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Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

In the Midst of a Monday

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on March 12, 2012| Leave a Comment »

In the midst of a Monday . . .

I realize that for some people, Sunday is technically the first day of the new week.  But for the vast majority, Monday is when the week begins.  And Monday is seldom seen as a good day.  Have you ever noticed that people can’t stand Monday, but Friday is an entirely different mindset.

This will show my age and my taste in music, but back in the 80’s (the best rock era by the way) there was a popular group by the name of Loverboy.  They did a song that made the charts entitled, Working for the Weekend.  The idea is that Monday through Friday afternoon is just time we have to suffer through to get to the good stuff.

So if that is the mentality – that for the next five days we are biding time until the weekend – where is the motivation to make each day count?

I think we need an attitude adjustment.  We need to rethink how we approach this day we call Monday.

As believers, we are to strive to please God everyday, not just on Sunday.  Every day should be filled with possibility – not just the weekend.

So in the midst of this Monday, my challenge for you is to rethink what this day could mean – what it should mean.  Today is the day that God has made and we should be joyful about it.  It is teaming with possibility.

What will you do today to make it count?

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Go Make a Difference

Posted in Church, Community, Hope, Missions on March 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »

If you read the headlines today, you will see things like “nuclear armament,” “solar storm,” and “severe drought.”  It would be easy to pick up a paper or surf the web this morning and become very overwhelmed with all the problems we face.

Personally you have a lot on your plate – activities with the family, more work than you can do, church activities, civic duties and somewhere in there finding time to take care of yourself.

Then add to that all the need you see around you.  It would be possible to spend every waking minute caring for others who are struggling if that is what we chose to do.  We sit in the midst of one of the worst recessions of our lifetime.  People’s lives have been destroyed as a result.  And people are running scared.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with life.

The typical response when we feel overwhelmed is to retreat.  We desire to get away from the pain.  We resolve that things are just too bad – too hard – there is nothing that can be done.  And so that is what we do – nothing.  We allow ourselves to be pushed into indifference.

But today, I want to remind us that God is still on the throne and still in control.

Today, you might not be able to change the world but you can impact your little corner.  It is a choice.  It is a commitment.  It is what it means to be salt and light.

Go be make a difference today.

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Come Awake

Posted in Hope, Motivational on March 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This morning, I watched the sun come up.  As it painted orange and pinks into the wisps of clouds on the horizon, I could see the outline of birds moving from tree to tree and roof top to high line.  Birds everywhere.

They flitted from place to place seemingly at random.  What appeared to me to be purposeless moving from one place to the next, was, I am sure, all part of their morning dance.  They were coming awake – making ready for a glorious day.

Join the dance today – come awake – it’s going to be a wonderful day!

Be blessed!

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Jesus, Draw Us Close

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

How close to do you feel to Jesus today?  Does he seem near?  Or does he seem distant?  If you are like me, that feeling changes from day to day.

The truth is that Jesus is always near – he, through his spirit, is with us always.

But the reality of our existence is that we don’t always feel it.  When that happens, I have found that it is not Jesus who has moved but me.

I read this today from Thomas Merton:

The deepest level of communication is not communication, but communion.  It is wordless.  It is beyond words, and it is beyond speech . . .

That is what I want.  That is the kind of relationship with Jesus for which I long.

Lord Jesus – draw me close today!   So close that words cannot express – so close that words are not needed!

Amen

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How Much Light Does It Take?

Posted in Grace, Hope on March 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I have a question for you today:  How much light does it take to be visible in a dark room?  I heard that question last night at a conference and I have been thinking about it ever since.

The talk was on changing the world and the question was asked to make us think about the power of just one person who is committed and passionate about what God has called us to do.  Can one person really make a difference?

How much light does it take to show up in utter darkness?  Not much.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to go spelunking in, at that time, a newly opened cave in the Carlsbad Caverns.  We had to hike up the side of a mountain and then take a rope ladder down into this huge hole in the ground.  It was a great adventure.  There were no marked trails in the cave and we were armed only with our flashlights and an experienced guide.

We hiked back into the cave for about an hour and once deep in the heart of the cave, the guide had us sit down and turn off our lights.  We sat for a few minutes in suffocating darkness.  I don’t know if you have ever experience utter darkness but it is staggering.

After what seemed like an eternity, in the midst of that darkness, the guide produced one small light that illuminated the entire area.  It was amazing how one little light could bring such illumination out of the darkness.

We live in a dark world.  We are surrounded by evil and corruption.  We come face to face daily with deception and self-centeredness.

The only hope for our world today is the light that only Jesus can bring.  The good news is, as a believer, you have that light.

So, when faced with the question of how many people it takes to make a difference in the world, the answer we should remember is – only one.

Go be light in a dark world today!

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Seasons Change

Posted in Grace, Hope on March 1, 2012| 3 Comments »

I have been here in Richardson for a Board meeting since Sunday night, and yesterday, I was standing in line waiting to order lunch.  I looked out the window and just outside was a planter full of flowers.  I had to remind myself that it was February 29 because this is what I saw.

