Matthew 15:13
Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
Not long ago I had my yard landscaped and made ready for spring. The grass was cut, lawn sprayed for weeds, trees trimmed, and mulch laid. The yard looked splendid, like a gigantic green blanket bordered with well-trimmed edges accented with flowers and greenery. A couple of weeks later flowers began to bud or at least I thought they were flowers. It was too early to tell. It was hard to distinguish between what was planted by the landscapers and what was actually weeds growing by themselves but after consistent observation I discerned that what I hoped to be flowers were really weeds coming up in my mulch. I kept walking past them hoping the weeds were really some kind of exotic flower but my mind kept telling me, “no those are weeds.” I wanted the yard workers to come back and pull them up but they were so focused on the lawn that they overlooked my mulch, maybe because it was closer to my door. Then God told me they are not going to take notice of the weeds like an owner will. I’ve shown you the weeds now what are you going to do about them?” I said, “God they have got to go!” So I went around my house on a Sunday afternoon and uprooted all the weeds around my house. I wanted somebody else to do what only I could do. Immediately, the balance of beauty returned to the landscape of my home.
Sometimes, it’s hard to discern the flowers from the weeds but through consistent observation they will expose themselves. Jesus was debating with the Pharisees about washing hands before they ate food and Jesus told them its not what goes in a man that defiles him but what comes out of him. It is out of the mouth that the heart speaks. Jesus said, “You can tell who a person is by what comes out of their heart.”
This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. People can be flowery with their words….”I love you, you are the best thing that ever happened, you are a great pastor/leader, “ but they can be “weedy” in their actions…”betrayal, inconsistency, lying, stealing, adultery.” How do you discern Flowers from Weeds?
1. Pray. As a leader you naturally draw all kinds of people for whatever reason. What’s scary is that you don’t always know who you are getting. People can be one way on paper but another way in reality. David had all kinds of people coming to him when he first became king and this is what he said to them: 1 Chronicles 12:17 (The Message)
16-17 There were also men from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah who joined David in his wilderness fortress. When David went out to meet them, this is what he said: "If you have come in peace and to help me, you are most welcome to join this company; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies, innocent as I am, the God of our ancestors will see through you and bring judgment on you."
2. Listen to their hearts by watching their actions. Matthew 15:19 (Amplified Bible)
19For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.
3. God will expose them and uproot them. Now this one is the hardest to wait on and carry out because you have to be careful how you pull up weeds. Matthew 13:28-30 (Amplified Bible)
28He replied to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Then do you want us to go and weed them out?
29But he said, No, lest in gathering the wild wheat (weeds resembling wheat), you root up the [true] wheat along with it.
30Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the reapers, Gather the darnel first and bind it in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my granary.
You don’t pull up weeds until the harvest comes, that is, you have to allow them time to mature. After watching them for a couple of years you should know whether they are wheat or weeds. After people have been with you long enough you will know by the Holy Sprit which ones are weeds and which ones are wheat.
When you are sure you have weeds, pull them out or they will throw off the balance of your landscape. Pull people with flowery speech but rotten actions. Pull people with a form of godliness but no power to go with it. Pull people who say they are for you but their actions say they are against you. They got to go!
Dear God, I have some weeds in my garden that I thought were flowers. Now that time has passed it is apparent that these weeds threaten the beauty of what you created. I just can’t set here knowing these are weeds and my neighbor knows I have weeds next to flowers. Lord pull up my weeds so my garden can grow.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Don't Listen to Bad Wind
Matthew 14:30
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord Save me!”
Psalms 142:6
Give heed to my cry, for I am brought low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
We often find ourselves making great strides in life only to be knocked off balance by strong winds. Whenever I travel by airplane I am either flying against the wind or flying with the wind pushing me. There is no way around it. We are always going to have wind. You are going to have good wind and bad wind. Good wind is when the wind is at your back and propels your travel. Good wind is people praying for you. Good wind is when people acknowledge your achievements and you build social capital. Good wind is the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit in John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Bad Wind is adversity. Bad wind is accusation without substantiation. Bad wind is sensationalized sound byte driven press who look for anything negative to attack your progress. Bad Wind is people who have nothing going for them so their whole mission in life is to use their breath to slow you down with negativity.
A wise pastor once told me you have to live with the Bad Wind to benefit from the Good Wind, you are either flying against the wind or flying with the wind.
Jesus disciples were in a storm and the bible says, “The wind was against them.” Anytime you are obedient to Jesus and you are trying to get to the other side, the wind will always be against you at some point, but if Jesus is on your side and He sent you, than who can be against you?
