We live in such a spectator culture we can think we go to church to watch a service. Learn about an often forgotten focus of worship.
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A friend shared this on Facebook. Normally, I would simply click Like and maybe even Share. But this one seemed too important not to share here.
I did not write this! In fact, I do not know whom to credit as the author. If you know, please post in the comments. (Thank you!)
Have you ever been surprised by God? You’re following along in a passage and you think you know what is coming next. But then…
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This probably happens more than I’m aware of. But I was reminded again this weekend. I was preaching on one of my favorite passages in the Gospels. Matthew concludes a section of his Gospel that featured Jesus in action teaching, preaching, and even healing people. The writer is about to shift the focus from Jesus ministering to the multitudes to Jesus building into His disciples.
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
Study Deeper
If you dig deeper, you’ll be richly rewarded in your study of the nuances of the original language used here. For now, I want to focus on the obvious because I am afraid we are in great danger of missing the core truth while we allow ourselves to be fascinated by the fringes.
Stay Focused
When reading and studying the Bible, it can be helpful to take special note of the commands. There are a lot of great stories, events, and principles in the Scriptures. We can be refreshed, encouraged, and learn much by reading and meditating upon them. However, there are times that God wants to make sure that we get the point. Therefore, He often summarizes the concept in a command. We should enjoy the story but be sure get the point too. Continue Reading…
The Apostle Paul wrote
Give thanks in everything for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:18)
As I write this, Thanksgiving Day is just a few days away. You might already be in preparation mode to visit with or host family and close friends. As you work to assure that everything is ready, can I suggest you plan to check your own Gratitude Quotient? No, I didn’t make that up. It is a thing.
It’s amazing to me how easily we can overlook the obvious or take the main point for granted. Have you ever gotten to the airport for an international flight and had to go back home to the passport you left on the nightstand so you wouldn’t forget it? No, I haven’t done that but I did drive at least one person who did.
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The question I have for us today, especially as we are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, how is YOUR Thankfulness level? After all, it is THANKSgiving Day — a day for giving thanks.
Here’s your chance to see where you are on this continuum and to seize the opportunity to grow in thankfulness.
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Level 1: Ungrateful
Maybe you consider yourself a self-made man or woman. Nobody gave you anything. In spite of the deck being stacked against you, you made it to the top. You see no need to be thankful. If anyone did happen to help you along the way, you figure they did it for their own benefit. So, you see no need to be thankful. Continue Reading…
As a Christ-follower, I don’t have the right to hate anyone.
In this age of rage, we need to guard our hearts against people that would seek to manipulate us for their own advantage. There are many special interest groups that have entire machines designed to keep us angry.
I understand they want to keep their base fired up. In a day where the average person is bombarded by advertising slogans and other messages all day long, these marketing, media, and PR machines have to fight for our attention and our action.
A quick and easy way to do that is to appeal to basic fears.
Instead of emphasizing the positive aspects of their cause or candidate, they attack the person, policies, or practices of the opponent. Essentially the underlying message is, “I understand you may not want me but there’s NO WAY we want to let that other person or group win. So, even if you hate me, I KNOW you hate them even more!
Some time ago, I remember seeing the President of the United States approach the podium to give a speech or address the press. And I remember feeling absolute disdain for this person. I dug deep inside and realized I felt no respect whatsoever for the office of the presidency because I was blinded by what some in the media had me focusing on about the person who occupied that office at that time.
I remember being struck immediately with this thought that I reminded myself, “I’m a Christian. I don’t have the right to feel like that about anyone — least of all the president of my country.”
I realized immediately that I had to limit the amount of time exposed myself to political commentators of a certain type.
I like to stay informed as much as time will allow me to do. However, there seems to be a clear line in the sand between those who reported the news and those who are willing to use disrespectful or inflammatory language to entertain and maintain their audience while disrespecting and demeaning public figures at any level.
As a Christian, the command God gives us is to love our neighbor. We’re even commanded to love our enemies. I don’t have the right to hate anyone for any reason.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd to show how He cares for the sheep (us). In that context, he warns that there is an enemy whose sole goal is to steal, kill or destroy but that He comes that they/we might have life — and have it to the full! Essentially Jesus is talking about a quality of life. He is working to build up His sheep. The enemy is at work to tear down, destroy, and kill that very quality of life.
Jesus gives joy.
Righteous indignation is appropriate at the right times. But man’s anger stirred up by special interest groups is different. As James wrote:
19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19–20
The Apostle Paul reminds us to
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Ephesians 4:236
In Jeff Goins’ bestseller, Real Artists Don’t Starve, he set out to dispel the myth of the “starving artist”. Likewise, in my last post, I began exposing the lies that many people who seek to wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ may have treasures in Heaven but will probably never enjoy much success here on earth.
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Passivity and Complacency Are Not Necessarily Spiritual
I assure you, I am NOT crossing over to the Health & Wealth Gospel. I have no delusions that God owes me anything! Nor do I believe that God has to provide something just because I “Name it”.
However, I am concerned that while rejecting the excesses of one extreme, we can drift, ever so spiritually, to the other extreme. We can focus so much being humble and on not appearing proud, manipulative, or materialistic, that we limit the blessings God may long to give.
