"Let's Make a Deal!"
Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4
Does that title bring back memories? If so, it definitely dates you! For me it was Monte Hall's voice that was so iconic. They've revived the show again now which gives you the choice: Door number 1, Door number 2 or Door number 3! What amazing television!
Well, God makes it a bit easier. There's just 2 doors: " I am giving you the choice today between God's blessing or God's curse!" (Deut. 11:26)
Um.... boy... I don't know.... I ah... blessing or curse... "we'll find out... right after this commercial break!"
"There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of these other nations." (v.27-28)
In this chapter Moses speaks of the family in verses 1-6. "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of his commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen his greatness and his awesome power. They weren't there to see the miracles he did in Egypt..." he goes on to list the many great things God has done.
"But you have seen these mighty miracles! how carefully, then, you should obey these commandments... so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land you are about to enter." (v.7-8)
My daughter has not had the path to Christ I have. She doesn't automatically know about the godly home I grew up in. She doesn't know that I would find my dad praying in his office or my mom praying in her bedroom. She doesn't know that I had incredible altar experiences at camp. She doesn't know about the HUGE rapture scare I had when my parents went to dinner with the church board & I didn't know & when I called them all no one was home! (still makes me sweat to think about it!)
All she knows is what she sees in me.
I have found freedom in Christ. I have found blessing. "But beware that your hearts do not turn from God... So keep these commandments carefully in mind... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates, so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." (vs. 16-21)
It's up to me to put the option in front of my daughter. "Blessing, or curse". She wont choose just because I say it, she will choose based on what I live. She will be influenced and impacted by the world around her, but the power for her to live life will come as we sit around the breakfast table each morning.
Well Monte (or Wayne Brady) .... I'll take the blessing!
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 Legacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Legacy. Show all posts
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
3.4.12 "The Family Banner"
"The Family Banner"
Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
"So, tell me about your family." What kind of things pop into your mind when someone asks you that? How do you describe your family? Tell me about your parents. Tell me about your home life. Tell me about the priority of following the Lord's commands in your home. Spend a moment thinking about your descriptions.
"Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 'When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.'" (Numbers 2:1-2)
We've just finished the book of Leviticus in the One Year Bible, and now we're headed into Numbers. At the surface level this book has all the entertainment value of a financial report. But it's important that we remind ourselves that God's word gives us incredible insights into the nature and heart of God. We discover characteristics of God's personality and priority through every single page of scripture. This is a window into seeing who he is.
In today's reading, the Lord is giving directions for setting up camp. Each tribe is commanded to set up beneath their family banner. The Levites are the tribe that are commanded to take care of the set up and care of the tabernacle. The tribes of Judah, Issachar & Zebulun are the ones to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. The list goes on. In some cases, their assignments are given due to something in their family history, a decision made by a leader in that family.
So what does this have to do with anything?
I was thinking of the importance the Lord places on the calling of a family. I was thinking of the impact of my decisions. As a father, I hold my family's legacy in my hands. What will I do with it?
My Dad is a Pastor. At no time did he ever say, "Son, You are to be a pastor." And yet, the path the Lord laid out for our family was to follow in his footsteps. My brother is also a church leader. My dad's desire to follow the call of God placed in me that same desire to seek the will of God. My parents raised a Godly banner.
So am I saying that your children must follow the same career path? No. That's not the point. the point is, God places a priority on your family banner. Is your home a place that Glorifies God? Do you exhibit a commitment to connecting to the Body of Christ? Is it common for someone in your family to catch you reading your Bible? Do your kids know that the stewardship of God's resources are a priority? Does your family share the mission to impact the world?
What does your family Banner look like? Does your family live the DREAM, or is it one where each one does what is right in their own mind? A generation from now, when someone asks your descendants, "tell me about your family..." What will they say?
You may be single and don't have a family, so you may not think this applies. Yet, as we've read in Genesis, & Exodus, Many of the decisions made by individuals when they were single directly impacted the legacy of their families.
Each one of us hold our family banner in our hand. Make it a banner of Godliness. There are many who will follow.
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
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
8.24.11 "Significance"
"Significance"
Job 12:1-15:35
I Corinthians 15:29-58
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 21:30-31
One of the basic desires of everyone of us is that we live a life of significance. There's something within us that detests the thought of wasting time, going unnoticed, or of falling short. In today's reading in Job, Job is describing the frailty of man in comparison to the wisdom of God. As he's wrapping up in chapter 14 he speaks of those who die: "They never know if their children grow up in honor or sink to insignificance." (Job 14:21)
"Sink to insignificance". What a phrase... Do we want our lives to "sink to insignificance"? I don't think so.
