Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

Redemption Partners

Posted in Church, Hope, Missions on June 6, 2011| 2 Comments »

Yesterday, I preached on the fact that when we think about the mission of our church, we need to see the bigger picture.  We really need to think more along the lines of God’s mission having a church rather than our church having a mission.  The reason for the very existence of a church is to fulfill God’s mission.  And that mission is the redemption of humankind.

We live in a messed up world.  I don’t know if you have noticed that lately.  We do a pretty good job of insulating ourselves from it much of the time, but the reality is, the world in which we live has taken what God intended for good and has twisted it into something else – self-serving, corrupt, sinful – messed up.

But regardless of what the world did to Jesus – rejection, torture and execution – God’s plan has not changed.  God still wants all people to be redeemed.  That is God’s mission.  God’s strategy and plan for that mission to be accomplished is the church.

Scary isn’t it?  What a challenge!  What an adventure!  God has called us to join in with the work of redemption!  We are to be redemption partners with God!

As you think about this adventure today – let me leave you with two thoughts.  First, we are not alone.  As believers, we have been given everything we need to carry out God’s call on us.  Jesus said he would never leave us nor forsake us.  We aren’t alone!

The second thought I would leave you is that this work, this adventure, is a call to be faithful – a mandate to be available.  the apostle Paul realized that in some instances, he planted the seeds and others watered them and still others witnessed the results.  We may not see the fruits of our labors on this side of eternity.  Our call is not to see results as much is it is to do all we can to live in such a way that we impact the eternity of others.

Be faithful and available today – and take heart, you aren’t alone!

Read Full Post »

Encountered God Lately?

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on June 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When was the last time you encountered God?  I mean, actually came face to face with God in such a way that you knew God was with you and speaking to you?

I have to be honest, I have to really think about this sometimes.  It is not that God is not present and with me – I know that is a fact.  But my problem is that I am normally too distracted to notice.  My life is hectic!  There are always emails that need a reply, phone calls to make, sermons to write, kids to tend to – and then after breakfast it really gets crazy!

You get the point.  And I am sure that your life is no different.  Our culture has ingrained in us that more is better and so we try to do more.  Unfortunately, we tend to fill our lives with really good things to the neglect of the best things.

Brother Lawrence figured this out.  You can read more about Brother Lawrence here.  He realized that when we approach our everyday tasks from the standpoint of taking them on in order to please God, our focus changes.  All of the sudden we can sense God more fully in everything we do.

You see, God is at work all around us all the time.  Our missing an encounter with God is not because God is not at work.  The missed encounter is due to the fact that we are not in tune with what God is doing.

Try this today:  with every task you undertake, think to yourself, “I want to do this in order to please God.”

I would love to hear how this turns out!

Be blessed today!

Read Full Post »

How Much More the Father’s Love

Posted in Hope on May 31, 2011| 1 Comment »

Last Friday, I was working around the house on my day off.  We are trying to get the house ready to put on the market so that we can make the move to our new community.  I was doing some prep work, getting ready to paint a door frame in the garage when my cell phone rang.

It was one of those calls that any parent dreads.  My oldest son said, “Dad, I’m at the clinic.  I was hurt at work but it’s not life threatening.”

I am not sure what else he said because I was already scrambling to get to the car.  I heard “not life threatening” and I added those words to the fact that he called me himself and so I was not in panic mode – but still, the only thing that was important to me at that moment was getting to the clinic to be with him.

Turns out that he got one of his fingers tangled up with a band saw and needed five stitches.  While that is never a pleasant experience, it could have been much worse.  But he is fine and today, is headed back to work.

I am sure that he learned some lessons through this experience – one of which is that band saws can be dangerous!  I also hope he was reminded that his dad will be there when he needs him!

But I learned something too.  Sometime over the course of  the days following the incident, it dawned on me:  If I had the feelings I had when I got that call, how much more does our heavenly father care for us when we experience pain.  The Bible says that God knows the number of hairs on our heads – God cares for us individually!  What an amazing thought.

So no matter what you are going through today, know that God cares and is right there ready for you to call!

Read Full Post »

Happiness Comes and Goes but Joy . . .

Posted in Formation, Hope on May 26, 2011| 1 Comment »

This past Sunday, our church hosted the high school baccalaureate service.  It was my honor to speak to the graduating class and challenge them as they cross this threshold in their lives and move into a new phase of their journeys.  One of the things I discussed was the difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is fleeting.  It is dependent on how we feel.  When things are going our way, we tend to be happy.  When we have a bad day . . . not so much.  The bad news is, we are all going to have bad days from time to time.  Things are not always going to go our way.

