"We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders. For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands." Psalm 78:4-7 NLT
I was talking to a member of our church. She has a great little daughter. I asked how her daughter was doing. The mom told me she was doing well. Then she added; "She's getting it." I knew what the mom meant. Her daughter's relationship with Jesus was maturing. She was understanding the love of Christ. She was applying the ways of scripture to her life.
Every generation faces new and difficult challenges. When I was growing up, civil rights, Vietnam, sex, drugs, and rock and roll, were facing us. Today we live in a world in crisis. The things that we have been putting our hope in are crumbling around us. Each time we turn on the nightly news, or log onto our home page, we see the continual decline of our world.
What does our youth put their hope in? What do they, the next generation, have to look forward to? What assurance of well-being do they have? The only solid, eternal solution is in Jesus Christ. Be honest. What else is there? What has, or is working to solve the problems of our world and human condition? In what ways are you investing in the youth of today?
The next generation needs something to put their hope in. That "someone" is Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Straight Talk
"Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy." Proverbs 27:6 NLT
I was proud of my daughter. She was burdened deeply in her heart. She had a dear friend that was making some unhealthy choices. I told my daughter that if what her friend was doing was bothering her, she should talk about it with her friend. She did. It took a lot of courage because my daughter hates confrontation. But it had to be done.
We owe it to each other to speak the truth in love. It's easy to flatter people. It's much harder to confront in love. When we do not confront, we can build up hurts, anger and bitterness. We can contribute to the self-destruction of others. Our ability to confront in love, will be our ability to mature in life.
There is a danger when we confront others. If we are not careful, we can become critical and blind to our own issues. When we are the person being confronted, we can become hypersensitive. We need to give and receive constructive criticism in love.
I have a friend. He seems to feel that it is his duty to let me know when I've put on weight. I don't like to hear it, but I need to. If I have to be true to myself, I must admit that without friends that confront me in love, I can become self-deceived and lazy.
So, are you ready for some straight talk?
I was proud of my daughter. She was burdened deeply in her heart. She had a dear friend that was making some unhealthy choices. I told my daughter that if what her friend was doing was bothering her, she should talk about it with her friend. She did. It took a lot of courage because my daughter hates confrontation. But it had to be done.
We owe it to each other to speak the truth in love. It's easy to flatter people. It's much harder to confront in love. When we do not confront, we can build up hurts, anger and bitterness. We can contribute to the self-destruction of others. Our ability to confront in love, will be our ability to mature in life.
There is a danger when we confront others. If we are not careful, we can become critical and blind to our own issues. When we are the person being confronted, we can become hypersensitive. We need to give and receive constructive criticism in love.
I have a friend. He seems to feel that it is his duty to let me know when I've put on weight. I don't like to hear it, but I need to. If I have to be true to myself, I must admit that without friends that confront me in love, I can become self-deceived and lazy.
So, are you ready for some straight talk?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Everything
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. BecauseHhe never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again,
item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through.
That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message
We are in a long distance run in our life of faith. Our time on this earth is short. Our heavenly hope is eternal. I like to run and lift weights. The principle of building muscle and building faith is the same. When you tax your muscles, your body steps up to the challenge and builds more muscle. The more you work out, the stronger you get. It's the same with your faith. The more you exercise your faith in Jesus, the more faith muscle He gives you. When you stop working out you lose muscle. It's the same with faith.
I like to run. The more I run, the farther I can go. Day by day, month by month, year by year. The more I run, the stronger I get. When I quit running, my physical conditioning gets weaker. When I start up again, I don't start by running six miles a day. I have to walk a couple of miles over a period of time. Only after a time of walking can I begin running again.
The Bible tells us to cast off every weight or hindrance that slows us down and makes us less effective in the race of life. How do we do this? By staying focused. We keep our focus on Jesus. When anything tries to stop you, or slow you down, focus on Jesus.
The problem for most of us is that we become comfortable with some of the weights and hindrances in our lives. We accept and even get friendly with the things that weaken and slow us down.
It's time we strip off everything that gets in the way!
item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through.
That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message
We are in a long distance run in our life of faith. Our time on this earth is short. Our heavenly hope is eternal. I like to run and lift weights. The principle of building muscle and building faith is the same. When you tax your muscles, your body steps up to the challenge and builds more muscle. The more you work out, the stronger you get. It's the same with your faith. The more you exercise your faith in Jesus, the more faith muscle He gives you. When you stop working out you lose muscle. It's the same with faith.
I like to run. The more I run, the farther I can go. Day by day, month by month, year by year. The more I run, the stronger I get. When I quit running, my physical conditioning gets weaker. When I start up again, I don't start by running six miles a day. I have to walk a couple of miles over a period of time. Only after a time of walking can I begin running again.
The Bible tells us to cast off every weight or hindrance that slows us down and makes us less effective in the race of life. How do we do this? By staying focused. We keep our focus on Jesus. When anything tries to stop you, or slow you down, focus on Jesus.
The problem for most of us is that we become comfortable with some of the weights and hindrances in our lives. We accept and even get friendly with the things that weaken and slow us down.
It's time we strip off everything that gets in the way!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A Nation Under God?
"Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 14:34
We say, "One nation under God"--but are we? I look at what we have accepted as a nation. We have denied God. We have taken His name off our money, out of our schools and holidays. We have accepted sexual immorality, addictions, self propagation, injustice, murder of babies, theft, and the list goes on--as standard operating procedure. We vote on issues that the Bible forbids as sin. We put ourself in God's place. We are reaping what we have and continue to sow--a life that excludes Jesus.
But the challenge is not only with our nation, but in the Church. We have accepted godlessness. We determine which scriptures we accept and those we don't, so we can support our own theology. We have taken Christ off the center of the throne, and placed our desires, our sinful desires, on the throne. We reject the word of God for the teachings and lifestyles of fallen man. The Church that Jesus bought with His blood, has compromised itself.
I think it's time that we wake up and follow Christ.
We say, "One nation under God"--but are we? I look at what we have accepted as a nation. We have denied God. We have taken His name off our money, out of our schools and holidays. We have accepted sexual immorality, addictions, self propagation, injustice, murder of babies, theft, and the list goes on--as standard operating procedure. We vote on issues that the Bible forbids as sin. We put ourself in God's place. We are reaping what we have and continue to sow--a life that excludes Jesus.
But the challenge is not only with our nation, but in the Church. We have accepted godlessness. We determine which scriptures we accept and those we don't, so we can support our own theology. We have taken Christ off the center of the throne, and placed our desires, our sinful desires, on the throne. We reject the word of God for the teachings and lifestyles of fallen man. The Church that Jesus bought with His blood, has compromised itself.
I think it's time that we wake up and follow Christ.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Total Committment
"Then He said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" Luke 9:23 NIV
I was conversing with a friend today. We were both challenged by our conversation. We were confronted with the fact that many times we say we are totally committed to Jesus, but our words and actions prove differently. Jesus gave us one hundred percent of Himself on the cross, and by His Spirit in our lives today. He promises us eternal life. He has given us a living hope. He also calls us to give ourselves to Him totally.
We say that Jesus comes first in our lives. But does He really? I have to ask myself if I let other things and people come before Jesus? Do the demands of my ministry, family, and friends come before Jesus? Does my bitterness, pride, and other sins come before Jesus? What about my agenda? Where have I sacrificed my relationship with Jesus for other things?
When we put Jesus first in our lives we have the resources of heaven available to us. When we love Jesus first and foremost, we can truly love ourselves and others.
So, has Jesus been given a backseat in your life? Is He even in the car?
I was conversing with a friend today. We were both challenged by our conversation. We were confronted with the fact that many times we say we are totally committed to Jesus, but our words and actions prove differently. Jesus gave us one hundred percent of Himself on the cross, and by His Spirit in our lives today. He promises us eternal life. He has given us a living hope. He also calls us to give ourselves to Him totally.
We say that Jesus comes first in our lives. But does He really? I have to ask myself if I let other things and people come before Jesus? Do the demands of my ministry, family, and friends come before Jesus? Does my bitterness, pride, and other sins come before Jesus? What about my agenda? Where have I sacrificed my relationship with Jesus for other things?
When we put Jesus first in our lives we have the resources of heaven available to us. When we love Jesus first and foremost, we can truly love ourselves and others.
So, has Jesus been given a backseat in your life? Is He even in the car?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Passion Week Prayer--Day 7
"But the Lord says, 'The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.'" Isaiah 49:25 NLT
1. Pray for the children and youth that are in your life, town or city.
2. Pray for the schools, teachers and school administrators in your town or city.
3. Pray for wayward youth that need godly guidance & direction.
4. Believe in the Hope of heaven and the reuniting of parents with their children.
And finally, give God thanks for the Resurrection! He is risen!
1. Pray for the children and youth that are in your life, town or city.
2. Pray for the schools, teachers and school administrators in your town or city.
3. Pray for wayward youth that need godly guidance & direction.
4. Believe in the Hope of heaven and the reuniting of parents with their children.
And finally, give God thanks for the Resurrection! He is risen!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Passion Week Prayer--Day 5
"He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.'"
Luke 10:2 NIV
We live in an exciting time as the Kingdom of God is advancing around the world through the missionaries and their mission fields. For the Kingdom to advance, it requires a move of the Holy Spirit and the Church to serve. The mission field in your life is your workplace, school, club, circle of friends or the far reaches of the world. God has called all of us to serve Him.
1. What is your ministry?
2. What or where is your mission field?
3. Pray for God to reveal His call to you.
4. Pray for Chrsitian workers around the world.
5. And thank Him for the miracles He has and is doing daily.
Luke 10:2 NIV
We live in an exciting time as the Kingdom of God is advancing around the world through the missionaries and their mission fields. For the Kingdom to advance, it requires a move of the Holy Spirit and the Church to serve. The mission field in your life is your workplace, school, club, circle of friends or the far reaches of the world. God has called all of us to serve Him.
1. What is your ministry?
2. What or where is your mission field?
3. Pray for God to reveal His call to you.
4. Pray for Chrsitian workers around the world.
5. And thank Him for the miracles He has and is doing daily.
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