This line of thinking can be somewhat dangerous if we determine to take our own steps to establish "significance". Some will think, "hey, I'm wasting my time at this job, and I'm going to move on..." Just because of their own feelings, and not necessarily because that's what God is directing.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul says, "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
If we want to be significant, we must work with all our might at pleasing the Lord with what is before us. We need to take the opportunity now to work for him. "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is." (Psalm 39:4)
With this in mind, we should press on realizing that today is Significant. Today makes a difference. Work enthusiastically for the Lord.
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
Job 12:1-15:35
I Corinthians 15:29-58
Psalm 39:1-13
Proverbs 21:30-31
One of the basic desires of everyone of us is that we live a life of significance. There's something within us that detests the thought of wasting time, going unnoticed, or of falling short. In today's reading in Job, Job is describing the frailty of man in comparison to the wisdom of God. As he's wrapping up in chapter 14 he speaks of those who die: "They never know if their children grow up in honor or sink to insignificance." (Job 14:21)
"Sink to insignificance". What a phrase... Do we want our lives to "sink to insignificance"? I don't think so.
This line of thinking can be somewhat dangerous if we determine to take our own steps to establish "significance". Some will think, "hey, I'm wasting my time at this job, and I'm going to move on..." Just because of their own feelings, and not necessarily because that's what God is directing.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul says, "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
If we want to be significant, we must work with all our might at pleasing the Lord with what is before us. We need to take the opportunity now to work for him. "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered - how fleeting my life is." (Psalm 39:4)
With this in mind, we should press on realizing that today is Significant. Today makes a difference. Work enthusiastically for the Lord.
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
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
3.29.11 "Let's Make a Deal!"
"Let's Make a Deal!"
Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4
Does that title bring back memories? If so, it definitely dates you! Monte Hall used to give you the choice: Door number 1, Door number 2 or Door number 3! What amazing television that was! Now it's "Deal or No Deal!" That's another one of those shows that's the opposite of a microwave. Instead of making things go faster, it stretches 8 minutes of entertainment into an hour. Instead of 3 doors you have 25 suitcases. In that one, you're hoping that the choice you made was the one with the most cash. But you're not sure....
Well, God makes it a bit easier. There's just 2 doors: " I am giving you the choice today between God's blessing or God's curse!" (Deut. 11:26)
Um.... boy... I don't know.... I ah... blessing or curse... "we'll find out... right after this commercial break!"
"There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of these other nations." (v.27-28)
In this chapter Moses speaks of the family in verses 1-6. "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of his commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen his greatness and his awesome power. They weren't there to see the miracles he did in Egypt..." he goes on to list the many great things God has done.
"But you have seen these mighty miracles! how carefully, then, you should obey these commandments... so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land you are about to enter." (v.7-8)
My daughter has not had the path to Christ I have. She doesn't know about the godly home I grew up in. She doesn't know that I would find my dad praying in his office or my mom praying in her bedroom. She doesn't know that I had incredible altar experiences at camp. She doesn't know about the HUGE rapture scare I had when my parents went to dinner with the church board & I didn't know & when I called them all no one was home! (still makes me sweat to think about it!)
All she knows is what she sees in me.
I have found freedom in Christ. I have found blessing. "But beware that your hearts do not turn from God... So keep these commandments carefully in mind... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates, so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." (vs. 16-21)
It's up to me to put the option in front of my daughter. "Blessing, or curse". She wont choose just because I say it, she will choose based on what I live. She will be influenced and impacted by the world around her, but the power for her to live life will come as we sit around the breakfast table each morning.
Well Monte (or Howie) .... I'll take the blessing!
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
Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32
Luke 8:22-39
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 12:4
Does that title bring back memories? If so, it definitely dates you! Monte Hall used to give you the choice: Door number 1, Door number 2 or Door number 3! What amazing television that was! Now it's "Deal or No Deal!" That's another one of those shows that's the opposite of a microwave. Instead of making things go faster, it stretches 8 minutes of entertainment into an hour. Instead of 3 doors you have 25 suitcases. In that one, you're hoping that the choice you made was the one with the most cash. But you're not sure....
Well, God makes it a bit easier. There's just 2 doors: " I am giving you the choice today between God's blessing or God's curse!" (Deut. 11:26)
Um.... boy... I don't know.... I ah... blessing or curse... "we'll find out... right after this commercial break!"
"There will be blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I am giving you today, and a curse if you refuse them and worship the gods of these other nations." (v.27-28)
In this chapter Moses speaks of the family in verses 1-6. "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of his commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen his greatness and his awesome power. They weren't there to see the miracles he did in Egypt..." he goes on to list the many great things God has done.
