"It's Much Quieter with your Head in the Sand"
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Do you ever wish that someone hadn't told you something? Maybe it was when you found out what was in hot dogs! I wish I hadn't heard THAT! I think our lives are often spent in the pursuit of our human nature's mission statement, "Live the Comfort Zone!" We love to hover as close to that as we can. We try to make sure we chase possessions and wealth, and even the pursuit of "rest" whether that be in days off, or sleeping in, or whatever. We can have seasons where we think "it doesn't get any better than this." I have a great TV, a recorded football game, and a reclining couch. What more do you need?
Then someone comes along, and rocks the boat with an irritating morsel of truth. It may be a story of someone in need that cuts through to our very inner being. Maybe it's word of a sacrifice an individual is making to serve another. Because we work so hard to pursue "comfort zone", we don't want to hear that. We think we've built our safety net... our security. We draw the line in our schedule and say, "God I've given you enough". Even when we feel the tug of the Spirit, we don't put more in the offering because we've over spent in other areas, so it doesn't fit into the budget. We think WE have it figured out. "God, you'll mess up my plan if I follow you in this."
Let's see how that worked for Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came... they couldn't interpret it. At last Daniel came in..."
He proceeds to tell Daniel the dream. Daniel is silent for an hour before sharing the meaning with him. "Daniel replied: 'Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, and not to you!"
Uh oh...
As it turns out the dream meant that this mighty king who is known throughout the world is going to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. Sure enough, verse 29 says, "Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying, 'I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.' While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass like the cows for seven years..." Now get this: "... until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses."
That happened, and when he realized 7 years later that it was God, and not him, he regained his kingdom.
We stick our head in the sand when we surround ourselves with all that is comfortable. Then God has a way of getting our attention. Sometimes it's to the extreme of King Nebuchadnezzar. Other times it's more subtle.
We must get our head out of the sand and Live the DREAM as laid out in 2 Peter 1:
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life [Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship]: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character." (vs. 2-4)
"But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good [the discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training], and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." [Active Ministry Involvement] vs. 5.
"Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. this will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply." [Relationships Devoted to Unity] vs. 6-7
"The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ." [Mission to Reach our World for Christ] vs. 8.
Maturing in Christ is a process that we must keep before us each day. We must challenge one another. We must get our head out of the sand and pursue with intensity the race marked out before us. It would have been much more "comfortable" if my ears wouldn't have heard the need.
But they did.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Showing posts with label Comfort Zone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comfort Zone. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
11.12.11 "What makes God Proud"
"What makes God Proud"
Ezekiel 24:1-26:21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 27:14
Hebrews 11:16 "And now God is not ashamed to be called their God..." What a verse!! Can you imagine that verse written about you? What would precede a verse like that?
11:4 - "By faith Abel..." 11:5 - "By faith Enoch..." 11:7 - "By faith Noah..."
Hebrews 11 is called the "faith chapter". This chapter speaks of great men and women throughout the old testament who trusted God. I don't mean trusted God in small ways. They built an ark, walked with God, moved to new countries and many more huge things. How could this happen? They KNEW God.
When you get to know someone, it takes a little bit of time. There are times when we get to know a little bit of something about someone and we base the relationship on that. We get in trouble because that can be a shallow understanding of who that person is, and we miss getting to REALLY know them.
The same is true with the Lord. Too often He will teach us something, and we'll think "that's cool" and go on as if we've now got him figured out. That's exactly how our relationship gets cold and stale. Our relationship with the Lord needs to be on the edge of discovery at all times. How do we cultivate that? Living the wild life of faith!
Verse 6 says, "You can never please God without faith, without depending on him."
Faith is such an intimidating thing. In verse 1 it says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."
It can be difficult to live in the realm of that "confident assurance". Because it isn't easy, we can just think, "I'm not wired as a person of faith... I don't have what it takes to be an Abraham, Moses, etc..." and we then excuse ourselves from this list of great believers.
We need to realize that those great men & women of faith had the same temptations we do. Look at verse 15: "If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world."
Too often it's easy to think that great men and women of faith don't have the temptation to quit. Sometimes we don't give up, but we feel SO guilty that we're tempted to give up, that we paralyze ourselves from doing anything. We see the "good" things of the world and it seems to much more comfortable... so much easier.
What makes the difference? verse 16 says, "But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven." Living for heaven. That takes discipline of thought. It's a different priority system. It's a faith that it's worth standing strong. It's a belief that it's worth it to step out in obedience even when the circumstances seem impossible. It's a mindset that consumes every part of life. It constrains us from compromise and shallow living.
I don't want God to be ashamed to be called my God. I want to be living for heaven every moment of every day. I want to experience the moving of his hand. For that to happen, I must step out in obedience in every area of my life.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ezekiel 24:1-26:21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 27:14
Hebrews 11:16 "And now God is not ashamed to be called their God..." What a verse!! Can you imagine that verse written about you? What would precede a verse like that?
11:4 - "By faith Abel..." 11:5 - "By faith Enoch..." 11:7 - "By faith Noah..."
Hebrews 11 is called the "faith chapter". This chapter speaks of great men and women throughout the old testament who trusted God. I don't mean trusted God in small ways. They built an ark, walked with God, moved to new countries and many more huge things. How could this happen? They KNEW God.
When you get to know someone, it takes a little bit of time. There are times when we get to know a little bit of something about someone and we base the relationship on that. We get in trouble because that can be a shallow understanding of who that person is, and we miss getting to REALLY know them.
The same is true with the Lord. Too often He will teach us something, and we'll think "that's cool" and go on as if we've now got him figured out. That's exactly how our relationship gets cold and stale. Our relationship with the Lord needs to be on the edge of discovery at all times. How do we cultivate that? Living the wild life of faith!
Verse 6 says, "You can never please God without faith, without depending on him."
Faith is such an intimidating thing. In verse 1 it says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."
It can be difficult to live in the realm of that "confident assurance". Because it isn't easy, we can just think, "I'm not wired as a person of faith... I don't have what it takes to be an Abraham, Moses, etc..." and we then excuse ourselves from this list of great believers.
We need to realize that those great men & women of faith had the same temptations we do. Look at verse 15: "If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world."
