why am I like this?

As I often do, I am sitting back thinking and preparing for the week God shows up.  He continues a conversation we started a few days ago.  I am in awe.  The things I hear God say have blown me away.  The thoughts running through my head are not mine.  They are his and are changing me in big ways.

Have you ever experienced that?  A relationship with God will change your life.  I read the following verses and know that God is talking about my motives.  This man gets honest and hits hard.  He asks God to keep him pure and keep his life straight.  This man reveals his weakness.  A tough conversation, but what I see is someone saying "I need God all the way."  And we do.

Proverbs 30:7-9 (The Message) --- And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me— Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence.  Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.  If I'm too full, I might get independent, saying, God? Who needs him?'  If I'm poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God."

I have asked this before: "Why am I like this?"  Most of the time that question comes when I am unhappy and times are tough.  But sometimes that question has to be asked when things are right and God is blowing us away.  God has made us for more than just living.  He has made us to enjoy Him.

A song that hits this close for me is Toby Mac's "Made to Love".  Here is part of the song:

The dream's alive with my eyes opened wide, Back in the ring you've got me swinging for the grand prize. I feel the haters spittin vapors on my dreams, But I still believe. I'm reachin out, reachin up, reachin over. I feel a breeze cover me called Jehovah, And daddy I'm on my way Cause I was made to love...

I was made to love you, I was made to find you, I was made just for you.  Made to adore you, I was made to love And be loved by you. You were here before me.  You were waiting on me And you said you'd keep me, Never would you leave me I was made to love and be loved by you

The first that I did not quote above talks about a mystery of how life changes.  When we see who we are in Christ, things change.  They have to change.  He made us for more than just getting by.  God made us to know Him, to love Him and to be loved by Him.  That is relationship and is awesome.

These thoughts have blown me away today, and I pray they will do the same for you.

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for?  I mean, really.  What do the people around you know that you are thankful for?  Does my life and yours show others that we are grateful for anything?  Far too often Christians are known for what they are against or for what they are mad about.  That is just flat out wrong.  It is time to let the world know what we are excited about and what we are thankful for!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) --- in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I recently told a story about a lady who was going through a tough time in her life.  One day as she was in the bathtub God brought a thought to her mind.  "What am I thankful for?" She asked.  At that moment she looked around the bathroom and began to thank God for everything.  I mean everything from the toilet to the toilet seat, from the rug on the floor to the blinds on the window.

That may be a strange story, but it shows us a great point.  God intends for us to be thankful in everything.  And I mean everything.  Even in the stuff that is not so easy to be thankful for.  I heard one man say (and you have heard this before), "I complained about my feet hurting until I saw a man who had no feet".  We have so much to be thankful for.  It all begins with and ends with God.  He has blessed us.  He has loved us.  He has held us and helped us for a long time.  Isn't it time to let Him and others know we are thankful?

Psalm 136:26 (NLT) --- Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

Take a few minutes today and tomorrow to express your thanks.  Tell someone you are thankful for them or for something they do.  Speak up about being thankful to God.  Let people hear you.

Here is another way to be thankful: look around you and see who you can bless.  Heck, it could be that this person needs a plate of leftovers or maybe even to be invited over for Thanksgiving dinner.  Maybe their yard needs some help because of all the leaves.  Maybe they need a call or even someone to pray for them this weekend.  Whatever it may be, going out of our way to serve others is another way to show that we truly are grateful for who God is and all He has done for us.

God never intends for us to live life alone.  He made us for fellowship, to enjoy each other.  Do that this Thanksgiving.

By the way, every time I time I think about you and write these devotions, I say something like what Paul said.  And I mean it ...

Philippians 1:3 (NLT) --- Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

secure through doing what God says

There are some things in life that are safe.  There are some things in this life that are dangerous.  We have a choice.  We can seek what is secure and gives us hope.  Or we can seek what will be gone during the next wind or storm that life sends our way.

 

Proverbs 24:14 (The Message) --- Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul — Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.

 

The more we gain the truth and wisdom God gives, the more we know the hope that God alone gives. On top of that wisdom comes a life that changes by, radically changed by God.  Like I said yesterday ... changed lives, change lives ... to see that we have to put into place what God says.  We have to apply what we learn from the Bible, from sermons and from the wisdom God gives.