"But you have seen these mighty miracles! how carefully, then, you should obey these commandments... so that you may have the strength to go in and possess the land you are about to enter." (v.7-8)
My daughter has not had the path to Christ I have. She doesn't know about the godly home I grew up in. She doesn't know that I would find my dad praying in his office or my mom praying in her bedroom. She doesn't know that I had incredible altar experiences at camp. She doesn't know about the HUGE rapture scare I had when my parents went to dinner with the church board & I didn't know & when I called them all no one was home! (still makes me sweat to think about it!)
All she knows is what she sees in me.
I have found freedom in Christ. I have found blessing. "But beware that your hearts do not turn from God... So keep these commandments carefully in mind... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates, so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you in the land the Lord has promised you." (vs. 16-21)
It's up to me to put the option in front of my daughter. "Blessing, or curse". She wont choose just because I say it, she will choose based on what I live. She will be influenced and impacted by the world around her, but the power for her to live life will come as we sit around the breakfast table each morning.
Well Monte (or Howie) .... I'll take the blessing!
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
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
7.28.10 "The Awesome Weight of Legacy"
"The Awesome Weight of Legacy"
2 Chronicles 21:1 - 23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
Proverbs 20:7 "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."
Like it or not, we have a self-centered nature. Many times we view our struggle through Christian maturity as something that is between us and God. God is working in each of us to develop our character into what He wants us to be, but we feel that is a private matter. We all too often forget the larger picture of the impact our character has on generations to come.
2 Chronicles 21:1 starts out, "When Jehoshaphat died..." The first thought in my head was. wow. that's it. All that Jehoshaphat gets is a few pages. A few good lessons of obedience, a few examples of compromise. Is that it? Not really. His allegiance w/ the "evil" King Ahab laid the groundwork for Jehoram, his son, the new king to marry Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. Let's just say she's not someone to name your daughter after. It says in 21:6 of Jehoram, "...and his whole life was one constant binge of doing evil." This pretty much continues for another generation as the beloved Queen Athaliah tries to kill all her grandchildren to protect her throne, and only Joash escapes.
Ugly mess. How does this happen? Character flaws in one generation magnified in the next.
We all know we are not perfect. In fact, there are comfort zone areas of our heart in which we really aren't interested in allowing the Holy Spirit in to do his work. We think we can get by. 2 Chronicles 21:11 says that Jehoram constructed idol shrines in the mountains and compelled the people to worship idols. It drives me nuts how much we read about God's people in the old testament and these shrines in the mountains. However, I'm coming to realize that these mountain shrines represent the corners of our heart and of our character that we try to hide from God. Guess what... It's these shrines that make a mess for future generations.
We may be able to be "whitened sepulchers", as Jesus called the Pharisees, enough to give the appearance of righteousness to those around us, but the pattern of scripture is too consistent and clear for us to think that it wont be revealed somehow.
As I look at my daughter, I wonder about today's Proverb. Will she have the wonderful heritage of an honest father? I consider myself honest, and I do my best, but when I think about her, it raises the bar. Knowing how my integrity affects her future, it causes me to all the more desire the holiness of a surrendered heart.
I can't do this on my own. Romans 11:16b, which is also a part of today's reading says, "For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too." It is so vital that I am completely grafted to Christ. There is no holiness or purity I can create in myself. It doesn't make a difference what I look like to you or anyone else. It can only come as I am desperately dependent on the Vine of Christ.
It's not that we should be holy for the sake of our kids. We should be holy because He who called us is holy. But it may help to realize the fruit of compromise.
What's your legacy today? What will your children think as they read Proverbs 20:7? My dad will read this. I'm so grateful that I can look at this proverb and be able to relate to the "wonderful heritage" of an honest father. His legacy is known to all. My prayer is that my daughter will look at this verse and feel the same about me. I'm going to live today with that goal. It is an awesome weight, but a tremendous privilege. Lord, graft me to you!
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
2 Chronicles 21:1 - 23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
Proverbs 20:7 "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."
Like it or not, we have a self-centered nature. Many times we view our struggle through Christian maturity as something that is between us and God. God is working in each of us to develop our character into what He wants us to be, but we feel that is a private matter. We all too often forget the larger picture of the impact our character has on generations to come.
2 Chronicles 21:1 starts out, "When Jehoshaphat died..." The first thought in my head was. wow. that's it. All that Jehoshaphat gets is a few pages. A few good lessons of obedience, a few examples of compromise. Is that it? Not really. His allegiance w/ the "evil" King Ahab laid the groundwork for Jehoram, his son, the new king to marry Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. Let's just say she's not someone to name your daughter after. It says in 21:6 of Jehoram, "...and his whole life was one constant binge of doing evil." This pretty much continues for another generation as the beloved Queen Athaliah tries to kill all her grandchildren to protect her throne, and only Joash escapes.
Ugly mess. How does this happen? Character flaws in one generation magnified in the next.
We all know we are not perfect. In fact, there are comfort zone areas of our heart in which we really aren't interested in allowing the Holy Spirit in to do his work. We think we can get by. 2 Chronicles 21:11 says that Jehoram constructed idol shrines in the mountains and compelled the people to worship idols. It drives me nuts how much we read about God's people in the old testament and these shrines in the mountains. However, I'm coming to realize that these mountain shrines represent the corners of our heart and of our character that we try to hide from God. Guess what... It's these shrines that make a mess for future generations.
We may be able to be "whitened sepulchers", as Jesus called the Pharisees, enough to give the appearance of righteousness to those around us, but the pattern of scripture is too consistent and clear for us to think that it wont be revealed somehow.
As I look at my daughter, I wonder about today's Proverb. Will she have the wonderful heritage of an honest father? I consider myself honest, and I do my best, but when I think about her, it raises the bar. Knowing how my integrity affects her future, it causes me to all the more desire the holiness of a surrendered heart.
I can't do this on my own. Romans 11:16b, which is also a part of today's reading says, "For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too." It is so vital that I am completely grafted to Christ. There is no holiness or purity I can create in myself. It doesn't make a difference what I look like to you or anyone else. It can only come as I am desperately dependent on the Vine of Christ.
It's not that we should be holy for the sake of our kids. We should be holy because He who called us is holy. But it may help to realize the fruit of compromise.
What's your legacy today? What will your children think as they read Proverbs 20:7? My dad will read this. I'm so grateful that I can look at this proverb and be able to relate to the "wonderful heritage" of an honest father. His legacy is known to all. My prayer is that my daughter will look at this verse and feel the same about me. I'm going to live today with that goal. It is an awesome weight, but a tremendous privilege. Lord, graft me to you!
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, June 11, 2010
6.11.10 "And With That He Died"
"And With That He Died"
I Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51- 8:13
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 17:1
"And with that, he died." Those are the last words of Acts 7 (TLB). The words are referring to a man called Stephen. I don't know if you've ever thought much about Stephen, but I believe he is one of the greatest heros of the Christian faith. What captures my attention is how his life only took up a couple pages in the bible. That was his "blip" on the "radar screen" of life. The reality is that we all only have a "blip".
What about my blip? What about yours? I want to challenge you to take a look at today, June 11, 2010 as if it's your last day. I don't want us to look at this in a depressing way, but I want to encourage you to look at it from an eternal perspective. What if today was the summation of your "blip?" "And with that he died." These same words will be said of you. What is the contextual application for your life? What is it for mine?
I think the words spoken of me may include stories of lives touched and paths crossed, a life full of good friends and stories of God's provision, of laughter and even jokes of my messy desk. At some point I'm sure my love for the Vikings would arouse a chortle or two... At first glance, i'm not in a bad state. Oh, there may be some "he never wrote that musical he talked about, he never got to see some of his plans take hold..." but in human terms, not a horrible score card. A nice life. "and with that he died."
There is one thing about Stephen that needs to be my highest goal, my biggest dream, my passion, my desire, my hunger. Acts 7:55 says "but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit..." back in Acts 7:8, it says, "Stephen, the man so full of faith and the Holy Spirit's power..." It's like it's his last name! "which stephen you talking about?" "the one full of the Holy Spirit." "oh yeah, him."
Will that be said of me? Why not? THIS SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF THE BALANCED CHRISTIAN LIFE! We can have all of the dreams and goals in the world, but if only our highest pursuit was to be "full of faith and the Holy Spirit's power". Can you imagine how life would be?
There are a few times in scripture where men's faces glowed. Moses was because he was talking with God as a man talks to another man. Stephen as insults and lies were being hurled at him. I can tell you with certainty that his also came from being in the presence of God. It was when no one was around. He knew who God was. There were no circumstances of man that could quench his passion for the presence of God.
What is the "that" in "and with that he died."? For Stephen it referred to "Lord, do not hold their sin against them." It plays in my mind like the climax of a movie in slow motion: The Jewish leaders rising in rage... "But Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God...and he said 'look...' then they mobbed him putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, and dragged him out of the city to stone him... and as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' and he fell to his knees SHOUTING, 'LORD DON'T CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN!' and with THAT, he died."
We can't forget the foreshadowing that comes at the stoning of Stephen. "The official witnesses - the executioners - took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul". (Acts. 7:58) This man, who would probably never forget the stoning of Stephen, would come to write the majority of the new testament. Sometimes we look at our 'blip' as if it is about us. Sometimes, like Stephen, our life is the "seed" for what is to come.
May my story be:
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceasless praise
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee
take my silver and my gold; not a mite would i withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose
Take my will and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for Thee.
"...and with THAT he died."
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
I Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51- 8:13
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 17:1
"And with that, he died." Those are the last words of Acts 7 (TLB). The words are referring to a man called Stephen. I don't know if you've ever thought much about Stephen, but I believe he is one of the greatest heros of the Christian faith. What captures my attention is how his life only took up a couple pages in the bible. That was his "blip" on the "radar screen" of life. The reality is that we all only have a "blip".
What about my blip? What about yours? I want to challenge you to take a look at today, June 11, 2010 as if it's your last day. I don't want us to look at this in a depressing way, but I want to encourage you to look at it from an eternal perspective. What if today was the summation of your "blip?" "And with that he died." These same words will be said of you. What is the contextual application for your life? What is it for mine?
I think the words spoken of me may include stories of lives touched and paths crossed, a life full of good friends and stories of God's provision, of laughter and even jokes of my messy desk. At some point I'm sure my love for the Vikings would arouse a chortle or two... At first glance, i'm not in a bad state. Oh, there may be some "he never wrote that musical he talked about, he never got to see some of his plans take hold..." but in human terms, not a horrible score card. A nice life. "and with that he died."
There is one thing about Stephen that needs to be my highest goal, my biggest dream, my passion, my desire, my hunger. Acts 7:55 says "but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit..." back in Acts 7:8, it says, "Stephen, the man so full of faith and the Holy Spirit's power..." It's like it's his last name! "which stephen you talking about?" "the one full of the Holy Spirit." "oh yeah, him."
Will that be said of me? Why not? THIS SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF THE BALANCED CHRISTIAN LIFE! We can have all of the dreams and goals in the world, but if only our highest pursuit was to be "full of faith and the Holy Spirit's power". Can you imagine how life would be?
There are a few times in scripture where men's faces glowed. Moses was because he was talking with God as a man talks to another man. Stephen as insults and lies were being hurled at him. I can tell you with certainty that his also came from being in the presence of God. It was when no one was around. He knew who God was. There were no circumstances of man that could quench his passion for the presence of God.
What is the "that" in "and with that he died."? For Stephen it referred to "Lord, do not hold their sin against them." It plays in my mind like the climax of a movie in slow motion: The Jewish leaders rising in rage... "But Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God...and he said 'look...' then they mobbed him putting their hands over their ears, and drowning out his voice with their shouts, and dragged him out of the city to stone him... and as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' and he fell to his knees SHOUTING, 'LORD DON'T CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN!' and with THAT, he died."
We can't forget the foreshadowing that comes at the stoning of Stephen. "The official witnesses - the executioners - took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul". (Acts. 7:58) This man, who would probably never forget the stoning of Stephen, would come to write the majority of the new testament. Sometimes we look at our 'blip' as if it is about us. Sometimes, like Stephen, our life is the "seed" for what is to come.
May my story be:
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceasless praise
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee
take my silver and my gold; not a mite would i withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose
Take my will and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be ever, only all for Thee.
"...and with THAT he died."
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 4, 2010
3.4.10 "The Family Banner"
"The Family Banner"
Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
"So, tell me about your family." What kind of things pop into your mind when someone asks you that? How do you describe your family? Tell me about your parents. Tell me about your home life. Tell me about the priority of following the Lord's commands in your home. Spend a moment thinking about your descriptions.
"Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 'When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.'" (Numbers 2:1-2)
We've just finished the book of Leviticus in the One Year Bible, and now we're headed into Numbers. At the surface level this book has all the entertainment value of a financial report. But it's important that we remind ourselves that God's word gives us incredible insights into the nature and heart of God. We discover characteristics of God's personality and priority through every single page of scripture. This is a window into seeing who he is.
In today's reading, the Lord is giving directions for setting up camp. Each tribe is commanded to set up beneath their family banner. The Levites are the tribe that are commanded to take care of the set up and care of the tabernacle. The tribes of Judah, Issachar & Zebulun are the ones to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. The list goes on. In some cases, their assignments are given due to something in their family history, a decision made by a leader in that family.
So what does this have to do with anything?
I was thinking of the importance the Lord places on the calling of a family. I was thinking of the impact of my decisions. As a father, I hold my family's legacy in my hands. What will I do with it?
My Dad is a Pastor. At no time did he ever say, "Son, You are to be a pastor." And yet, the path the Lord laid out for our family was to follow in his footsteps. My brother is also a church leader. My dad's desire to follow the call of God placed in me that same desire to seek the will of God. My parents raised a Godly banner.
