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Where Is Your Focus

September 20, 2011 by jbrianhill

Today, I read from a little devotion book that was given to me for my birthday a few days ago.  Today’s thought dealt with where we put our focus.  Our attention needs to be continually directed to God.

In reality, that is the foundational struggle for any believer.  We have a moment with God and things are great.  But then life happens and we take our eyes off of God and begin to focus on our situation and before we know it, we have gotten so wrapped up in our problems we forget about God altogether.  The discipline of following Jesus is constantly pushing to keep our focus on him.

When we maintain our focus on Jesus, we often see that the problems that come our way are actually trivial.  When we continually put Jesus first, over time we realize that we begin to see things as Jesus sees them.  The daily struggles aren’t nearly as insurmountable as they used to be.  We also realize that when big problems do come our way, we are better equipped to handle them with grace and peace.

So where is your focus today?

The apostle Paul calls us to focus beyond what is right in front of us.  He says this in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Today, don’t focus on the temporary – focus on the eternal!

Be blessed today!

Posted in Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

The Shortest Distance Between Two Points

September 19, 2011 by jbrianhill

One of my new found bands (new to me at least) that I enjoy to listen to is the Glitch Mob – not a Christian band – you can gasp now if you like.  Their music falls into the electronica / jazz genre.   At any rate, I like listening because most of their songs don’t have lyrics – just music.  It’s upbeat and fun.

But one of their songs does have some lyrics – a sort of love ballad in a way.  The title of the song is Between Two Points .  The chorus says, “The shortest distance between two points is a line – – between me and you.”  As I listened to the words this morning it got me to thinking about the distance between God and those we see.

Could it be that the closest distance between God and the person is front of me is a line between that person and myself?

You see, as followers in The Way, we are called to be Jesus to those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis.  We are to be the conduit by which God connects to the people around us.

So today, remember that the shortest distance between God and the people in your path this day is a line that runs right through the middle of you!

Be a blessing today!

Posted in Hope, Motivational | 2 Comments »

Extinction of Faith

September 15, 2011 by jbrianhill

This morning, my reading and prayer time focused on the book of Jude.  The primary purpose for this one chapter book or letter was the concern for keeping the faith.

As I read the verses, I became challenged – which often happens when we read scripture.

In verse 3, the author says this:

I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Contend for the faith.  I had to ask myself, “do I ever find myself in a position that I must contend for my faith?”  I had to admit that I don’t feel I have to do that very often.  So that made me wonder, “why not?”

Part of the answer for that is I don’t run in circles very often that go against my faith.  Or do I?

Could it be that we have made our faith so comfortable that we fail to see what meaningful faith looks like any more?  Just wondering.

The other factor in this verse is the statement that this faith has been entrusted to God’s holy people.  I am not sure I qualify as a “holy person,” but as I think about it, the church is God’s primary source of holy people.  So how are we doing?  Are we keeping the faith?

Here is the stark reality – and it is no different today than it was in the day in which this letter was written by Jude – our faith is always one generation away from extinction!  Is the faith with which we have been entrusted being kept?  Are we passing on the faith God entrusted to us?

Think about it today!

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

I Wonder What God Will Say?

September 13, 2011 by jbrianhill

This coming Sunday is the National Come Back to Church Day.  We have decided to make that a matter of focus here in our congregation.  We have mailed out cards and put the word out.  We have communicated to our community that if they have a church home, they should attend there but if not, they are welcome here.

As I have thought about the approaching day, I have thought a lot about why we should make gathering together a part of our lives.  Scripture reminds us that we should not stop meeting together, but rather we should gather and encourage one another to continue living for Jesus – “to spur one another on to good works” as the apostle Paul says.

The reality is that we were created for community – to be together.  Look at the growth in popularity of the trendy coffee shops.  I admit, there is something attractive and hip about hanging out with friends while sipping on a coffee in a setting where conversation is open and acceptance is not forced.

That used to be the church.  What has happened in our culture?

I think in part, the church has lost it’s appeal due to the fact that the focus was taken off of relationships and put on religion.  Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Bible with all my heart.  And beyond that, I choose to associate with the Baptist denomination because I feel the belief system more closely fits my thinking about theology than any other system.

But I have to wonder . . . when we get to heaven, will God look at me and say, “Just think of how many more lives you could have impacted if you had been a little less concerned about religion and more focused on loving people in my name.”

I wonder . . .

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Simplicity of Worship

September 12, 2011 by jbrianhill

After listening to my daily podcast devotional on my drive this morning, I switched over to a little David Crowder.  On their album, Illuminate, there is a song titled Only You.  As I listened to the words of that song, I was reminded of the simplicity of worship.

It occurred to me that we have done it again!  We have done a great job of taking something really simple and making it very complicated and even a point of contention in many churches.

The chorus of the song is this:

And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord.

That’s it.  Pretty simple.  On Sunday morning, we have become so concerned about the sound we are looking for or if it sparks some memory of worshipful moments in our past that we have forgotten that the goal of worship is not about us.  It is about bowing down to the one true God.

I wonder if we were to get back to the basics of worship if that would take care of a lot of our problems in most of our churches today.

Just wondering!

 

Posted in Church, Community, Formation | 2 Comments »

What Would You Do If . . .?

September 8, 2011 by jbrianhill

What would you do today if . . .

What would you do today if you knew that tomorrow your job would come to an end?

What would you do today if you knew that tomorrow your child was going to move to the other side of the world?

What would you do today if you knew that the neighbor down the street – you know the one – the one you wave at each day but have never stopped to meet – what would you do today if you knew that neighbor was not going to wake up tomorrow?

What would you do today if you knew you were not going to be here tomorrow?

What would you do?

Posted in Motivational | Leave a Comment »

God Desires More

September 7, 2011 by jbrianhill

Yesterday, I was asked the question, “Why do you turn to Jesus?”  I in turn asked you the same question (you can link to that post here).

So why do you turn to Jesus?

Unfortunately, we typically turn to Jesus when we need something.  Maybe we are facing a big decision so we ask for God’s guidance.  Or maybe we have just experienced a tragedy and we turn to Jesus for comfort and peace.  It is natural to turn to Jesus in times of need.  During those times of life, we realize that we cannot do things on our own.  When things are going well, we allow ourselves to have false confidence and think we are independent and can handle things.  We might even begin to wonder why we need God at all.

But, many times, it only takes a moment of need to help us remember just how much we need God.

Don’t get me wrong – God is always with us – always.  So when we experience less than pleasurable circumstances, God will be there to offer strength, comfort, direction and peace.

But I can tell you, if my son only came to me when he needed something or when things went wrong, I am not sure I would consider that much of a relationship.  I would hope that we would have other conversations as well (and we do).  Not only that, but for the relationship between my son and me to remain healthy and grow, we must spend time together.

Is it any different between God and us?  Can we truly have a relationship if the only time we turn to God is when things go poorly or we need something?

My challenge to you today is to remember that God deeply desires to have a relationship with you.  It is your responsibility to make that happen.

Posted in Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

Why Do You Turn To Jesus?

September 6, 2011 by jbrianhill

I had an early morning today and so, as I drove to work, the sun was just beginning to cast an orange glow across the eastern horizon.  It was a beautiful sight.  I put in my ear buds and turned on my morning devotional podcast from Pray-As-You-Go.  Today’s reading was out of the Gospel of Luke.  The text began with Jesus going to the mountain to pray all night alone.  I was reminded that if Jesus felt the need to be alone with God in prayer in order to be recharged for his day, how much more should I seek those times of solitude with God?

But then the reading turned to what happened next.  Jesus came down from the mountain to a multitude of folks who had come to see him.  The guide for the devotional then asked a question that I have been wrestling with since.  She asked the question: “Why do you come to Jesus?”

That seems like a simple enough question.  I mean, I know why I turn to Jesus – don’t I?   But the reality that hit me is that often I turn to Jesus out of desperation or need or want.

So I am making this a matter of prayer today as well as a focus for meditation throughout the day.  Tomorrow we will talk about this agian, but for today, I ask you the question: “Why do you turn to Jesus?”

I would love to hear your responses – leave me a comment or shoot me an email and let me know what you think.

Be blessed today!

Posted in Community, Formation | 1 Comment »

Healthy Tension

August 31, 2011 by jbrianhill

 

Switchfoot is one of my all-time favorite Christian bands.  Last week I wrote a post using some Queensryche lyrics (you can link to that post here), so this week I thought I would balance that out.  I had the opportunity to see Switchfoot in person a few weeks ago at Rock the Desert.  They did an amazing job – fighting dust and the suffocating west Texas August heat.

Yesterday, I ran across this music video of theirs from the song, Dare You To Move.  As I watched, I really listened to the words for the first time in a while.  The words that caught my attention and have stuck with me up to this point are these:

Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I have been wrestling with these words.  I often feel that tension – in fact, I would say that I feel that tension each and every day.  I feel the tension between who I am and who I could be.  I also feel the tension between how it is and how it should be.

You see, as a follower in the Way, I firmly believe that God has called followers to push for the change that would move our world from what it is to what it should be.  In fact, I have committed my life to the struggle that is part of that tension.  Anyone can go with the flow – that is easy!  It takes courage and strength to push for change – to call our world into tension.

How about you?  Are you living in tension?  Maybe you should be!

I dare you!

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Are You Looking For God Today?

August 30, 2011 by jbrianhill

When is the last time you saw God working around you?

Last Wednesday, I had prepared for our Bible study that evening.  I had been through my notes and re-read the passage for discussion.  As I prepared, I knew there was more to be said than what I had on paper but I could not seem to wrap my head around it.  I prayed for God to speak through me and open all of our hearts – which is my normal prayer before I speak.

As we began our Bible study, I had barely moved into my first point when a lady in the back of the chapel answered a question that I had asked.  All of the sudden, the truth of the passage opened up to me and we spent the next 15 minutes having great discussion around what that meant for our church.

As I drove home, I realized, God had shown up.  It is not that God is not normally present – the Bible teaches us that God is always with us.  But in that particular instance, I could see God at work.

I find that the problem is not that God is not working everyday, all around me.  The problem is with me.  I don’t slow down long enough to see.  My sensitivity to seeing God at work has been numbed by all the sights and sounds of this world.

Take time today to slow down and really look for God at work.  The question is not whether God is working – the question is whether or not you will see.

Posted in Formation, Hope | Leave a Comment »

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