Too often it's easy to think that great men and women of faith don't have the temptation to quit. Sometimes we don't give up, but we feel SO guilty that we're tempted to give up, that we paralyze ourselves from doing anything. We see the "good" things of the world and it seems to much more comfortable... so much easier.
What makes the difference? verse 16 says, "But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven." Living for heaven. That takes discipline of thought. It's a different priority system. It's a faith that it's worth standing strong. It's a belief that it's worth it to step out in obedience even when the circumstances seem impossible. It's a mindset that consumes every part of life. It constrains us from compromise and shallow living.
I don't want God to be ashamed to be called my God. I want to be living for heaven every moment of every day. I want to experience the moving of his hand. For that to happen, I must step out in obedience in every area of my life.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
Pastor Greg Lathe
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, July 5, 2010
7.5.10 "The Components of God's Plan"
IMPORTANT NOTE: JULY 6-14 I will be in Brazil on a music missions trip. The ability to maintain DEVO Delivery will depend on internet access available on the trip. If you would like to follow notes regarding the trip, check out BrazilMusicMissions.Blogspot.com (which will also be uploaded as internet access allows.)
"The Components of God's Plan"
I Chronicles 1:1-2:17
Acts 23:11-35
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 18:14-15
By now it should not surprise you. God's ways are not our ways. I'm sure there are times when we know in our heart what God wants to see happen, but the way it comes about is completely different than we thought. And many times it has stretched us in ways we weren't planning on. This afternoon I'm leaving on a missions trip to Brazil which was to be led by a man who is very experienced at leading teams. I know him from a few conversations, but I was really looking forward to ministering with him closely and learning from him. Over the weekend he became ill and may require surgery so he can no longer go. Now I'm feeling stretched!
In Acts 22 & 23, Paul has been going through some intense trials in Jerusalem. Paul has been mobbed, nearly killed, arrested, and brought before the council. In front of the council he gave his testimony, and a riot started again. Now he's back in prison. 23:11 "That night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, 'Don't worry, Paul; just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, so you must also in Rome.'"
A couple notes from this verse:
-That night the Lord stood beside Paul -- what a powerful thing. You know what? There have probably been some times that the Lord has stood beside each one of us in the midst of a trial. I'm afraid that sometimes I get too self absorbed to notice he's there. Don't forget to take time each night to listen as he stands beside you.
-The rest of the verse is almost funny. "Don't worry... JUST as you have told..." Paul was only in Jerusalem for about a week before being thrown into prison. To me this does not paint a rosy picture of the trip to Rome if it's going to be the same kind of stuff. "Don't worry... you're gonna get a chance to go through more of this..."
How Paul gets to Rome is what really catches my attention. Here's the progression of the rest of Acts 23:
1. The Lord stands beside Paul & tells him he's going to rome
2. More than 40 Jews get together and vow to not eat until they have killed Paul
3. Paul's nephew catches wind of this & Tells Paul
4. Paul sends the nephew to the roman Commander
5. The Roman commander calls together a detachment of 470 roman soldiers, spearmen & calvary to escort Paul to Caesarea with a personal letter to Governor Felix
6. Governor Felix read the letter & agreed to hear his case & has him kept under guard in the palace.
What stands out to me is that all the components are in place to carry out God's plan. God uses the Jews, the nephew, the Commander, and the detachment, the Governor... Sure, it is different than the way "I" would have wanted it. Were it to be "my" plan, they would have released Paul in Jerusalem, had a big send off party and had a great time preaching in Rome. But to complete the vision God has given Paul to go to Rome, there must be time in Caesarea.
In spite of it being accomplished different than we want, it's still God's plan. So many times God gives us a vision. We take that and build such a narrow picture of how we think things should come about, we don't move when God wants or in the direction God wants.
I catch myself waiting for things to be more like I pictured they would be before moving in obedience. We need to be ready to hear the Lord saying, "The components are in place. Move as I direct."
I'm not sure exactly what this is saying to you today, but I know that the gifts you have, the experience you have, the vision God has given you, and the resources you have are all part of what God is wanting to do in you and in the lives of those around you. If God is putting something on your heart, and he's saying "go", don't wait until it looks right or looks comfortable. Offer him your all today, and see what he does. I know I had expectations for the missions trip and they are already being cleared away leaving room for God to do his thing.
All of the components are in place.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
"The Components of God's Plan"
I Chronicles 1:1-2:17
Acts 23:11-35
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 18:14-15
By now it should not surprise you. God's ways are not our ways. I'm sure there are times when we know in our heart what God wants to see happen, but the way it comes about is completely different than we thought. And many times it has stretched us in ways we weren't planning on. This afternoon I'm leaving on a missions trip to Brazil which was to be led by a man who is very experienced at leading teams. I know him from a few conversations, but I was really looking forward to ministering with him closely and learning from him. Over the weekend he became ill and may require surgery so he can no longer go. Now I'm feeling stretched!
In Acts 22 & 23, Paul has been going through some intense trials in Jerusalem. Paul has been mobbed, nearly killed, arrested, and brought before the council. In front of the council he gave his testimony, and a riot started again. Now he's back in prison. 23:11 "That night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, 'Don't worry, Paul; just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, so you must also in Rome.'"
A couple notes from this verse:
-That night the Lord stood beside Paul -- what a powerful thing. You know what? There have probably been some times that the Lord has stood beside each one of us in the midst of a trial. I'm afraid that sometimes I get too self absorbed to notice he's there. Don't forget to take time each night to listen as he stands beside you.
-The rest of the verse is almost funny. "Don't worry... JUST as you have told..." Paul was only in Jerusalem for about a week before being thrown into prison. To me this does not paint a rosy picture of the trip to Rome if it's going to be the same kind of stuff. "Don't worry... you're gonna get a chance to go through more of this..."
How Paul gets to Rome is what really catches my attention. Here's the progression of the rest of Acts 23:
1. The Lord stands beside Paul & tells him he's going to rome
2. More than 40 Jews get together and vow to not eat until they have killed Paul
3. Paul's nephew catches wind of this & Tells Paul
4. Paul sends the nephew to the roman Commander
5. The Roman commander calls together a detachment of 470 roman soldiers, spearmen & calvary to escort Paul to Caesarea with a personal letter to Governor Felix
6. Governor Felix read the letter & agreed to hear his case & has him kept under guard in the palace.
What stands out to me is that all the components are in place to carry out God's plan. God uses the Jews, the nephew, the Commander, and the detachment, the Governor... Sure, it is different than the way "I" would have wanted it. Were it to be "my" plan, they would have released Paul in Jerusalem, had a big send off party and had a great time preaching in Rome. But to complete the vision God has given Paul to go to Rome, there must be time in Caesarea.
In spite of it being accomplished different than we want, it's still God's plan. So many times God gives us a vision. We take that and build such a narrow picture of how we think things should come about, we don't move when God wants or in the direction God wants.
I catch myself waiting for things to be more like I pictured they would be before moving in obedience. We need to be ready to hear the Lord saying, "The components are in place. Move as I direct."
I'm not sure exactly what this is saying to you today, but I know that the gifts you have, the experience you have, the vision God has given you, and the resources you have are all part of what God is wanting to do in you and in the lives of those around you. If God is putting something on your heart, and he's saying "go", don't wait until it looks right or looks comfortable. Offer him your all today, and see what he does. I know I had expectations for the missions trip and they are already being cleared away leaving room for God to do his thing.
All of the components are in place.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, May 2, 2008
5.2.8 "The Danger of Falling Asleep"
"The Danger of Falling Asleep"
Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19
It's can be a struggle to determine whether or not Samson is a hero. When I was a kid I loved Samson. I thought he was a great hero. He had cool hair (remember, I was a kid in the 80's), and was like Rambo. The more I read into his story though, I'm not so impressed. Samson is born of the promise to a barren woman. He was set apart from birth to deliver Israel from the Philistines. As you read of his exploits, though, you find they are mainly motivated by his greed, jealousy, and anger.
Here he is. The strongest man in the world. The power of God at his finger tips. Yet only two times do I see it recorded that he cried out to God. The first was because he was thirsty. Listen to this prayer: "You have given Israel such a wonderful deliverance through me today! Must I now die of thirst, and fall to the mercy of these heathen?" (Jud 15:18) The last time he called out to God was just before his death. "O Lord Jehovah, remember me again - please strengthen me one more time, so that I may pay back the Philistines for the loss of at least one of my eyes." (16:28)
My impression of Samson is that he's a bit self-centered. It's a good thing we're not that way today! It's a good thing we don't pray so selfishly...
We all are familiar with the story of Delilah. This is the woman he falls in love with, although she shouldn't be confused with the one he had married in chapter 14, or the prostitute from Gaza he had visited earlier... (you picking up on a weakness?) Delilah is approached by the Philistine leaders to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Samson lies to her 3 times before revealing the truth to her.
There is a key phrase to note in this chapter. "...while he slept she tied him..."(vs. 8) "...as he slept, Delilah took new ropes..." (vs. 12) "So while he slept..."(vs. 14) "She lulled him to sleep with his head in her lap..." (vs. 19)
I believe the saddest verse in the bible is verse 20. "Then she screamed, 'The Philistines are here to capture you, Samson!' And he woke up and thought, 'I will do as before; I'll just shake myself free.' But he didn't realize that the Lord had left him."
As we read this story it is so easy to wonder how Samson could be so stupid to allow Delilah to seduce him like that. But I believe the challenge is before us.
How could we be so stupid to be lulled asleep?
Samson did not just wake up one day to find himself captive. It seemed that way to him, but we can see that where he ended up was the result of pursuing fleshly desire, and laying his head in the lap of bondage. This wasn't a "one night" event of losing the blessing of the Lord. This was a gradual progression of being lulled to sleep.
We must guard against the same danger. Often believers will be lulled to sleep in the lap of worldliness. We become numbed to the blatant sin that is all around us. It becomes normal and acceptable to live in selfishness.
This quote is from a Bloomberg news report, April 27, 2007: Visitors to the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa won't find the Gideon Bible in the nightstand drawer. Instead, on the bureau will be a copy of ``An Inconvenient Truth,'' former Vice President Al Gores's book about global warming. Regardless of your views on the book, the point is, it replaced the Bible... while someone was sleeping.
After spending time in our comfort zones and selfish prayers, we are often surprised when we don't experience the power of God in the way we wish we could. The strength is gone.
We must realize why we are here and what we are called to do. We can't compromise the mission. Samson was there to deliver the people from the Philistines, yet his life seemed devoted to himself. This resulted in the enemy celebrating his captivity. He became a mockery.
The church should not be a place that the world mocks. The world shouldn't see a church that is self-righteous and haughty. The church should be seen as a place full of the power of God. How is this going to happen? It happens as the people of God remember the vows they have been called to fulfill. Vows of separation, holiness and devotion to complete the mission God has called them to.
As the body of Christ we need to WAKE UP! We need to see that the comforts we desire are lulling us to sleep and bringing us into captivity.
God has a plan for us, and it is for victory, not defeat. We will overcome as we devote ourselves to him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 15:1-16:31
John 2:1-25
Psalm 103:1-22
Proverbs 14:17-19
It's can be a struggle to determine whether or not Samson is a hero. When I was a kid I loved Samson. I thought he was a great hero. He had cool hair (remember, I was a kid in the 80's), and was like Rambo. The more I read into his story though, I'm not so impressed. Samson is born of the promise to a barren woman. He was set apart from birth to deliver Israel from the Philistines. As you read of his exploits, though, you find they are mainly motivated by his greed, jealousy, and anger.
Here he is. The strongest man in the world. The power of God at his finger tips. Yet only two times do I see it recorded that he cried out to God. The first was because he was thirsty. Listen to this prayer: "You have given Israel such a wonderful deliverance through me today! Must I now die of thirst, and fall to the mercy of these heathen?" (Jud 15:18) The last time he called out to God was just before his death. "O Lord Jehovah, remember me again - please strengthen me one more time, so that I may pay back the Philistines for the loss of at least one of my eyes." (16:28)
My impression of Samson is that he's a bit self-centered. It's a good thing we're not that way today! It's a good thing we don't pray so selfishly...
We all are familiar with the story of Delilah. This is the woman he falls in love with, although she shouldn't be confused with the one he had married in chapter 14, or the prostitute from Gaza he had visited earlier... (you picking up on a weakness?) Delilah is approached by the Philistine leaders to discover the secret of Samson's strength. Samson lies to her 3 times before revealing the truth to her.
There is a key phrase to note in this chapter. "...while he slept she tied him..."(vs. 8) "...as he slept, Delilah took new ropes..." (vs. 12) "So while he slept..."(vs. 14) "She lulled him to sleep with his head in her lap..." (vs. 19)
I believe the saddest verse in the bible is verse 20. "Then she screamed, 'The Philistines are here to capture you, Samson!' And he woke up and thought, 'I will do as before; I'll just shake myself free.' But he didn't realize that the Lord had left him."
As we read this story it is so easy to wonder how Samson could be so stupid to allow Delilah to seduce him like that. But I believe the challenge is before us.
How could we be so stupid to be lulled asleep?
Samson did not just wake up one day to find himself captive. It seemed that way to him, but we can see that where he ended up was the result of pursuing fleshly desire, and laying his head in the lap of bondage. This wasn't a "one night" event of losing the blessing of the Lord. This was a gradual progression of being lulled to sleep.
We must guard against the same danger. Often believers will be lulled to sleep in the lap of worldliness. We become numbed to the blatant sin that is all around us. It becomes normal and acceptable to live in selfishness.
This quote is from a Bloomberg news report, April 27, 2007: Visitors to the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa won't find the Gideon Bible in the nightstand drawer. Instead, on the bureau will be a copy of ``An Inconvenient Truth,'' former Vice President Al Gores's book about global warming. Regardless of your views on the book, the point is, it replaced the Bible... while someone was sleeping.
After spending time in our comfort zones and selfish prayers, we are often surprised when we don't experience the power of God in the way we wish we could. The strength is gone.
We must realize why we are here and what we are called to do. We can't compromise the mission. Samson was there to deliver the people from the Philistines, yet his life seemed devoted to himself. This resulted in the enemy celebrating his captivity. He became a mockery.
The church should not be a place that the world mocks. The world shouldn't see a church that is self-righteous and haughty. The church should be seen as a place full of the power of God. How is this going to happen? It happens as the people of God remember the vows they have been called to fulfill. Vows of separation, holiness and devotion to complete the mission God has called them to.
As the body of Christ we need to WAKE UP! We need to see that the comforts we desire are lulling us to sleep and bringing us into captivity.
God has a plan for us, and it is for victory, not defeat. We will overcome as we devote ourselves to him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, April 25, 2008
4.25.8 "It Might Get a Little Messy"
"It Might Get a Little Messy"
Judges 4:1-5:31
Luke 22:35-53
Psalm 94:1-23
Proverbs 14:3-4
Some people have a reputation for neatness. Me? not so much... A friend of mine, whom I choose not to implicate, has similar "organizational" skills to me. We've talked about collaborating to write a book on organizational systems. The premise is "none of it works". We've tried various types of organizers, daily planners, scented candles.... ok, not that far, but for some reason, no matter what, the desk gets messy. I've actually now brought in reinforcements, and am only able to keep neat with outside help.
With all of that in mind, I have a new favorite verse:
"An empty stable stays clean - but there is no income from an empty stable." (Prov. 14:4 TLB)
Of course, I'm joking about this being a verse to justify my mess, but I do feel there is a great truth in this short passage.
The NLT says, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Excuse the metaphor, but it is saying in essence, "if you want a harvest, you also need a shovel."
I often allude to the danger of this place called "Comfort Zone". It's lure can subtly paralyze the believer from living up to the potential that God has for them. It would be so great if life could be "neat & clean" all the time. It would be great if there were no unexpected turns, and no giants in the path... No "irritating" people. Imagine the thrill that would be...
I believe this verse shows a principle of "Active Ministry Involvement". When we take the risk to use the time, talent, and resources God has given us for his glory, we have to understand that sometimes there's residue on the stable floor. Serving God takes work. We have to make sure, however that the fact that there might be some mess, and maybe even a little smell, we can't think "this must not be God's will... this is supposed to be easy!" We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are doing what God has called us to do. Our faithfulness and responsibility shouldn't falter because of circumstances.
This verse also applies to "Relationships Devoted to Unity". As we mature in Christ and are in the process of discipling one another as well as being discipled, there will be times that interpersonal conflict arises. This can be with friends, leaders, and those you lead. We must understand that this is a necessary part of the process of harvest. The situations in life bring our character issues to the surface so they can be dealt with. That happens for others, too. We need to help one another through that.
Sometimes the conflict comes from "getting in trouble". Psalm 94:12 says, "Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions." We need to always remember that discipline brings us into alignment. This is all a part of the great harvest to come!
Don't focus on the mess on the stable floor. Look to the fields at what God is doing through your labors. It can be tough to see when all you've got is rubber boots and a shovel, but know that God is completing his work in you and through you in ALL things.
Don't fear the smell! Live the DREAM!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Judges 4:1-5:31
Luke 22:35-53
Psalm 94:1-23
Proverbs 14:3-4
Some people have a reputation for neatness. Me? not so much... A friend of mine, whom I choose not to implicate, has similar "organizational" skills to me. We've talked about collaborating to write a book on organizational systems. The premise is "none of it works". We've tried various types of organizers, daily planners, scented candles.... ok, not that far, but for some reason, no matter what, the desk gets messy. I've actually now brought in reinforcements, and am only able to keep neat with outside help.
With all of that in mind, I have a new favorite verse:
"An empty stable stays clean - but there is no income from an empty stable." (Prov. 14:4 TLB)
Of course, I'm joking about this being a verse to justify my mess, but I do feel there is a great truth in this short passage.
The NLT says, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." Excuse the metaphor, but it is saying in essence, "if you want a harvest, you also need a shovel."
I often allude to the danger of this place called "Comfort Zone". It's lure can subtly paralyze the believer from living up to the potential that God has for them. It would be so great if life could be "neat & clean" all the time. It would be great if there were no unexpected turns, and no giants in the path... No "irritating" people. Imagine the thrill that would be...
