Pinelake Life Journal

Life Journal Blog Has Moved!

2008-04-07T15:45:00.005-05:00

Pinelake's Life Journal Blog can now be found at www.pinelake.org/blogs/lifejournal. If you were subscribed to this blog please click here and update your subscription.

Sincerely,

Pinelake Church

The Invitation

2008-04-07T12:56:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
“Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man’s behalf. Come and listen, all you who fear God, let me tell you what He has done for me.” Psalm 66:5,16

Observation:
These are invitations. The psalmist is calling all the earth (v. 1) and those who fear God (v. 16) to see and listen to the great works of our God. He paints a picture of a glorious and powerful God whose opposition trembles, and who creation praises in humble reverence. He tells the story of great and wondrous things God has done like turning the sea into dry land (v. 6). It is an invitation to see and hear the story of God’s glory.

Application:
This is a call to tell the story of the great things God has done in my life. To invite others into the pages of my experiences with God. It is an opportunity to boast in all that He has delivered me from. Am I still enough to be able to see and hear what God is doing in my life and in the lives of people around me, or am I too busy with my own agenda? I need to take time to remember how God has poured His grace over my life. It is easy to get caught up in present troubles and forget about what God has done in the past.

Prayer:
God, help me to be a man who invites others into my life to tell the story of Your grace and love over my life. Help me to remember all the things, even things that may seem small and not as significant as some bigger things, that You have done in my life. Please use my life to invite others to You.

— Jason Elam, worship pastor

Righteousness = Gladness

2008-04-06T09:10:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Psalm 64:10 — “The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him, and all the upright in heart will glory.”

Observation:
Righteous living leads to a life of gladness and joy. This doesn’t mean life is without trouble. Jesus made it very clear when He said, “In this world you will have trouble.” The good thing is that when trouble comes for the righteous man, he can continue to walk in gladness because he has a place of refuge in the Lord. I guess the key for me is “in the Lord” and “in Him.”

Application:
Am I glad “in the Lord”? or am I glad in stuff — possessions. Is it walking with Jesus and learning more about His heart and taking refuge in Him that brings me gladness and joy, or do I try too often to find my pleasure in temporary things?

Prayer:
God, I desire to pursue righteousness and to live a righteous life… to find my joy in gladness in you only. When enemies attack and life is cruel, may I seek refuge in You and not try to fight alone.

— Jason Elam, worship pastor

God's Amazing Sovereignty

2008-04-05T11:28:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Ruth 1:16 — “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.’”

Observation:
Ruth was not required or obliged to give any allegiance to Naomi. Naomi had no more sons to offer and wouldn’t be able to have any more sons that Ruth could marry. Therefore, Ruth had the freedom to return to her home with her family where she still had the opportunity to marry and start a family of her own. Yet she chose to stay with Naomi even though it appeared that Naomi would live out the rest of her life in depression due to the assumption that God was against her. In looking at what becomes of Ruth’s life it is obvious that God’s sovereignty was all over her as she goes on to be one of the four women that is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

Application:
By being one of God’s children, I can see where his sovereign hand has been all over my life. Otherwise, my purpose and direction for my life would have superseded his and I would not be living for him today. Even though I have the ability to make my own choices, God is the ultimate Good Father and out of his love for me, he wants me to experience the fullness of this life. And he knows that only happens when I live for the purpose He has created me for. Therefore He will guide and direct my life in a way that allows me the opportunity to experience the goodness that comes from living under the umbrella of his will and purpose for my life.

Prayer:
Father God, You are a good father. You have taken care of me even when I acted like I wasn’t a child of yours. Thank you for your continued love and for not removing your hand from my life. Forgive me for my unfaithfulness. Unlike Naomi, you have everything to offer me, but may my devotion to you be not based on what you can give me but based on what you have already given through your sacrificial love in the death of Christ. As I look to become a father, may I love my children out of the grace and mercy that you extend through your love for me. And may your hand be on their life as it always has been on mine.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

Daily Renewal

2008-04-04T09:45:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
II Corinthians 4:16 — “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

Observation:
There are so many products in the marketplace to make us look younger or attempt to slow down the process of aging. No matter how effective though, nothing can stop us from aging and eventually dying. But Paul says to “not lose heart” because what is important is what’s happening inwardly.