 

Jesus taught the disciples and those who followed Him that there is more to faith than just knowing what is right.  In fact as I had this thought today I came across this verse:

 

Luke 9:48 (The Message) --- You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.

 

By accepting people we show them what God is like.  We through accepting people display what Jesus has done for us and how he had accepted us.  Think about it.  That verse has some nuggets that we rarely make a big deal about.  It is the Spirit living through us that impresses people.  It not how confident we are or how talented we are.  

 

Does that make sense?  As we move toward Thanksgiving, I am asking the Lord to remind us that we can display His best.  Here the the foundation that I am building on for tomorrow's devotion:

 

James 1:22 (NLT) --- But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourself.

 

Thanksgiving is not about a once a year holiday.  It is a lifestyle.  

Jesus changes lives

Luke 8:25 (The Message) --- Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?" They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!"

 

Jesus spent 3 and 1/2 years with the disciples.  Day in and day out he taught them to live by faith and to see the impossible.  One of those days was when they were in a boat and a storm came up.  The disciples woke Jesus up because they were afraid they were going to die.  The verse above is Jesus' response, and that is a powerful word.

Dod you think that the disciples didn't trust Jesus?  I think they did, but their circumstances led them to fear.  Those times when fear grips us, it is time to look to and to trust Jesus.

These kind of situations led the disciples to be strong men who led others to strong faith.  Powerful lives lived out for God will be changed lives that in turn change lives.  What do people see coming out of you? Is it faith in the face of fear?  Or are you so overcome with fear that faith is no where to be found.

One time Jesus was walking through a place that was packed full of people, and a woman who was sick with a blood disease made her way to Jesus.  All she knew was Jesus could heal her.  He did.  Here is the outcome:

Luke 8:48 (The Message) --- Jesus said, "Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!"

She took a risk.  And the risk paid off.  Her life was changed not just physically but spiritually.  Other lives were changed because of what she did and what she believe.  But some people cannot handle that change.

Let me ask you to think about some things.  What would happen God if God radically changed your life?  Nothing the same.  Maybe blessings as we would call them.  Maybe change in job or location of where we live or other.  What would happen?

Here is what happen when some people couldn't deal with the changes Jesus made:

Luke 8:37 (The Message) --- Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together and asked Jesus to leave—too much change, too fast, and they were scared. 

That verse convicted me.  When I am not comfortable, I avoid things.  Sometimes I even avoid doing what God says.  Jesus still changes lives.  As I have said before ... changed lives, change lives ... our lives ought to be the example, truth, inspiration for others to allow Jesus to change theirs lives.

Today in Luke 8 I saw God do some incredible things.  I am praying that Jesus changes lives even more all around us!  Will you pray too?

religion v. relationship

This week we had the honor of hosting a new ministry at The Community.  It is called "The Table" and is seeking to lead young adults into relationship with Christ.  During the event we had a live Q&A discussion and one of the questions has continued to cross my mind since.  It was the question of what is the difference between religion and relationship.  You should have heard the answers.

Here are some points that hit me this morning from Luke 6 (from The Message), and I will throw in some thoughts along the way:

⁵ Then he said, "The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge."

Jesus is in charge of the day of worship.  Point for me is another question.  Do I go to church because I want to or because I think I have to?  Jesus emphasized our need for Him and not for laws.

⁹ Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?"

I can imagine what the religious leaders had running through their heads when Jesus said this.  All kinds of laws dictated what could and couldn't happen on the day of worship.  Jesus said that it is better to live out our faith rather than to do nothing.  Our relationship with Jesus leads us to help others.

²⁶ "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

Ok.  It is time for another question, and this one is tough.  Do I do what do to be seen by people or to please God?  Ouch!  But I have to say WOW.  Relationship is about knowing and being with God.  Religion is about doing and trying to be right.

^48-49 "If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."

How do we apply the word of God?  Religion teaches us to know and do what is right.  Relationship allows us to live out what God has taught.  It leads us to worship Him in humility and serve others.  Relationship allows us to build on a foundation that lasts.  Religion keeps us tied to a system or to a set of laws.  Relationship with Jesus gives us freedom to live life to the fullest.  Religion ties us up so we always have to wonder if we have done enough.

It is time that we build our relationship with Jesus and let all the other pieces fall into place.  What do you think?

[+] Please Pray

Joan Norman will be having more surgery next Tuesday as DR's don't think they got all the cancer. Again, pray for Joan's complete healing.  Frances Johnson's mom will be having surgery on Friday.  Lorrie Anderson is at home recovering from eye surgery.  She is Cody Anderson's mom.  He went on our mission trip with us this past summer.

[+] E-DEVOTIONS: written by Michael Harrison, lead Pastor, The Community Fellowship;  reason to encourage you to follow Jesus; archived at Michael's blog, http://e-devotion.blogspot.com ;  subscribe, unsubscribe or contact  mharrison@thecommunityfellowship.org.

shocked by following the Spirit

Have you ever been shocked by following the Spirit of God?  I have, and it happens pretty often.  It is not being shocked always cause I am wrong or when God does some miracle.  It is mostly when the Spirit shows me how sweet it is to follow Him.  

In those times I remember that obeying God is the real sign of success.  The Spirit speaks to my heart and effects what my hands do, where my feet take me and what my mind thinks.  All of that shows up in how I deal with the people around me.  I have been shocked by following the Spirit.

Here is some of that evidence:

Galatians 5:25 (NLT) --- Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

God intends for us to follow the Spirit.

John 16:13 (NLT) --- When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

God intends for us to listen to the Spirit.  And what he shares is truth.

John 14:26 (NASB) --- But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

God intends for us to know the Spirit because the Spirit is a person just like Jesus.

Romans 5:5 (NLT) --- And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) --- But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

God says that people will know you are following the Spirit as the evidence is seen in your life and in mine.  That evidence is love.  It is God's kind of love.

Far too many Christians are tied up in anger and bitterness, sin and revenge, bad relationships and wrong motives, and more.  What shocked me most today is when God began to talk to me about some of how I think.  That thinking is wasted, wrong and just worthless if not led by the Spirit.  No, I am not talking about lust filled thoughts or thoughts of wanting to hurt someone.  These are thoughts of doing things my way instead of Gods way, thoughts of helping people in the way I think and not how God says.  In other words, in everything we do often we have a tendency to do things our way and not the Spirit's way.  That is not shocking.  Or is it?

I was shocked by following the Spirit.  But wait.  I was also freed, encouraged, charged up, excited, and lifted to follow the Spirit even more.  Another thing I have noticed is that following the Spirit makes any fear leave my life and confidence take it's place.  Confidence in God not self.  

My prayer is that we will be shocked by following the Spirit.

words on the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:25 (NASB) --- If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

I am reading Forgotten God the new by Francis Chan, and God is speaking incredible ways.  What I have known and heard for years is that we often leave out the work of the Holy Spirit.  We talk receiving the Spirit but rarely about following the Spirit.  Here are some pieces of what I read today:

We need the Spirit in order to life faithfully.  But we also need each other as we work out our faith. (page 56)

Chan writes, I can't imagine how much it pains God to see His children hold back from relationship with the Holy Spirit out of fear that He won't come through. (page 48)

"... many of us don't want to be led by anyone other than ourselves.  The whole idea of giving up control is terrifying, isn't it?" (page 50)

Sometimes the sin that we take on becomes such a part of us that it requires this same kind of ripping and tearing us free.  The Holy Spirit does not seek to hurt us, but He does seek to make us Christlike, and this can be painful.  (page 51)

Here is a statement that has left me thinking most of the day ... I should have tested what I was hearing in the context of faithful community.  (page 55)

Chan is saying that we often believe what others tell us rather than looking at the truth of God's word.  Hearing from God ourselves.  We are often scared that we might not believe the right thing, but God put us in Biblical community with others who know God so that we can encourage, bless and teach each other.  Think about that.  What is "faithful community"?

The Holy Spirit is not an option.  He is the part of God that lives in our lives.  When Jesus left earth, He promised another just like Him would come to earth, would take residence inside of us and be our guide and helper.  That is something incredible that God does for us.  His desire is that we lose control as He, the Holy Spirit of God, gains control of our lives.

These words on the Holy Spirit are incredible.  I challenge us to take a fresh look at what God is doing and saying.  God loves us.  His Holy Spirit lives inside us.  Incredible things to come!