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Get Back To Church

September 12, 2012 by jbrianhill

This coming Sunday is National Back To Church Sunday.  It is a day set aside for folks who have never tried church.  The hope is that if a person would just try it, he or she would see the importance.

It is also a day to reach out to those folks who grew up going to church and have fallen away.

The reality is, it is a day to remind those of us who are in church regularly that we have a calling to reach out to those who need hope.  Yes, we show funny videos and we mail out cards and we expend all this effort to make it a big day; but nothing happens without our church folks getting out and inviting people to come.  Without that, it is just going to be a Sunday like all the others.

So this week, pray about what God might lead you to do in your own community.  If you aren’t tied to a church – find one.  Scripture is clear that the body of Christ should be in unity and should not stop coming together.  If you are looking for the perfect church . . . I don’t think you will ever find it – and I know for a fact, you won’t find it at 1st B here in Littlefield.

But what you will find at most churches – particularly ours – is a group of genuine folks who are learning to love God and trying to love others.  If you are around Littlefield, Texas, at 10:30 on Sunday, come check it out.

But, if you are already a part of a church – get involved there.  God calls each of us to a particular place of service.  Yours is at your church.  Plug in and make a difference.

Be blessed today!

Posted in Church, Community | Leave a Comment »

A Lesson Learned From a Blow Out

September 10, 2012 by jbrianhill

When my wife asked, “Did you air up that tire?” I should have stopped right then and taken care of it.  But I had pulled that trailer many, many times with a low tire, and I was in a hurry.

And it almost worked one more time.

But about 5 minutes from home last night, it just couldn’t take it anymore.  The tire blew!

So now, instead of getting home a little late, we got home an hour late.  And I get to replace a worn out tire – not a great way to end a wonderful day.

As I have reflected on our experience last night, I have been reminded that all of us run through life taking care of our responsibilities.  We go to work, take care of families and have other responsibilities on our plate as well.  All of us need inner strength to keep going.

But do you ever run low?

I have found that my time alone with God in prayer and reading is the only thing that will keep me running at the right “pressure.”  If I am running low, then the load I carry gets to be too much.  I might can handle for a while but eventually, something has to give – just like my low tire last night.

So this morning, get out the spiritual pressure gauge.  Take a few minutes to spend with God.  Don’t go through another day with low spiritual “pressure.”

Be blessed today.

Posted in Formation | Leave a Comment »

One Little Candle

September 6, 2012 by jbrianhill

 

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.

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope, Missions | Leave a Comment »

Where Is Your Focus?

September 5, 2012 by jbrianhill

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.

Posted in Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

A Labor Day Reminder

September 4, 2012 by jbrianhill

Yesterday was Labor Day here in the US.  A national holiday instituted in 1887, Labor Day is a day set aside to celebrate the workers of America.  What began as a way to recognize the economic and social efforts of the American workforce has become a day off from work (at least for some) when we have cook-outs and spend time with family and friends.

While that is a wonderful thing to do, I thought for a second this morning I would point out that God created us to be diligent and work.  I was taught that there is great satisfaction in a hard day’s work.  It is a healthy experience to get to the end of the day and turn around and look at what was accomplished through the day.

But is that all there is to work?  Just a sense of accomplishment in a job well done?  What about those days when you lay down at night and think, “I can’t think of one thing I actually completed today”?

Depending on your job, you may have many days like that.

But maybe we should approach our work with a different attitude.  Perhaps true fulfillment comes in working to please God.  When we focus on doing our best for God’s glory, even the menial tasks take on new meaning.  Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite brother from the middle ages said that he felt the presence of God among the pots and pans in the kitchen just much as he did at holy communion.

Today, approach each task with an effort to please God with your work.

See if it makes a difference.

Be blessed today.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

A Challenge From Phil Collins and Genesis

August 30, 2012 by jbrianhill

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?

Posted in Hope, Missions | Leave a Comment »

Pray Expecting God To Overwhelm

August 29, 2012 by jbrianhill

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!

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | Leave a Comment »

Revisiting the First Day of School Prayer

August 27, 2012 by jbrianhill

Over the last month, the post that has received the most views has been this one.  I wrote it on the first day of school last year and, given the recent interest in the post, I thought I would revisit the topic – particularly since today is the first day of school for my kids for the 2012 – 2013 school year.

The school years are so important in the lives of our kids.  They mature and grow, not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well.  When you think about the amount of time they spend in school compared to the time you have with them at home, it becomes even more obvious just how important it is to pray for them and for their teachers and school administrators.

So here is what I would like you to do this morning.  The following is a guided prayer.  This concept may be a bit foreign to some (it certainly was to me when I first encountered it several years ago), but it can be very effective and meaningful.  Simply follow along and pray as you feel led.

Spend a couple of minutes clearing your mind and focusing on the magnificence of God.

Pray that your children will enjoy their day.  Pray that they will be receptive to what God has for them this year.  That they will connect well with their teachers and that they will make at least one new friend who will help them stay the course in their followship of Jesus.

Pray for the teachers.  Pray that God will give them a sincere passion to make a positive impact in the lives of their students.  Pray that God will give them wisdom as to how to help each student.  And pray that God will give them the tools and the strength to use those tools to teach our kids.

Pray for the school administrators – all those folks who work to make our schools a safe and effective place of learning and growing.  Pray for their wisdom and passion.  Ask God to bless them today.

Ask God to use you to make a difference in the lives of your kids and in the schools in which they attend.

Father, I thank you for my kids.  They are growing up too fast.  I remember when I used to have to do everything for them and now, it seems, they can do it all themselves.  God, I ask you to be there for them when I can’t.  Protect them and keep their feet on the right path.  Put people in their lives today to direct them and teach them.  Grow them into the people you created them to be for your purposes, and help me to be the parent I need to be for my kids for your glory.  Amen

Be blessed today!

Posted in Community, Family, Formation | 2 Comments »

Only You Can Be You

August 23, 2012 by jbrianhill

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!

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

When the Pressure Is Too Great

August 21, 2012 by jbrianhill

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.

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope | 2 Comments »

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