Success and Spirituality Are Not Mutually Exclusive
I am concerned that sometimes, Christ-followers can make the mistake of equating success with impure motives or tactics and a lack of success as being spiritual. I understand if you have trouble believing that statement. I had to read it again myself. But, I assure you, I have seen it over and over. Continue Reading…
Is there a missing ingredient in your prayers and plans?
Do you pray for success?
I have to admit, it’s a challenge for most Christ followers. We’re comfortable serving or being humble. Even if we are committed to doing our best, we can sometimes feel that we need to leave our success in God’s hands because we don’t want to look like we are boasting.
If we view success as a way of becoming financially independent so that we no longer need God or anyone else, I can’t say I would expect God’s blessings on that.
But if through hard work, humility, and a heart dedicated to honoring God, we seek His blessings on our efforts, I think that’s something that would bring God pleasure. We need to be careful when we try to avoid the excesses of the world. Humility does not equal mediocrity.
Here are a few verses to prayerfully consider as you process how you view success. Can you think of other helpful and inspiring verses?
Genesis 24:12
Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Genesis 27:20
Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied.
Genesis 39:23
The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joshua 1:7-8
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1 Samuel 18:5
Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
1 Samuel 18:14
In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.
My eclectic background includes radio and club DJ, MC, Trainer, and Pastor. I have spoken for decades in a wide variety of settings. I am comfortable speaking to a wide variety of groups including all ages and settings, community, business, religious, non-religious, etc.
Whether I’m invited to speak at a corporate meeting, a community event, or a church group, I’ve learned to work through the five Ws to assure an excellent experience for all involved.
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If you are an experienced speaker, these will be a helpful reminder to master the basics.
If you’ve never spoken in public before and you just learned that YOU are the speaker at the meeting you were looking forward to attending, these might help you manage the fears and feel prepared.
The Five Ws
“Who, What, Where, When, and Why” is the traditional order of the Five Ws. So, I’ve kept that in mind while writing this. Beyond the first W, the following are not necessarily in order of importance.
We may not be able to answer all of the following questions every time. The following are just a guide. You may be able to answer some of these through online research but I would recommend verifying your findings to assure they are still relevant. An organization may have just changed top leadership and are getting ready for an entirely new vision.
Sometimes, we may be called upon to speak without knowing ANY of the following information. In those times, we have to trust our message and be ready to assess and adapt in the moment as much as possible.
Know Your Who — the Audience
Learn as much as possible about the attendees. Age, profession, roles, ethnic makeup(?), personality/culture.
Know Your What — the End Result
What you expect the audience to do/feel/think as a result of your message.
Know Your When — the Timing
We need to respect everyone’s time! Know when you supposed to start and end. Know how to track your time while speaking.
Know Your Where — the Setting
The room (small, medium, gigantic), the contacts, technology, handouts(?)
Know Your Why — the Purpose of the Gathering
Why are they meeting? Regular event? Resolve issues?
This is a grid to help focus your thoughts and questions. I will flesh these out in future articles. This might be a good time to subscribe so you’ll receive future posts in your inbox.
These verses were very comforting and encouraging during a time when I was unemployed and seeking God’s guidance for next steps. May they encourage your heart today whatever your needs may be.
The Bible tells us to “encourage one another.” Have you ever asked yourself, how do I do that when I feel dry and empty inside?
You’re not alone. Even grief counselors experience grief when they lose a loved one. Sometimes, even inspirational speakers need to be inspired. Even Jesus, the Son of God, rose early and spent time in prayer with His Father.
One Bible verse has always intrigued me. In 1 Samuel 30:6, we read this one little phrase,
David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
The context tells us why David needed encouragement, but it does not tell us what David did.
While David and his soldiers were away, raiders came, burned his city and had taken their wives and children captive. The entire group was overcome with grief. “Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.” In their grief, the men “spoke of stoning him (David), because all the people were bitter in soul.” Not only was David dealing with his own grief, now he was concerned about preserving his own life.
If we take a bigger picture view of the context, we see that David is now being tested to reveal his true character before God officially places him on the throne of His people. You may remember that King Saul failed the tests of staying strong when his men were breaking ranks. He also failed the test of executing God’s command to eliminate an enemy nation. That nation, Amalek, is the very one responsible for raiding David’s camp.
How David responds is critical to his own kingship.
Some modern translations render the verse as “David strengthened himself” in the Lord. Essentially, we are talking about the same concept. Remember the definition of “encourage” is to impart courage — “the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courage)
In times of fear, exhaustion, or devastation, we can only focus on one thing. We may see lots of things. But we have to choose where to stay focused — on our circumstances or on solutions. We choose to focus on the enemies of God or on God, Himself. Now, I live in the real world. I am not advocating self-deception or ignoring the facts. But sometimes, our circumstances can seem so overwhelming, we overlook the help right in front of us.
So, what exactly did David do?
As I mentioned earlier, the writer doesn’t tell us exactly what David did, but I have an idea. Ever notice the phrase “O my soul” in the Psalms? Quite a few times, David (and presumably other writers) lets us in on a private, inner conversation he has with himself to refocus his attention on God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5, 11 (ESV)
In Psalm 62, David encourages himself and others to put their trust in God.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Psalm 62:5–8 (ESV)
When I was a new believer, I attended a church that began every worship service with a chorus built on the following verses from Psalm 103.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
Today’s post is just to whet our appetites. In upcoming posts, we’ll explore other tools to encourage ourselves so that we can encourage others.