Joy, on the other hand, is lasting.  It is more than a feeling, it is a confidence in knowing the end of the story.  It is the contentment that comes when we remember that God is in control.

Today, I used Psalm 51:10-12 as my reading.  Here is what it says:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, 
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
 Do not cast me from your presence 
   or take your Holy Spirit from me. 
 Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I have always loved verse 10 where the writer asks God to create a pure heart within him.  But today, my mind locked in on verse 12 where the author asks for the joy of God’s salvation to be restored to him.

Do you ever get so tied up and weighted down in the day to day grind and the problems that come your way that you forget about the joy you possess?  The joy that is available to you simply because you know the Creator of the universe personally?

It happens to all of us.  Sometimes we do need to be reminded of the joy that is ours as believers.  So today, my prayer for you and for me is an echo of the psalmists words:

Lord God, I ask that you renew your joy in us today.  Remind us of what your salvation truly means.  And then, help us to live that joyful life today – regardless of our circumstances.

Amen

Read Full Post »

Part of Something Bigger

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on May 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

You know how you hear a song time and time again, and then one day you actually listen to the words.  I did that yesterday on my commute home.  I had the radio on and the volume pretty low – which according to my wife,  is not normal.  But I caught myself singing along and so I turned up the volume and all of the sudden, I heard the words.

The song was Something Holy by Stellar Kart, and the chorus caught my attention.  Here is what the words say, “We were born to be, a part of something holy.  All of us are restless until we find.”  Then the chorus finishes with “bigger than you and I.  Bigger than all our lives.”

We have been focusing on this idea on Sunday mornings for the last few weeks.  This sums up what we have been talking about – being part of something bigger than ourselves.

It is so easy to focus only on ourselves.  In fact, that is what our culture forces upon us.  We live in a “me first” society and we have all, regardless of how holy we try to be, fallen into this trap to some degree.  Even in the church, it is not uncommon to experience the attitude of “I want it my way.”

But following Jesus means focusing our lives and our love outside ourselves.  It means striving to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  It means longing to be part of something holy.

Is that your desire today?

Read Full Post »

Don’t Forget Mother’s Day

Posted in Church, Community, Hope on May 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This has been a whirlwind week.  The boxes of books have been unpacked and most of the office has been set up.

My highlight so far this week was Wednesday night prayer meeting – it just felt right.  Everyone was welcoming and open.  I automatically felt like I was at home.  Thank you all for your love and encouragement.  I am looking forward to Sunday and being together as a corporate family, all in one room – I am excited!

But in the chaos of moving in and trying to get things set up, I almost forgot that Sunday is Mother’s Day.  A day we set aside to remember our mothers.  I encourage you to do something special for your mom this week.  Don’t forget to tell her how much you love her and what she means to you.

I also have a special request.  As I was driving to work yesterday, I was listening to the radio and one of the DJ’s pointed out that she had tried for years to have kids and couldn’t.  She shared that Mother’s Day has always been a painful time for her.  I had never thought about that fact – and how many that affects.  So here is my request, if you know someone who might not be looking forward to this day, reach out and encourage them.  Pray for them and ask God to bring joy and peace into their hearts, even in the midst of the pain they may feel.  Pray that God would make you sensitive to those who might be hurting.

That is what families do for one another.

Read Full Post »

Blessed Real Good

Posted in Hope, Motivational on May 4, 2011| 1 Comment »

Have you ever received a phone call that just made your day?  Maybe it was unexpected and it was a good surprise or maybe the things the person said really gave you a boost.

Yesterday, I had one of those calls.  If you have read my ramblings here for very long, you know that I have referred to a friend of mine from Atlanta on a few occasions.  We met while serving on the same board and have had a connection ever since.  LaPinsky is a good friend – in fact, we normally greet one another by saying, “My brother from another mother.”  We don’t see each other much at all and we hardly ever talk, but I know that he is there for me and I pray he knows that about me as well.

At any rate, LaPinsky called yesterday just to say he felt God had brought me to his mind and heart to pray for me.  We talked for about ten minutes and then he did something that is characteristic of his caring nature – he prayed for me.  One of the things he said in his prayer brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.  He said, “God, I ask that you bless Brian real good.”  You just have to know LaPinsky to appreciate that phrase.  He is one of the most articulate men I know.  He can put words together in such a way that would make some of the world’s greatest orators envious.  But every once in a while, he will break from the grammatical norm and say something down to earth and real.

