Have you seen all of the Global Positioning Systems on the market? My first exposure to one was a couple of years ago when my son was a freshman in college. We had made arrangements with a good friend to fly down and pick Charlie up to come home for a long weekend, and then fly him back. He had a portable GPS that he programmed with his destination and then used it as he flew. Pretty cool!
You can buy portable systems that can be taken with you wherever you go. Many of them will "guide" you once you've programmed a destination point. They'll tell you to "turn left" or "turn right" and even to "turn around" when you miss your exit or go too far. I don't have one of these systems, but it seems to me that it has to be better than looking for road signs and street signs everywhere you go!
You know friends that's what God wants to do in our lives. Jesus said the Holy Spirit, would lead us. In John 16:13 Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."
God's plan for our lives is so far better than our own concepts. When we try to do it all on our own we end up going down wrong streets, taking wrong turns and making huge mistakes. If only we would trust God to lead us! Psalm 23 is familiar to most people and in there David wrote, "The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; heleads me beside peaceful streams."
A shepherd leads the sheep.....he doesn't "drive" them. God leads us as well, all we have to do is follow. But we want to trust our own instincts, don't we? Not a great idea! If we choose to follow God and listen to His voice, He will guide us safely Home to Glory, and the trip will be nothing short of spectacular!
My encouragement to you today is this: Listen to God's voice. Even when you think you know better, listen to Him instead. In the process you'll find that He'll always lead you the right way!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Which Are You?
It's been said that there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. So let me ask you this question: Which kind of person are you?
Let's start with the last one first - those who wonder what happened. These folks aren't really with the program. They're just along for the ride, and then when something does happen they miss it because they were on the sideline. Don't sit on the sideline, get in the game!
Then there's those who watch what happens. These folks are paying attention, but don't want to get involved. After all, they might have to make a decision or actually do something that will matter. No, they're happy being "in the know", but still not "in the game". That's not where you want to be either.
Finally, there are those who make things happen. Ah yes, this is where you want to be!!! This is the place where you can make a difference - in your life, in others lives and in this world we live in. None of us was put here to just "exist". God had given everyone gifts talents and abilities to be used in honoring Him and in making a difference in this world.
Some say, "I've got nothing! I can't do anything." Wrong!!! The Bible says this, "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." God WANTS to help you if you'll just let Him. He wants to give you the strength and wisdom and insight and help for whatever task it is that lies before you.
So go out there and make a difference! Get off the sidelines and into the game........make things happen!
Let's start with the last one first - those who wonder what happened. These folks aren't really with the program. They're just along for the ride, and then when something does happen they miss it because they were on the sideline. Don't sit on the sideline, get in the game!
Then there's those who watch what happens. These folks are paying attention, but don't want to get involved. After all, they might have to make a decision or actually do something that will matter. No, they're happy being "in the know", but still not "in the game". That's not where you want to be either.
Finally, there are those who make things happen. Ah yes, this is where you want to be!!! This is the place where you can make a difference - in your life, in others lives and in this world we live in. None of us was put here to just "exist". God had given everyone gifts talents and abilities to be used in honoring Him and in making a difference in this world.
Some say, "I've got nothing! I can't do anything." Wrong!!! The Bible says this, "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." God WANTS to help you if you'll just let Him. He wants to give you the strength and wisdom and insight and help for whatever task it is that lies before you.
So go out there and make a difference! Get off the sidelines and into the game........make things happen!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day. A time for "love". I hope you get a Valentine from someone you love today!
Did you know that God gave us a Valentine? Yep. It's found in the Bible - a book all about love.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
You say, "that has nothing to do with Valentine's Day." But you're wrong! Let me show you.
First, it tells you that God loves you. God loves us so much. God has always loved you and will love you forever. The truth is that God’s love for us never changes. It's not based on our "performance" or "worthiness". It's based on God's nature. God is love and His love for us is endless and matchless.
Second, it tells us that God gave you a gift. God gave you His Son. No, God didn’t send you a card or candy. He sent something better.......something that won't wear out, decay, go out of style or be gone in a few days. He sent us His one and only Son as an expression of His love for us
Third, God wants you to believe. When you send a Valentine you want the person receiving it to believe you love them. God wants you to believe He loves you as well - thus the extravagant gift of His Son. His deepest desire for you is that you would believe in His Son and live with Him forever.
And finally, God's love is eternal. It doesn't change or fade away and it is never neglected. Unfortunately, human love isn't that way all the time. But God's love is eternal. He wants to give you eternal, everlasting life. God wants to give you a future with him in heaven.
So, Happy Valentine's Day! As I said, I hope you receive a Valentine from someone you love, and I pray you receive the Valentine God has already given to you!
Did you know that God gave us a Valentine? Yep. It's found in the Bible - a book all about love.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
You say, "that has nothing to do with Valentine's Day." But you're wrong! Let me show you.
First, it tells you that God loves you. God loves us so much. God has always loved you and will love you forever. The truth is that God’s love for us never changes. It's not based on our "performance" or "worthiness". It's based on God's nature. God is love and His love for us is endless and matchless.
Second, it tells us that God gave you a gift. God gave you His Son. No, God didn’t send you a card or candy. He sent something better.......something that won't wear out, decay, go out of style or be gone in a few days. He sent us His one and only Son as an expression of His love for us
Third, God wants you to believe. When you send a Valentine you want the person receiving it to believe you love them. God wants you to believe He loves you as well - thus the extravagant gift of His Son. His deepest desire for you is that you would believe in His Son and live with Him forever.
And finally, God's love is eternal. It doesn't change or fade away and it is never neglected. Unfortunately, human love isn't that way all the time. But God's love is eternal. He wants to give you eternal, everlasting life. God wants to give you a future with him in heaven.
So, Happy Valentine's Day! As I said, I hope you receive a Valentine from someone you love, and I pray you receive the Valentine God has already given to you!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Sleeping In The Storms
Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
I know this is supposed to be "Encouraging Words", but if you'll indulge me for a moment here's a fact: There will be storms that blow through your life from time to time. Perhaps it's the doctor's announcement of an illness, or the boss's invitation to visit his office late on a Friday. It could be the police officer who knocks on your door late at night and then can't look you in the eye as he explains the car wreck that took the life of your loved one.
Or......it might not be any of those things. It could be that you're having a difficult time at work or at home or with a friend, a relationship that appears to be falling apart in a hurry. Regardless of what it might be, are you ready? Well, "ready" is a strong term, so let me ask it this way: When the storms rage, can you sleep?
Let me give you a promise from God. It's found in Isaiah 43 and it says this: But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."
A couple of things to note here: 1) This is written to "Israel", or in other words, God's people. If you've trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then you're one of God's people and this applies to you. (If you haven't, you can....Read Romans 10:9 & 10.) 2) It tells us, "Do not be afraid because we belong to God." A great promise to have!! 3) It says, "WHEN" you go through...... It doesn't say, "IF", but "WHEN". In other words, storms are inevitable. And the best for last: 4) It says that we don't have to be afraid because God is with us. Wow! What a promise!!!
You may be in a storm right now. God is there. A storm may come up later this week. God will be there. When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.
We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the midst of the storms.
Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.
I know this is supposed to be "Encouraging Words", but if you'll indulge me for a moment here's a fact: There will be storms that blow through your life from time to time. Perhaps it's the doctor's announcement of an illness, or the boss's invitation to visit his office late on a Friday. It could be the police officer who knocks on your door late at night and then can't look you in the eye as he explains the car wreck that took the life of your loved one.
Or......it might not be any of those things. It could be that you're having a difficult time at work or at home or with a friend, a relationship that appears to be falling apart in a hurry. Regardless of what it might be, are you ready? Well, "ready" is a strong term, so let me ask it this way: When the storms rage, can you sleep?
Let me give you a promise from God. It's found in Isaiah 43 and it says this: But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."
A couple of things to note here: 1) This is written to "Israel", or in other words, God's people. If you've trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then you're one of God's people and this applies to you. (If you haven't, you can....Read Romans 10:9 & 10.) 2) It tells us, "Do not be afraid because we belong to God." A great promise to have!! 3) It says, "WHEN" you go through...... It doesn't say, "IF", but "WHEN". In other words, storms are inevitable. And the best for last: 4) It says that we don't have to be afraid because God is with us. Wow! What a promise!!!
You may be in a storm right now. God is there. A storm may come up later this week. God will be there. When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.
We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the midst of the storms.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Being a Blessing
Yesterday was my wife's birthday. I'm not allowed to tell you how old she is. Sorry. I tried to get her a great gift, but it was delayed. I tried to get some beautiful flowers but the local florist was completely out of pink flowers. She really loves pink flowers and I had planned to get her a dozen roses, but none were available. How about something else pink? Nope. Nothing. So I went to get her a card. Wow! I hit a home run there! (At least according to her.) We went to dinner and joined our daughter for InterVarsity at college. We stopped by a bakery and got some wonderful goodies (she didn't want a cake) and got home late.
And why is this important? Chances are the specifics aren't important to you at all. But the specifics aren't the point. The point is, I tried to bless her on a special day. And then I had a revelation: do I try to bless her EVERY day, or only on "special" days? WOW! That hit me!
So now, I'm going to try to be a blessing to her daily, not just on special occasions. You might try it too!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." At home, at work, wherever......encourage one another!
