THAT ONE EXTRA DEGREE
It always amazes me the things that people will not attempt. They think it is silly, it won’t work, what’s the point:, it won’t make that much difference. I fall into that category as well. There are things I won’t attempt due to those same reasons that run through my head.
I ran across this scripture from Proverbs 8:36:
“But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.” (NIV)
When we fail to find God we are harmed. God does not play hide and seek with us. He is always ready and willing to be found. Do we seek Him? When someone offends you and you don’t seek God someone will get harmed. You want to make a positive influence for Christ in your friends life but you don’t seek God daily, someone gets harmed.
I believe that there are so many things that God is waiting for us to find Him in. So many wonderfully marvelous little things in life. A compliment given when it is not needed. A shoulder to cry on when you are the one who really needs to cry. A nice quiet walk alone or with someone you love.
When we don't look for God in these seemingly simple things of life we are harmed because God cannot grow us or be praised for being the great and awesome God that He is.
We have been talking this summer about the potential of one extra degree added to our life that God can do immeasurably more with. What if that extra degree was simply encouraging one person each day? Praying for your kids when they go to bed and asking them what they would like you to pray about.
God + One Extra Degree = Immeasurably More
Monday, August 10, 2009
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Calories
Have you ever made the decision to lose weight or get into shape? Do the words that make up the title of this article come to mind when you think about losing weight or getting in shape? Those words do not make getting in shape sound fun or pleasing. Maybe if we changed the words to make getting in shape sound easier or more fun we would all be able to get in shape. We know that wouldn’t work either because you would still have to do the same things even though it may sound more fun.
The basic idea of getting in shape is to burn off more calories than you take in or be close to burning off what you take in.
As Christ followers the same principle applies. The more we sit and hear God’s Word through Sunday morning messages, Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes, Small Group meetings, our own study time at home, etc. we think that we are really getting stronger and more mature as Christ followers because of what we know. In reality just sitting, listening, thinking about what we heard and doing nothing just makes us out of shape Christians. Look at what James writes in:
James 1:22
[22] Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James is telling us that really living and getting in shape as Christ followers involves doing what you have listened to. He says we deceive ourselves if all we do is listen. To really get to know and understand God’s Word we need to experience it by doing what it says. I know I need to love people and I will never know how great that is or what that means unless I experience it with action.
As we take in calories it requires a lot more physical work to stay in shape. The more we sit and listen it requires a lot more doing to get the point of what we listened to. So to develop as a Christ follower maybe we need to listen less and do what Christ is telling us through our listening. So instead of attending 3 bible studies, maybe one is sufficient. If you tried to do all what you heard in 3 bible studies you would definitely be a busy Christ follower, but would you be an effective Christ follower? Reading 2 chapters a day is good but can you really do all that you read about? Maybe it is more effective to read a few verses or just one passage everyday for a week and actually do what God is telling us.
The basic idea of getting in shape is to burn off more calories than you take in or be close to burning off what you take in.
As Christ followers the same principle applies. The more we sit and hear God’s Word through Sunday morning messages, Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes, Small Group meetings, our own study time at home, etc. we think that we are really getting stronger and more mature as Christ followers because of what we know. In reality just sitting, listening, thinking about what we heard and doing nothing just makes us out of shape Christians. Look at what James writes in:
James 1:22
[22] Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James is telling us that really living and getting in shape as Christ followers involves doing what you have listened to. He says we deceive ourselves if all we do is listen. To really get to know and understand God’s Word we need to experience it by doing what it says. I know I need to love people and I will never know how great that is or what that means unless I experience it with action.
As we take in calories it requires a lot more physical work to stay in shape. The more we sit and listen it requires a lot more doing to get the point of what we listened to. So to develop as a Christ follower maybe we need to listen less and do what Christ is telling us through our listening. So instead of attending 3 bible studies, maybe one is sufficient. If you tried to do all what you heard in 3 bible studies you would definitely be a busy Christ follower, but would you be an effective Christ follower? Reading 2 chapters a day is good but can you really do all that you read about? Maybe it is more effective to read a few verses or just one passage everyday for a week and actually do what God is telling us.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Florida Vacation
Well, we are back from our vacation in Florida. The vacation was good but the most amazing part was watching my children have a great time. Some of the places I really didn't want to go and some of the things I really didn't want to do on the vacation but I knew that I would regret not seeing my children enjoy those things. Knowing that I provided a meaningful experience for my children is indescribable.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Vacation
Well, this is the first official day of our family vacation in Florida. We left at 4pm Friday drove all night and I went to bed at 8:30pm on Saturday night(30 1/2 hours of no sleep). I have read and I can't remember where that the idea of taking a vacation is not common in other countries.
For my wife, kids and I, this is our first official family vacation. We have had vacations before but that always was to return home to visit parents and other relatives. Now that we have moved close to home we can actually have a real vacation.
Have you ever thought why people take a vacation? For some it is to go and see things that they would never make the time to go and see. Others it is to see family that they haven't seen in a while. Still others use it to catch up on much needed home improvements. Companies will even pay for employees to take vacation and after so many years working for a company people take vacation days because they have to or they will lose the vacation day for that year.