That is one of the things I love about him – he is educated, brilliant and caring – but he is nothing if he isn’t real!

So today, I am passing on the inspiration I received from LaPinsky yesterday.  I am praying that God will bless each of you real good today!  And then for you to be a blessing to someone else.

Be blessed!

Read Full Post »

Chaos In Boxes

Posted in Formation, Hope on May 3, 2011| 2 Comments »

This is what the office looked like yesterday when I arrived.  Unfortunately, it is also what it looked like when I left at the end of the day!  

But today – today, all those books are going on a shelf!

One of the things this process has reminded me of is that even though I have learned through the years to juggle multiple things at one time, I don’t function well in utter chaos.  I need some sense of order to stand on while facing the chaos.

Do you ever feel like your life is in utter chaos?  The house is a wreck, the kids won’t listen, your job is stressful – there is nothing stable in your life on which to rest – does that sound like your life sometimes?  Does it sound like your life today?

This moving stuff has caused me to remember that regardless of what is going on around me, I have to make time to slow down and spend time with God.  I have to make time to sit and be still – to be silent before God.

So today, if you feel like your life is spinning out of control – stop what you’re doing and read this.

God is in control!  Take a deep breath – you can do this with God’s help.

Now, where can I find a place to sit so that I can follow my own advice!

Be blessed!

Read Full Post »

Day 1 – Boxes and Paint

Posted in Church, Hope on May 2, 2011| 2 Comments »

Today is the day! Day one of my journey as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Littlefield. While I am excited about the path before me, I am here in the wake of a very difficult, yet moving day yesterday in Levelland.

Last night, the church in Levelland hosted a reception for us in order to say good-bye. As person after person came by, hugged my neck and offered kind words of affirmation, the reality truly sunk in – my tenure at First Baptist Church of Levelland was over. But the blessing of our service there will continue in the hundreds of relationships we have forged over the past nine years. It has truly been a great ride!

Now, as this new chapter begins, I am staring at an office full of boxes and an unfinished paint job. My plan was to have the office set up before today, but, of course, that did not happen. So today will begin with a quick calendar check and then on to painting.

And so, the journey begins!

Read Full Post »

Goodbyes Stink!

Posted in Community, Hope on April 29, 2011| 2 Comments »

I guess it has finally begun to sink in.  This Sunday is my last Sunday in my current position.  After resigning as associate pastor and giving my notice, I began focusing on all the things I needed to get done in order to leave smoothly.  I moved computer files to a flash drive to be handed off.  I organized file drawers to make things easier to find for those who will be picking up where i have left off.  I have tried to tie up all the loose ends of my current position at the church so that my leaving will not be a burden on anyone.

Then there is the packing – how can a person collect so much stuff and put it into one office in 9 years?  And where will I put it all?  My new office needs paint and organization before I can even move in.

All that to say, I have not really focused on THE DAY.  But here it is . . . this Sunday is my last day at First Baptist Church in Levelland.  Monday, I will officially begin my journey as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Littlefield (for those of you not familiar with God’s country in west Texas – yes, our founding pioneers were not very creative when they named our cities!).

At least, I had not thought about it until last night.  The family and I sat down to watch one of our favorite shows, The Office.  And last night’s episode was Michael Scott’s last day on the job as manager of Dunder Mifflin.  As I watched the episode it began to sink in.  For those of you who have remained distant from the shenanigans of Michael Scott and are not familiar with the show, Michael has been the boss for the entire run of the show and he is now moving and leaving the company.  So last night’s episode was his goodbye.  As I watched him trying to say goodbye to all the employees individually, I began to realize that I will be saying goodbye on Sunday.

At one emotional point in the episode, Michael said, “Goodbyes stink.”  I could not agree more.

Even though I have no doubt that God is at work in this transition, saying goodbye to all our friends here is going to stink!  But that is part of life I suppose.

It has been an incredible journey here in Levelland, but as we part ways, I know that God has even bigger plans for our friends who remain here as well as my family as we make this transition.

I encourage you to continue to follow our journey through my posts here.  Nothing will change with Clay In The Hands.  It will continue . . . just from a new location.

Goodbyes stink, so I will simply say, “Be blessed!”

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »