Give OR Take :: Wednesday E-Devotion

John 10:10 (The Message) --- A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

There are two kinds of people in the world. Plain and simple. Either you are a giver or a taker. Either you add to people or you take away from them. You either are part of the increase or robbing and a decrease. It could be money. It be vision. Could be relationships. Even could be time. So what about you?

Watched this video as I got to the office this morning. Funny. But true. (another deposit from Craig and the team at Lifechurch.tv)

I am amazed that many of the people we admire and many of the things we pour ourselves into are the things that keep us poor and rob us blind. Back to the story of the 12 Spies in Numbers 13 who went to check out the land God promised His people. All 12 were 'movers and shackers' in their own tribes and worlds. 10 of them robbed God's people of blessing, of comfort, of peace and much more. Just think about it. God's got a huge plan and wants to give it away. But their stubborn, hard, scared hearts wouldn't allow it.

Are we taking away from people and don't recognize what we are doing? Our families who need and love us. Are we stealing time from them? Our churches that we are committed to. Are we taking resources (money or talents) from the church? Ourselves. Are we canceling out the best we're offered? Make that call. It ain't easy.

Malachi 3:8 (nlt) --- Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! "But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' "You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.

Proverbs 3:27 (nlt) --- Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them.

Ok. I have a choice. Press the church forward OR just sit back, relax and enjoy what I have. That choice means I am robbing from people and robbing from God. The status quo or keeping us with the Jones only keeps the church and God's people,us, deeper in spiritual poverty.

Here is the point: it is time to KICK the walls out from around us and let the world and especially those near us see what God is doing. Shut your mouth and you are a taker. Speak up and stand up and you are a giver. There is no middle group. Give or take.

Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" (brand new book)

One of the most powerful preachers, writers and leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Francis Chan. His first book, Crazy Love , revolutionized my thoughts about God's love as well as my interacting with God. Now it is time for a brand new book from Chan being released tomorrow, September 1st. The book is Forgotten God . This is a phenomenal book about the power that Christians and the church can and must tap into. All of it is within the Holy Spirit. Francis talks about the power that was seen in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit began to move among people. It is true that many have avoided or maybe forgotten what the Holy Spirit is all about. And like the Savior who poured out His life and blood so we have reason to rejoice, we were made to lay down our lives and give until it hurts. We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving of ourselves because we were made to do these things. It is when we live like this that the Spirit of God moves and ac...

inspiration from C.S. Lewis

There are many people, past and present, who get our attention by what they write or say or share. For me C.S. Lewis is one of those. He was a prolific writer who continues to grab the attention of thinkers from many different points of view. Lewis first grabbed my attention when I was in 5 th grader, and our teacher, Mrs. Foy, shared The Chronicles of Narnia with our class. It was a powerful time that this dreamer opened doors to thinking like I had never lived before. He wrote of faith, of far off places and of strong figures who found their character rooted deep in God. C.S. Lewis was born in 1898 and died in 1963, 7 years before I was born. It wasn’t until his 30’s that under the influence of his friend Tolkien that he came to be a Christian. He was raised in a traditional church going home, turned away from God as an Atheist in his teen years and through trying to stay away from God and faith returned to God with...

Catalyst ticket arrived

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

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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