Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2012
3.5.12 "What's Really Important"
"What's Really Important"
Numbers 4:1-5:31
Mark 12:18-37
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26
In Mark 12 Jesus is fielding questions from the religious leaders, many of whom are trying to trap him. At one point he is asked by a religious teacher "of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"Jesus replied, 'The one that says, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all you heart and soul and mind and strength." The second is: "You must love others as much as yourself." No other commandments are greater than these.'" (Mark 12:29-31)
We need to get these commands into the fiber of our being. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. To love the Lord, we must obey his commandments. Every part of our being should be devoted to obedience.
One thing we need to understand is that love is a decision, and not an emotion. If I love the Lord when I "feel" like it, what kind of man of God would I be? When I decide to love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength, I guard all of those areas intensely. I don't want to allow anything in that would cause me to love him less. I don't want to put my self at risk of disobeying him. It is an active, aggressive decision to love the Lord. I don't sit around waiting to feel love for him, I DO it.
The second command is much the same. "Love others as much as yourself." What does that mean? We show love for self by meeting needs. When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm tired I rest. We love others by considering their needs. Relationships Devoted to Unity are relationships that are devoted to meeting the needs of one another. This honors God.
I love today's Proverb. it says, "Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes." If we are living for self, there's probably an element of Laziness evident in our lives. We may work hard for what we want, but we tend to slack in the area of needs of those we work for. If we are following God's commands, we will intensely pursue the needs of our employers. To love our employers as ourself would be to put ourselves in their place. "If I hired someone, what would I want to see out of them?" And then out of biblical love, strive to meet the need with that intensity.
How important is it to Live the D & the R? Well, Jesus said "no other commandments are greater than these." I need to make it top priority in 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
Sunday, December 4, 2011
12.4.11 "Knowing God through Loving Others"
"Knowing God through Loving Others"
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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
Friday, November 4, 2011
11.4.11 "The Boring Christian Life"
"The Boring Christian Life"
Ezekiel 10:1-11:25
Hebrews 6:1-20
Psalm 105:16-38
Proverbs 27:1-2
When I was a kid I had heard why it was good to become a Christian: You go to heaven and get a white robe and spend all your time worshiping God... Ok... You can imagine that for a active young guy that wasn't a great thing to put in the brochure. At my level of understanding all I could picture was wooden church benches, and being sleepy. It sounded boring.
There is an interesting verse in Hebrews 6:12: "Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won't become bored with being a Christian..."
The writer of Hebrews is dealing with people who are "bored with being a Christian". Who wants to live the Boring Christian Life? What causes that? We'll have to look at the preceding verses. Verse 1 says, "Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be."
One of the first ingredients of the Boring Christian Life is to get stuck in a rut. A rut comes from driving in the same path over and over and over again. Too many believers stand on the shoreline of Christian maturity. There is an acceptance of Christ, but as far as relationship goes, it's more a matter of ritual. Go to church because you should. Do enough to look like a Christian, but there's no diving in to the deeper things of Christ: The discipline of daily time in the Word, the devotion to discipling relationships.
Another ingredient to the Boring Christian Life is the calloused heart. verse 4-6 "There is no use trying to bring you back to the Lord again if you have once understood the Good News and tasted for yourself the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, and know how good the Word of God is, and felt the mighty powers of the world to come, and then have turned against God. You cannot bring yourself to repent again..." We've talked before about being "moved and not changed". The hardening of the Boring Christian's heart comes from knowing the right thing to do, but in spite of the Spirit's prompting, ignoring it and going through life without being obedient to the Lord's direction. We've all heard someone say, "I'll follow God later". That presumes so much. That presumes that there's something WE do to save ourselves. We cannot come to Christ unless his Spirit draws us. That's why it is SO important to respond to Him IMMEDIATELY when he's calling us. Otherwise we lose our sense of direction and purpose. We walk alone... in the Boring Christian Life.
The fruit of the Boring Christian Life is thistles and thorns. It's dry. It's desolate. Who wants that?
There's good news! It doesn't have to be that way. Let's get away from the Boring Christian Life.
"Dear friends, even though I am talking like this I really don't believe that what I am saying applies to you. I am confident you are producing the good fruit that comes along with your salvation. For God is not unfair. How can he forget your hard work for him, or forget the way you used to show your love for him - and still do - by helping his children? And we are anxious that you keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, so that you will get your full reward. THEN, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won't become bored with being a Christian, nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive all that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience." Heb 6:9-12
Living the Christian life according to God's plan is anything but boring. Being in right relationship (obedience) produces good fruit. Loving one another brings rewards. Fulfillment comes through following Godly examples. It takes strong faith and patience.
The next verses use the example of Abraham and how God was faithful to His promise to him. God will be faithful to his promise to you. Your faith becomes strong through storms and trials that seem too great to handle. It's in those circumstances God comes through "... so that those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to wonder whether he might change his plans." Heb. 6:17
Growing in faith isn't easy. It comes through some turbulent times. When floods of adversity come those caught in the rut too often get swept away. But applying scriptural principles in every area of our life keeps us secure in him regardless of the circumstances. verse 19 says, "This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven..."
God has a plan for you, and if we surrender to His direction, He will come through. He is faithful!
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, April 20, 2011
4.20.11 "All you Need to Know"
"All you Need to Know"
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
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
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
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, March 16, 2011
3.16.11 "The Light"
"The Light"
Numbers 24:1-25:18
Luke 2:1-35
Psalm 59:1-17
Proverbs 11:14
Luke chapter 2 is a very familiar passage to all of us. It begins with "... a decree went out from Caesar that all should be taxed..." and continues through "... there was no room in the inn...". There's the angels, the shepherds, and the incredible contrast of the splendor and simplicity of the coming of Jesus to earth.
As was the legal requirement for the Jewish people, if the first born was a male, he was to be brought to the priest to be dedicated to the Lord. Simeon, the priest, is described as "a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him - God's anointed King."
Verse 27 says, "The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God."
I love this story. Here is a man who loves God. He's been waiting all his life for God's promise to come to pass. How many days was he going to the temple waiting to see the Messiah? He's sensitive to the Spirit of God directing his path.
What Simeon says is what captures my heart. "Lord, now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!" (vs. 29-31)
The phrase "He is the Light that will shine upon the nations..." is what we need to bring with us today. We who know God are bearers of the Light. It may seem that there is darkness all around, but darkness cannot resist the presence of the Light. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
It's too often easy to become so accustomed to the Light that we forget the desperation of the darkness. The Light is Truth. The world around us is filled with confusion. There are people within your circle of influence today who are in need of an answer. They are filled with the darkness of turmoil. The situation may not seem huge from the surface, but often there's a tremendous blackness underneath. Just a glimpse of the light of truth can bring hope that is desperately needed.
Before the sunrise, the darkness seems so powerful. But that's not the case. There is no real strength in darkness. Darkness is merely absence of light. When the sun comes up in the morning, the darkness is shown for what it is: Powerless. In the same way, Let's bring the vibrant Light to the world today.
One thing to note is this: We shouldn't "use" the Light as a spotlight shining it in people's faces causing them to run and hide. Remember, Jesus said he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. We should wait for the opportunity for the Light to shine from within. He is the Light men are drawn to. He is the Savior of the world!
