Ablaze vs. A Control Burn

I heard a pastor talking about the Ablaze initiative and was concerned about things getting out of control. He really wanted somehow to curb the enthusiasm so things stayed manageable. Is that really the heart and attitude we find in Acts? I don't thinks so. We are called upon to spread the gospel. We can't control the affects nor should we. I think we should all be praying for a blaze not a control burn. In a forest fire the control burn is the way the fire fighters try and put the fire out. It that our calling to snuff out the gospel or spread it like wildfire? Let's set this world, our community, our families on fire for God.

The Beauty of Forgiveness

I have discovered that one of the most difficult concepts to understand and master is this idea of forgiveness. People have all kinds of ideas of what forgiveness is and isn't; when forgiveness should be asked for and given. But the one thing I have discovered is not forgiving someone can destroy not only your relationship but you as an individual. Resentment and an unforgiving heart can change a person's outward apprearance. It can make beautiful people (by worldly standards) look ugly. It makes gentle people harsh. But people with a forgiving spirit have a certain calmness and peace about them. More on this later.

Focused Living Vs. Purposed-Driven

It is amazing how at peace you can become when you discover your God-given purpose. I spent time in the fall at a ReFocus living retreat. It reminded me of my first one years ago. At that time I went away questioning my calling only to come back with a more focused and clearer view of how God has shaped and molded me in the past for the present and future work he has in mind for me. I came back to realize that all the painful events in my past and present are God's way of shaping me and sharpening the sword. I can now look at my life and look at the difficulties that I face daily in a totally different light. I am not purpose-driven because that puts the pressure on me to achieve. Instead I am practicing "focused living" which is based on how God is leading me. The congregations that are going through it now in our district in the next few months will have the opportunity to also go through Focused Living and I pray it will give them the same inner peace and understanding about their individual calling in life that it has given me.

When the Going Gets Tough.

One stanza in my favorite hymn is:

When through fiery trials your pathway will lie,

My grace, all sufficient, will be your supply.

The flames will not hurt you;

I only designYour dross to consume and your gold to refine.

It hits me particularly this week as we beging a new year that chances are there will be some difficult trials in 2008. And I realize I have only two options in dealing with the trials. First, I can stand on my own abilities and fight the trial head on. The problem with doing it on my own is I will only come away more battered and bruised. The trial more than likely will win! Option two is to see the trial as this stanza points out as an opportunity for God to shape me and mould me for his service. Notice the words of the last verse. "The flames will not hurt you I only design your dross to consume and your gold to refine." God will use the trials I go through to refine me. It will not be easy and at times the task seems daunting but God will prevail. I will turn the situation over to him and allow him to guide me through. His grace is sufficient.

God is Faithful

Houston pastor john Bisango describes a time when his daughter Melodye Jan, age five, came to him and asked for a doll house. John promptly nodded and promised to build her one, then he went back to reading his book. Soon he glanced out the study window and saw her arms filled with dishes, toys, and dolls, making trip after trip until she had a great pile of playthings in the yard. He asked his wife what Melodye Jan was doing. ‘Oh, you promised to build her a doll house, and she believes you. She’s just getting ready for it.’ ‘You would have thought I’d been hit by an atom bomb,’ John later said. ’I threw aside that book, raced to the lumber yard for supplies, and quickly built that little girl a doll house. Now why did I respond? Because I wanted to? No. Because she deserved it? No. Her daddy had given his word, and she believed it and acted upon it. When I saw her faith, nothing could keep me from carrying out my word.” This story reminds us of God’s faithfulness. We have an incredible God who keeps his promises. We have a God who remains faithful even when we are unfaithful. He never forgets his promises. The most important promise he made and kept was to send us a Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who saved us from our sins. Our God is the real Promise Keeper.

Finishing Strong

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12

In college the cross-country team ran on the golf course. The officials for the race would go out ahead, placing flags on the course to show the runners where they were supposed to run. A certain color indicated "left turn." Another color meant "right turn." Another said "straight ahead."
There was a race marked out for the runners; and if they had any intention of taking home a medal, they had to follow the race-course marked out. You couldn't decide, "Boy, this is a ten-mile race, but I've only got four miles in me this morning. I'm going to take a short cut. I hope nobody minds."

You can't look at a particular hill and say, "That hill just looks nasty. I'm not going to tackle that one today. I'll just run around it." You have to run the race marked out for you.There is a race marked out for each of us runners; and if we have any intention of taking home a medal, we have to follow the race-course marked out. You couldn't decide, "Boy, this is a six-mile race, but I've only got four miles in me this morning. I'm going to take a short cut. I hope nobody minds."
You can't look at a particular hill and say, "That hill just looks nasty. I'm not going to tackle that one today. I'll just skip around it." You have to run the race marked out for you.

The same is true of the Christian life. God has gone before us. He knows our end from our beginning. He knows all the days of our life. In his great foreknowledge, he has gone ahead of us and planted these flags ahead of us. And the Scripture says, "Run with perseverance the race marked out for you."

Each race is unique. Yet we have a tendence to compare oursself with other people. When my race seems tough, and I want to feel sorry for myself, it's easy to look at someone else and say, "Boy, if I had his race to run, no problem. I could handle that. If I had his paycheck, I could run with perseverance the race marked out for me. If I had a husband or a wife, I could run with perseverance. If I had his health; if I didn't have this disability."

We can rationalize to the point where we say, "It's okay for me to quit. I don't have to run with perseverance because my course is so much harder than that of other people's."
But God says, "I want you to run this race. This is what I hold you accountable for. Don't think about others. You just look at me. And together, we'll run your race."
If you're going to finish, you've got to keep running until you reach the finish line.

But God doesn't leave us to run the race alone. He there right beside us encouraging us all the way. He is communicating to us, supporting us, giving us the strength to continue. He wants us to finish strong he want to finish with that runners kick.

So he stand beside us saying in Isaiah 46:3-4: "Listen to me. You whom I have upheld since you were conceived and have carried since your birth even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he. I am he who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you."

God whispers in your ear: "Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

The race is difficult at times but pray as Paul did, that we can fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith!

When I Say I am a Christian

I ran across this poem and it is so meaningful because I believe it addresses where many Christians know they are. We realize more than anyone our fallen condition. Being a Christian is not about thinking we are better than someone else. It is about realizing that was have been saved by grace. It is a realization that as someone saved by grace we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to share that message of forgiveness and hope with a fallen and hurting world. The message that God in his mercy sent His only Son as a ransom for me and for you. What an opportunity! What a powerful message!

When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'", I'm whispering, "I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven." When I say "I am a Christian, I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say "I am a Christian, I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say "I am a Christian, I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say "I am a Christian, I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it. When I say "I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name. When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!