So am I saying that your children must follow the same career path? No. That's not the point. the point is, God places a priority on your family banner. Is your home a place that Glorifies God? Do you exhibit a commitment to connecting to the Body of Christ? Is it common for someone in your family to catch you reading your Bible? Do your kids know that the stewardship of God's resources are a priority? Does your family share the mission to impact the world?
What does your family Banner look like? Does your family live the DREAM, or is it one where each one does what is right in their own mind? A generation from now, when someone asks your descendants, "tell me about your family..." What will they say?
You may be single and don't have a family, so you may not think this applies. Yet, as we've read in Genesis, & Exodus, Many of the decisions made by individuals when they were single directly impacted the legacy of their families.
Each one of us hold our family banner in our hand. Make it a banner of Godliness. There are many who will follow.
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 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
"So, tell me about your family." What kind of things pop into your mind when someone asks you that? How do you describe your family? Tell me about your parents. Tell me about your home life. Tell me about the priority of following the Lord's commands in your home. Spend a moment thinking about your descriptions.
"Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 'When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.'" (Numbers 2:1-2)
We've just finished the book of Leviticus in the One Year Bible, and now we're headed into Numbers. At the surface level this book has all the entertainment value of a financial report. But it's important that we remind ourselves that God's word gives us incredible insights into the nature and heart of God. We discover characteristics of God's personality and priority through every single page of scripture. This is a window into seeing who he is.
In today's reading, the Lord is giving directions for setting up camp. Each tribe is commanded to set up beneath their family banner. The Levites are the tribe that are commanded to take care of the set up and care of the tabernacle. The tribes of Judah, Issachar & Zebulun are the ones to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. The list goes on. In some cases, their assignments are given due to something in their family history, a decision made by a leader in that family.
So what does this have to do with anything?
I was thinking of the importance the Lord places on the calling of a family. I was thinking of the impact of my decisions. As a father, I hold my family's legacy in my hands. What will I do with it?
My Dad is a Pastor. At no time did he ever say, "Son, You are to be a pastor." And yet, the path the Lord laid out for our family was to follow in his footsteps. My brother is also a church leader. My dad's desire to follow the call of God placed in me that same desire to seek the will of God. My parents raised a Godly banner.
So am I saying that your children must follow the same career path? No. That's not the point. the point is, God places a priority on your family banner. Is your home a place that Glorifies God? Do you exhibit a commitment to connecting to the Body of Christ? Is it common for someone in your family to catch you reading your Bible? Do your kids know that the stewardship of God's resources are a priority? Does your family share the mission to impact the world?
What does your family Banner look like? Does your family live the DREAM, or is it one where each one does what is right in their own mind? A generation from now, when someone asks your descendants, "tell me about your family..." What will they say?
You may be single and don't have a family, so you may not think this applies. Yet, as we've read in Genesis, & Exodus, Many of the decisions made by individuals when they were single directly impacted the legacy of their families.
Each one of us hold our family banner in our hand. Make it a banner of Godliness. There are many who will follow.
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, July 28, 2009
7.28.9 "The Awesome Weight of Legacy"
"The Awesome Weight of Legacy"
2 Chronicles 21:1 - 23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
Proverbs 20:7 "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."
Like it or not, we have a self-centered nature. Many times we view our struggle through Christian maturity as something that is between us and God. God is working in each of us to develop our character into what He wants us to be, but we feel that is a private matter. We all too often forget the larger picture of the impact our character has on generations to come.
2 Chronicles 21:1 starts out, "When Jehoshaphat died..." The first thought in my head was. wow. that's it. All that Jehoshaphat gets is a few pages. A few good lessons of obedience, a few examples of compromise. Is that it? Not really. His allegiance w/ the "evil" King Ahab laid the groundwork for Jehoram, his son, the new king to marry Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. Let's just say she's not someone to name your daughter after. It says in 21:6 of Jehoram, "...and his whole life was one constant binge of doing evil." This pretty much continues for another generation as the beloved Queen Athaliah tries to kill all her grandchildren to protect her throne, and only Joash escapes.
Ugly mess. How does this happen? Character flaws in one generation magnified in the next.
We all know we are not perfect. In fact, there are comfort zone areas of our heart in which we really aren't interested in allowing the Holy Spirit in to do his work. We think we can get by. 2 Chronicles 21:11 says that Jehoram constructed idol shrines in the mountains and compelled the people to worship idols. It drives me nuts how much we read about God's people in the old testament and these shrines in the mountains. However, I'm coming to realize that these mountain shrines represent the corners of our heart and of our character that we try to hide from God. Guess what... It's these shrines that make a mess for future generations.