Application:
Am I being renewed day by day? Do I worry more about my outward appearance than making sure I allow Christ to renew me from within? Since my inward renewed self will ultimately take over for my dying body, do I treat it like it’s the most important thing; the area that Christ is constantly refining, growing, challenging and smoothing out?

Prayer:
Father God, your word says that you care about the heart. Please purify and cleanse my heart so the Holy Spirit can continue to transform me day by day. You said “our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” and it is the fact that the Holy Spirit resides in me that makes me yours. Otherwise my body is good for not much of anything. So use you Spirit to renew me from the inside out.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

Reflecting the Radiance of the Glory of God

2008-04-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
II Corinthians 3:17–18 — “Now the lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Observation:
We are being transformed into the same image of Christ, from one degree of glory to another. What a powerful statement and process! Sometimes I wonder if I am becoming more and more like Christ. His word tells me that I am supposed to be. Bust as I make progress (or at least think I am) I realize all the more the progress I have yet to make.

Application:
Does my face reflect His glory? Is it increasing? Is there a need for me to hide it? Do I got to him often enough that there isn’t time for it to fade? What are some ways that I have been transformed? What are some ways that I have yet to be transformed?

Prayer:
Father God, Please continue to be patient with me through this process of sanctification. I want to be more and more like Christ, but it is such a daunting and impossible task. But you remind me that if I will live for you each day, your Spirit will slowly transform me to be the man you created me to be - a man in the image of Christ. Thank you for not giving up on me.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

A Sweet Smell to God

2008-04-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
II Corinthians 2:15-16 — “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?”

Observation:
It is because of Christ I have this fragrance surrounding me. And it is to God that we offer the fragrance of Christ. The fact that other people sense the aroma that is put off and how the scent hits them depends on where they are with Christ.

Application:
Usually when people put on a fragrance it is for their significant other or all others, but here it says that our fragrance from Christ is to God. God is the one I offer my fragrance to, not others. And due to Him filling my Spirit, others can sense the aroma of Christ in me.

Prayer:
Father God, Help me to remember that it’s for you I live my life. Not for others. If my focus remains on you, others will see an example of a Holy life. If I lose focus and begin to look and listen to people instead of you, my vessel of fragrance becomes filled with the wrong perfume and doesn’t smell sweet at all. May I look to you and offer my life to you. Use me as your vessel.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

It's All His Anyway

2008-04-01T13:34:00.006-05:00

Scripture:
Psalm 50:9–12 — “I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

Observation:
I so easily forget that God owns everything. It doesn’t take me long before I begin to think that I actually have some possessions, something to call mine. But God reminds me that He is the Creator and Owner of all. The world and everything in it belongs to Him.

Application:
All to often I allow my selfish, human nature to take over and I begin to claim possessions or make entitlements. Do I believe that all God has blessed me with is solely mine? Or is it meant to be used in a way that is a blessing to others? Or are there even times when it is meant to be given away? Realizing that it is all God’s anyway and He can us me as a conduit to bless others.

Prayer:
Father God, Help me to appreciate the many ways you blessed me. Also help me to realize that all this stuff (money, house, land, cars, clothes, etc.) all I have, is from you and therefore yours to do as you please. If I am daily laying down my life and taking on your will; help me to also lay down anything and everything else that I think I may be entitled to or possess and take on the freedom that you want me to live in.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

Standing Up To Opposition

2008-03-31T11:23:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
I Corinthians 16:8–9 — “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Observation:
Paul saw the need to stay in Ephesus for two reasons:
1. There was a wide open door to effectively minister.
2. There were adversaries (opponents/enemies) who didn’t want him working there.
Paul saw it as an opportunity and a challenge. Not only would he be able to proclaim Christ but he would also have opposition. With effective ministry comes opposition. Satan does not want us to succeed and will do everything within his power to stop or derail us.

Application:
Do I take opposition to the truth of Christ as a challenge? Am I willing to step up to that challenge or do I shy away while making excuses. If this truly is a spiritual battle, do I stake my ground and not all Satan or anyone else to derail me from ministering effectively? There is no reason for me to shy away form opposition when the Spirit is in me and God has opened the door wide for effective work.