The Good News is that when the wind is against you Jesus will come to see about you! In the midst of the storm Peter sees Jesus walking on the water. If this miracle of Jesus showing up in the middle of a windstorm wasn’t enough Peter says to Jesus, “if that’s you call me out there with you.” Jesus says to Peter, “Come on out here!” Peter begins to walk on water; it’s a miracle! He’s making great progress, gong where no man has gone before but then he starts paying attention to the strong winds and stops looking at Jesus. He cries out to Jesus, “Lord save me!”
There comes a time when even the strong get weak. We get tired of the wolves, we get tired of the sensationalized press, and we get tired of haters. David got tired hiding in a cave on his way to becoming king. He was surrounded by haters howling outside for his blood and he says to God, “Give heed to my cry for I am really down right now, save me from “Bad Wind” because the “Head Winds” are too strong for me.” Just when you are at your lowest that’s when Jesus will reach for you. When the winds are too strong remember:
1. Don’t focus on the wind. Especially when you are making great progress the winds objective is to distract you from where you were going. In the midst of the howling remember to listen for the voice of Jesus in the midst of your storm. Don’t read negative blogs, newspapers, or news. If people are saying things about you that are not true you don’t have to listen to bad wind or at least focus on it. Keep your mind on Jesus!
2. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink. Whatever you focus on determines how you will go forward. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
3. Buckle up, it's only turbulence. When you are fighting through winds of resistance you have to make sure you have on the full armor of God found in Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.
4. Get to the other side because on your Return Flight the wind will be at your back. You will expend a lot of resources flying against the resources but the good news is that same wind will push you into your destiny once you come back the other way.
Dear God, I’m focusing on you. I know you called me out to do the impossible. I’ve got some wind against me but I know the Holy Spirit (Good Wind) has got my back. I’m keeping my eyes on you and we will get to the other side in spite of the Wind.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord Save me!”
Psalms 142:6
Give heed to my cry, for I am brought low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
We often find ourselves making great strides in life only to be knocked off balance by strong winds. Whenever I travel by airplane I am either flying against the wind or flying with the wind pushing me. There is no way around it. We are always going to have wind. You are going to have good wind and bad wind. Good wind is when the wind is at your back and propels your travel. Good wind is people praying for you. Good wind is when people acknowledge your achievements and you build social capital. Good wind is the Holy Spirit in your life. Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit in John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Bad Wind is adversity. Bad wind is accusation without substantiation. Bad wind is sensationalized sound byte driven press who look for anything negative to attack your progress. Bad Wind is people who have nothing going for them so their whole mission in life is to use their breath to slow you down with negativity.
A wise pastor once told me you have to live with the Bad Wind to benefit from the Good Wind, you are either flying against the wind or flying with the wind.
Jesus disciples were in a storm and the bible says, “The wind was against them.” Anytime you are obedient to Jesus and you are trying to get to the other side, the wind will always be against you at some point, but if Jesus is on your side and He sent you, than who can be against you?
The Good News is that when the wind is against you Jesus will come to see about you! In the midst of the storm Peter sees Jesus walking on the water. If this miracle of Jesus showing up in the middle of a windstorm wasn’t enough Peter says to Jesus, “if that’s you call me out there with you.” Jesus says to Peter, “Come on out here!” Peter begins to walk on water; it’s a miracle! He’s making great progress, gong where no man has gone before but then he starts paying attention to the strong winds and stops looking at Jesus. He cries out to Jesus, “Lord save me!”
There comes a time when even the strong get weak. We get tired of the wolves, we get tired of the sensationalized press, and we get tired of haters. David got tired hiding in a cave on his way to becoming king. He was surrounded by haters howling outside for his blood and he says to God, “Give heed to my cry for I am really down right now, save me from “Bad Wind” because the “Head Winds” are too strong for me.” Just when you are at your lowest that’s when Jesus will reach for you. When the winds are too strong remember:
1. Don’t focus on the wind. Especially when you are making great progress the winds objective is to distract you from where you were going. In the midst of the howling remember to listen for the voice of Jesus in the midst of your storm. Don’t read negative blogs, newspapers, or news. If people are saying things about you that are not true you don’t have to listen to bad wind or at least focus on it. Keep your mind on Jesus!
2. Keep your eyes on Jesus. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink. Whatever you focus on determines how you will go forward. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
3. Buckle up, it's only turbulence. When you are fighting through winds of resistance you have to make sure you have on the full armor of God found in Ephesians 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.