And why is this important? Chances are the specifics aren't important to you at all. But the specifics aren't the point. The point is, I tried to bless her on a special day. And then I had a revelation: do I try to bless her EVERY day, or only on "special" days? WOW! That hit me!
So now, I'm going to try to be a blessing to her daily, not just on special occasions. You might try it too!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." At home, at work, wherever......encourage one another!
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Tony Dungy :: Beyond the Ultimate
A great conclusion Tony Dungy's speech at the 2006 Super Bowl breakfast.
Go for the win!!!
Well, it's over. Did your team win? Did you watch the game? Do you even care?
Honestly, I'm not much of a football watcher. I love going to the local high school games, and I enjoy watching Drake University play (and my daughter play trumpet in the marching band), but when it comes to the NFL, I'm pretty clueless. I know that it was the Bears and Colts. (As for who won, as I write this, the game hasn't been played yet.)
While the media focuses on the runs, passes, and scoring of the game, the men in charge of leading their teams to Super Bowl XLI plan to share the most important things in their life, while in the spotlight. Both Head Coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears give credit to God for their teams' victories in the conference championships January 21st. Both men are strong believers in Jesus Christ.
Lovie Smith is relatively new at being a head coach and has not had as many public opportunities to share his faith as Coach Dungy has. Smith told Chicago media he believes in Jesus Christ, listens to Christian music when driving his car, and does not smoke, drink or curse. Dungy said, "I'm so happy for Lovie who does things the right way, without cursing and shows things can be done differently." He added, "The Lord set this up in a way that no one would believe it. The Lord tested us a lot this year, but He set this up to get all the glory."
Did you know you were created to glorify God? And you can do it in so many ways! You can do it by working hard for your employer; by giving your very best to your family; by being honest and maintaining integrity even when it might be easier to go the other way. And of course, you can glorify God simply by expressing your praise to Him in worship or by telling someone else about your faith in God as these two coaches have done.
Does God care about football? Yep, He sure does! How do I know? Because He cares about everything that involves people. See, God is all about people. Jesus died for people. He didn't die for football, but He died for people who play, watch, enjoy and care about football......so I know He cares about football. Did God pull for one team over the other? I doubt it. But I'm sure He gave every player the strength to play their best in the game.
And the winning team......does God love them more than the losing team? Did He give them something "extra" over and above the other team? Nope. They just scored more points than the other team, that's all. It happens. No one wins at everything. But the one thing that happened was this: both teams played their best to win the game.
My encouragement to you this week? Give your very best to win the prize. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:13 & 14, "No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."
Press toward the goal, friends! Chances are you'll never play in a Superbowl and win, but you can win this prize! So go for it!!!
Honestly, I'm not much of a football watcher. I love going to the local high school games, and I enjoy watching Drake University play (and my daughter play trumpet in the marching band), but when it comes to the NFL, I'm pretty clueless. I know that it was the Bears and Colts. (As for who won, as I write this, the game hasn't been played yet.)
While the media focuses on the runs, passes, and scoring of the game, the men in charge of leading their teams to Super Bowl XLI plan to share the most important things in their life, while in the spotlight. Both Head Coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears give credit to God for their teams' victories in the conference championships January 21st. Both men are strong believers in Jesus Christ.
Lovie Smith is relatively new at being a head coach and has not had as many public opportunities to share his faith as Coach Dungy has. Smith told Chicago media he believes in Jesus Christ, listens to Christian music when driving his car, and does not smoke, drink or curse. Dungy said, "I'm so happy for Lovie who does things the right way, without cursing and shows things can be done differently." He added, "The Lord set this up in a way that no one would believe it. The Lord tested us a lot this year, but He set this up to get all the glory."
Did you know you were created to glorify God? And you can do it in so many ways! You can do it by working hard for your employer; by giving your very best to your family; by being honest and maintaining integrity even when it might be easier to go the other way. And of course, you can glorify God simply by expressing your praise to Him in worship or by telling someone else about your faith in God as these two coaches have done.
Does God care about football? Yep, He sure does! How do I know? Because He cares about everything that involves people. See, God is all about people. Jesus died for people. He didn't die for football, but He died for people who play, watch, enjoy and care about football......so I know He cares about football. Did God pull for one team over the other? I doubt it. But I'm sure He gave every player the strength to play their best in the game.
And the winning team......does God love them more than the losing team? Did He give them something "extra" over and above the other team? Nope. They just scored more points than the other team, that's all. It happens. No one wins at everything. But the one thing that happened was this: both teams played their best to win the game.
My encouragement to you this week? Give your very best to win the prize. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:13 & 14, "No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."
Press toward the goal, friends! Chances are you'll never play in a Superbowl and win, but you can win this prize! So go for it!!!
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