I believe this verse shows a principle of "Active Ministry Involvement". When we take the risk to use the time, talent, and resources God has given us for his glory, we have to understand that sometimes there's residue on the stable floor. Serving God takes work. We have to make sure, however that the fact that there might be some mess, and maybe even a little smell, we can't think "this must not be God's will... this is supposed to be easy!" We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are doing what God has called us to do. Our faithfulness and responsibility shouldn't falter because of circumstances.
This verse also applies to "Relationships Devoted to Unity". As we mature in Christ and are in the process of discipling one another as well as being discipled, there will be times that interpersonal conflict arises. This can be with friends, leaders, and those you lead. We must understand that this is a necessary part of the process of harvest. The situations in life bring our character issues to the surface so they can be dealt with. That happens for others, too. We need to help one another through that.
Sometimes the conflict comes from "getting in trouble". Psalm 94:12 says, "Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions." We need to always remember that discipline brings us into alignment. This is all a part of the great harvest to come!
Don't focus on the mess on the stable floor. Look to the fields at what God is doing through your labors. It can be tough to see when all you've got is rubber boots and a shovel, but know that God is completing his work in you and through you in ALL things.
Don't fear the smell! Live the DREAM!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, March 6, 2008
3.6.8 "Your Opportunity"
"Your Opportunity"
Numbers 6:1-7:89
Mark 12:38-13:13
Psalm 49:1-20
Proverbs 10:27-28
"Lord, please give me a chance to reflect your love to the world around me. Give me an opportunity to let my light shine for you." Have you ever prayed that prayer? I know at some point all of us have. We know what we've been commissioned for, and we want to be successful... if only God would give us a chance... well if only he'd set up THE chance where we'd be "comfortable" sharing with others.
There was ONE time. And I stress only ONE time where I had that kind of opportunity to be "comfortable." It was when my wife and I were school teachers in the same school. We were talking between classes, and another teacher came up to us in tears saying, "I want what you guys have..." We didn't lead her to the Lord, but what an opportunity. Those are the kind of moments we like to look for.
Jesus told us to look for a different opportunity: "When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:9-11)
Wow... what an opportunity... I'm certain that most who are reading this today are probably not about to get arrested. That's not really a common occurrence in our culture (at least not in the way Jesus was referring to), but I believe we WILL have the same opportunity. What we fail to see is that when our comfort zone is invaded, threatened, or blown away, THAT is our opportunity.
A mother of a young school band member sent me this earlier this week:
"Hi Greg,
I just wanted to share a testimony for my daughter. Since this involves music, I thought you'd appreciate it. Since she was in third grade, she knew she wanted to play saxophone in band. Now that she's in fifth grade, she can take band. Her band instructor requires clarinet prior to sax. She was disappointed, but started clarinet this year. About a month ago, she came home from school all excited that her band teacher was picking people for sax and they'd start soon. Then I asked how her teacher was deciding who would get to play (she only had four spots, with more wanting to play). My daughter said it was based off who had the most home practice time in. The next day, she comes in the house, crying her heart out. I asked what was wrong..." I didn't get picked". Of course, my heart broke for her, knowing how badly she wanted this. I consoled her with ":there's always next year" and I also made her realize that she knew what the teacher expected and she didn't do it. I told her to do what she knows she needs to do and go on.......last Thursday, her band instructor calls me. She raved at how proud of my daughter she is. She explained that most band kids who don't get what they want, either quit or have a bad attitude, neither of which she had. In fact, she said she was just the opposite and increased her clarinet practice time, with a great attitude. She explained that someone decided to quit sax, and now she's offering it to my daughter.
I know this sounds weird, but I'm glad this all happened this way. I got to share with my daughter that her attitude reflected Christ to her teacher and she also learned that everything is not just given to you, some things are truly earned."
I love that testimony! While I'm sure this trial was not the "torture" we picture in Jesus' description, I believe it DOES illustrate a key principle. It's in our nature in a situation to call the teacher and complain about how unfair it is to make our child cry, or blast the teacher for having favorites, or calling talk radio or suing somebody. But when we do that... we lose the "opportunity".
What challenge are you in right now? What trial is around the corner? Do you want to reflect the love of Christ? Recognize the opportunity to deny your flesh and respond with Godly principles.
I'll send you off with the song we sing as a family most mornings:
"This is my chance to change the world,
God has a plan for me.
I'll go where He leads, I'll tell of his love,
For God has strengthened me."
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Numbers 6:1-7:89
Mark 12:38-13:13
Psalm 49:1-20
Proverbs 10:27-28
"Lord, please give me a chance to reflect your love to the world around me. Give me an opportunity to let my light shine for you." Have you ever prayed that prayer? I know at some point all of us have. We know what we've been commissioned for, and we want to be successful... if only God would give us a chance... well if only he'd set up THE chance where we'd be "comfortable" sharing with others.
There was ONE time. And I stress only ONE time where I had that kind of opportunity to be "comfortable." It was when my wife and I were school teachers in the same school. We were talking between classes, and another teacher came up to us in tears saying, "I want what you guys have..." We didn't lead her to the Lord, but what an opportunity. Those are the kind of moments we like to look for.
Jesus told us to look for a different opportunity: "When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13:9-11)
Wow... what an opportunity... I'm certain that most who are reading this today are probably not about to get arrested. That's not really a common occurrence in our culture (at least not in the way Jesus was referring to), but I believe we WILL have the same opportunity. What we fail to see is that when our comfort zone is invaded, threatened, or blown away, THAT is our opportunity.
A mother of a young school band member sent me this earlier this week:
"Hi Greg,
I just wanted to share a testimony for my daughter. Since this involves music, I thought you'd appreciate it. Since she was in third grade, she knew she wanted to play saxophone in band. Now that she's in fifth grade, she can take band. Her band instructor requires clarinet prior to sax. She was disappointed, but started clarinet this year. About a month ago, she came home from school all excited that her band teacher was picking people for sax and they'd start soon. Then I asked how her teacher was deciding who would get to play (she only had four spots, with more wanting to play). My daughter said it was based off who had the most home practice time in. The next day, she comes in the house, crying her heart out. I asked what was wrong..." I didn't get picked". Of course, my heart broke for her, knowing how badly she wanted this. I consoled her with ":there's always next year" and I also made her realize that she knew what the teacher expected and she didn't do it. I told her to do what she knows she needs to do and go on.......last Thursday, her band instructor calls me. She raved at how proud of my daughter she is. She explained that most band kids who don't get what they want, either quit or have a bad attitude, neither of which she had. In fact, she said she was just the opposite and increased her clarinet practice time, with a great attitude. She explained that someone decided to quit sax, and now she's offering it to my daughter.
I know this sounds weird, but I'm glad this all happened this way. I got to share with my daughter that her attitude reflected Christ to her teacher and she also learned that everything is not just given to you, some things are truly earned."
I love that testimony! While I'm sure this trial was not the "torture" we picture in Jesus' description, I believe it DOES illustrate a key principle. It's in our nature in a situation to call the teacher and complain about how unfair it is to make our child cry, or blast the teacher for having favorites, or calling talk radio or suing somebody. But when we do that... we lose the "opportunity".
What challenge are you in right now? What trial is around the corner? Do you want to reflect the love of Christ? Recognize the opportunity to deny your flesh and respond with Godly principles.
I'll send you off with the song we sing as a family most mornings:
"This is my chance to change the world,
God has a plan for me.
I'll go where He leads, I'll tell of his love,
For God has strengthened me."
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, March 1, 2008
3.1.8 "What Am I Doing Wrong?"
"What Am I Doing Wrong?"
Leviticus 24:1-25:46
Mark 10:13-31
Psalm 44:9-26
Proverbs 10:20-21
The great thing about being a Christian is that ALL your problems go away! There's never a trial that comes! It's always happy and there's flute music and birds chirping and everything! -- sounds like campaign rhetoric, doesn't it....
In Mark 10 Peter says, "We've given up everything to follow you." Jesus answers, "Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything - home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property - for love of me and to tell others the Good News, who won't be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecution."
Woohoo! When we give up for God we get it all back!!!
Wait a minute... did that say, "... with persecution."? Does that mean trials DO come?? There IS pain??
So often it's in our nature to want the quick fix. We want the trial to just go away. We figure there MUST be a "formula" out there than can fix this. If we have a problem, we figure we MUST be doing something wrong.
Believe it or not, you can be doing everything right and still see no release from the trial. This is shown in today's Psalm.
"I am constantly despised, mocked, taunted and cursed by my vengeful enemies. And all this has happened, Lord, despite our loyalty to you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you! We have not left your path by a single step. If we had, we could understand your punishing us in the barren wilderness and sending us into darkness and death. If we had turned away from worshiping our God, and were worshiping idols, would God not know it? Yes he knows the secrets of every heart. But that is not our case. For we are facing death threats constantly because of serving you! We are like sheep awaiting slaughter.
"Waken! Rouse yourself! Don't sleep O Lord! Are we cast off forever? Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our sorrows and oppression? We lie face downward in the dust. Rise up, O Lord, and help us. Save us by your constant love." (Ps. 44:15-26)
One of our biggest problems is that we connect ourselves to our "trials". We make the trial about "me". "Lord, fix this for me." "Lord, help me to be more comfortable." We forget the beloved phrase, "It's not about you."
God works in all circumstances with the purpose of bringing glory to his name. There may be times that the trial I am in is to serve a purpose that has absolutely nothing to do with me. I think I fall into the trap sometimes of thinking that God's greatest concern should be my comfort. That's a distorted theology that has me a little too close to being the object of worship.
Don't get me wrong. There are times that the "mess" we're in is a direct result of disobedience. We need to be repentant and seek the face of God and ask him to restore things according to his will. But in all things, we need to remember that our goal is the DEATH of our flesh, not the PLEASURE of our flesh. Through EVERY trial, we need to ask God to mould us into who he wants us to be. MOST of the time, there are elements of our character that the Lord is working on.
Remember Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job did not sin before the Lord, yet the trial was very real. His friends all approached him with the "formulas" and the "you need to"'s, but that wasn't what it was all about.
We open the door to frustration and doubt when we forget that it's not about formulas and quick fixes. As we mature in Christ, the trials will most likely intensify from the outward sense, but inwardly our flesh is dead, and the trial has a decreasing impact on us.
If I am a Dead Man Walking, what can any circumstance do to me? Nothing can shake my trust, my faith, my love for the Lord.
Searching our hearts for impure thoughts and motives does need to be our FIRST priority. But sometimes after doing that our prayer needs to be, "Lord, I've laid myself bare before you, and I believe that I have been walking in obedience to your command, and that my heart is right before you. If there's something I've missed, please bring it to light. Make me into who you want me to be."
Through all of that, we understand what it really means to live a "Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship". Our relationship with the Lord is one of intimacy in all things regardless of what the enemy may throw at us.
"What am I doing wrong?" The answer may be "Nothing. Just enjoy your time with the Lord through your trial!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Leviticus 24:1-25:46
Mark 10:13-31
Psalm 44:9-26
Proverbs 10:20-21
The great thing about being a Christian is that ALL your problems go away! There's never a trial that comes! It's always happy and there's flute music and birds chirping and everything! -- sounds like campaign rhetoric, doesn't it....
In Mark 10 Peter says, "We've given up everything to follow you." Jesus answers, "Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything - home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property - for love of me and to tell others the Good News, who won't be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecution."
Woohoo! When we give up for God we get it all back!!!
Wait a minute... did that say, "... with persecution."? Does that mean trials DO come?? There IS pain??
So often it's in our nature to want the quick fix. We want the trial to just go away. We figure there MUST be a "formula" out there than can fix this. If we have a problem, we figure we MUST be doing something wrong.
Believe it or not, you can be doing everything right and still see no release from the trial. This is shown in today's Psalm.
"I am constantly despised, mocked, taunted and cursed by my vengeful enemies. And all this has happened, Lord, despite our loyalty to you. We have not violated your covenant. Our hearts have not deserted you! We have not left your path by a single step. If we had, we could understand your punishing us in the barren wilderness and sending us into darkness and death. If we had turned away from worshiping our God, and were worshiping idols, would God not know it? Yes he knows the secrets of every heart. But that is not our case. For we are facing death threats constantly because of serving you! We are like sheep awaiting slaughter.