4. Get to the other side because on your Return Flight the wind will be at your back. You will expend a lot of resources flying against the resources but the good news is that same wind will push you into your destiny once you come back the other way.
Dear God, I’m focusing on you. I know you called me out to do the impossible. I’ve got some wind against me but I know the Holy Spirit (Good Wind) has got my back. I’m keeping my eyes on you and we will get to the other side in spite of the Wind.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Monday, April 26, 2010
There's Treasure in this Field
Matthew 13:44
The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he had and buys that field.
On Kirk Franklin’s “Sunday’s Best,” Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary search the world over looking for the next great voice in gospel music. They go through person after person from Nigeria all the way to New Orleans looking for the person with the voice and the “look.” Last night’s episode featured a woman who had been evicted, her personal belongings had been put out on the street in bags and all she had were the clothes on her back with some flip flops auditioning for Sunday’s best. She sang, “This is the day the Lord has made.” When she sang that song hair stood up on the back of my neck and my spirit leaped. Erica of Mary Mary jumped up, her sister Tina threw up her hands, and the often reluctant to give anybody praise, Donny McClurkin couldn’t contain himself. Erica told the woman, “Normally I write the numbers down of people who have the look, I didn’t write your number down because you had on them flip flops with white socks but when you started singing I had to write your number down you are Sunday’s Best!”
Virtually, the woman looked like a lost cause but inside she was a virtuous woman. That woman represents so many of us who are automatically devalued by the opinions of other people because of situations beyond our control but yet they overlook the treasure that is within us. Maybe that’s what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 4: 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
Oftentimes, we are overlooked because of the way we appear without people noticing the treasure inside. From outward appearance I don’t hold much value, but don’t sleep on me, inside I got Treasure!
Don’t be so quick to write people off or communities off just because they don’t look like they have value, there is treasure in here. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Jesus talks about a man who discovers treasure in a piece of land. He could have taken the treasure and left, but instead, he sold all he had to take possession of the land. When you encounter God you don’t want a piece of it, you want all of it. I never understood Guy's song, “you can have a piece of my love,” If I find something authentically valuable, I don’t want a piece I want all of it. I think we have been too content giving pieces of our treasure away without purchasing the whole field.
When we encounter God there ought to be an exchange of what you have for what is truly valuable.
When we buy the whole field to get the treasure three things take place:
1. It’s a shifting of priority. The discovery of treasure in this field means that there is a chance that there might be more in this field. But in order to obtain the treasure I need to secure the field. what was a passing revelation is now a priority of preoccupation.
2. A shift from small beginnings to cosmic impact. You must be able to see something small and see how it has a greater impact. What treasure in this field is worth you risking everything you got to obtain it. If there is no treasure that will make a cosmic impact don’t waste your time.
3. Wholehearted commitment. Whatever you see value in is what you ought to invest in. Wherever your heart is, is where your treasure is. You should invest where your heart is. Jesus said, “do not store up for yourself treasure on earth…but store up in heaven.” If what you are investing in does not have Kingdom impact then you are wasting your money.
In order to obtain the treasure you have to buy the field. The excuse is that I don’t have the money. The reality is that you do have the money, you just have to modify your lifestyle to get it. We buy what we want to buy. We might have to get rid of some stuff to purchase what is really valuable. In order for my child to go to college I might have to sell my old school car so they can learn. In order to buy my first house I might have to sell my luxury car and get a small economy car from the auction. I might have to stop going out to the club and use that money to go back to school.
Dear God, I’m ready to buy the field. You’ve shown me the treasure now give me the heart to buy this field that other people have overlooked. If they knew the treasure that was in it they never would have passed it up. Thank you God for Jesus for He’s just a jewel that I have found. Now I’m buying the whole field!
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he had and buys that field.
On Kirk Franklin’s “Sunday’s Best,” Donnie McClurkin and Mary Mary search the world over looking for the next great voice in gospel music. They go through person after person from Nigeria all the way to New Orleans looking for the person with the voice and the “look.” Last night’s episode featured a woman who had been evicted, her personal belongings had been put out on the street in bags and all she had were the clothes on her back with some flip flops auditioning for Sunday’s best. She sang, “This is the day the Lord has made.” When she sang that song hair stood up on the back of my neck and my spirit leaped. Erica of Mary Mary jumped up, her sister Tina threw up her hands, and the often reluctant to give anybody praise, Donny McClurkin couldn’t contain himself. Erica told the woman, “Normally I write the numbers down of people who have the look, I didn’t write your number down because you had on them flip flops with white socks but when you started singing I had to write your number down you are Sunday’s Best!”
Virtually, the woman looked like a lost cause but inside she was a virtuous woman. That woman represents so many of us who are automatically devalued by the opinions of other people because of situations beyond our control but yet they overlook the treasure that is within us. Maybe that’s what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 4: 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
Oftentimes, we are overlooked because of the way we appear without people noticing the treasure inside. From outward appearance I don’t hold much value, but don’t sleep on me, inside I got Treasure!
Don’t be so quick to write people off or communities off just because they don’t look like they have value, there is treasure in here. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Jesus talks about a man who discovers treasure in a piece of land. He could have taken the treasure and left, but instead, he sold all he had to take possession of the land. When you encounter God you don’t want a piece of it, you want all of it. I never understood Guy's song, “you can have a piece of my love,” If I find something authentically valuable, I don’t want a piece I want all of it. I think we have been too content giving pieces of our treasure away without purchasing the whole field.
When we encounter God there ought to be an exchange of what you have for what is truly valuable.
When we buy the whole field to get the treasure three things take place:
1. It’s a shifting of priority. The discovery of treasure in this field means that there is a chance that there might be more in this field. But in order to obtain the treasure I need to secure the field. what was a passing revelation is now a priority of preoccupation.
2. A shift from small beginnings to cosmic impact. You must be able to see something small and see how it has a greater impact. What treasure in this field is worth you risking everything you got to obtain it. If there is no treasure that will make a cosmic impact don’t waste your time.
3. Wholehearted commitment. Whatever you see value in is what you ought to invest in. Wherever your heart is, is where your treasure is. You should invest where your heart is. Jesus said, “do not store up for yourself treasure on earth…but store up in heaven.” If what you are investing in does not have Kingdom impact then you are wasting your money.
In order to obtain the treasure you have to buy the field. The excuse is that I don’t have the money. The reality is that you do have the money, you just have to modify your lifestyle to get it. We buy what we want to buy. We might have to get rid of some stuff to purchase what is really valuable. In order for my child to go to college I might have to sell my old school car so they can learn. In order to buy my first house I might have to sell my luxury car and get a small economy car from the auction. I might have to stop going out to the club and use that money to go back to school.
Dear God, I’m ready to buy the field. You’ve shown me the treasure now give me the heart to buy this field that other people have overlooked. If they knew the treasure that was in it they never would have passed it up. Thank you God for Jesus for He’s just a jewel that I have found. Now I’m buying the whole field!
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
How Are You Going To Treat Them?
I Samuel 24:17
“You are more righteous than I,” he said, “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
It’s so easy to be mean to people who are mean to you. Its almost a knee jerk reaction that when people are antagonistic toward you, that you want to strike back. But when God has anointed you, you have a greater respect for the anointing on somebody else.
How can somebody that is anointed treat you bad? If they treat you bad doesn’t that already show you that they are not on God’s side and therefore no longer deserve respect?
Let's look at the story of David and Saul. Saul had been anointed to be the first king over Israel but somewhere along the way he stopped following God’s instruction and God took his spirit off of him and anointed David to be Israel’s next King. Saul lost the Sprit but was still anointed for the position. We never want to be anointed for something that you can no longer feel. You can still be used of God but not enjoy the peace of being connected. David was anointed and connected to God.
Saul was jealous of his armor bearer David, his son in law, his captain of the guard because young David was anointed and even the people wrote a song about how David had killed more Philistines than Saul:
Saul has killed his thousands but David has killed his tens of thousands.”
Saul tried to kill David on several occasions causing David to be on the run living in a cave with his renegade warriors. On one occasion, Saul came into the cave where David was hiding to relieve himself not knowing David was in there. David’s renegades with no connection to the king, said to David, “Here's your chance, God has delivered Saul into your hands.” David took his knife and thought about it.
There have been times when we’ve all thought about it. They’ve treated us bad and we thought about retaliating. They dogged us out and we thought about clicking on them. We thought about going off on them but the Holy Sprit wouldn’t let David kill God’s anointed. Instead, he cut a piece of Saul’s Robe. Even then David was conscience stricken, because he thought about it.
He told the King I am not the man you thought I was. I’m not going to lower myself to your expectations, instead, I’m going to raise my actions to God’s expectations. I had the chance to kill you but I didn’t! You’re God’s anointed even though you don’t act like it. I don’t like what you did to me but I have to respect the position. As a result of David’s Right Action Saul did three things:
1. He was convicted by the contrast. In verse 17, Saul tells David you were more righteous than I because I treated you bad but you treated me good. Let your actions speak for your heart. Do not be overcome with evil but instead overcome evil with good.
2. He blessed David in verse 19. Saul said, “May the lord reward you well for how you treated me today. How you treat them today will determine whether or not you get your blessing. The people who wanted to do you harm will have to bless you when you are righteous.
3. They will have to concede your promotion. In verse 20, Saul told David you will be king over Israel and your hands will establish the kingdom. Saul asks David not to cut off his family when he comes into his kingdom.
Dear God, give me the love and discipline not to retaliate against mean people. Give me the capacity to love my enemies and pray for those who despitefully use me. Increase my anointing to not act out on my anger but to operate in your love.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
“You are more righteous than I,” he said, “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
It’s so easy to be mean to people who are mean to you. Its almost a knee jerk reaction that when people are antagonistic toward you, that you want to strike back. But when God has anointed you, you have a greater respect for the anointing on somebody else.
How can somebody that is anointed treat you bad? If they treat you bad doesn’t that already show you that they are not on God’s side and therefore no longer deserve respect?
Let's look at the story of David and Saul. Saul had been anointed to be the first king over Israel but somewhere along the way he stopped following God’s instruction and God took his spirit off of him and anointed David to be Israel’s next King. Saul lost the Sprit but was still anointed for the position. We never want to be anointed for something that you can no longer feel. You can still be used of God but not enjoy the peace of being connected. David was anointed and connected to God.
Saul was jealous of his armor bearer David, his son in law, his captain of the guard because young David was anointed and even the people wrote a song about how David had killed more Philistines than Saul:
Saul has killed his thousands but David has killed his tens of thousands.”
Saul tried to kill David on several occasions causing David to be on the run living in a cave with his renegade warriors. On one occasion, Saul came into the cave where David was hiding to relieve himself not knowing David was in there. David’s renegades with no connection to the king, said to David, “Here's your chance, God has delivered Saul into your hands.” David took his knife and thought about it.
There have been times when we’ve all thought about it. They’ve treated us bad and we thought about retaliating. They dogged us out and we thought about clicking on them. We thought about going off on them but the Holy Sprit wouldn’t let David kill God’s anointed. Instead, he cut a piece of Saul’s Robe. Even then David was conscience stricken, because he thought about it.
He told the King I am not the man you thought I was. I’m not going to lower myself to your expectations, instead, I’m going to raise my actions to God’s expectations. I had the chance to kill you but I didn’t! You’re God’s anointed even though you don’t act like it. I don’t like what you did to me but I have to respect the position. As a result of David’s Right Action Saul did three things:
1. He was convicted by the contrast. In verse 17, Saul tells David you were more righteous than I because I treated you bad but you treated me good. Let your actions speak for your heart. Do not be overcome with evil but instead overcome evil with good.
2. He blessed David in verse 19. Saul said, “May the lord reward you well for how you treated me today. How you treat them today will determine whether or not you get your blessing. The people who wanted to do you harm will have to bless you when you are righteous.
3. They will have to concede your promotion. In verse 20, Saul told David you will be king over Israel and your hands will establish the kingdom. Saul asks David not to cut off his family when he comes into his kingdom.
Dear God, give me the love and discipline not to retaliate against mean people. Give me the capacity to love my enemies and pray for those who despitefully use me. Increase my anointing to not act out on my anger but to operate in your love.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Am I Going To Heaven?
Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
In order to go to heaven we have to die twice. Once we have to die spiritually and be born again then physically when it’s time to depart earth. The first death is by choice the second one God makes sure everyone experiences that and the final destination depends on the first choice.
God creates us all with free will; that is, we have a choice to choose God or live independently from His will for our lives. Life with God through Jesus is abundant but without him life is empty. The illusion is that people who have more really have less and the people who have less really have more. The trick of the enemy is that the path to destruction is broad and easy but the path towards heaven is narrow and hard. It appears that the highway to hell is a lot more appealing because it is broad and easy but there is more Life in God’s narrow entry way then it is on the Devil’s Broadway. The paradox is that there is abundance in narrowness and Joy in struggle.
The only way we can get into heaven is to do God’s will. There is our way of doing things and God’s way of doing things. In order to fulfill a greater purpose with our lives we must give God our lives by doing less of what we want and more of what God wants. We live in a world where we are very narcissistic and this very thing revolves around us, our stomach’s, our desires have become our gods. Until we dethrone our idol gods and let God reign again, we might miss our entry into heaven.
Just because we are used of God doesn’t mean we are getting into heaven. Only those who do the will of God get into Heaven. What is the will of God?
1. Do unto others as you have them to do unto you. When we learn this golden rule of Jesus to treat other people like you want to be treated regardless of how they treat you. When we learn to take the high road when they take the low road. When we learn how to overcome their capacity to be evil with our capacity to do good, that is the will of God.
2. Hear the Word of God and to do it is to do the Will of God. To love Jesus is to keep His commandments. Jesus said some Radical stuff in the gospels, he taught a new paradigm of living. When we live by it we are living out the Will of God.
3. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
You cannot know Jesus and still do wrong. You will know a tree by the fruit it bears.
Dear God, let me use my free will to do your will. I choose not to do me but to follow you. I choose the narrow way and the stuff I missed out on doesn’t compare to what I have in heaven. Not my will, but your will be done in my life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
In order to go to heaven we have to die twice. Once we have to die spiritually and be born again then physically when it’s time to depart earth. The first death is by choice the second one God makes sure everyone experiences that and the final destination depends on the first choice.
God creates us all with free will; that is, we have a choice to choose God or live independently from His will for our lives. Life with God through Jesus is abundant but without him life is empty. The illusion is that people who have more really have less and the people who have less really have more. The trick of the enemy is that the path to destruction is broad and easy but the path towards heaven is narrow and hard. It appears that the highway to hell is a lot more appealing because it is broad and easy but there is more Life in God’s narrow entry way then it is on the Devil’s Broadway. The paradox is that there is abundance in narrowness and Joy in struggle.
The only way we can get into heaven is to do God’s will. There is our way of doing things and God’s way of doing things. In order to fulfill a greater purpose with our lives we must give God our lives by doing less of what we want and more of what God wants. We live in a world where we are very narcissistic and this very thing revolves around us, our stomach’s, our desires have become our gods. Until we dethrone our idol gods and let God reign again, we might miss our entry into heaven.
Just because we are used of God doesn’t mean we are getting into heaven. Only those who do the will of God get into Heaven. What is the will of God?
1. Do unto others as you have them to do unto you. When we learn this golden rule of Jesus to treat other people like you want to be treated regardless of how they treat you. When we learn to take the high road when they take the low road. When we learn how to overcome their capacity to be evil with our capacity to do good, that is the will of God.
2. Hear the Word of God and to do it is to do the Will of God. To love Jesus is to keep His commandments. Jesus said some Radical stuff in the gospels, he taught a new paradigm of living. When we live by it we are living out the Will of God.
3. He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
You cannot know Jesus and still do wrong. You will know a tree by the fruit it bears.
Dear God, let me use my free will to do your will. I choose not to do me but to follow you. I choose the narrow way and the stuff I missed out on doesn’t compare to what I have in heaven. Not my will, but your will be done in my life.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Protect Your Eyes
Matthew 6:22-23 (New International Version)
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
There is so much pollen out in the air right now. I find my eyes itching and burning more during this season. As much as I love being outdoors I have to make sure I protect my eyes. Not only pollen but when it comes to viruses like the H1N1 flu virus doctors advise people not to touch their eyes or mouth with unwashed hands because the virus can get in through your eyes.
There are contaminants that can get into your eyes without touch or air. You can simply look at the wrong thing for too long and your body can become infected with darkness. Whatever you look at is what gets inside your spirit. Your eyes are the gate to your heart & soul. You have to protect your eyes:
1. 2 Timothy 2:15 (New King James Version)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. Avoid contaminants like horror movies that deal with the occult & pornographic material latent with lust.
3. Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Whatever you look at is what is going to get in you.
Dear God pull the scales off my eyes and open the curtains of my soul to fill me with the light of your Word. Remove the pollutants of sin and help me to see clearly again.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
There is so much pollen out in the air right now. I find my eyes itching and burning more during this season. As much as I love being outdoors I have to make sure I protect my eyes. Not only pollen but when it comes to viruses like the H1N1 flu virus doctors advise people not to touch their eyes or mouth with unwashed hands because the virus can get in through your eyes.
There are contaminants that can get into your eyes without touch or air. You can simply look at the wrong thing for too long and your body can become infected with darkness. Whatever you look at is what gets inside your spirit. Your eyes are the gate to your heart & soul. You have to protect your eyes:
1. 2 Timothy 2:15 (New King James Version)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. Avoid contaminants like horror movies that deal with the occult & pornographic material latent with lust.
3. Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Whatever you look at is what is going to get in you.