As I stood there, I was reminded that even in the midst of winter, life goes on.  Some life continues in spite of the cold wind and snow.  Some life breaks through the elements to signal the coming of a new season.  This winter has been a mix of warm days and bitter cold days with frosty winds and more snow than I have seen in a long time in our area.  But I am ready for spring.

Our lives are like that as well.  We have seasons of life – changes that come our way.  The interesting thing is that we all experience this reality differently.  Today, you may be experiencing a “spring” day while the person next to you is in the harsh throws of winter.

Regardless of what season you find yourself in, rememberer that in the hands of God all the seasons rest.  So if you find yourself in a season of pain, know that there is a season of renewal coming.  On the other hand, if you are in a season of joy, look around and see if you can help brighten someone else’s day who may be battling a blizzard.

Be a blessing!

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How Will They Know?

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on February 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

As believers, we should understand that we have something that others are missing.  That should not make us proud – it doesn’t make us better than anyone else.  In fact, it makes us obligated.

We are obligated to share what we know.  We are mandated to spread love and truth and hope everywhere we go.

Paul wrote to us in Romans about this very fact.  He asked how anyone would know about Jesus unless we tell them.  You can read it here.

The question I have for you today is a little more personal.  Could the person standing behind you at the store today tell that you are a believer?

Something to think about.

Be a blessing today.

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I Believe But . . .

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on February 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This morning the devotional reading was in the book of Mark.  It was the story of a man’s son that had been possessed by a demon since birth, to the extent that the disciples could not cast it out.  The father approached Jesus asking him to do something.  Jesus responded with a comment about a lack of faith.

It would seem that the disciples, who had been able to do this before, could not handle this problem.  The idea is that even though they believed and knew the power of God, they were facing something that shook their faith.

It would be easy to snicker at the disciples and say, “they should have known better – they had seen Jesus do this and should have known God’s power was sufficient.”  But stop for a minute and think about it in your own life.  You have seen God work in your own experience and in the lives of those around you.  And yet, how often do we come face to face with a situation that rocks our world and we turn and run?

For me, I often find myself thinking, “I believe, but . . .”

I believe but why isn’t God doing something about this?  I believe, but what if God doesn’t come through?

I believe, but . . .

Jesus responded to the father by telling him that casting out this demon is possible if he believes.  The father’s answer should be our answer:

I believe – help my unbelief.

What a confession.  What an attitude of complete submission.  I believe – help me to believe more.

Today, when you face that challenge that may seem bigger than God, remember, God is big enough.  Believe it.  Take it to the bank.  Tell God you believe and then ask for the grace to help you believe even more!

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God Still Transforms

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on February 15, 2012| 1 Comment »

Yesterday, I mentioned being at a men’s retreat this past weekend.  I was refreshed and renewed spiritually through the course of God working in my own life but even more so in watching God work in the lives of others and hearing their stories.

One man, Joey, has been out of prison now for a few months.  His inked up arms tell part of his story.  He served 26 years for armed robbery.  While in prison, he was the kingpin for the prison mafia and not only controlled his prison but 4 others.  He ruled the drug traffic,  committed murders and several other things.  In a sentence – he was a bad dude.

After 26 years in prison, he was released with no where to go – no job, no family, no hope.  He was making his way through a town and happened into a church to ask for some assistance.  The pastor listened to his story and his heart broke for this man.  He assisted him and even gave him odd jobs around the church to help him survive.  After about 6 months of building a relationship with Joey, the pastor led him into a life changing relationship with Jesus.

Now, two months after his decision to follow Jesus, here he sat in the room with 32 other men on a Walk to Emmaus.

That picture reminded me of God’s life transforming power.  As a pastor, I know that God has that kind of power, but I forget sometimes just how real it is.

God is still in the life transformation business.

What is it about you that you need God to transform?

 

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Leading the Leader

Posted in Formation, Hope on February 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This past weekend, Thursday night through Sunday afternoon, I was involved with a men’s retreat.  It was a great opportunity for me to do something a little different.  I was on the leadership team and we had 33 first-time participants in the retreat.  My job was to give one of the talks and then to be there to assist in counseling any of the participants that may ask for prayer or just a listening ear.

Even though I was there to lead, I am not sure I did any leading.  In fact, I had the opportunity to do a lot of observing.  I saw men from all walks of life and all age groups sharing their faith and their struggles.  I was moved by the transformation that began in some of their lives.  But what moved me the most was seeing the dedication in many of their lives.

I have struggles just as everyone else does, but as a pastor, I am often a bit insulated from the struggles that some people face.  As I listened to the stories of some of the men, I was reminded that God works in the midst of some pretty dark places.  There were men there who have struggled – and are struggling – with all kinds of addictions.  There were a couple of men there that have just recently been released from prison.  Others that have had serious family struggles for years.

But in the midst of all their struggles, these men made an intentional choice to follow Jesus.  I was reminded of a very important truth.  When we are faced with struggles, we often pray for God to deliver us – to get us out of this mess.  But many times, Jesus does not remove the struggles but rather walks with us through them.

Remember that today – even if your struggles are not removed from you – that does not mean that God is not walking with you through them.  It is a day to day thing – a journey.  Transformation does not happen overnight.  It is a progression.  The New Testament teaches us that these present struggles are refining us and being used by God to form us.

So this past weekend, the leader was led.

Be blessed today!

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