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
Numbers 24:1-25:18
Luke 2:1-35
Psalm 59:1-17
Proverbs 11:14
Luke chapter 2 is a very familiar passage to all of us. It begins with "... a decree went out from Caesar that all should be taxed..." and continues through "... there was no room in the inn...". There's the angels, the shepherds, and the incredible contrast of the splendor and simplicity of the coming of Jesus to earth.
As was the legal requirement for the Jewish people, if the first born was a male, he was to be brought to the priest to be dedicated to the Lord. Simeon, the priest, is described as "a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him - God's anointed King."
Verse 27 says, "The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God."
I love this story. Here is a man who loves God. He's been waiting all his life for God's promise to come to pass. How many days was he going to the temple waiting to see the Messiah? He's sensitive to the Spirit of God directing his path.
What Simeon says is what captures my heart. "Lord, now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!" (vs. 29-31)
The phrase "He is the Light that will shine upon the nations..." is what we need to bring with us today. We who know God are bearers of the Light. It may seem that there is darkness all around, but darkness cannot resist the presence of the Light. We have a Mission to Reach our World for Christ.
It's too often easy to become so accustomed to the Light that we forget the desperation of the darkness. The Light is Truth. The world around us is filled with confusion. There are people within your circle of influence today who are in need of an answer. They are filled with the darkness of turmoil. The situation may not seem huge from the surface, but often there's a tremendous blackness underneath. Just a glimpse of the light of truth can bring hope that is desperately needed.
Before the sunrise, the darkness seems so powerful. But that's not the case. There is no real strength in darkness. Darkness is merely absence of light. When the sun comes up in the morning, the darkness is shown for what it is: Powerless. In the same way, Let's bring the vibrant Light to the world today.
One thing to note is this: We shouldn't "use" the Light as a spotlight shining it in people's faces causing them to run and hide. Remember, Jesus said he did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. We should wait for the opportunity for the Light to shine from within. He is the Light men are drawn to. He is the Savior of the world!
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
Saturday, March 5, 2011
3.5.11 "What's Really Important"
"What's Really Important"
Numbers 4:1-5:31
Mark 12:18-37
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26
In Mark 12 Jesus is fielding questions from the religious leaders, many of whom are trying to trap him. At one point he is asked by a religious teacher "of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"Jesus replied, 'The one that says, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all you heart and soul and mind and strength." The second is: "You must love others as much as yourself." No other commandments are greater than these.'" (Mark 12:29-31)
We need to get these commands into the fiber of our being. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. To love the Lord, we must obey his commandments. Every part of our being should be devoted to obedience.
One thing we need to understand is that love is a decision, and not an emotion. If I love the Lord when I "feel" like it, what kind of man of God would I be? When I decide to love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength, I guard all of those areas intensely. I don't want to allow anything in that would cause me to love him less. I don't want to put my self at risk of disobeying him. It is an active, aggressive decision to love the Lord. I don't sit around waiting to feel love for him, I DO it.
The second command is much the same. "Love others as much as yourself." What does that mean? We show love for self by meeting needs. When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm tired I rest. We love others by considering their needs. Relationships Devoted to Unity are relationships that are devoted to meeting the needs of one another. This honors God.
I love today's Proverb. it says, "Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes." If we are living for self, there's probably an element of Laziness evident in our lives. We may work hard for what we want, but we tend to slack in the area of needs of those we work for. If we are following God's commands, we will intensely pursue the needs of our employers. To love our employers as ourself would be to put ourselves in their place. "If I hired someone, what would I want to see out of them?" And then out of biblical love, strive to meet the need with that intensity.
How important is it to Live the D & the R? Well, Jesus said "no other commandments are greater than these." I need to make it top priority in 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
Numbers 4:1-5:31
Mark 12:18-37
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26
In Mark 12 Jesus is fielding questions from the religious leaders, many of whom are trying to trap him. At one point he is asked by a religious teacher "of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"Jesus replied, 'The one that says, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all you heart and soul and mind and strength." The second is: "You must love others as much as yourself." No other commandments are greater than these.'" (Mark 12:29-31)
We need to get these commands into the fiber of our being. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. To love the Lord, we must obey his commandments. Every part of our being should be devoted to obedience.
One thing we need to understand is that love is a decision, and not an emotion. If I love the Lord when I "feel" like it, what kind of man of God would I be? When I decide to love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength, I guard all of those areas intensely. I don't want to allow anything in that would cause me to love him less. I don't want to put my self at risk of disobeying him. It is an active, aggressive decision to love the Lord. I don't sit around waiting to feel love for him, I DO it.
The second command is much the same. "Love others as much as yourself." What does that mean? We show love for self by meeting needs. When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm tired I rest. We love others by considering their needs. Relationships Devoted to Unity are relationships that are devoted to meeting the needs of one another. This honors God.
I love today's Proverb. it says, "Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes." If we are living for self, there's probably an element of Laziness evident in our lives. We may work hard for what we want, but we tend to slack in the area of needs of those we work for. If we are following God's commands, we will intensely pursue the needs of our employers. To love our employers as ourself would be to put ourselves in their place. "If I hired someone, what would I want to see out of them?" And then out of biblical love, strive to meet the need with that intensity.
How important is it to Live the D & the R? Well, Jesus said "no other commandments are greater than these." I need to make it top priority in 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
Saturday, December 4, 2010
12.4.10 "Knowing God through Loving Others"
"Knowing God through Loving Others"
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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
Monday, September 27, 2010
9.27.10 "The Hero and The Treasure"
"The Hero and The Treasure"
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:15-36
Proverbs 24:6-7
"As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." - Ephesians 5:31-33
Marriage - a great mystery, and yet it is the illustration of Christ and the church.
Marriage is important to God. Because it's important to God, it's many times in the center of Satan's crosshairs. The attack on marriage is an attack on God. In our marriages we are the illustration of Christ and the Church.
In the verses above, the husband is commanded to love the wife, and the wife is commanded to respect her husband. Dr. Emerson Eggerich has written a great book entitled "Love and Respect". In this book he addresses the issue of how many times communication troubles and conflict are escalated because of miscommunication in this area. Wives are not communicating in a way that their husbands feel respected, and husbands are not communicating in a way that their wives feel loved.
I think there is a "disconnect" even from those words "love and respect" because of the different "wiring" in a man and a woman. I like to explain it in the terms of "The Hero and The Treasure".
God has wired man to be a "Hero", and he has wired the woman to be a "Treasure". Because of these differences, The Hero and The Treasure actually begin to speak in different languages. The Hero thinks and hears from a "hero" perspective, and The Treasure does the same from a "treasure" point of view.
Like any thing valuable, The Treasure needs to be protected. She needs to feel safe. She needs to feel cared for. Each Treasure is unique, so the recipe for this security may very slightly, but security is vital nonetheless. The treasure needs to feel valued.
The Hero is wired quite different than The Treasure. He is wired for accomplishment. Often his identity is closely connected to his work. He loves to conquer an enemy. There is no greater fear than failure.
Enter the challenge of communication: "You forgot to take out the garbage." A statement. No big deal, right? Well, it all depends on the health of The Hero and The Treasure.