Dear God pull the scales off my eyes and open the curtains of my soul to fill me with the light of your Word. Remove the pollutants of sin and help me to see clearly again.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Thursday, April 15, 2010
I'm Unstoppable
I Samuel 17:37
David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine. So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”
Sir Isaac Newton’s law of motion can be summarized this way:
• An object that is not moving will not move until a force acts upon it.
• An object that is in motion will not change velocity (including stopping) until a force acts upon it.
According to the law of physics, objects will remain in motion, they are unstoppable unless something of equal or greater forces comes against it. If we took this law for face value there would be plenty of times for us to give up on life and just throw in the towel because we’ve all found ourselves time and time again coming into contact with forces stronger and bigger than ourselves. Oftentimes, our momentum has been slowed by resistance, our best intentions have been blocked by impending forces but there is another law at work in the Kingdom. It’s the G-force. The G-force works against the law of physics. The G-force is the God force. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.
Jesus told Peter after he confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, in Matthew 16:18 (Amplified Bible)
18And I tell you, you are [a]Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a [b]huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the [c]infernal region) shall [d]not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
As Christians and members of God’s church we are supposed to be unstoppable but because of our flesh and not our faith we get stuck staring at opposing forces out of intimidation. We face what Marty Neumeier calls "Wicked problems." In his book, The Designful Company: How to build a culture of nonstop innovation, Marty says wicked problems are problems so persistent, pervasive or slippery that they seem insoluble.
The church has been set in motion but we face wicked problems like pollution, over-population, dwindling natural resources, global warming, technological warfare, AIDS in Africa, and a lopsided distribution of power that has failed to address massive ignorance or Third World hunger.
These wicked problems have been like giants staring us down daring us to do anything with our diminished church budgets and our limited workers in a bountiful harvest.
The Israelites felt the same way when they faced a wicked problem called Goliath. For 40 days this 10 ft tall Giant intimidated the whole army of Israel. They had come to a standstill. At times, it seems the church has come to stand still intimidated by these giant wicked problems. At times, it seems we have lost our relevance while gangs run our streets, teenage girls get pregnant, Christians get divorced at the same rate as people outside the church and we are just hiding out in our church buildings. The church is one of the most powerful institutions but we have been punked out by wicked problems. We are waiting on a champion of innovation to stand up to Goliath but the key to innovation is that the solution may not appear in a traditional package.
A teenager delivering cheese to the battlefield heard the threats of Goliath and he couldn’t understand why all these highly trained soldiers were sitting around hiding while this Giant talked smack about the living God. Why ain’t nobody doing nothing?!
If we are going to be unstoppable we have got to do what David did:
1. Find out what the problem is. David found out that if he defeated this Giant that his family would be tax exempt and he would get a wife out of it. The Church is tax exempt because we are commissioned Giant killers. We should be working in partnership with the local government to kill local giants.
2. Don’t focus on your haters. David’s brother Eliab put him on blast talking about, “Why are you here? Where did you leave those few sheep?” David ignored his brother and clarified his mission.
3. Don’t let people tell you you’re too young. Saul told David, “you’re just a boy; this Giant has been fighting for years.” In church, we have a tendency to discourage the youth. The future of our churches rest in the innovation and courage of your young people.
4. Rely on your faith. David said, “God rescued me from the paw of the lion and the bear, and I know he will rescue me from the hands of this Giant!” With God all things are possible.
5. Don’t fight new problems with outdated methods. Saul tried to put his armor on David, but David couldn’t walk around in them. It’s amazing the older generation is too afraid to face wicked problems but we want to weigh the younger generation down with our methodology. You can’t reach an Mp3 generation with an 8-track ministry.
6. Be Innovative with what God has gifted you with. Marty Neumeier says the key to finding solutions to wicked problems is the designer's ability to embrace paradox—a willingness to stay in the dragon gap as long as it takes to brave the discomfort of creative tension until the conflicting issues are resolved. David heard the taunts of Goliath and stood there with his sling shot and five smooth stones. What he had normally reserved for self defense against predators he was now going to use against his Giant. That’s innovation!
7. Speak what’s getting ready to happen. David told the Giant you are getting ready to come down. He was like Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes. I’m going to punch him in his stomach, after which I will prevent him from breathing by striking him in his esophagus…David said, “I’m coming over there to cut off your head after I hit you with this rock!”
8. Run to the line of battle. So many times we run away from barking dogs but when God has given you the assurance that the gates of hell will not prevail against you than it's time to run towards the barking dog with your best weapon in your hand. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual for the pulling down of strongholds.
