Reflect

At Christmas, we all reflect upon how we grew this past year through our relationships, that serve as building blocks for the coming year. As we remember the good and bad we have faced during the year, Jesus finds a way to remind us how we made it through the difficulties and challenges. The removal of old dusty attitudes and ideas offer us the opportunity to sweep away what no longer mattes and clears the path for new information and enlightenment. In the center of the clearing, lies the opportunity for a rebirth of Spirit, moving us ever forward toward an abundant future. The Christmas season is a reminder that something new was on the horizon. Let His glory renew your path and make your future bright.

The Carpenter

Jesus is often identified as a carpenter because of his earthy heritage. I'm sure he learned this earthly trade from His earthly father, but His spiritual building is the greatest you will ever know. Whatever repair is in order, you can open His Word and find precisely what you need to hear. His shop never closes, there's no charge for His services, and He does incredible work that lasts for eternity. So, let the Christmas carpenter have full control of your life and give Him all the broken pieces. He wants to fix whatever's wrong, assemble all the parts, put them back in working order, and place you on display before the world as a heavenly-crafted person. If you've been repaired and renewed by this Christmas carpenter from Nazareth testify of His goodness today. Let the work of the Christmas craftsman fill you with hope in this wonderful season.

A Dead Horse

Most people will accept seconds rather than make the changes needed to keep them fresh and trusting God. To quote an old saying, "They will ride a dead horse into the ground" before accepting the necessary changes that could make them relevant. I refuse to be afraid of change or think that change is always bad. God is real and so is life and change is going to come whether we like it or not. It's what we do with it that makes the difference.

Can your church once once again impact and influence your community?  The answer is yes, but the window of opportunity is closing quickly.  The work ahead will take a radical commitment to change your direction and fulfill the Godly expectations that you read from His Word.



Acts 2:42 says, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."


The word "devoted" originates from two Greek words (pros) and (kartereo) which means to be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, to attend assiduously all the exercises, to adhere closely to, to attend continually, to wait on.


The early church, did not meet and vote to get a consensus about the direction they were going to take in the building of God's church on this earth. They simply acted out of spiritual conviction that this is what God was directing in their lives. They had the example of their spiritual leaders such as Peter on the day of Pentecost. 


Jesus prepared the 12 disciples to turn the world upside down with only the Gospel. He didn't have them focus on the politics of the day.
 He didn't have them attempt to compromise with the religious structure of the day. He didn't tell them to develop a focus on programs. He simply poured His life into these men and gave them His life and His message so they could infiltrate their culture with a passionate desire to serve God and to build others to serve God. It was done by conviction and not by majority vote. They were not only willing to give their lives, but to die in the process. 

It was an improbable strategy, but it worked and you have this historical perspective as an encouragement that if God has done it once through a surrendered life then He can do it again. He can use you and your church to be a blessing once again to those who need Him the most!

Too Much Fear

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

Fear is an instinctual human emotion designed to keep us aware and safe, but too much fear can cause the loss of the very thing we feared losing in the first place.

More than anything else, we fear being rejected by others. This type of fear is widespread and debilitating. Why is this fear so deeply entrenched in us? In ancient times, being rejected from the safety of the community could have meant death. So it’s no wonder, really, that we want to be accepted by others. The fear of being alone for life is greater than we can imagine. This is especially true when it comes to fear of rejection. 

Childhood outcast experiences are often the root cause of obsessive, people-pleasing ways people face in  adulthood. They're always looking for signs of why others don’t like them. They do almost anything seeking assurance and acceptance from their peers. Fear of rejection motivates them to wonder what people really think of them.

Constantly seeking acceptance and reassurance from other people is a dead end journey. These things can only be found within you, not from others. Because any look, word, or reaction from someone else can be warped and misinterpreted. That's why we let the bullies win. 

Don't let the devil bully you around. Don't be afraid of rejection. God is a constant companion and you are never alone. You don't have to be afraid of what other think or say-just be you in Christ Jesus.

What Should I Put Up With

There’s a big difference between accepting that someone’s negative actions or behavior is born from a place of anxiety or insecurity versus excusing their behavior and therefore enabling it to continue wrecking your life. You don’t have to condone a person’s negative behavior toward you or others, even though you may be compassionate, loving and understanding of its origins.

Every person at some point has to be accountable for their own well-being.  And quite honestly, if someone decides to lash out at you again and again, you’re not obligated to be a punching bag. Jesus said to "Turn the other cheek" and to "love and forgive", but He did not command us to be constantly bombarded by people or situations that would ridicule or detain us from doing His work. Read the Book of Jude and find out how to deal with angry people. 

Keep in mind that differing opinions are a part of life and relationships. Yet, when you come across people who are intent on delivering harsh criticism because their opinions are different than yours, you just have to tell yourself that you may not be doing it perfectly in their eyes, but at least you’re stepping up and doing the best God has enabled you to do.  While they're just fussing, you’re getting up, showing up, and walking into the fire every day and doing the best you can. If you're trying your best and recognize that you're a work in progress remember God knows the path you are taking. One day redemption will come and the wind of the Spirit will drive the chaff away.

Rejection

1 Kings 18:21 "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." 

If you give too much power to the opinions of others, you become their prisoner. Everybody has one, good or bad, so don't let them stop you from being you. 

-Never let someone’s negative opinion alter your reality. 

-Never sacrifice who you are, or who you aspire to be, just because someone else has a problem with it. 

-Love who you are inside and out, and keep pushing forward. 

-No one else has the power to make you feel small unless you give them that power. 

-When someone rejects you, don’t feel it’s because you’re unworthy or unlovable. 

When one person rejects another, it reveals a lot more about the ‘rejecter’ than the ‘rejected.’ All you are really seeing is the often shortsighted opinion of one person. 

The Stone family has always enjoyed the entertainment Disney Parks has offered. If Walt Disney had quit too soon after his theme park concept was trashed by 300+ investors, there would be no Disney World. The early failures in Disney’s life didn’t dissuade him from moving forward. Of course, like anyone else, Disney’s failures were a blow to his ego. Anyone that has to suffer through the torment of failure and bankruptcy knows how this feels. However, it also laid the foundation for a successful career. When he formed the Walt Disney Company, all of his past failures helped to pave the way for a successful business. 

Disney and the Walt Disney Company have touched the lives of millions across the globe. From cartoons, to theme parks, and animated and live-action movies, both children and adults now enjoy the fruits of Disney’s labor. Had he given up, things would have been far different. But he persevered in spite of the doubts of others, bankruptcy, and personal failures. His rejections became the stepping stones for triumph.

Don't let man opinions control your destiny-be what God has destined you to be!

Sober

Peter warns us all of the dangers that Satan poses to God's people: 

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 

The word "sober" (Greek nepho) is a verb found in the New Testament only in the figurative sense, implying "sober watchfulness." In addition, "vigilant" (Greek gregoreuo) means "to keep awake or watch (literally or figuratively)."

Combining "sober" and "vigilant" paints an interesting picture for us. When a person is heavily intoxicated, he wants nothing more than to sleep it off. So it is impossible for the sleeping drunkard to be vigilant about anything. The message for us is that we must be attentive to our physical and spiritual condition so that we do not become spiritually intoxicated. This type of person is exactly the kind whom Satan seeks. If we enter this state, then we make ourselves a prime target to be devoured by the "roaring lion."

Our Adversary is out there. He is lurking, prowling like a hungry lion for prey. Believing that he does not exist is just plain stupid. Probably even more so as believing that there are no lions on the savanna in Africa.

I have never been to Africa. I have not been through the territories itself, I would not want to go out on the savanna and think, "I wouldn't get hurt. There are no lions out here."

Have you ever seen the savanna? It is the same color as a lion. You cannot see lions very well on the savanna because they hide, they are camouflaged, and they can sneak up and be right there at your throat in a moment.

That is the way that Satan is. The darkness is his world and he is hidden and camouflaged by it. The best thing he could do for his cause is to get people to believe that he does not exist, because they will then ignore him, and be open and susceptible to his temptations, his spirit, and fall victim to his attacks.

So, what do we do? Peter's advice  to us is very simple: 

-Be humble. 

-Trust in God to take care of you. 

-Be sober-minded, or self-controlled. 

-Do not let yourself get caught up in the latest religious fads. 

-Get a hold of yourself and know what you are getting into before you are led astray. 

-Be aware of signs of Satan's presence and keep yourself unspotted from the world.

Breach Repair

Isaiah 58:12 "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."

Fear thrives on “It won't happen to me "thinking. In other words, our emotions convince us that an undesirable outcome results in defeat, embarrassment, or spiritual and personal annihilation when are faith is breached by a real situation that causes us to stumble and fall.

We ask these questions if and when it overwhelms us:

-Why did if God let this happen and reject me?

-What's going to happen to me in the future because of my failure now?

-Will I ever recover what I have lost? 

Although these are difficult questions to find answers for, none of these things will result in an “end of the world” scenario that you allow them to become. If fear convinces you that they will, you irrationally fear the outcomes and give your fears control over you. As a mere mortal you're inefficient at predicting how current or future mishaps will make you feel. In reality, you avoid consciously thinking about it all together, which only perpetuates your subconscious fears and let's your imagination run wild.

Ask yourself this question: 

“If a disaster or calamity should strike what are the most constructive ways I could cope with it and move forward with my life?” 

Remember, how you feel after a personal setback or loss is important in your recovery. Allow yourself to be upset for a short while, and then begin the process of growing from the experience and moving on. Just doing this will help you feel less fear about the possibility of the fallout from your failure. God is the restorer and He can return what has been stolen from you.

Creating A Situation

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a false belief about a situation that motivates the person with the belief to take actions that cause the belief to come true. This kind of thinking often kills opportunities and tears relationships apart. In other words, you might wrongly believe that a group of people will reject you, so you become defensive, anxious, and even hostile toward them. 

It's your behavior or thought pattern that brings about your greatest fears, which weren’t there to begin with. And then your fears or thoughts justify what you were thinking right from the very beginning. You create a situation that doesn't even exist before you even realize it.

Do you see how this works? 

Look carefully at your own tendencies. 

How do your fears and beliefs about possible rejection influence your behavior toward others? 

Take a stand. Instead of letting false ideas show you what might be wrong in your relationships, start looking for signs of what might be right.

Just Breathe

Just Breathe

2 Timothy 1:3-7 "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Ministry should be releasing, and not strangling. If God is in something you’ve got to relax and let what He wants to happen take place without incessant worrying and constant micromanagement. Three things I wish I had learned earlier in ministry concerning this: 

-Learn to let go a little before you squeeze too tight.  

Take a deep breath and meditate on what God wants to do rather than what you desire to do. Sometimes our thoughts are not His thoughts and our desires are not His desires. Why He does some of the things He does I will never always understand, but if I snuff out someone's dream before it begins, I may be doing more harm than good. Let God use others and don't be afraid. Guide them, mentor them, even correct them if you must, but for His sake allow them to use their gifts for His glory.  

-When the dust settles and you can once again see the forest for the trees, take the next step forward. 

Yes, there are times when it gets a little to personal. Satan uses different vices to catch you unaware in snares that are unexpected. It's in those clouded moments you need to stand still and see the glory of the Lord. Pressing ahead into uncharted areas can lead you into an ungodly perspective or circumstance. Wait until the dust settles before you take your next step forward. His light will pierce the darkness.

-You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going to be headed somewhere great.

Until you've been there you don't know what you'd do in a situation. You can give advice or even show a judgmental attitude, but until someone has lied on you or treated you badly you won't understand. Yet, in every trial there is a victory to come. Sometimes it takes years for vindication, but God will help the righteous to triumph if we wait on Him. People may never forget or forgive, but God does!

Everything in ministry is in perfect order whether you understand it yet or not. It just takes some time to connect all the dots and see what God has in store.

Someday Is Now

Someday Is Now

Isaiah 25:9 "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

The world doesn’t owe you anything, but you owe the Lord every thing. As the prophet said, "We have waited for Him and we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

That word "salvation" has the meaning here of "deliverance". He has come, He is here, and He is ready to move. So in spite of the environment of sin around us, that someday you've been waiting on to come is today-RIGHT NOW! However, it will never come to pass unless: 

-You stop daydreaming and start doing what God want's you to do.  

-Develop a spiritual backbone, not a wishbone, and declare what God has promised you.  

-Take full responsibility for your life's calling and take control of any negative ambitions that drive you.  

You are important to God and you are needed to do His work.  It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody else to do something someday.  Your someday is now and the somebody the world needs is you equipped with the gifts God has place within you. 

Don't waste another day-rejoice is His salvation, speak His Word, and see His glory manifested in the lives of those who so desperately nee Him. Who knows, the next Billy Graham may be among those that you reach today.

Settling For Less Than You Deserve.

Settling For Less Than You're Promised 

Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Be strong enough to let go of what's been hindering you and wise enough to wait for what you've been promised by God.  Sometimes He allows you get knocked down lower than you have ever been to allow you to stand up taller than you ever were before.  Sometimes your eyes need to be washed by your tears so you can see the possibilities in front of you with a clearer vision again. 

-Do you feel like you're in the wilderness?

-Is that wilderness dry and parched like the desert?

Raise your level of expectation and stand on the promises of God. If He said it He will do it, if He promised it He'll bring it to pass. You can count on Him to spring forth a new thing within your life if you refuse to settle for anything less than what He promised!

Don’t settle for something mediocre, but believe for the best things that God has in store for you. It may not happen as soon as you expect it, but it will happen according to His Word regardless of your location or proximity. The floods of blessing are going to come-just wait and see!

No Victory In Sight

No Victory In Sight

Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Giving up when the going gets tough is easy. It is harder to keep on going when the odds are against you and there is no victory in sight.

There are no failures, just results.  Even if things don’t unfold the way you expected, don’t be disheartened or give up. Look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith. 

Learn what you can from your stumbles and move on with an even greater expectation.  The one who continues to advance one step at a time will win in the end, because the battle is always won far away and long before the final victory.  

Victory is a process that occurs with small steps, decisions, and actions that gradually build upon each other and eventually lead to that glorious moment of triumph. When you can't see victory, just keep on trusting in the promises of God. The One that rolled the stone away from the grave is the One that will give you the patience to run and finish your race.