Worst case scenario:
"You forgot to take out the garbage" in the Treasure's mind could mean, "I can't believe he doesn't love me enough to follow through on what I asked. He never listens to me. I have all of this stuff to do and he doesn't even care. He never considers my needs."
In the Hero's mind he hears, "You are such a failure. You are such a disappointment. I had hoped for a great husband, but I ended up with you." So he decides, "I think I'll just keep watching this program. It helps me 'escape'."
Then the conflict escalates.
While that may seem ridiculous that a conflict could arise from something so trite, over time it's these very circumstances that cause major division in the home. The ability of The Hero and The Treasure to communicate healthily will determine how every conflict is resolved and worked through.
"And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) This word "submit" is such an unpopular word in our culture. Submit has become a term for "door mat". That is not the heart of God at all. The point is that the man must consider the need of The Treasure. The woman must consider the need of The Hero.
"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. he is the Savior of his body, the Church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." (Eph 5:22-24)
Wives, rest in the leadership of your husband. Let him be your hero. Speak his language. Build him up. Equip him to treasure you. It's hard for him to do if he feels put down.
"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word... In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. for a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church." (Eph. 5:25-26,28-29)
Husbands, do you hear what that's saying? TREASURE your wives. Protect her. Let her know how valuable she is to you. "I do love her. I bring a paycheck home. I work hard." That's "hero" talk, not treasure talk. If a Hero's hobby is a car, he will spend time with it. Care for it. He'll protect it from the elements. He'll get whatever is needed for it. A Hero MUST spend that much more time protecting and valuing the Treasure.
Jesus was the ultimate example. He laid down his life. This is what we must do for one another!
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
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:15-36
Proverbs 24:6-7
"As the Scriptures say, 'A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." - Ephesians 5:31-33
Marriage - a great mystery, and yet it is the illustration of Christ and the church.
Marriage is important to God. Because it's important to God, it's many times in the center of Satan's crosshairs. The attack on marriage is an attack on God. In our marriages we are the illustration of Christ and the Church.
In the verses above, the husband is commanded to love the wife, and the wife is commanded to respect her husband. Dr. Emerson Eggerich has written a great book entitled "Love and Respect". In this book he addresses the issue of how many times communication troubles and conflict are escalated because of miscommunication in this area. Wives are not communicating in a way that their husbands feel respected, and husbands are not communicating in a way that their wives feel loved.
I think there is a "disconnect" even from those words "love and respect" because of the different "wiring" in a man and a woman. I like to explain it in the terms of "The Hero and The Treasure".
God has wired man to be a "Hero", and he has wired the woman to be a "Treasure". Because of these differences, The Hero and The Treasure actually begin to speak in different languages. The Hero thinks and hears from a "hero" perspective, and The Treasure does the same from a "treasure" point of view.
Like any thing valuable, The Treasure needs to be protected. She needs to feel safe. She needs to feel cared for. Each Treasure is unique, so the recipe for this security may very slightly, but security is vital nonetheless. The treasure needs to feel valued.
The Hero is wired quite different than The Treasure. He is wired for accomplishment. Often his identity is closely connected to his work. He loves to conquer an enemy. There is no greater fear than failure.
Enter the challenge of communication: "You forgot to take out the garbage." A statement. No big deal, right? Well, it all depends on the health of The Hero and The Treasure.
Worst case scenario:
"You forgot to take out the garbage" in the Treasure's mind could mean, "I can't believe he doesn't love me enough to follow through on what I asked. He never listens to me. I have all of this stuff to do and he doesn't even care. He never considers my needs."
In the Hero's mind he hears, "You are such a failure. You are such a disappointment. I had hoped for a great husband, but I ended up with you." So he decides, "I think I'll just keep watching this program. It helps me 'escape'."
Then the conflict escalates.
While that may seem ridiculous that a conflict could arise from something so trite, over time it's these very circumstances that cause major division in the home. The ability of The Hero and The Treasure to communicate healthily will determine how every conflict is resolved and worked through.
"And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) This word "submit" is such an unpopular word in our culture. Submit has become a term for "door mat". That is not the heart of God at all. The point is that the man must consider the need of The Treasure. The woman must consider the need of The Hero.
"For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. he is the Savior of his body, the Church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything." (Eph 5:22-24)
Wives, rest in the leadership of your husband. Let him be your hero. Speak his language. Build him up. Equip him to treasure you. It's hard for him to do if he feels put down.
"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word... In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. for a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church." (Eph. 5:25-26,28-29)
Husbands, do you hear what that's saying? TREASURE your wives. Protect her. Let her know how valuable she is to you. "I do love her. I bring a paycheck home. I work hard." That's "hero" talk, not treasure talk. If a Hero's hobby is a car, he will spend time with it. Care for it. He'll protect it from the elements. He'll get whatever is needed for it. A Hero MUST spend that much more time protecting and valuing the Treasure.
Jesus was the ultimate example. He laid down his life. This is what we must do for one another!
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
Monday, September 6, 2010
9.6.10 "Until the Time is Right"
"Until the Time is Right"
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Psalm 50:8-15
Proverbs 22:22-23
"Get it Now!" That's the name of the store where I purchased a TV set a few years ago. I was just going in to look... but that place was set up to wheel & deal... I wanted it, and I got it. Our culture has positioned itself to "meet the need as fast as you can." "Buy now.. pay later..." Fast food is making billions on people who want a meal NOW.
Everything is wired for us to take the short cut. Feeling lonely? eHarmony, or match .com or somethign like that will solve all the problems, right? You have a need? Meet it fast!
Today's reading includes Song of Solomon. It's a story of two lover's that pursue each other, and those around who rejoice with them in their love. Song of Solomon 3:5 catches my eye. "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right."
My daughter was in first grade when she came home visibly upset. She didn't want to talk about it for the longest time. Finally, later she opened up and let me know that some other kids found out who she "had a crush on", and they were teasing her. It broke her heart. At the time I just empathized with her, but we had a great conversation later.
I told her that as her parent, she's my responsibility. I told her I have to protect her and care for her, and feed her, and make sure I don't let her drive the car until she's old enough, and a ton of other responsibilities. That's my job. I'm not allowed to leave her out in the yard, or even leave her home alone or let her watch anything she wants on TV. I wouldn't be caring for her if I did that.
I then explained to her that she also has a responsibility to protect and care for her affections. She must care for her heart. The reason it hurt so bad when others mocked is that it was "left out in the yard" way too early. It wasn't ready to be there. There may be a time when the "crush" happens, but it's way too early for that to take root and be fed. She must make it a priority to keep her heart safe and not let feelings go uncontrolled.
Most of us who read this example can relate at some level. Many would probably think "yeah, first grade is WAY too early for that." Well, this principle is true for ALL of us THROUGHOUT our lives.
There is a place to awaken love. There are many more places love should never be allowed to go. This is true for men and women. We must guard our hearts. We must guard our affections.
Love is a very special, God-ordained phenomenon. It's much more decision than it is emotion. We get into trouble when we make poor decisions just because we want to feed an emotion. We are inclined to take short cuts. Those short cuts always end in heart ache and pain, even bondage.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."
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
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Psalm 50:8-15
Proverbs 22:22-23
"Get it Now!" That's the name of the store where I purchased a TV set a few years ago. I was just going in to look... but that place was set up to wheel & deal... I wanted it, and I got it. Our culture has positioned itself to "meet the need as fast as you can." "Buy now.. pay later..." Fast food is making billions on people who want a meal NOW.
Everything is wired for us to take the short cut. Feeling lonely? eHarmony, or match .com or somethign like that will solve all the problems, right? You have a need? Meet it fast!
Today's reading includes Song of Solomon. It's a story of two lover's that pursue each other, and those around who rejoice with them in their love. Song of Solomon 3:5 catches my eye. "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right."
My daughter was in first grade when she came home visibly upset. She didn't want to talk about it for the longest time. Finally, later she opened up and let me know that some other kids found out who she "had a crush on", and they were teasing her. It broke her heart. At the time I just empathized with her, but we had a great conversation later.
I told her that as her parent, she's my responsibility. I told her I have to protect her and care for her, and feed her, and make sure I don't let her drive the car until she's old enough, and a ton of other responsibilities. That's my job. I'm not allowed to leave her out in the yard, or even leave her home alone or let her watch anything she wants on TV. I wouldn't be caring for her if I did that.
I then explained to her that she also has a responsibility to protect and care for her affections. She must care for her heart. The reason it hurt so bad when others mocked is that it was "left out in the yard" way too early. It wasn't ready to be there. There may be a time when the "crush" happens, but it's way too early for that to take root and be fed. She must make it a priority to keep her heart safe and not let feelings go uncontrolled.
Most of us who read this example can relate at some level. Many would probably think "yeah, first grade is WAY too early for that." Well, this principle is true for ALL of us THROUGHOUT our lives.
There is a place to awaken love. There are many more places love should never be allowed to go. This is true for men and women. We must guard our hearts. We must guard our affections.
Love is a very special, God-ordained phenomenon. It's much more decision than it is emotion. We get into trouble when we make poor decisions just because we want to feed an emotion. We are inclined to take short cuts. Those short cuts always end in heart ache and pain, even bondage.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."
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, July 30, 2010
7.30.10 "Devoted to Unity"
"Devoted to Unity"
2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11
Is it important to be connected to the body? We all need to understand that know we have the need for fellowship with one another in the SAME way we know we should obey God. These are inseparable truths.
In reading Romans 13 we can see the importance of this. In verse 9-10 Paul says, " If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won't sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That's why it fully satisfies all of God's requirements. It is the only law you need."
Using a spiritual "Checklist" like DREAM is helpful in that we can take a daily inventory of the purposes God has for us. As good as that is, we have to be careful about a "checklist mentality". With a checklist mentality we can think, "well, at least i got my 'D', i don't have time for my 'R' today."
As we mature in Christ we must begin to realize how inseparable these elements are. How can you say you are living the "Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship", and not respect and obey the government? verse 2 says, "So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow."
Verse 3 says, "For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you." For the past few years, I've started to do a much better job of driving the speed limit. I'm not perfect in this area, but it's been amazing how much more relaxed I am when I see the squad car on the side of the road. There's much more peace in doing what the authorities have asked. I'm sure that's what Paul had in mind when he wrote this, right?
Paul must have been thinking of those who get a letter from the assessor when he wrote verse 6-7. "Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority."
The root of unity is Submission. We cannot be in unity without submitting to the needs of one another. This is a deep heart issue. We must train our hearts to love one another by consistently being aware of each other's needs, and responding with compassion, and appropriate submission to those needs. This is what love is all about.
How urgent is this? Is this really important??
verse 11 "...you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior."
There isn't much time left. Put this into practice today!
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 26:1-28:27
Romans 13:1-14
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 20:11
Is it important to be connected to the body? We all need to understand that know we have the need for fellowship with one another in the SAME way we know we should obey God. These are inseparable truths.
In reading Romans 13 we can see the importance of this. In verse 9-10 Paul says, " If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won't sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That's why it fully satisfies all of God's requirements. It is the only law you need."
Using a spiritual "Checklist" like DREAM is helpful in that we can take a daily inventory of the purposes God has for us. As good as that is, we have to be careful about a "checklist mentality". With a checklist mentality we can think, "well, at least i got my 'D', i don't have time for my 'R' today."
As we mature in Christ we must begin to realize how inseparable these elements are. How can you say you are living the "Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship", and not respect and obey the government? verse 2 says, "So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow."
Verse 3 says, "For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you." For the past few years, I've started to do a much better job of driving the speed limit. I'm not perfect in this area, but it's been amazing how much more relaxed I am when I see the squad car on the side of the road. There's much more peace in doing what the authorities have asked. I'm sure that's what Paul had in mind when he wrote this, right?
Paul must have been thinking of those who get a letter from the assessor when he wrote verse 6-7. "Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority."
The root of unity is Submission. We cannot be in unity without submitting to the needs of one another. This is a deep heart issue. We must train our hearts to love one another by consistently being aware of each other's needs, and responding with compassion, and appropriate submission to those needs. This is what love is all about.
How urgent is this? Is this really important??
verse 11 "...you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day of his return will soon be here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should! Be decent and true in everything you do so that all can approve your behavior."
There isn't much time left. Put this into practice today!
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, December 4, 2009
12.4.9 "Knowing God through Loving Others"
"Knowing God through Loving Others"
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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, December 1, 2009
12.1.9 "I am a C.. I am a C-H"
"I am a C.. I am a C-H"
Daniel 8:1-27
1 John 2:1-17
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 28:25-26
Remember that children's song? "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" Don't you hate it when someone puts a song in your head?
What does it mean to be a Christian? John answers that in today's scripture.
"And how can we be sure that we belong to him? by looking within ourselves: are we really trying to do what he wants us to? Someone may say, 'I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.' But if he doesn't do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar." 1 John 2:3-4
John is reiterating a very important point: Those who belong to Christ walk in obedience. We should be challenged about the "decision making" process in our day. How many of my decisions are MY decisions, and how many do I stop to inquire of the Lord?
The word "Christian" means "of Christ". We become a Christian by accepting him as savior. He forgives us of our sin. Verse 2 says, "He is the one who took God's wrath against our sins upon himself, and brought us into fellowship with God; and he is the forgiveness for our sins, and not only ours but all the world's."
We know that. That's an awesome thing. But is that it? In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.; apart from me you can do nothing."
The goal of the Christian life is living in the center of his will. Doing whatever he guides us to do. The phrase "apart from me you can do nothing" takes on a new light. I've always read it as "I am the source of your strength." It really means "don't make decisions apart from my direction."
Look at I John 2:5-6. "But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did."
Walking in obedience causes us to love God more which causes us to walk in obedience which causes us to love God more which... You see the pattern?
"Lord, What would you have me to do?" Should be the posture of our life everyday. Small decisions can have huge consequences if they are made apart from the "vine". In the same way, decisions made "in the vine" can produce so much fruit.
Yes, this stuff may be elementary, but it is SO important. John acknowledges that. "Dear brothers, I am not writing out a new rule for you to obey, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the start. You have heard it all before. Yet it is always new, and works for you just as it did for Christ..." verse 7-8
Am I a C? Am I a C-H? I know I am because he has saved me and I walk in obedience to his will. The highest form of Worship is Obedience. Live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship.
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 8:1-27
1 John 2:1-17
Psalm 120:1-7
Proverbs 28:25-26
Remember that children's song? "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" Don't you hate it when someone puts a song in your head?
What does it mean to be a Christian? John answers that in today's scripture.
"And how can we be sure that we belong to him? by looking within ourselves: are we really trying to do what he wants us to? Someone may say, 'I am a Christian; I am on my way to heaven; I belong to Christ.' But if he doesn't do what Christ tells him to, he is a liar." 1 John 2:3-4
John is reiterating a very important point: Those who belong to Christ walk in obedience. We should be challenged about the "decision making" process in our day. How many of my decisions are MY decisions, and how many do I stop to inquire of the Lord?
The word "Christian" means "of Christ". We become a Christian by accepting him as savior. He forgives us of our sin. Verse 2 says, "He is the one who took God's wrath against our sins upon himself, and brought us into fellowship with God; and he is the forgiveness for our sins, and not only ours but all the world's."
We know that. That's an awesome thing. But is that it? In John 15:5 Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.; apart from me you can do nothing."
The goal of the Christian life is living in the center of his will. Doing whatever he guides us to do. The phrase "apart from me you can do nothing" takes on a new light. I've always read it as "I am the source of your strength." It really means "don't make decisions apart from my direction."
Look at I John 2:5-6. "But those who do what Christ tells them to will learn to love God more and more. That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did."
Walking in obedience causes us to love God more which causes us to walk in obedience which causes us to love God more which... You see the pattern?
"Lord, What would you have me to do?" Should be the posture of our life everyday. Small decisions can have huge consequences if they are made apart from the "vine". In the same way, decisions made "in the vine" can produce so much fruit.
Yes, this stuff may be elementary, but it is SO important. John acknowledges that. "Dear brothers, I am not writing out a new rule for you to obey, for it is an old one you have always had, right from the start. You have heard it all before. Yet it is always new, and works for you just as it did for Christ..." verse 7-8
Am I a C? Am I a C-H? I know I am because he has saved me and I walk in obedience to his will. The highest form of Worship is Obedience. Live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship.
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
Monday, November 23, 2009
11.23.9 "Grow Up"
"Grow Up"
Ezekiel 45:13-46:24
I Peter 1:14-2:10
Psalm 119:36-52
Proverbs 28:11
"Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation; cry for this as a baby cries for his milk." I Pet. 2:3
I have been a Christian since 1974. I accepted Christ as a child after an elderly woman filled in for a children's church worker who didn't show up. She brought in a picture of people going up in the rapture. I wanted that to be me. I was 4 years old. I still remember that picture. After I went home from church that day, I talked to my dad about it, and he led me to Christ.
36 years is a long time isn't it? You know what though? It doesn't mean anything when it comes to Christian maturity. Physical maturity "happens" to you. As time goes by, we physically grow old. Spiritual maturity doesn't work that way. As time goes by we should "grow up", but we might not.
I'm just discovering the need to commit oneself to the maturing process. Faithful church attendance doesn't automatically lead to Christian maturity. Sometimes we presume too much in ourselves (and others) that if we've been saved for a while, maturity has happened. It SHOULD have happened, but it might not have.
I Peter hits on some of the elements of maturity. There are three elements we'll pull from these scriptures: Fearing God, Living Holy, and Loving Others.
Fearing God is not a real popular teaching or thought process for us. We are "friends of God", so we don't really want to get into the "fear" thing. The last part of verse 17 into 18 reads, "so act in reverent fear of him from now on until you get to heaven . God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver, as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God."
Understanding the tremendous price that was paid should create in us a reverent fear of God. A respect. A gratefulness that goes beyond a "Hey, thanks, God!" Taking the time to meditate, remember and comprehend the precious blood of the Lamb should be a regular part of our Christian walk. This births humility and gratitude. This also helps us to constrain ourselves to Living Holy.
I Peter 1:14-16 says, "Obey God because you are his children; don't slip back into your old ways - doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child. He himself has said, 'You must be holy, for I am holy.'"
Understanding the price that God paid to ransom us and the value he has placed on us should constrain us to do the right thing. When you first got your driver's license, how did you feel when you got to drive the "good" car? There's something about the "value" that caused you to drive more carefully. Understanding the value God has placed on me should cause me to live more carefully.
Most of the rest of the reading deals with a major part of growing up in Christ: Loving Others.
"Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly with all your hearts. For you have a new life." I Peter 1:22-23a
Committing ourself to the maturing process should directly effect the way we treat others. Not just in our conduct, but in our heart. I Peter 2:1-2 says, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs. Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud."
Growing up in Christ should really change my heart, and it should be reflected on the outside. You would think that after 36 years of this I would have taken care of that at least within the first 5 years! I should have been a fully mature 9 year old! It's not that way. I must crave to grow in Christ, and allow his spirit to work in me to make me into who he has created me to be.
We can tend to be hypocritical. Do you ever notice that many times our frustration with other people is because they haven't "matured" as we thought they should? The irony is that if we were as mature as we should be their lack of maturity wouldn't bother us so much. Ouch. That one hits me pretty hard. I really need to grow up.
I Peter 2:14 says, "Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own. Once you knew very little of God's kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it."
Let's allow our very lives to be changed by God's loving kindness.
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
Ezekiel 45:13-46:24
I Peter 1:14-2:10
Psalm 119:36-52
Proverbs 28:11
"Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation; cry for this as a baby cries for his milk." I Pet. 2:3
I have been a Christian since 1974. I accepted Christ as a child after an elderly woman filled in for a children's church worker who didn't show up. She brought in a picture of people going up in the rapture. I wanted that to be me. I was 4 years old. I still remember that picture. After I went home from church that day, I talked to my dad about it, and he led me to Christ.
36 years is a long time isn't it? You know what though? It doesn't mean anything when it comes to Christian maturity. Physical maturity "happens" to you. As time goes by, we physically grow old. Spiritual maturity doesn't work that way. As time goes by we should "grow up", but we might not.
I'm just discovering the need to commit oneself to the maturing process. Faithful church attendance doesn't automatically lead to Christian maturity. Sometimes we presume too much in ourselves (and others) that if we've been saved for a while, maturity has happened. It SHOULD have happened, but it might not have.
I Peter hits on some of the elements of maturity. There are three elements we'll pull from these scriptures: Fearing God, Living Holy, and Loving Others.
Fearing God is not a real popular teaching or thought process for us. We are "friends of God", so we don't really want to get into the "fear" thing. The last part of verse 17 into 18 reads, "so act in reverent fear of him from now on until you get to heaven . God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver, as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God."
Understanding the tremendous price that was paid should create in us a reverent fear of God. A respect. A gratefulness that goes beyond a "Hey, thanks, God!" Taking the time to meditate, remember and comprehend the precious blood of the Lamb should be a regular part of our Christian walk. This births humility and gratitude. This also helps us to constrain ourselves to Living Holy.
I Peter 1:14-16 says, "Obey God because you are his children; don't slip back into your old ways - doing evil because you knew no better. But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child. He himself has said, 'You must be holy, for I am holy.'"
Understanding the price that God paid to ransom us and the value he has placed on us should constrain us to do the right thing. When you first got your driver's license, how did you feel when you got to drive the "good" car? There's something about the "value" that caused you to drive more carefully. Understanding the value God has placed on me should cause me to live more carefully.
Most of the rest of the reading deals with a major part of growing up in Christ: Loving Others.
"Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly with all your hearts. For you have a new life." I Peter 1:22-23a
Committing ourself to the maturing process should directly effect the way we treat others. Not just in our conduct, but in our heart. I Peter 2:1-2 says, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs. Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud."
Growing up in Christ should really change my heart, and it should be reflected on the outside. You would think that after 36 years of this I would have taken care of that at least within the first 5 years! I should have been a fully mature 9 year old! It's not that way. I must crave to grow in Christ, and allow his spirit to work in me to make me into who he has created me to be.
We can tend to be hypocritical. Do you ever notice that many times our frustration with other people is because they haven't "matured" as we thought they should? The irony is that if we were as mature as we should be their lack of maturity wouldn't bother us so much. Ouch. That one hits me pretty hard. I really need to grow up.
I Peter 2:14 says, "Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own. Once you knew very little of God's kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it."
Let's allow our very lives to be changed by God's loving kindness.
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
Sunday, September 6, 2009
9.6.9 "Until the Time is Right"
"Until the Time is Right"
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Psalm 50:8-15
Proverbs 22:22-23
"Get it Now!" That's the name of the store where I purchased a TV set a few years ago. I was just going in to look... but that place was set up to wheel & deal... I wanted it, and I got it. Our culture has positioned itself to "meet the need as fast as you can." "Buy now.. pay later..." Fast food is making billions on people who want a meal NOW. Last night my daughter could pick any place she wanted to go. It was a KFC/ A&W combo place where she could get KFC mashed potatoes and A&W cheese curds.
Everything is wired for us to take the short cut. Feeling lonely? eHarmony, or match.com. That will solve all the problems, right? You have a need? meet it fast!
Today's reading includes Song of Solomon. It's a story of two lover's that pursue each other, and those around who rejoice with them in their love. Song of Solomon 3:5 catches my eye. "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right."
My daughter was in first grade when she came home visibly upset. She didn't want to talk about it for the longest time. Finally, later she opened up and let me know that some other kids found out who she "had a crush on", and they were teasing her. It broke her heart. At the time I just empathized with her, but we had a great conversation later.
I told her that as her parent, she's my responsibility. I told her I have to protect her and care for her, and feed her, and make sure I don't let her drive the car until she's old enough, and a ton of other responsibilities. That's my job. I'm not allowed to leave her out in the yard, or even leave her home alone or let her watch anything she wants on TV. I wouldn't be caring for her if I did that.
I then explained to her that she also has a responsibility to protect and care for her affections. She must care for her heart. The reason it hurt so bad when others mocked is that it was "out in the yard" way too early. It wasn't ready to be there. There may be a time when the "crush" happens, but it's way too early for that to take root and be fed. She must make it a priority to keep her heart safe and not let feelings go uncontrolled.
Most of us who read this example can relate at some level. Many would probably think "yeah, first grade is WAY too early for that." Well, this principle is true for ALL of us THROUGHOUT our lives.
There is a place to awaken love. There are many more places love should never be allowed to go. This is true for men and women. We must guard our hearts. We must guard our affections.
Love is a very cool, God-ordained thing. It's much more decision than it is emotion. We get into trouble when we make poor decisions just because we want to feed an emotion. We are inclined to take short cuts. Those short cuts always end in heart ache and pain, even bondage.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."
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
Song of Solomon 1:1-4:16
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
Psalm 50:8-15
Proverbs 22:22-23
"Get it Now!" That's the name of the store where I purchased a TV set a few years ago. I was just going in to look... but that place was set up to wheel & deal... I wanted it, and I got it. Our culture has positioned itself to "meet the need as fast as you can." "Buy now.. pay later..." Fast food is making billions on people who want a meal NOW. Last night my daughter could pick any place she wanted to go. It was a KFC/ A&W combo place where she could get KFC mashed potatoes and A&W cheese curds.
Everything is wired for us to take the short cut. Feeling lonely? eHarmony, or match.com. That will solve all the problems, right? You have a need? meet it fast!
Today's reading includes Song of Solomon. It's a story of two lover's that pursue each other, and those around who rejoice with them in their love. Song of Solomon 3:5 catches my eye. "Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right."
My daughter was in first grade when she came home visibly upset. She didn't want to talk about it for the longest time. Finally, later she opened up and let me know that some other kids found out who she "had a crush on", and they were teasing her. It broke her heart. At the time I just empathized with her, but we had a great conversation later.
I told her that as her parent, she's my responsibility. I told her I have to protect her and care for her, and feed her, and make sure I don't let her drive the car until she's old enough, and a ton of other responsibilities. That's my job. I'm not allowed to leave her out in the yard, or even leave her home alone or let her watch anything she wants on TV. I wouldn't be caring for her if I did that.
I then explained to her that she also has a responsibility to protect and care for her affections. She must care for her heart. The reason it hurt so bad when others mocked is that it was "out in the yard" way too early. It wasn't ready to be there. There may be a time when the "crush" happens, but it's way too early for that to take root and be fed. She must make it a priority to keep her heart safe and not let feelings go uncontrolled.
Most of us who read this example can relate at some level. Many would probably think "yeah, first grade is WAY too early for that." Well, this principle is true for ALL of us THROUGHOUT our lives.
There is a place to awaken love. There are many more places love should never be allowed to go. This is true for men and women. We must guard our hearts. We must guard our affections.
Love is a very cool, God-ordained thing. It's much more decision than it is emotion. We get into trouble when we make poor decisions just because we want to feed an emotion. We are inclined to take short cuts. Those short cuts always end in heart ache and pain, even bondage.
Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."
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, December 3, 2008
12.4.8 "Knowing God through Loving Others"
"Knowing God through Loving Others"
Daniel 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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 11:35-12:13
I John 4:1-21
Psalm 123:1-4
Proverbs 29:2-4
How do we get to know God? The first priority is in reading his Word. That's a great way to get to see a picture of who God is, and gain wisdom for everyday life. As you read the word, you're going to find that there's more to getting to know God.
"Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn't loving and kind, it shows that he doesn't know God - for God is love." I John 4:7-8
The incredible God of the universe wants to have a relationship with each on of us. In our simple minds, we get this crazy idea that our relationship with God is only "personal". "It's just between me and God." "Who cares what anyone else thinks." You know what? That's not quite true. Your relationship with God shows itself in how you relate to other people. A direct result of loving God is loving people.
Some people can seem hard to love at some times. Guess what? That's when and how we get to know God. As we begin to approach everyone we meet with the love of Christ, His Spirit begins to flow through us, and we know him better.
Our love for others needs to be regardless of their response. Often, one will reach out in love, but because it isn't appreciated the way we thought it should, we apply the "shake the dust off our feet" method, and walk away. Guess what. That is NOT knowing God!
"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God, but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God's anger against our sins." vs.9-10.
God didn't send his Son because we "deserved" it. He didn't even send him because we "appreciated" it. He sent His Son because he LOVED us. We need to apply the same principle when dealing with one another.
We don't love because it is deserved or appreciated. "Dear friends, since God loved us as much as that, we surely ought to love each other too. For though we have never yet seen God, when we love each other God lives in us and his love within us grows ever stronger." vs. 11-12
My knowledge of God is shown in my love for those around me. If I'm caught up in my own world, I'm not knowing God the way I need to. This isn't a suggestion. This is a scriptural principle. It's not "hey, wouldn't it be fun if we were in Relationships Devoted to Unity?" We are COMPELLED to be in Relationships Devoted to Unity. It's is a necessary part of growing in Christ. It's an essential part of discovering and becoming who God has created us to be.
Know God better today by loving others more.
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, November 27, 2008
11.27.8 "All We Need"
"All We Need"
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are having a great day celebrating the Great things God has done!
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Imagine that! God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life! When we realize what he's given us, it compels us to respond. Peter gives us a strategy:
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone." (2 Peter 1:5-6)
"The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins." (2 Peter 1:8-9)
On this day of giving thanks, lets remember that we have been cleansed from our sins, and respond not only by giving thanks, but in growing in Christ and growing in love for one another.
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
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are having a great day celebrating the Great things God has done!
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Imagine that! God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life! When we realize what he's given us, it compels us to respond. Peter gives us a strategy:
"In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone." (2 Peter 1:5-6)
"The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins." (2 Peter 1:8-9)
On this day of giving thanks, lets remember that we have been cleansed from our sins, and respond not only by giving thanks, but in growing in Christ and growing in love for one another.
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
Sunday, November 16, 2008
11.16.8 "Someone's Thinking About You"
"Someone's Thinking About You"
Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22
I heard a great line once. "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if realized how rarely they do!" Deep down, we're often motivated or directed by what people think of us. But, the truth is, everyone else is so worried about who's thinking about them, no one has time to think about anyone else. So there no sense in worrying about it.
But there is someone who is thing about you. Constantly.
"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us..." Ps. 115:12
As I read the Word I am in such awe of God's love for us. Today the separate passages from the one year bible share a theme.
"For the Lord God says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day.... I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and cause them to lie down in peace, the Lord God says. I will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick." Ez. 34:11-16
It's God's desire to draw us to him. He wants us to be close to him. Without Him, we are sheep without a shepherd, lost and in danger.
Ez. 34: 31 says, "you are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men and I am your God, so says the Lord."
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen."
God has been thinking about us so much that he sent his son as the great Shepherd. This deal is sealed with an everlasting covenant signed in the precious blood of Christ.
All because someone is thinking about us...
You know, it's not a good idea to live life worried about what people are thinking all the time. It's a very "self"-conscious lifestyle. But, it is good to live life knowing who IS thinking about you constantly.
What does God think of right now when he thinks of you? Do you have some broken limbs that need splinting? Do you need healing? That's what he's there for! He longs to be our shepherd. Let's follow 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
Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
Hebrews 13:1-25
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 27:21-22
I heard a great line once. "You wouldn't worry so much about what people think of you if realized how rarely they do!" Deep down, we're often motivated or directed by what people think of us. But, the truth is, everyone else is so worried about who's thinking about them, no one has time to think about anyone else. So there no sense in worrying about it.
But there is someone who is thing about you. Constantly.
"Jehovah is constantly thinking about us..." Ps. 115:12
As I read the Word I am in such awe of God's love for us. Today the separate passages from the one year bible share a theme.
"For the Lord God says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places they were scattered in that dark and cloudy day.... I myself will be the Shepherd of my sheep, and cause them to lie down in peace, the Lord God says. I will seek my lost ones, those who strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick." Ez. 34:11-16
It's God's desire to draw us to him. He wants us to be close to him. Without Him, we are sheep without a shepherd, lost and in danger.
Ez. 34: 31 says, "you are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men and I am your God, so says the Lord."
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "And now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he who became the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting agreement between God and you, signed with his blood, produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen."
God has been thinking about us so much that he sent his son as the great Shepherd. This deal is sealed with an everlasting covenant signed in the precious blood of Christ.
All because someone is thinking about us...
You know, it's not a good idea to live life worried about what people are thinking all the time. It's a very "self"-conscious lifestyle. But, it is good to live life knowing who IS thinking about you constantly.
What does God think of right now when he thinks of you? Do you have some broken limbs that need splinting? Do you need healing? That's what he's there for! He longs to be our shepherd. Let's follow 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
Thursday, November 6, 2008
11.6.8 "Complete Devotion"
"Complete Devotion"
Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
"Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?" Ps. 106:2
Our relationship with the Lord is an incredible thing. I don't think we can understand the full magnitude of this, and how important this relationship is in God's eyes. In Eph. 5:31 Paul quotes a verse that we've heard many times at a wedding. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." He explains something very important in the next verse. "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Our relationship with Christ is one of profound intimacy. In Ezekiel 15, the Lord is describing his relationship with his people. He talks about how he created them, and brought them to him, and then set them apart as his bride. The description of his love for them is quite vivid. It talks of gifts of clothing, jewelry, and how "you looked like a queen, and so you were!"
That's how God views each one of us. The bride of Christ. He loves us more intensely than we can realize. He can't wait to commune with us. To spend time with us. He is passionate about us.
Tragically, his people are not faithful. Ez. 15:15 says, "But you thought you could get along without me..." It goes on to describe how his bride becomes a prostitute to everyone that comes along.
We can be kind of flippant about "priorities" that are out of whack in our lives. Basically, we're talking about idolatry. About how we've found other things than the Lord to please us. To be our "lovers". We prostitute ourselves to flesh pleasing things. This separates us from God.
He created us for Him. We will never be satisfied until there is nothing that stains our intimacy with Him.
Proverbs 27:4 says, "Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger." Do you know why that is? Because when we are jealous, we feel like we are not getting something that we deserve. The dangerous part of it is that it is God who gives all things, so in essence we are mad that God hasn't given us what we feel we deserve. Praise him for the fact that he didn't give us what we REALLY deserve!!!
When you sit down to do your "devotions" each morning, think of what "devotion" means. While often our time in the word can become a ritualistic task, we need to understand the purpose of what we do is to "devote" our heart to the Lord. "Lord, I give you me." That's all it takes.
I love knowing that my wife is devoted to me. She is amazing. She accomplishes so much! She makes sure me and my daughter have our needs taken care of. She'll sit next to me and read during a football game, just because she wants to be with me. She's devoted.
We need to live lives of complete devotion. We must guard against jealousy, bitterness, and all other cancers of the soul.
As you spend time with the Lord today, open your heart to him and ask him to purify you of anything that clouds your intimacy with him. We can't get along without Him. Even if we think we can, we need to be desperately in love with him and devoted to keep our relationship pure.
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
Ezekiel 14:12-16:42
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
"Who can ever list the glorious miracles of God? Who can ever praise him half enough?" Ps. 106:2
Our relationship with the Lord is an incredible thing. I don't think we can understand the full magnitude of this, and how important this relationship is in God's eyes. In Eph. 5:31 Paul quotes a verse that we've heard many times at a wedding. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." He explains something very important in the next verse. "This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church."
Our relationship with Christ is one of profound intimacy. In Ezekiel 15, the Lord is describing his relationship with his people. He talks about how he created them, and brought them to him, and then set them apart as his bride. The description of his love for them is quite vivid. It talks of gifts of clothing, jewelry, and how "you looked like a queen, and so you were!"
That's how God views each one of us. The bride of Christ. He loves us more intensely than we can realize. He can't wait to commune with us. To spend time with us. He is passionate about us.
Tragically, his people are not faithful. Ez. 15:15 says, "But you thought you could get along without me..." It goes on to describe how his bride becomes a prostitute to everyone that comes along.
We can be kind of flippant about "priorities" that are out of whack in our lives. Basically, we're talking about idolatry. About how we've found other things than the Lord to please us. To be our "lovers". We prostitute ourselves to flesh pleasing things. This separates us from God.
He created us for Him. We will never be satisfied until there is nothing that stains our intimacy with Him.
Proverbs 27:4 says, "Jealousy is more dangerous and cruel than anger." Do you know why that is? Because when we are jealous, we feel like we are not getting something that we deserve. The dangerous part of it is that it is God who gives all things, so in essence we are mad that God hasn't given us what we feel we deserve. Praise him for the fact that he didn't give us what we REALLY deserve!!!
When you sit down to do your "devotions" each morning, think of what "devotion" means. While often our time in the word can become a ritualistic task, we need to understand the purpose of what we do is to "devote" our heart to the Lord. "Lord, I give you me." That's all it takes.
I love knowing that my wife is devoted to me. She is amazing. She accomplishes so much! She makes sure me and my daughter have our needs taken care of. She'll sit next to me and read during a football game, just because she wants to be with me. She's devoted.
We need to live lives of complete devotion. We must guard against jealousy, bitterness, and all other cancers of the soul.
As you spend time with the Lord today, open your heart to him and ask him to purify you of anything that clouds your intimacy with him. We can't get along without Him. Even if we think we can, we need to be desperately in love with him and devoted to keep our relationship pure.
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
Sunday, April 20, 2008
4.20.8 "All you Need to Know"
"All you Need to Know"
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
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
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
"Be sure to continue to obey all the commandments Moses gave you. Love the Lord and follow his plan for your lives. Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." Joshua 22:5
These words of Joshua, are about all we need to know for life.
"Be sure to continue..." The context of this statement of Joshua is that the Promised Land has been conquered. He is speaking to the tribes of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh who have just spent years aiding the other tribes and are now crossing back over Jordan to return to their land. In this context, Joshua is reminding them that every blessing they have experienced is a result of their obedience. One of the dangers of blessing is that we can be tempted to relax. We get casual, and can begin to compromise. It's urgent that we always keep the intensity to walk in obedience.
"... obey all the commandments Moses gave you." It is so important that we know God's word. I don't know if you've ever played a board game w/o reading the directions, but it is frustrating. You make up the rules as you go. You often find out you missed the point. The same is true with life. We need to know God's plan and his path. This empowers us to live a victorious life.
"Love the Lord..." We know that Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commandments", so we need to make sure to stay true to that. Also, to truly love him, he needs to be a part of our thought process constantly. I love my wife. I make my plans in accordance with her wishes. I try to be with her as much as I can. I love to be with her. If we love the Lord, we will keep our thoughts on him. We will arrange our lives in accordance with his desires and his plans.
"... follow his plan for your lives." God has a plan for us. Sometimes I fear that we let days slip away into the mundane, not realizing that there is a plan and there is purpose. When we live according to the plan, we constrain ourselves to excellence, and we fear compromise. We need to discover his plan and pursue it.
"Cling to him and serve him enthusiastically." We are not supposed to live the boring Christian life. God has great things in store for us. When we live in radical obedience, we cling to him with passion. There is excitement. There is life. Serve God with intensity.
Take this verse to heart today!
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 5, 2008
3.5.8 "What's Really Important"
"What's Really Important"
Numbers 4:1-5:31
Mark 12:18-37
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26
In Mark 12 Jesus is fielding questions from the religious leaders, many of whom are trying to trap him. At one point he is asked by a religious teacher "of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"Jesus replied, 'The one that says, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all you heart and soul and mind and strength." The second is: "You must love others as much as yourself." No other commandments are greater than these.'" (Mark 12:29-31)
We need to get these commands into the fiber of our being. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. To love the Lord, we must obey his commandments. Every part of our being should be devoted to obedience.
One thing we need to understand is that love is a decision, and not an emotion. If I love the Lord when I "feel" like it, what kind of man of God would I be? When I decide to love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength, I guard all of those areas intensely. I don't want to allow anything in that would cause me to love him less. I don't want to put my self at risk of disobeying him. It is an active, aggressive decision to love the Lord. I don't sit around waiting to feel love for him, I DO it.
The second command is much the same. "Love others as much as yourself." What does that mean? We show love for self by meeting needs. When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm tired I rest. Relationships Devoted to Unity are relationships that are devoted to meeting the needs of one another. This honors God.
I love today's Proverb. it says, "Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes." If we are living for self, there's probably an element of Laziness evident in our lives. We may work hard for what we want, but we tend to slack in the area of needs of those we work for. If we are following God's commands, we will intensely pursue the needs of our employers. To love our employers as ourself would be to put ourselves in their place. "If I hired someone, what would I want to see out of them?" And then out of biblical love, strive to meet the need with that intensity.
How important is it to Live the D & the R? Well, Jesus said "no other commandments are greater than these." I need to make it top priority in my life!
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 4:1-5:31
Mark 12:18-37
Psalm 48:1-14
Proverbs 10:26
In Mark 12 Jesus is fielding questions from the religious leaders, many of whom are trying to trap him. At one point he is asked by a religious teacher "of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"Jesus replied, 'The one that says, "Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love him with all you heart and soul and mind and strength." The second is: "You must love others as much as yourself." No other commandments are greater than these.'" (Mark 12:29-31)
We need to get these commands into the fiber of our being. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is to live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. To love the Lord, we must obey his commandments. Every part of our being should be devoted to obedience.
One thing we need to understand is that love is a decision, and not an emotion. If I love the Lord when I "feel" like it, what kind of man of God would I be? When I decide to love him with my heart, soul, mind and strength, I guard all of those areas intensely. I don't want to allow anything in that would cause me to love him less. I don't want to put my self at risk of disobeying him. It is an active, aggressive decision to love the Lord. I don't sit around waiting to feel love for him, I DO it.
The second command is much the same. "Love others as much as yourself." What does that mean? We show love for self by meeting needs. When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm tired I rest. Relationships Devoted to Unity are relationships that are devoted to meeting the needs of one another. This honors God.
I love today's Proverb. it says, "Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes." If we are living for self, there's probably an element of Laziness evident in our lives. We may work hard for what we want, but we tend to slack in the area of needs of those we work for. If we are following God's commands, we will intensely pursue the needs of our employers. To love our employers as ourself would be to put ourselves in their place. "If I hired someone, what would I want to see out of them?" And then out of biblical love, strive to meet the need with that intensity.
How important is it to Live the D & the R? Well, Jesus said "no other commandments are greater than these." I need to make it top priority in my life!
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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