Dear God, give me the courage and faith to be unstoppable. I’m ready to face my wicked problems because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I’m ready Lord, Let’s Go!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine. So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”
Sir Isaac Newton’s law of motion can be summarized this way:
• An object that is not moving will not move until a force acts upon it.
• An object that is in motion will not change velocity (including stopping) until a force acts upon it.
According to the law of physics, objects will remain in motion, they are unstoppable unless something of equal or greater forces comes against it. If we took this law for face value there would be plenty of times for us to give up on life and just throw in the towel because we’ve all found ourselves time and time again coming into contact with forces stronger and bigger than ourselves. Oftentimes, our momentum has been slowed by resistance, our best intentions have been blocked by impending forces but there is another law at work in the Kingdom. It’s the G-force. The G-force works against the law of physics. The G-force is the God force. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.
Jesus told Peter after he confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, in Matthew 16:18 (Amplified Bible)
18And I tell you, you are [a]Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a [b]huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the [c]infernal region) shall [d]not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
As Christians and members of God’s church we are supposed to be unstoppable but because of our flesh and not our faith we get stuck staring at opposing forces out of intimidation. We face what Marty Neumeier calls "Wicked problems." In his book, The Designful Company: How to build a culture of nonstop innovation, Marty says wicked problems are problems so persistent, pervasive or slippery that they seem insoluble.
The church has been set in motion but we face wicked problems like pollution, over-population, dwindling natural resources, global warming, technological warfare, AIDS in Africa, and a lopsided distribution of power that has failed to address massive ignorance or Third World hunger.
These wicked problems have been like giants staring us down daring us to do anything with our diminished church budgets and our limited workers in a bountiful harvest.
The Israelites felt the same way when they faced a wicked problem called Goliath. For 40 days this 10 ft tall Giant intimidated the whole army of Israel. They had come to a standstill. At times, it seems the church has come to stand still intimidated by these giant wicked problems. At times, it seems we have lost our relevance while gangs run our streets, teenage girls get pregnant, Christians get divorced at the same rate as people outside the church and we are just hiding out in our church buildings. The church is one of the most powerful institutions but we have been punked out by wicked problems. We are waiting on a champion of innovation to stand up to Goliath but the key to innovation is that the solution may not appear in a traditional package.
A teenager delivering cheese to the battlefield heard the threats of Goliath and he couldn’t understand why all these highly trained soldiers were sitting around hiding while this Giant talked smack about the living God. Why ain’t nobody doing nothing?!
If we are going to be unstoppable we have got to do what David did:
1. Find out what the problem is. David found out that if he defeated this Giant that his family would be tax exempt and he would get a wife out of it. The Church is tax exempt because we are commissioned Giant killers. We should be working in partnership with the local government to kill local giants.
2. Don’t focus on your haters. David’s brother Eliab put him on blast talking about, “Why are you here? Where did you leave those few sheep?” David ignored his brother and clarified his mission.
3. Don’t let people tell you you’re too young. Saul told David, “you’re just a boy; this Giant has been fighting for years.” In church, we have a tendency to discourage the youth. The future of our churches rest in the innovation and courage of your young people.
4. Rely on your faith. David said, “God rescued me from the paw of the lion and the bear, and I know he will rescue me from the hands of this Giant!” With God all things are possible.
5. Don’t fight new problems with outdated methods. Saul tried to put his armor on David, but David couldn’t walk around in them. It’s amazing the older generation is too afraid to face wicked problems but we want to weigh the younger generation down with our methodology. You can’t reach an Mp3 generation with an 8-track ministry.
6. Be Innovative with what God has gifted you with. Marty Neumeier says the key to finding solutions to wicked problems is the designer's ability to embrace paradox—a willingness to stay in the dragon gap as long as it takes to brave the discomfort of creative tension until the conflicting issues are resolved. David heard the taunts of Goliath and stood there with his sling shot and five smooth stones. What he had normally reserved for self defense against predators he was now going to use against his Giant. That’s innovation!
7. Speak what’s getting ready to happen. David told the Giant you are getting ready to come down. He was like Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes. I’m going to punch him in his stomach, after which I will prevent him from breathing by striking him in his esophagus…David said, “I’m coming over there to cut off your head after I hit you with this rock!”
8. Run to the line of battle. So many times we run away from barking dogs but when God has given you the assurance that the gates of hell will not prevail against you than it's time to run towards the barking dog with your best weapon in your hand. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual for the pulling down of strongholds.
Dear God, give me the courage and faith to be unstoppable. I’m ready to face my wicked problems because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I’m ready Lord, Let’s Go!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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