Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

Complacency Is a Cancer

Posted in Church, Community, Formation, Hope on October 2, 2012| 4 Comments »

As I sat down this morning for part of my time alone with God, I decided to use a practice I turn to frequently – prayerful reading (lectio divina).  I turned on my computer and opened my online Bible.  There for me to read on the front page was the verse of the day.  I would normally have clicked passed this to a passage to start my time with God, but for some reason, I felt a nudge to stay with this verse.

Proverbs 29:25, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in God is kept safe.”

We are entering a journey in the life of our church family here at 1st B and on the outset, it seems too big and illusive to really get our heads around.  We are at the very cusp of what will be a new era in our church.

As I pray about God’s leadership in this endeavor, I often find myself doubting.  Thoughts flood my mind like: “What if we miss it?” or ‘What if we fail?” or even “What will other people think?”  I guess at the root of all the anxiety is that last one – what will people think.  If we attempt something big and fail, what will others in the community think?

The writer of Proverbs warns us that fearing what others might think is an immobilizing trap; a trap I believe  leads to complacency.  We throw up our hands before we even start and say, “It can’t be done – its just too big.”

I have said this before but the fact of the matter is complacency is the cancer that is killing the church.

The cure for this cancer is trust.  While the writer of Proverbs gives us this warning about fear, he also encourages us by reminding us that those who trust God walk in God’s protection.

Whatever you are facing today that seems too big – don’t fear.  Simply trust.  God has a plan and that plan includes protecting you.

Live boldly today!

Read Full Post »

In the Depths of Silence

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on September 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »

In the depths of silence, where there is no where else to run, we come face to face with God.

Have you experienced God’s presence in that way?  So often, we fill our lives with noise – busyness and tasks and sights and sounds – noise.

When I strive to remove the noise and rest in silence I find my true self – and there I find God already at work.  As believers we know with our heads that God is present but too often we fill our lives with noise and fail to truly experience intimate relations with God.

Find time and space to rest in silence today.  God is already there – waiting for you.

Read Full Post »

Make Your Today Count

Posted in Hope, Motivational on September 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I was reminded, yet again, yesterday of the frailty of life.  We get up every day and go about our daily tasks and To Do lists without a second thought.  But the reality is that none of is guaranteed another day.

Over the weekend, a dear friend and 1st B family member passed away at too young of an age.  Eric was one of those guys who everyone liked.  He had a smile that made others smile and a personality that made us smile as well.

He went to bed in Littlefield, Texas on Saturday night and woke up in the very presence of God.  I am sure he had no idea when his head hit the pillow that he would wake up in another place, but that is what he experienced.

When something like this happens, it forces us to reexamine our own mortality and think about life as a frail gift.  None of us know what tomorrow will bring – but we can see what today holds.

What will you do with your today to make it count?

Read Full Post »

Encourage the Encourager

Posted in Community, Hope on September 18, 2012| 2 Comments »

Have you ever been around someone who just makes you feel good? Maybe they listen to your frustrations with a smile.  Or maybe they offer a kind word when you are stressed or down.  I have the blessing of having several people in my life who go out of their way to encourage and support those they meet.

I think all of us, if we stop and think about it, can think of someone who is an encourager.  What would your life be like without that person around?

Take a minute to stop and pray for that person (or those persons) right now.  Ask God to bless them and lift them up.

Now, take another minute to reach out to them and encourage them today.

Encourage the encourager.

Read Full Post »

One Little Candle

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope, Missions on September 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

There are some candles in my study.  Every once in a while, I will be in a more contemplative mood and I’ll light the candles and turn off the overhead light just to create a different environment in which to focus.

Have you ever noticed what happens if you light a candle in a lighted room?  The effect is minimal.  I mean, you notice the candle but as far as it making a difference in the environment, you really can’t see much change.  But, when you turn off the lights, now all of the sudden, even one little candle is a game changer.  It creates much more light than you noticed before.  In fact, while the light may not be as bright, it still illuminates the whole room.

In a very dark world lacking hope and peace and joy – we are called to be that candle.  When we gather our little light in church, we are surrounded by a lot of other lights so the effects, while important, are minimal.  But, when we take our little light into the dark world, we can make a huge difference.

Be that light in someone else’s life today.

Read Full Post »

Where Is Your Focus?

Posted in Formation, Hope on September 5, 2012| Leave a Comment »

What one thing will you do today to make a difference?

So often, we start our day by looking at our calendar and To Do list and then just jump right in trying to get something done – to achieve that sense of accomplishment we get when we finish something.  I talked about that here.

But what if – today – we began a little differently?  What if, today, we thought about our day and focused in on one thing we will do to impact another person in a positive way?