"Waken! Rouse yourself! Don't sleep O Lord! Are we cast off forever? Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our sorrows and oppression? We lie face downward in the dust. Rise up, O Lord, and help us. Save us by your constant love." (Ps. 44:15-26)
One of our biggest problems is that we connect ourselves to our "trials". We make the trial about "me". "Lord, fix this for me." "Lord, help me to be more comfortable." We forget the beloved phrase, "It's not about you."
God works in all circumstances with the purpose of bringing glory to his name. There may be times that the trial I am in is to serve a purpose that has absolutely nothing to do with me. I think I fall into the trap sometimes of thinking that God's greatest concern should be my comfort. That's a distorted theology that has me a little too close to being the object of worship.
Don't get me wrong. There are times that the "mess" we're in is a direct result of disobedience. We need to be repentant and seek the face of God and ask him to restore things according to his will. But in all things, we need to remember that our goal is the DEATH of our flesh, not the PLEASURE of our flesh. Through EVERY trial, we need to ask God to mould us into who he wants us to be. MOST of the time, there are elements of our character that the Lord is working on.
Remember Job 13:15, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Job did not sin before the Lord, yet the trial was very real. His friends all approached him with the "formulas" and the "you need to"'s, but that wasn't what it was all about.
We open the door to frustration and doubt when we forget that it's not about formulas and quick fixes. As we mature in Christ, the trials will most likely intensify from the outward sense, but inwardly our flesh is dead, and the trial has a decreasing impact on us.
If I am a Dead Man Walking, what can any circumstance do to me? Nothing can shake my trust, my faith, my love for the Lord.
Searching our hearts for impure thoughts and motives does need to be our FIRST priority. But sometimes after doing that our prayer needs to be, "Lord, I've laid myself bare before you, and I believe that I have been walking in obedience to your command, and that my heart is right before you. If there's something I've missed, please bring it to light. Make me into who you want me to be."
Through all of that, we understand what it really means to live a "Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship". Our relationship with the Lord is one of intimacy in all things regardless of what the enemy may throw at us.
"What am I doing wrong?" The answer may be "Nothing. Just enjoy your time with the Lord through your trial!"
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, January 26, 2008
1.26.8 "Let God Connect the Dots"
"Let God Connect the Dots"
Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14
"God's will for us is less about our comfort than it is about our contribution. God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance. God created you so that your life would count, not so that you could count the days of your life." - Erwin McManus
There is a great need out there. The Lord desires to use you to meet that need. You may or may not realize it yet, but there are desires in your heart that are already connected to that need.
Moses was raised in the house of the king. It was the good life. However, he felt a strong connection to his Hebrew brothers. "One day, many years later when Moses had grown up and become a man, he went out to visit his fellow Hebrews and saw the terrible conditions they were under." The story continues to tell how he saw an Egyptian mistreat a Hebrew, so he killed the Egyptian. He then goes into hiding in the wilderness.
Moses had a burden for his people, but at that time he had not placed it in the hands of God. He had not gone through the wilderness experience to meet the need in God's strength and timing. Look at the result: the sin of murder.
Beginning in Exodus 3, Moses meets God via the burning bush. This is an incredible experience with the glory and the voice of God. In Ex. 3:7-10 the Lord says, "I have seen the deep sorrows of my people in Egypt, and have heard their pleas for freedom... I have come to deliver them... Now I am going to send you..."
God is now connecting the need of the people to the desire of Moses. In actuality by now, Moses has spent so long in hiding, and he knows the mistakes he's made, that in his mind, he is not the man for the job. "But I'm not the person for a job like that!" Moses exclaimed. ex. 3:11.
As far as Moses was concerned, the dream was dead. Not to God, though. He had placed the desires in Moses' heart long ago. It was now time to connect the dots.
How about you? What desires are in your heart? You could be in many different places. You could be out there in your own strength trying to pursue the desires. You could be running from the mistakes of the past. You may be in the position where you don't even remember the desire anymore. Maybe you're in the place where God is telling you "it's time". You're scared. You don't think you're the one to be obedient.
God will never call you to do something and not give you the strength to accomplish it. No matter where you're at in this journey, give your desires to God. Make yourself wholly available to him. In his time you're going to see HIM connect the dots.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14
"God's will for us is less about our comfort than it is about our contribution. God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance. God created you so that your life would count, not so that you could count the days of your life." - Erwin McManus
There is a great need out there. The Lord desires to use you to meet that need. You may or may not realize it yet, but there are desires in your heart that are already connected to that need.
Moses was raised in the house of the king. It was the good life. However, he felt a strong connection to his Hebrew brothers. "One day, many years later when Moses had grown up and become a man, he went out to visit his fellow Hebrews and saw the terrible conditions they were under." The story continues to tell how he saw an Egyptian mistreat a Hebrew, so he killed the Egyptian. He then goes into hiding in the wilderness.
Moses had a burden for his people, but at that time he had not placed it in the hands of God. He had not gone through the wilderness experience to meet the need in God's strength and timing. Look at the result: the sin of murder.
Beginning in Exodus 3, Moses meets God via the burning bush. This is an incredible experience with the glory and the voice of God. In Ex. 3:7-10 the Lord says, "I have seen the deep sorrows of my people in Egypt, and have heard their pleas for freedom... I have come to deliver them... Now I am going to send you..."
God is now connecting the need of the people to the desire of Moses. In actuality by now, Moses has spent so long in hiding, and he knows the mistakes he's made, that in his mind, he is not the man for the job. "But I'm not the person for a job like that!" Moses exclaimed. ex. 3:11.
As far as Moses was concerned, the dream was dead. Not to God, though. He had placed the desires in Moses' heart long ago. It was now time to connect the dots.
How about you? What desires are in your heart? You could be in many different places. You could be out there in your own strength trying to pursue the desires. You could be running from the mistakes of the past. You may be in the position where you don't even remember the desire anymore. Maybe you're in the place where God is telling you "it's time". You're scared. You don't think you're the one to be obedient.
God will never call you to do something and not give you the strength to accomplish it. No matter where you're at in this journey, give your desires to God. Make yourself wholly available to him. In his time you're going to see HIM connect the dots.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
11.27.7 "It's Much Quieter with your Head in the Sand"
"It's Much Quieter with your Head in the Sand"
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Do you ever wish that someone hadn't told you something? Maybe it was when you found out what was in hot dogs! I wish I hadn't heard THAT! I think our lives are often spent in the pursuit of our human nature's mission statement, "Live the Comfort Zone!" We love to hover as close to that as we can. We try to make sure we chase possessions and wealth, and even the pursuit of "rest" whether that be in days off, or sleeping in, or whatever. We can have seasons where we think "it doesn't get any better than this." I have a great TV, a recorded football game, and a reclining couch. What more do you need?
Then someone comes along, and rocks the boat with this irritating morsel of truth. On of my "heroes" is Diane DeLaSantos. She is the Executive Director of City on a Hill. That is an an incredible inner-city mission in Milwaukee. When she visited our church and was sharing her heart & we were hearing testimonies of lives changed, It was great! well... it was great in the sense that you have to get off your couch!
Diane was not from the inner city. She was a very successful business executive. God called her to this work. She made a statement that I think is profound. She spoke of the security of her career and the fear of leaving that for the "danger" of the mission. She said she came to realize that the "danger" was in the security of her career and the true security was in walking in obedience.
Because we work so hard to pursue "comfort zone", we don't want to hear that. We think we've built our safety net... our security. We draw the line in our schedule and say, "God I've given you enough". Even when we feel the tug of the Spirit, we don't put more in the offering because it doesn't fit into the budget. We think WE have it figured out. "God, you'll mess up my plan if I follow you in this."
Let's see how that worked for Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came... they couldn't interpret it. At last Daniel came in..."
He proceeds to tell Daniel the dream. Daniel is silent for an hour before sharing the meaning with him. "Daniel replied: 'Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, and not to you!"
Uh oh...
As it turns out the dream meant that this mighty king who is known throughout the world is going to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. Sure enough, verse 29 says, "Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying, 'I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.' While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass like the cows for seven years..." Now get this: "... until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses."
That happened, and when he realized 7 years later that it was God, and not him, he regained his kingdom.
We stick our head in the sand when we surround ourselves with all that is comfortable. Then God has a way of getting our attention. Sometimes it's to the extreme of King Nebuchadnezzar. Other times it's more subtle.
When Diane brought some girls from City on a Hill they did an interpretive praise dance to a song that said, "Imagine being free". It can be just entertainment when your head is in the sand. But when you hear their stories of neglect and abuse and horrible living conditions in poverty, you have to respond. God has called us to reach out.
We must get our head out of the sand and Live the DREAM as laid out in 2 Peter 1:
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life [Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship]: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character." (vs. 2-4)
"But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good [the discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training], and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." [Active Ministry Involvement] vs. 5.
"Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. this will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply." [Relationships Devoted to Unity] vs. 6-7
"The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ." [Mission to Reach our World for Christ] vs. 8.
Maturing in Christ is a process that we must keep before us each day. We must challenge one another. We must get our head out of the sand and pursue with intensity the race marked out before us. It would have been much more comfortable if my ears wouldn't have heard the need.
But they did.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Do you ever wish that someone hadn't told you something? Maybe it was when you found out what was in hot dogs! I wish I hadn't heard THAT! I think our lives are often spent in the pursuit of our human nature's mission statement, "Live the Comfort Zone!" We love to hover as close to that as we can. We try to make sure we chase possessions and wealth, and even the pursuit of "rest" whether that be in days off, or sleeping in, or whatever. We can have seasons where we think "it doesn't get any better than this." I have a great TV, a recorded football game, and a reclining couch. What more do you need?
Then someone comes along, and rocks the boat with this irritating morsel of truth. On of my "heroes" is Diane DeLaSantos. She is the Executive Director of City on a Hill. That is an an incredible inner-city mission in Milwaukee. When she visited our church and was sharing her heart & we were hearing testimonies of lives changed, It was great! well... it was great in the sense that you have to get off your couch!
Diane was not from the inner city. She was a very successful business executive. God called her to this work. She made a statement that I think is profound. She spoke of the security of her career and the fear of leaving that for the "danger" of the mission. She said she came to realize that the "danger" was in the security of her career and the true security was in walking in obedience.
Because we work so hard to pursue "comfort zone", we don't want to hear that. We think we've built our safety net... our security. We draw the line in our schedule and say, "God I've given you enough". Even when we feel the tug of the Spirit, we don't put more in the offering because it doesn't fit into the budget. We think WE have it figured out. "God, you'll mess up my plan if I follow you in this."
Let's see how that worked for Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me. I called in all the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning of my dream, but when they came... they couldn't interpret it. At last Daniel came in..."
He proceeds to tell Daniel the dream. Daniel is silent for an hour before sharing the meaning with him. "Daniel replied: 'Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, and not to you!"
Uh oh...
As it turns out the dream meant that this mighty king who is known throughout the world is going to live like a beast in the field for 7 years. Sure enough, verse 29 says, "Twelve months after this dream, he was strolling on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying, 'I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.' While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be forced out of the palace to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass like the cows for seven years..." Now get this: "... until you finally realize that God parcels out the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he chooses."
That happened, and when he realized 7 years later that it was God, and not him, he regained his kingdom.
We stick our head in the sand when we surround ourselves with all that is comfortable. Then God has a way of getting our attention. Sometimes it's to the extreme of King Nebuchadnezzar. Other times it's more subtle.
When Diane brought some girls from City on a Hill they did an interpretive praise dance to a song that said, "Imagine being free". It can be just entertainment when your head is in the sand. But when you hear their stories of neglect and abuse and horrible living conditions in poverty, you have to respond. God has called us to reach out.
We must get our head out of the sand and Live the DREAM as laid out in 2 Peter 1:
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life [Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship]: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character." (vs. 2-4)
"But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good [the discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training], and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." [Active Ministry Involvement] vs. 5.
"Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. this will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply." [Relationships Devoted to Unity] vs. 6-7
"The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ." [Mission to Reach our World for Christ] vs. 8.
Maturing in Christ is a process that we must keep before us each day. We must challenge one another. We must get our head out of the sand and pursue with intensity the race marked out before us. It would have been much more comfortable if my ears wouldn't have heard the need.
But they did.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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