Category Archives: Uncategorized

June 25, 2012 · 7:43 AM

Stepping out of your boat

Have you been in that place where you felt like God wanted you to do something, but were unsure? Maybe you felt the timing was off or the conditions weren’t right. God often calls us to do things in His timing, not ours. If we wait for things to be just right, we will never get them done. He is looking for obedience.

In my life, when I’ve felt that tug, I have stepped out in faith at times and done what was asked. There were other times where I missed the mark and immediately felt the regret of not doing it. I let that opportunity pass me by without acting.

In Matthew 14, Peter had an opportunity to step out in faith. His opportunity shows us three things that we can do when we are asked to step out.

1. Make sure it’s God asking

In the middle of a storm, Jesus came walking to the disciples on the water to comfort them. When they saw him coming, it scared them. Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you, ask me to join you.” When the Lord told him to come, Peter did as he was told.

Life often presents opportunities for us to step out in faith. Many of us recognize them, but won’t act without checking with God first. I’m a firm believer that it is scriptural to ask God to show you if something is His will. Gideon set mats outside his tent to test if he was hearing God. If you are unsure if God is asking you to do something, ask Him to prove it.

2. He stepped out of the boat

If we wait for the right time to step out of the boat, we will never move. When Peter got out of the boat, the waves were crashing against the boat and it was raining hard. Conditions were not ideal for him to step out. God doesn’t wait for things to be perfect to ask us to step out. It’s when we are in a storm or someone else is that we are asked to step out of the familiar and into the unknown.

A minute before Peter stepped out, he wasn’t even sure that it was Jesus who was asking. As a seasoned fisherman, he knew that his survival rate was minimal if he wasn’t able to walk on water. He took the step anyway. If your faith doesn’t defeat your logic, you will never get out of the boat. There were 11 others in the boat who listened to fear and logic. They will never know what it’s like to walk on water.

3. Stepping out doesn’t mean things will go perfectly

After getting completely out of the boat, Peter began to sink. Even in our greatest acts of faith, we still run the risk of failure. It is not one step Jesus asked Peter to make. It was multiple. Getting out of the boat was step one. We have to understand that while taking that first step is important, it’s not the last step of faith you are to make.

When Peter began to sink, he knew what to do. He called out for Jesus to help him. Jesus reached down and lifted him up. If you are sinking on step two wondering what is going on, call out for help. Jesus is there waiting to help you accomplish what He asked you to do.

What is it that God is asking you to do? If you can accomplish it on your own will and strength, it is not an act of faith. What is keeping you in the boat? Don’t let fear and logic keep you in the boat. First, make sure it is what God has asked you to do, then step out in faith.

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June 22, 2012 · 8:10 AM

Moving forward

Are you in that place where you would rather stay and rest where you are because it’s the easiest thing to do? I know I’ve been there. I didn’t have the strength (mentally, physically or spiritually) to move from where I was. I just wanted to give up and let the world pass me by. I didn’t care what happened. I just didn’t want to move.

That is not God’s purpose for us. Proverbs 24:16 says even though the righteous man falls seven times, he gets back up. We are not to stay down when life knocks us down. We are to get back up through His strength. We are to move forward, not backwards or in the same place.

Hebrews 11 speaks of Moses and the choice he had to make by faith to leave Egypt. It mentions 3 things he did to help him move forward.

1. He left Egypt behind

When the circumstances of your life knock you down, you carry those scars with you for the rest of your journey. They are a reminder of where you have been. You need them so you can see how far you’ve come. Don’t be afraid of the scars from your past. By allowing others to see them, it lets them know they can survive what they are enduring.

While we carry the scars with us, we need to leave the pain behind. If you continue to carry the pain with you, the wound will never heal. I don’t know that the pain fully goes away, but we have to choose not to dwell on it so we can move forward. Moses had to leave the life he lived in Egypt behind to move forward, but he used what he learned from that life to lead others.

2. He held to his purpose

God has a purpose for your life no matter what you have endured. When I lost everything in my life, I felt like I had lost my purpose. I allowed my circumstances to cloud my view of who God made me to be. I couldn’t see how God could use someone who was as broken as I was. It added to the grief that I was going through.

Moses could have lost his purpose as he left the life he knew, but he didn’t. He held to his purpose and led the Israelites out of bondage. It’s only when we’ve endured pain and suffering that we can help free those who are still bound to their pain. God uses the broken to help heal the broken. God still has a purpose for your life even if you can’t see it now.

3. He crossed the Red Sea

At a time when his back was against the wall, the Egyptian armies came to attack. There was no where for him to turn and no where to go. He prayed and asked God for help. At that moment, God parted the sea and allowed him to cross on dry land. When his enemies pursued, it sea swallowed them up.

You may feel there is no way out of your situation. You are surrounded by circumstances and problems in your life with no where to turn. Don’t give up. Ask God to do the impossible for you. He will make a way where there seems to be no way out. When you step out in faith and move forward, the sea will swallow those things that pursue you.

If you are in that place where you’ve been knocked down and don’t know what to do, don’t give up. By faith move forward and leave that place behind, know that God still has a purpose for your life and then pray that God will do the impossible in your life. He will show you which direction is forward.

What can you do today to start the process of moving forward?

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June 21, 2012 · 8:03 AM

Rebuilding your life

Are you in a season of rebuilding? Are you having to piece your life back together? I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to have to look at the ruins of what was your life (physical or spiritual), to pick up the pieces and to rebuild. It is a difficult task to do no matter how old you are when it happens.

When our life is destroyed by an event or series of circumstances, the easiest thing to do is to live in the ruins. Rebuilding is difficult and requires energy that we don’t have. God’s desire for you is to rebuild your life, not to give up and live in the ruins of what was your life.

Nehemiah was a man of God in the Bible who saw that Jerusalem was in ruins. There were people who were living in the ruins. Their life was difficult and they were without protection. He knew that the city needed to be rebuilt so the people could survive. Our lives are no different.

He did three things to make that happen.

1. He confessed sin

The first thing Nehemiah did in rebuilding Jerusalem was to go to God. He prayed and confessed his sins as well as those of his people. Sin in our lives separates us from God and removes us from the blessing of protection. We become an open target for those that wish to destroy us.

Sin is not the cause of a destroyed life every time (See the life of Job), but when it is, our first rule is to confess our sins to God and to change our ways. Without this step, we will end up right back where we are. I can testify in my own life that this is true.

2. He knew God’s promises

The next thing that he did was to remind God of the promises He made to His people. To know these promises, you will have to study Gods word. It is full of promises that He will keep when we do what He asks. God is faithful to his promises and will do what He said He would do.

There are books that you can buy that tell you what God’s promises are. If you are not good at research or struggle to know where to look in the Bible to find God’s promises, go out and buy one of these books. To claim a promise from God, you need to know what he said.

3. He got help

The next thing he did was to get help. When he looked at the ruins of Jerusalem, he was overwhelmed and knew he needed help. He called together a group of elders and told them what was going on and asked for there help. As they began to help him, so did more people. In time, what was in ruins was rebuilt better than before.

You didn’t build your life on your own and you cannot rebuild it on your own. You will need to be honest with people you can trust. Get wisdom from them to help you rebuild. Allow them to pray over you and to provide friendship and encouragement during the rebuilding. It won’t happen over night. It can take years, but it starts with picking up the first piece.

If your life or spiritual life is in ruins, step back and take an honest look. Are there sins that need to be confessed to God? If so, confess them and seek His help to turn from them. Do you know what God has promised you? If not, go buy a book or search the Internet for God’s promises. You will find He made a lot. Finally, find people you can trust to help you rebuild. Let them provide a covering for you while you pick up the pieces and rebuild.

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June 20, 2012 · 6:13 PM

Trials, tests and temptations

James 1:2 has always challenged me. It says that we should be joyful when we are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. If you are like me, joy is not your first response to being tried or tempted. I usually take the victim mentality and try to get out of it ASAP.

Trials, tests and temptations make us better and prove our faith. They are what makes us stronger. We don’t like them because there is a probability of failure and that often occurs. Failure is not the end. It provides an opportunity to learn and to grow. Most people quit after failing once because they don’t see the opportunity that has shown itself for them to get back up and learn a new way.

This scripture says that trials, tests and temptations produce 3 things:

1. Endurance

Endurance gives us the strength to continue beyond what we think we can. When we constantly push ourselves, we in erase our endurance. Christianity is not a sprint but a marathon. There will be highs and lows, leaks and valleys that you will go through. There will be times of plenty and times of drought. Being prepared for the valleys and the droughts is what will keep you going.

Paul recognized that he had not yet attained, but he pressed on. That pressing on is what we have to do as Christians. On those days where your prayers seem to fall to the ground, where your faith seems small and when you’re angry at God, you must press on. Don’t allow your dry season to interfere with your relationship with God. Allow it to make it stronger by pressing on.

2. Steadfastness

This is having an unwavering resolution and a fixed direction. You are not easily deterred. Having these qualities in your faith and life are necessary to continuing the course. The world is there to distract you and to keep you from your purpose or calling. It constantly wants to pull you away from the things of God and turn you aside.

Recognize where you are tempted and stay away from those situations. Go the long way around if it means you will avoid temptation that can keep you from your purpose. Take a look at your life, see where you’ve gotten off course in the past, know what caused it and avoid it in the future to the best of your ability. Your fixed direction is heaven. Keep your eyes ahead and keep moving.

3. Patience

This is the quality of being able to have a steady perseverance even in trying situations. A lack of patience causes us to make rash decisions based on emotion which we later regret. We are to think clearly and exercise self control according to I Peter 1:13. We are not to fly off the handle or to make rash decisions.
We’ve all prayed for patience and then faced difficult situations. We faced them because patience is not given, it’s earned. You must go through difficult times to have this fruit produced. The end result is that you can take anything that comes your way with grace and handle it with dignity.

If you are being tried, tested or tempted don’t be upset and take on a victim mentality. Be happy that you are growing and producing endurance, steadfastness and patience. I know it may not be what you think you need right now, but the end result is worth the temporary pain.

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June 19, 2012 · 8:07 AM

Stressed and struggling?

Each of us go through times in our lives when we need help mentally or spiritually. We get crushed under a heavy burden of stress mentally or we struggle spiritually to get an answer from heaven. The nights are long and restless while sleep eludes us. We can’t focus in the daylight because our mind is preoccupied with what we are facing.

Jesus was in such a place before he was crucified. He knew what was coming and what he would endure for us. The stress got to him so much that he sweat drops of blood. The mental pressure that he was under would cause anyone of us to buckle. He was stressed spiritually too. He was about to take on the sins of the world and fight a spiritual battle for the souls of mankind.

During this time, Jesus did 3 things that we can do when we are stressed or struggling.

1. He surrounded himself with friends

The night before his crucifixion, he had dinner with the disciples. The stress of knowing what was coming was all over him, but instead of running away, he surrounded himself with his support group. He knew the importance of friendship in a time of need. They couldn’t stop the crucifixion from happening, but they could be near him.

We tend to seclude ourselves when we need help the most. We break away from our friends and family and get caught up in the stress or struggle. We don’t want to involve anyone else because we don’t want to bother them. Don’t run away from the people who love you most. They are there to support you.

2. He asked others to pray

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said his soul was sad and deeply grieved so much so that he was dying of sorrow. In that moment, he turned to his friends and asked them to pray with him for an hour. He knew the power of having others pray for Him. If the Son of God wasn’t too afraid to ask others to pray for him, you shouldn’t be either.

The Bible tells us to share each others burdens. If others don’t know you are struggling, how will they know to pray for you? It will require you to be open and honest with someone else, but the relief of stress and the support in prayer more than make up for it. Let someone else pray for you and lift you up when you can’t even raise your head to heaven.

3. Someone carried his cross

On the way to Calvary, his body was so tired and worn down that He could not physically go any further under the weight of the cross. They had to get a man named Simon to carry the cross down the road and up the hill. Jesus didn’t have the physical strength to complete the mission, but that didn’t stop him. Another person stepped in to carry the load.

Physical weakness often comes with stress. We can’t be who we are called to be and we can’t do what we are called to do under the weight of stress. Allow someone else to come along and help you carry that load. Yes, it is your cross to bear, but that doesn’t mean that others can’t help you carry it.

Are you under a lot of stress right now? Are you struggling or fighting spiritually? Don’t be too prideful. Surround yourself with friends who can help you, pray with you and carry your cross. Do you know someone who is struggling or fighting? Go be the friend that God wants you to be. Pray for them and help them carry that weight.

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June 18, 2012 · 5:04 PM

Decrease so He can Increase

Most of our jobs have measurements that tell us whether we are being successful or not. Each year, I sit down with my boss and go over those measurements to determine how much of a raise I will get. If I apply for another position in the company, the person hiring will want to see that I’ve been successful in the past before they hire me.

God doesn’t measure success that way though. John the Baptist understood it, but his followers didn’t. When their followers began to follow Jesus, they began to get upset and complained to John. His response was simple, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

There are three things that John says that give us insight to successfully decreasing:

1. Recognize that what you’ve been given is from God

Part of the lie we live is that everything we have, is because we worked for it. Our job is not the source of our income or what we have. It is a tool that God uses to supply your needs. When we lose sight if this, we have a hard time giving because we think what we give is ours. We are stewards of what we have, nothing more.

It’s easy to get in the mindset that our earthly possessions are ours and therefore we attach our significance and worth to them. If you understand that what you have was given to you and lost everything, that would not change who God is to you. Job recognized that. When you attach your worth and significance to what you have and lose everything, it’s devastating and can have grave consequences.

2. Prepare the way, don’t get in the way

Our role is to prepare the way for others to follow Jesus, not to get in their way. Our pride is often a deterrent that keeps people from following Him. We get caught up in the idea that we are more than messengers and that not only effects the message, but also how others receive it.

We can’t let our ego get in the way of what God wants to do with us. We are servants to the cross, not the other way around. God resists the proud and favors the humble. If you want God’s favor in what you are doing, get rid of your ego, humble yourself and do what He called you to do so that He gets the glory.

3. We are groomsmen, not the groom

Most of us have been groomsmen or bridesmaids in our lives. We had the privilege of standing next to someone as they made their lifelong commitment. We understood that the wedding wasn’t about us, it was about the couple. We didn’t get in the way when we weren’t the center of the wedding.

We need to recognize that we aren’t the center of the universe. Christ came to show the world extravagant love and to offer eternal life. He is the groom and the church is His bride. What we do in life should point to that. We should live our lives as groomsmen who are always pointing to the groom and making Him the center.

What ways in your life have you found that you’ve increased and He’s decreased? What changes do you need to make to reverse that? What do you need to do to get out of the way and begin to prepare the way? It’s not too late to find God’s definition of success for your life.

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June 15, 2012 · 8:01 AM

Life in the valley

Are you in a valley right now? Life is full of peaks and valleys. We love to be on the mountain top, but why not the valley? There are lessons to be learned in the valleys. There is fertile soil there to help you grow. We fight the valley and try to get out before we learn why we are there. It is a time to gain the strength and wisdom needed to climb the next mountain.

I’ve had my share of valleys and mountain top experiences. Here are some things I’ve learned in the valley.

1. Growth happens there

You weren’t meant to stay in the valley, but you were meant to learn there. God has always used the valleys of my life to grow me. Some of the greatest crops in the world today are grown in valleys, not on the tops of mountains. If you find yourself in a valley, quit struggling to get out and spend time figuring out how you are to grow from it. There are things taught in the valley that you can’t learn anywhere else.

Spend your time in the valley wisely. You can choose to be upset and think that you are being punished or you can be happy and know that you are being strengthened. God knows what is ahead in your life and gives us seasons in the valley to give us strength to endure what’s ahead. If you leave the valley too soon, you may not have the strength to do what He called you to do in the future.

2. Reconciliation happens there

God will use valleys sometimes to bring reconciliation with Him. Jonah found repentance in the belly of the whale. When David was in the valley he cried out for God to create a new heart in him and to renew a right spirit within him. He knew that even though he was in the valley, God still heard him.

It’s easy to be short sighted in the valley because our view is blocked. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look for God while we are there. He uses the valley at times to purify us and to remind us of who he is. We are reminded that He is God and we are His people.

3. God speaks there

In the darkest times of my life is where I heard God the most. It’s hard to hear Him in the valley though. We become preoccupied with trying to climb out or asking why we are there. We rarely listen though. God wants to use this time to speak to you and to let you know Him. Don’t push Him away.

The tendency is to blame God for being in the valley rather than to listen to Him. He can use this time to help you hear Him better and to draw you closer to Him. Don’t fight Him in the valley. Submit to His will and listen to what He says. You will find that when you are at your lowest, He is at His closest.

What can you learn from your valley? Is God trying to grow you, reconcile you or speak to you? Take time today to stop fighting with Him and questioning Him. Stop and listen to what He has for you in the valley. It won’t last forever and what you learn from it will shape your future.

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June 14, 2012 · 7:35 AM

Setting Spiritual Goals

One of the first things I do each morning is to weigh myself. I don’t do it because I’m vain, but because I have a goal weight that I am trying to get to. The scale gives me a daily measurement of how well I’m doing towards that goal. It reminds me of how far I’ve come and let’s me know how far I have to go.

In my life and in my job I have specific goals that I am trying to attain. I have safeguards and measures along the way to make sure I stay on track and am moving in the right direction. As I was reflecting on those goals, I began to wonder what my spiritual goals were. If I have physical goals, I should have spiritual goals too.

Here are some ways to help you set spiritual goals.

1. Determine what you want to accomplish

All goals start with the finish line in mind. You have to know where you are going if you are going to get there. Be as specific as possible (i.e. win 6 people this year, read the bible in a year, pray 15 minutes a day). Being specific helps you to see where you are in your journey and how much further you need to go.

It should also be something that you can’t attain in your own strength and ability. It is a spiritual goal which means it should be God ordained and require His strength and help to get you there. Pray and ask Him for guidance on what your goals should be.

2. Put a time limit on it

If you don’t put a deadline on it, you will never get there. You need to create a sense of urgency in reaching your goals. Set your goal in a timeframe you know that you can work in. If a year is too long to maintain your focus, set it at 6 or 3 months. Divide up your goal into that time frame so that it is in bite size chunks. If it is to win 3 people in the next 6 months, then look at it as 1 person every 2 months with a final goal of 3 total at the end.

Just like I look at the scale every day, look at your goal each day to see where you are. If you hit it early, then set a new goal that challenges you more. Another reason the time limit is there is to help you reevaluate and to reestablish new goals. Paul said that he had not yet attained his goal. He was pressing on and keeping his eye on the goal. We should too.

3. Get an accountability partner

Any time you have a goal, you need to let others know. They will make sure that you are sticking with it as well as to offer encouragement along the way. It’s easy to get discouraged, especially when you set large goals. Having someone to run along side of you and challenge you will help you to attain it faster.

There is something about being vulnerable and honest with someone else that helps us. We can’t do everything on our own even though we try. Bringing in someone else to challenge you will also challenge them. You will find that they will share their goals with you and you can help them. You are not alone in this.

What spiritual goals do you need to set for yourself today? When do you want to accomplish those by? Who can best hold you accountable and help you to reach them? Don’t delay. Take that first step today to start moving towards where God wants you.

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June 13, 2012 · 7:58 AM

Monkey see, monkey do

My son is getting to that age where he follows me around the house and tries to do what I do. If I’m talking, he babbles. If I’m in the kitchen, he’s opening cabinets. If I’m eating, he wants to eat what I’m eating. I absolutely love this about him.

In John 5, Jesus explained that he did the same thing. He said that he only does what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. We need to emulate that as well. We need to be doing what the Father is doing.

That same passage lists 4 things that Jesus said His Father does and that we can too.

1. Do greater works

There is more that each of us can do for the Kingdom. Jesus’ ministry on earth was more than teaching. It was doing. He got out there and went where the religious leaders refused to go so that He might win those who were unreachable. He went into their homes and lived a life that challenged them.

Rarely do we see Jesus preaching to someone inside their home. He ate with them and conversed with them. By his actions in their home, they were convicted and changed their ways. He was concerned with building relationships to win the lost…and it worked.

2. Give life

Jesus spoke life into others. He looked for opportunities to give life to others. Most of us look for reasons not to give life. We make excuses why we shouldn’t speak to someone else about what God has done for us. Jesus didn’t make excuses and neither should we.

The world is looking for someone to bring them a life changing message. They are spinning their wheels and going nowhere. They are lost and alone. They need someone to bring light into their world and to speak life to them. Don’t hold back and pick and choose who you give life to. Share it with everyone you have the opportunity to.

3. Judge no one

Judgement is not yours to give. This passage makes it clear, that is Jesus’ job. Your job is to extend grace. We are quick to withhold grace from others but expect others to offer us grace. Extend the grace you think you deserve to others. Show them the love that the Father has for them.

When the religious leaders wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery, they brought her before Jesus first. He didn’t judge her. He said, “Let him without sin cast the first stone.” She was clearly guilty, but that didn’t mean she needed judgement. She needed grace. Look for opportunities to share the grace of Christ with others.

4. Honor the Son

When you honor Jesus, you honor the Father. How do you honor the Son? By doing what He asks, living like He commanded and recognizing that nothing you do or have is of your own doing. He gives to us what He can trust us with. He expects us to use the talents and resources we’ve been given for His glory and His purpose.

If you want to honor the Son, do what He asks you to do. Speak to those He wants you to speak to. Go where He wants you to go. It’s easier said than done. He asks for us to surrender to His will and to carry His cross, not to do our will and to carry our burdens. Give Him honor by living a life worthy of the call He has given you.

What can you do today that you see the Father doing? What implications will that have on someone else’s life? You have the opportunity today to do what you see the Father doing. Step out in faith and accomplish His will for you.

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June 12, 2012 · 7:27 AM

Overcoming your problems

Have you let your problems consume your mind? Are they all you can think about to the point that it distracts you from everything else? I’ve been there. There are sleepless nights, strained relationships and an over all lack of productivity. They stand in the way of everything you do and the stress becomes more than you can bear.

You can choose to let them overtake your life or you can take your life back. Jesus didn’t say, “Come to me and I’ll take all your troubles away.”. What he said in John 16:33 was, “In this world you will have trouble, trials, distress and frustration.” Sometimes it seems we get all of them at the same time and become overwhelmed.

Here are some steps to help you if you find yourself there.

1. Cheer up

That’s what Jesus said to do in that same verse. It seems odd, but really what happens is that when you get under that kind of stress is that you become depressed. Depression sucks the life out of you and the will to do anything to combat the problems.

Find a way to get your joy back first. The joy of the Lord is your strength. When you have your strength, you have the ability to overcome your problems. God has made us more than conquerors and that includes our stresses and problems. I heard someone say recently, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big your God is!”

2. Don’t worry

Worry is your enemy. It leads to doubt. Doubt leads to a lack of faith. A lack of faith leads to defeat. I’m not saying don’t take your problems seriously. I’m saying that worrying about them won’t fix them and will ultimately consume you. When you are consumed by your problems you can’t see your future.

God knows your needs before you even ask. He sees you buried under those problems. He says, “Take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted. I have deprived it of power to harm you.” Gain that confidence that with God you can overcome your problems. Then attack them one by one.

3. Take action

God did not call you to fight defensively. Go on the offensive. Don’t look at the mountain ahead that you have to climb. Look at the next step and take it. Gain small victories where you can. Build your faith and gain your strength as you move up the mountain.

Inaction leads to ineffectiveness. You can stand and do nothing and allow yourself to be consumed and ineffective or you can stand and fight. Ephesians 6 says when you have done all the crisis demands to stand firmly in your place. Stand therefore and hold your ground. Don’t back down from the challenge that presents itself. Overcome it one step at a time.

What mountains are standing in your way today? Have you chosen to succumb to them or to stand and overcome? Find your joy to find your strength, get rid of worry and doubt and then take action to overcome. Greater is He that is in you.

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