I guess vacations are given so people aren't stuck in a rut all the time. It is amazing thought that after a vacation people get right back in the rut that they were stuck in because that rut is comfortable.
On a slightly "spiritual" note. Have you ever taken a vacation as a Christ follower. Maybe you skipped a couple of Sundays at church and didn't get back for a while. You missed your time with God for a couple of days and never got back into the habit.
Christ followers can get stuck in a rut with their spiritual lives as well. Doing the same things over and over again with no creativity or change can cause this. For me I have to vary where my time with God is spent. Indoors, outdoors, at the house, at work, at Starbucks, etc. I also have to vary how I spend me time with God. Only bible study, only prayer, a combination of both, look up topics in the bible, read a devotional book, etc.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
When your faith lifestyle starts to become weary I want to encourage you to take a vacation from your usual routine and change things up. Get creative, go somewhere, talk to someone different. Whatever you do -- Don't Give Up!
For my wife, kids and I, this is our first official family vacation. We have had vacations before but that always was to return home to visit parents and other relatives. Now that we have moved close to home we can actually have a real vacation.
Have you ever thought why people take a vacation? For some it is to go and see things that they would never make the time to go and see. Others it is to see family that they haven't seen in a while. Still others use it to catch up on much needed home improvements. Companies will even pay for employees to take vacation and after so many years working for a company people take vacation days because they have to or they will lose the vacation day for that year.
I guess vacations are given so people aren't stuck in a rut all the time. It is amazing thought that after a vacation people get right back in the rut that they were stuck in because that rut is comfortable.
On a slightly "spiritual" note. Have you ever taken a vacation as a Christ follower. Maybe you skipped a couple of Sundays at church and didn't get back for a while. You missed your time with God for a couple of days and never got back into the habit.
Christ followers can get stuck in a rut with their spiritual lives as well. Doing the same things over and over again with no creativity or change can cause this. For me I have to vary where my time with God is spent. Indoors, outdoors, at the house, at work, at Starbucks, etc. I also have to vary how I spend me time with God. Only bible study, only prayer, a combination of both, look up topics in the bible, read a devotional book, etc.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
When your faith lifestyle starts to become weary I want to encourage you to take a vacation from your usual routine and change things up. Get creative, go somewhere, talk to someone different. Whatever you do -- Don't Give Up!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Follow Me
I am getting back from Senior High Camp at Elkhorn Valley Christian Camp. What an amazing week that God provided for me last week. It is always exciting to see the students arrive for camp and how they act. Then when we gather for worship the first couple of times I watch the ones who are "too cool" to worship. By Tuesday the most amazing things take place. The "too cool" students are starting to free themselves up from the chains of the world. You can almost hear the chains drop as you see their mouths open and praises to God start falling out. And then God begins to work. They start asking for bibles and how to find scriptures, mostly John 3:16 b ecause they see that everywhere. God is an amazing God. I can't wait to see what He has in store for these students lives as the follow Him.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Jury Duty
Well, I got my first experience with jury duty these last two weeks. I only had to appear and go through the questioning from the attorneys once. It was an interesting experience.
I was one of the jurors who got the opportunity to sit where the actual jury sits and the other 25 or so people sat where the audience for the trial would sit. Around me were 11 other jurors and the prosecuting attorney was asking them questions and then I guess he felt it necessary to make sure he asked everyone of the twelve a question.
Here is what stood out with the question that he asked me. He said, "It says on your questionnaire that you are a minister. Is that correct?" I of course answered, "Yes." Then he asked me an interesting question that we as Christ Followers hear in different ways, "Can you sit in judgement on someone else?" I replied, "Yes." Not only did I think that the question was interesting but when I answered, "Yes" to his question I noticed the lady sitting in front of me jump. Now, that could have been because I answered loudly(we were told to speak loud for the court reporter) but in my mind I thought, "She is thinking that I am some self-righteous, law giving minster that condemns everyone around him."
Throughout scripture we are told to judge -- we are to humbly make right decisions on how people act so that they can be restored to a right relationship with the Father or to celebrate with them as they grow closer to the Father. Isn't it sad that people look at Christ followers as people who condemn instead of people who want so badly to restore?
I was one of the jurors who got the opportunity to sit where the actual jury sits and the other 25 or so people sat where the audience for the trial would sit. Around me were 11 other jurors and the prosecuting attorney was asking them questions and then I guess he felt it necessary to make sure he asked everyone of the twelve a question.
Here is what stood out with the question that he asked me. He said, "It says on your questionnaire that you are a minister. Is that correct?" I of course answered, "Yes." Then he asked me an interesting question that we as Christ Followers hear in different ways, "Can you sit in judgement on someone else?" I replied, "Yes." Not only did I think that the question was interesting but when I answered, "Yes" to his question I noticed the lady sitting in front of me jump. Now, that could have been because I answered loudly(we were told to speak loud for the court reporter) but in my mind I thought, "She is thinking that I am some self-righteous, law giving minster that condemns everyone around him."
Throughout scripture we are told to judge -- we are to humbly make right decisions on how people act so that they can be restored to a right relationship with the Father or to celebrate with them as they grow closer to the Father. Isn't it sad that people look at Christ followers as people who condemn instead of people who want so badly to restore?
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