It’s not that we won’t work on our To Do list or that we clear our calendars but that we simply focus some of our attention on making a difference in someone else’s life.  If we  aim at nothing, we most likely will hit it.

Today, focus on making a difference.

Read Full Post »

A Challenge From Phil Collins and Genesis

Posted in Hope, Missions on August 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I received a letter last week asking me to consider subscribing to satellite radio.  The vehicle came with it but I am too cheap to renew the subscription.  But the letter also said that there would be a free week, beginning August 29, to try and tempt me into renewing.

So this morning I had it programed in to listen to my favorite 80’s channel.  Yes, if you are new to my ramblings, I am a music nut – all kinds of music (OK, maybe not much on the country side).  But my biggest passion in music outside of worship music is classic rock and anything from the 80’s.

At any rate, as I drove to work, I had 80’s on 8 playing loud.  A song came on from Genesis – Land of Confusion.  The lyrics of the song are pretty powerful if you pay attention.  Now I don’t know Phil Collins personally and certainly don’t know his spiritual leanings, but I can tell you that the church could take note of what he sings about in this song.

Here is what the chorus says:

Too many men
There’s too many people
Making too many problems
And not much love to go round
Can’t you see
This is a land of confusion.

Now this is the world we live in
And these are the hands we’re given
Use them and let’s start trying
To make it a place worth fighting for.

That hit home for me.  I believe it is time (past time actually) for Jesus followers to stand up and make a difference in the lives of the people in our communities.

It’s time!

One of the verses in the same song says this:

My generation will put it right
We’re not just making promises
That we know, we’ll never keep.

Is this the generation that will make a difference?  Are we the people that will allow ourselves to be transformed by God and will allow God to use us to transform our world?

Read Full Post »

Pray Expecting God To Overwhelm

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on August 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

What are you praying for these days?  With the start of school, many of us are praying more intently for our kids.  Today, we find a part of our nation under the threat of hurricane Isaac.  The storm made landfall twice in the last several hours, dumping water on New Orleans that has power knocked out and is testing the integrity of the levies built after Katrina.   So we are praying for our brothers and sisters enduring the brunt of that storm.

Maybe today you are praying for a change.  Perhaps, you need God to intervene in your job or at home.  Or maybe you find yourself praying for God to move around you – in your church or community.

Whatever you have on your heart that you are praying about today, let me challenge you.  Tonight we will continue our study of the book of Ephesians.  We will be looking at the end of the third chapter.  In verse 20, Paul pushes us to be bold in our prayer.  He reminds us that God can do more than we can even imagine.

Here is how I interpret Paul’s idea.  He is suggesting that we pray for God to work and move in such a way that it will be so mind-blowing people will be talking about it for years!  Do you ever pray with that kind of boldness?

I don’t know about you, but I would love for God to move in such a way that it is life-changing and the talk of people for years.

Join me in asking God to move like that today!

Read Full Post »

Only You Can Be You

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope on August 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

All of us have a story to tell.  The intricate weaving of the experiences of our lives come together to make a beautiful tapestry.  Each individual experience might seem insignificant by itself, but when pieced together with all the others, the tapestry takes on a picture that is unique to you.

God has created you to be you and there is no other you – never has been, never will be!

All the things you have done, people you have known and experiences you have had make you the person you are today.  And in the midst of all of it – God has been at work all along the way.

You are of ultimate importance to God and you were created to reflect God’s love and life.  God has brought you to today with a story to tell that will make all the difference in the eternity of the people to whom you tell it.

So tell your story – what has God done in your life to bring you to this day?

Be a blessing today!

Read Full Post »

When the Pressure Is Too Great

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on August 21, 2012| 2 Comments »

How frantic is your life?  How much pressure do you feel to get things done?  Do you ever feel you are not doing anything well because you can’t devote enough of yourself to any one thing?

I find myself there much of the time.  And, I am sure, most of that pressure is self-imposed.

But I ran across this quote from Thomas Merton yesterday that has had me thinking.  He said,

Unnatural, frantic, anxious work, work done under pressure of greed or fear or any other inordinate passion, cannot properly speaking be dedicated to God, because God never wills such work directly.

What I take from that is the idea that God intends for us to be productive and to work.  We were created to be fruitful and satisfied in our efforts.  But God never intended for us to take on so much that we cannot be effective in anything.  We were not created to live under that stress and pressure – and further, that pressure is not from God but from other sources.

So today, regardless of how long your To Do list may be, ask God these two questions, “What do YOU want me to accomplish today? Where do YOU want me to focus my attention?”

Give it a try and see what God does in and through you.

I’d love to hear about your results.

Be blessed.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »