Full Post »

Shaping the Deformed

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on January 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

We are all spiritual beings.  Like it or not – know it or not – agree with it or not – each and every one of us is a spiritual being.  God created us this way.  We are created to need God in our lives.  In fact, life is not complete when we exclude God from it.  But our nature wants to live life on our own.  We can do this all by ourselves – so we tell ourselves.

When I went back to school a few years ago, what drew me to the degree was the opportunity to concentrate on a discipline called spiritual formation.  Growing up in the Baptist tradition, I was intrigued by the description of what this might involve.  My studies took me down paths I had never experienced and to authors of whom I had never heard.  And on the back side of the degree, I – like most – realized I know even less.  My eyes were opened to new worlds of thought I did not even know existed before – there is so much more to learn and experience.

But what was solidified for me through the process was that all of us are spiritual beings and we are all being formed.  Our choices, our experiences and the people we encounter are all instruments of formation.  I have begun to see myself as a deformed spirit that God is slowly but methodically forming into the being God intended.

You may disagree (and that would be fine), but the way I see it, sin has deformed my being.  My drive to do things on my own – my selfish desires – my poor choices – they all have deformed the spirit God created.

When one is willing to allow God to shape her or him, God can take a deformed spirit and form it into something beautiful.

Are you the person you want to be?  The better question is are you the person God intends for you to be?

Allow God to shape you.

You won’t regret it!

Read Full Post »

Time Alone With God

Posted in Formation, Hope on January 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

When is the last time you were alone with God?  For some, you might say “just a few minutes ago,” or you might say, “first thing this morning.”  But for some, we might have a hard time remembering the last time we spent real time alone before God.

Jesus often went out to be alone with God.  Mark 1:35 tells us he got up early to go out and be alone with God in prayer.

As believers, time with God is vital to our progression as Christ followers.  Oswald Chambers said, “When God gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.”

It is when we get alone with God and allow all other distractions to fade – when our attention is given to nothing else – that God can begin to work.

Find time today to be alone with God and see the difference it will make in your day.

Be blessed.

Read Full Post »

Time for Reflection

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on January 6, 2014| 1 Comment »

Calendar

Here we are at the beginning of the new year.  2014 brings opportunities and challenges – some, a carry over from 2013, but some will be new and fresh.  I always love this time of year.  I guess it is because I am wired to be a planner and think through strategies. I love to dream about what could be and often should be.  This time of year lends itself to that kind of thinking.

So what about you?  What will you do to make 2014 a year to remember?  Have you even thought about it?  Last night, I asked some of our folks to think about what God has done in their lives this past year.  So often, we make a somewhat mindless statement when we are asked how God is at work – “I have been blessed.”  For some, there is real meaning in that statement.  But I fear that all too often, it is just a casual phrase, thrown around with little thought.  So I challenged some folks last night to be specific and list the top 3 things God has done in their lives in 2013.

Can you do it?  Can you think of the top 3 things God has done in your life this past year?  I extend the same challenge to you – to set aside some time this week to reflect on just what God has done.  Then celebrate those things.  Psalm 145 tells us we should remember God’s mighty deeds and offer praise.  And not only offer praise, but share with others what God has done.

Don’t start another year without reflection.  God truly blesses us but we need to train ourselves to see God at work.

Let me know how God has worked this past year.

Be blessed today!

Read Full Post »

Splendor Made Simple

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on December 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »

In talking about the coming of the Messiah many, many years before his birth, the prophet Isaiah said this:

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.  The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

We often think of the glory or splendor of God being flashy and shiny.  We think of mighty strength and magnificent power – and we are correct to do so.

But don’t miss the splendor and magnificence of God’s selfless act of love.  The creator of the universe became a little baby – self-emptied and completely humble.  That is splendor in the most simple form.

Praise be to God for loving us that much!

Be blessed today.

Read Full Post »

Steps in Waiting

Posted in Formation, Hope on December 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Waiting.  No one really enjoys waiting.  The very thought of it makes my “get it done” tendencies crawl.  But unfortunately, waiting is a part of life.

When we think of waiting on God, the concept takes on a different nuance.  We began this discussion yesterday.  How do we approach waiting on God to come?  This season of Advent is about waiting in anticipation for the coming of the messiah.  The reality is that we often find ourselves waiting on God.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as we wait.

1.  More times than not, God is at work right in front of us but we just aren’t paying attention.  So in our minds and hearts we are becoming impatient with God when all the while God is actively at work in the situation.  We need to learn the basic truth about waiting and that is that it is a constant reminder we are completely dependent upon God.  When we remember this fact, we take our eyes off our situation long enough to see God at work.

2.  God does not operate on our time frame to teach us something.  It could be something about ourselves or something about God and how God works in our lives.  Again, waiting reminds us of our dependence.

3.  Other times, our focus may be so skewed that we are waiting on something that will never happen.  Several years ago, I had a doctor’s appointment.  As is my normal approach to any given day, I crammed as many things into my schedule as possible so that I walked into the doctor’s office just in the nick of time.  I had my To Do list with me and a book to read just so that I would not have any down time while I waited.  I rushed in, put my name on the sign-in sheet and then found a seat in the waiting area (we should take note – they actually call it a “waiting” area).  20 minutes passed and no call.  30 minutes of waiting and I began to see people who came in after me being called back into an exam room.  My frustration with the wait was mounting.  Finally after 40 minutes or so, I approached the counter, and luckily before I grilled the receptionist, I made a very revealing discovery.  I was in the wrong doctor’s office.

In my haste and hustle, I had gone to the wrong building and signed in to see the wrong doctor.  I could have waited there all day but would not have seen the doctor.

Sometimes, we are waiting on something that just isn’t going to happen.  Our focus can become so self-centered that we fail to see God moving in other ways.

So what can you take away from my ramblings?

1) Seek God above all else.  

2) Wait patiently with expectant anticipation.

3) Look for meaning in the wait.

4) Remember God is in control.

5) Trust.

God is active in the day to day.  God is at work in your life – all around you.  God loves you more than words can express and human cognition can understand.

So wait with assurance.

Be blessed today!

Read Full Post »

The Depth of Waiting

Posted in Formation, Hope on December 4, 2013| 1 Comment »

Yesterday I took a look at Advent and the idea of waiting.  You can read what I said here.  But as we think about waiting, we must acknowledge that each of us come at this discipline of waiting from different experience, and even more relevant to my thought today, with different things pulling on us from different directions.

Some come to this time of year with happiness and excited anticipation.  The thought of Christmas and Jesus’ birth turns an emotive response of sheer enjoyment deep within.  The lights, the sounds, children’s faces beaming all add to the scene.

Others come to this time of year with sadness.  This season is a reminder of loss.  This season is especially hard for those who have lost someone close this past year.

Still others come to this season with dread.  There is no sense of anticipation – only a resolve to “get through it.”

So waiting takes on a broader significance when we think about this season in this way.

But let me add a layer to this mystery of waiting.  We celebrate advent as a time of waiting for the coming messiah.  The reality is that all of us experience waiting on God – waiting for an answer to our prayer – seeking a sense of divine presence – looking for hope in seemingly hopeless situations.  We each have experienced waiting.

Tomorrow, we will look more deeply at this mystery and offer thought on the significance of waiting in our spiritual progression.

But until then . . . wait.  Isaiah 40 says those who wait on the Lord will experience renewed strength.

Wait on the Lord today.

Read Full Post »

It’s About Waiting

Posted in Formation, Hope on December 3, 2013| 1 Comment »

The Christmas season is upon us.  If you have made a trip to Walmart you have seen the decorations – in fact, that has been possible since August.  I love this time of year.  I enjoy the gatherings of family and friends.  I look forward to the music and caroling.  Hot chocolate, food, football.  All the sights and sounds of this season bring a smile to my heart.

But the most important part of this season is the celebration of the coming of God to the world.  This year, I challenge you to begin Advent with clarity.  The word advent is actually from the Latin word – adventus – which is translated “coming.”  The purpose of celebrating Advent is to celebrate the “coming” of Jesus to live among us.

The season of Advent begins four Sunday’s before Christmas Day and continues through the month of December, culminating on that sacred day – the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth.

It is a season of anticipation – of waiting.

Few of us enjoy waiting.  I must confess, waiting is not my strong suit.  I live at break-neck speed most of the time.  My shoes show the wear pattern of someone in a hurry – or so I have been told by more than one shoe repairperson.  Waiting takes me out of my normal pace.  It forces me to pause and sometimes stop.

Advent is about waiting.  Waiting for the coming messiah to be born.  Waiting for God to arrive.  It is in our waiting that we are reminded that we are not in control.  It is in our waiting that we truly begin to look for God.

I talk to people everyday who are waiting.  Waiting for healing.  Waiting for answers.  Waiting for relationships to mend.

Waiting . . .

Remember that waiting forces us to look outside ourselves.  Waiting reminds us that everything is in God’s time and in God’s control.  Waiting reminds us that God is God and we are not.

So this Advent season, remember to focus on what is of primary importance.  God loved us so much that he sent his one and only son to become one of us.  With the people of old, we anticipate his coming.  We wait for his revelation.

Praise be to God!

He is coming!

So we wait with anticipation!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »