some focus for those who follow Christ

I was re-reading Francis Chan's book Forgotten God and came across an observation that won't leave my mind. He was talking about how we as modern day Christians often think about the characters of the Bible as untouchable. What it means is that we think that we can't have prayer lives like them or ministry like them. But Jesus said this:

John 14:12 (NASB) --- "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

There is not a separation. Yes, these are great people ... Peter and David, Ruth and Mary ... the list goes on. But they were people just like us. Spend some time with these next two verses:

James 5:17 (NLT) --- Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

Romans 14:17 (NLT)--- For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Elijah was a human like us, but God answered his prayers in huge ways. I spoke from 1 Kings 18 yesterday where there was a contest between Elijah, the prophet of God, and the prophets of Baal. The contest ended with God showing up and the people being stunned by God. They worshipped God.

Our lives ought to lead people to worship God. Our prayer lives, our ministry and work ... all we do ought to lead people to see God. Yet one of the reasons that does not happen is because we are so obsessed with the things around us and not obsessed with God.

It is time to obsess over what really matters. And I am praying that people will see God in and through our lives.

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Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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