We may be able to be "whitened sepulchers", as Jesus called the Pharisees, enough to get by to those around us, but the pattern of scripture is too consistent and clear for us to think that it wont be revealed somehow.
As I look at my daughter, I wonder about today's Proverb. Will she have the wonderful heritage of an honest father? I consider myself honest, and I do my best, but when I think about her, it raises the bar. Knowing how my integrity affects her future, it causes me to all the more desire the holiness of a surrendered heart.
I can't do this on my own. Romans 11:16b, which is also a part of today's reading says, "For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too." It is so vital that I am completely grafted to Christ. There is no holiness or purity I can create in myself. It doesn't make a difference what I look like to you or anyone else. It can only come as I am desperately dependent on the Vine of Christ.
It's not that we should be holy for the sake of our kids. We should be holy because He who called us is holy. But it may help to realize the fruit of compromise.
What's your legacy today? What will your children think as they read Proverbs 20:7? My dad will read this. I'm so grateful that I can look at this proverb and be able to relate to the "wonderful heritage" of an honest father. His legacy is known to all. My prayer is that my daughter will look at this verse and feel the same about me. I'm going to live today with that goal. It is an awesome weight, but a tremendous privilege. Lord, graft me to you!
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
2 Chronicles 21:1 - 23:21
Romans 11:13-36
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 20:7
Proverbs 20:7 "It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father."
Like it or not, we have a self-centered nature. Many times we view our struggle through Christian maturity as something that is between us and God. God is working in each of us to develop our character into what He wants us to be, but we feel that is a private matter. We all too often forget the larger picture of the impact our character has on generations to come.
2 Chronicles 21:1 starts out, "When Jehoshaphat died..." The first thought in my head was. wow. that's it. All that Jehoshaphat gets is a few pages. A few good lessons of obedience, a few examples of compromise. Is that it? Not really. His allegiance w/ the "evil" King Ahab laid the groundwork for Jehoram, his son, the new king to marry Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. Let's just say she's not someone to name your daughter after. It says in 21:6 of Jehoram, "...and his whole life was one constant binge of doing evil." This pretty much continues for another generation as the beloved Queen Athaliah tries to kill all her grandchildren to protect her throne, and only Joash escapes.
Ugly mess. How does this happen? Character flaws in one generation magnified in the next.
We all know we are not perfect. In fact, there are comfort zone areas of our heart in which we really aren't interested in allowing the Holy Spirit in to do his work. We think we can get by. 2 Chronicles 21:11 says that Jehoram constructed idol shrines in the mountains and compelled the people to worship idols. It drives me nuts how much we read about God's people in the old testament and these shrines in the mountains. However, I'm coming to realize that these mountain shrines represent the corners of our heart and of our character that we try to hide from God. Guess what... It's these shrines that make a mess for future generations.
We may be able to be "whitened sepulchers", as Jesus called the Pharisees, enough to get by to those around us, but the pattern of scripture is too consistent and clear for us to think that it wont be revealed somehow.
As I look at my daughter, I wonder about today's Proverb. Will she have the wonderful heritage of an honest father? I consider myself honest, and I do my best, but when I think about her, it raises the bar. Knowing how my integrity affects her future, it causes me to all the more desire the holiness of a surrendered heart.
I can't do this on my own. Romans 11:16b, which is also a part of today's reading says, "For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be too." It is so vital that I am completely grafted to Christ. There is no holiness or purity I can create in myself. It doesn't make a difference what I look like to you or anyone else. It can only come as I am desperately dependent on the Vine of Christ.
It's not that we should be holy for the sake of our kids. We should be holy because He who called us is holy. But it may help to realize the fruit of compromise.
What's your legacy today? What will your children think as they read Proverbs 20:7? My dad will read this. I'm so grateful that I can look at this proverb and be able to relate to the "wonderful heritage" of an honest father. His legacy is known to all. My prayer is that my daughter will look at this verse and feel the same about me. I'm going to live today with that goal. It is an awesome weight, but a tremendous privilege. Lord, graft me to you!
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
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
3.4.9 "The Family Banner"
"The Family Banner"
Numbers 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
"So, tell me about your family." What kind of things pop into your mind when someone asks you that? How do you describe your family? Tell me about your parents. Tell me about your home life. Tell me about the priority of following the Lord's commands in your home. Spend a moment thinking about that.
"Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 'When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.'" (Numbers 2:1-2)
We've just finished the book of Leviticus in the One Year Bible, and now we're headed into Numbers. At the surface level this book has all the entertainment value of a financial report. But it's important that we remind ourselves that God's word gives us incredible insights into the nature and heart of God. We discover characteristics of God's personality and priority through every single page of scripture. This is a window into seeing who he is.
In today's reading, the Lord is giving directions for setting up camp. Each tribe is commanded to set up beneath their family banner. The Levites are the tribe that are commanded to take care of the set up and care of the tabernacle. The tribes of Judah, Issachar & Zebulun are the ones to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. The list goes on. In some cases, their assignments are given due to something in their family history, a decision made by a leader in that family.
So what does this have to do with anything?
I was thinking of the importance the Lord places on the calling of a family. I was thinking of the impact of my decisions. As a father, I hold my family's legacy in my hands. What will I do with it?
My Dad is a Pastor. At no time did he ever say, "Son, You are to be a pastor." And yet, the path the Lord laid out for our family was to follow in his footsteps. My brother is also a church leader. My dad's desire to follow the call of God placed in me that same desire to seek the will of God. My parents raised a Godly banner.
So am I saying that your children must follow the same career path? No. That's not the point. the point is, God places a priority on your family banner. Is your home a place that Glorifies God? Do you exhibit a commitment to connecting to the Body of Christ? Is it common for someone in your family to catch you reading your Bible? Do your kids know that the stewardship of God's resources are a priority? Does your family share the mission to impact the world?
As most kids are today, my daughter is quite technically savvy. She loves getting into my wife & my phones and changing the ringtones and other stuff. I have a "note pad' on my phone and she wrote: "Daddy is so fun. Awsome music riter. Daseling. Daddy so nice. You are wonderful." Now i'm glad she wrote that on a good day for the sake of this example, but the point is, she wrote down her impressions.
What does your family Banner look like? Does your family live the DREAM, or is it one where each one does what is right in their own mind? A generation from now, when someone asks your descendants, "tell me about your family..." What will they say?
You may be single and don't have a family, so you may not think this applies. Yet, as we've read in Genesis, & Exodus, Many of the decisions made by individuals when they were single directly impacted the legacy of their families.
Each one of us hold our family banner in our hand. Make it a banner of Godliness. There are many who will follow.
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 2:1-3:51
Mark 11:27-12:17
Psalm 47:1-9
Proverbs 10:24-25
"So, tell me about your family." What kind of things pop into your mind when someone asks you that? How do you describe your family? Tell me about your parents. Tell me about your home life. Tell me about the priority of following the Lord's commands in your home. Spend a moment thinking about that.
"Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 'When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.'" (Numbers 2:1-2)
We've just finished the book of Leviticus in the One Year Bible, and now we're headed into Numbers. At the surface level this book has all the entertainment value of a financial report. But it's important that we remind ourselves that God's word gives us incredible insights into the nature and heart of God. We discover characteristics of God's personality and priority through every single page of scripture. This is a window into seeing who he is.
In today's reading, the Lord is giving directions for setting up camp. Each tribe is commanded to set up beneath their family banner. The Levites are the tribe that are commanded to take care of the set up and care of the tabernacle. The tribes of Judah, Issachar & Zebulun are the ones to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. The list goes on. In some cases, their assignments are given due to something in their family history, a decision made by a leader in that family.
So what does this have to do with anything?
I was thinking of the importance the Lord places on the calling of a family. I was thinking of the impact of my decisions. As a father, I hold my family's legacy in my hands. What will I do with it?
My Dad is a Pastor. At no time did he ever say, "Son, You are to be a pastor." And yet, the path the Lord laid out for our family was to follow in his footsteps. My brother is also a church leader. My dad's desire to follow the call of God placed in me that same desire to seek the will of God. My parents raised a Godly banner.
So am I saying that your children must follow the same career path? No. That's not the point. the point is, God places a priority on your family banner. Is your home a place that Glorifies God? Do you exhibit a commitment to connecting to the Body of Christ? Is it common for someone in your family to catch you reading your Bible? Do your kids know that the stewardship of God's resources are a priority? Does your family share the mission to impact the world?
As most kids are today, my daughter is quite technically savvy. She loves getting into my wife & my phones and changing the ringtones and other stuff. I have a "note pad' on my phone and she wrote: "Daddy is so fun. Awsome music riter. Daseling. Daddy so nice. You are wonderful." Now i'm glad she wrote that on a good day for the sake of this example, but the point is, she wrote down her impressions.
What does your family Banner look like? Does your family live the DREAM, or is it one where each one does what is right in their own mind? A generation from now, when someone asks your descendants, "tell me about your family..." What will they say?
You may be single and don't have a family, so you may not think this applies. Yet, as we've read in Genesis, & Exodus, Many of the decisions made by individuals when they were single directly impacted the legacy of their families.
Each one of us hold our family banner in our hand. Make it a banner of Godliness. There are many who will follow.
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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