Prayer:
Father God, May you instill me with your confidence so that I, like Paul and like Christ, will not fear opposition but know that you have overcome. And you have opened doors all around me that allow me to minister and serve those that need to hear or be reminded of your truth. May I never cower or be timid, but boldly proclaim Your Name and Your love.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

Cry for Restoration

2008-03-30T21:18:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Psalm 42:5 & 11 — “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.”

Observation:
Twice in Psalm 42 and once in 43, David cries out in agony because he is heartbroken due to his relationship with God being severed due to his sin. In the previous chapter he is asking God to be gracious to him and here he is reminding himself of what it was like when he was walking with God. And it is in this valley that he begins to recite this battle cry, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” to encourage himself as he tries to restore his relationship with God.

Application:
God is the same yesterday, today and forever; I am the one who changes. When I get in a valley do I quickly cry out to him? Or do I wallow in my shame and pity allowing Satan to render me useless? What have been my battle cries that have reminded me of God’s faithfulness and grace?

Prayer:
Father God, You are good and Your love endures forever. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations. Help me to keep my eyes focused on you. Help me to cry out to you and remember your faithfulness, whether I am in the valley or on the mountaintop or somewhere in between. My hope is in You and I will praise You, my salvation and my God.

— Jared Yates, small groups pastor, college & single adults, Reservoir campus

From the Outside Looking In

2008-03-29T12:58:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
I Corinthians 14:40 — “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”

Observation:
In I Corinthians 8-14, Paul addresses a wide range of issues from eating of meat sacrificed to idols, to women being required to wear a head covering. And even the controversy in Chapter 14 with questions regarding which spiritual gift was more important to express in worship. But one thing that remains the same is that he is addressing the church as a whole. He is not just talking to the leaders, nor was he just referring to the members. He was addressing the church as a whole entity, especially when it comes to verse 40. Paul instructs them that whatever is done in a church meeting should be done in an orderly, meaningful way that builds up the body. This verse is referring to doing things in an appropriate, orderly manner without confusion or discord. The word used here comes from a military term meaning order and regularity. Much confusion and questions can arise when a church begins to analyze the various modes of worship and customs in the church. Difficulties can raise tension, so Paul laid out a plain and simple rule for all to follow.

Application:
This short yet meaningful verse has so much to teach churches and individuals. About six weeks ago I had a chance to attend a children’s ministry conference on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas. Throughout the week one of the things that really stood out to me and the others who attended with me was how everything had been done in an orderly and proper fashion. One of their core values they discussed during the conference was doing things with excellence. While there, one of the pastors asked the following question, “What is the best thing the church has to offer the world”? Well, this is a no-brainer, isn’t it? Christ is the best things we have to offer the world. The pastor continued by saying that if Christ is the best thing we have to offer the world, then why wouldn’t we “do church” with excellence every single Sunday. This was what Paul was telling the church of Corinth. He was telling them to have everything in order and properly functioning so that when others looked at their church body, they saw something they wanted to be a part of. Not something with discord or confusion. I think this applies to the entire church body whether staff, servant leader, member, or elder. Many probably look at our church as a whole and say, “Oh, we do things with excellence”. I would agree, but I wonder what a visitor would say. I began to think about this several weeks ago when my sister-in-law called me very distressed over a visit to a church in another city. Their family has recently moved and has been looking for a church home. One Sunday several weeks ago they decided to visit this one specific church, when they arrived the following occurred. No one greeted them. No one helped them with directions on where to go. There were no clear signs directing them where to drop off their children. There were many people standing around but no one designated to help them. Feeling overwhelmed and unaccepted, my sister-in-law and family turned, walked out of the church, and drove home. When she called to share with me her frustrations, I could not help to think how easily this can happen to us if things are not done with order and excellence. When we do things with excellence, those who come looking to experience God will find Him and we will get to be a part of leading them to Him rather than distracting them from Him.

Prayer:
God, help us to be a church body that gives You our very best. Show us ways we can draw others to you through doing things more orderly and properly. Help us to never forget that the best thing we have to offer the world is You.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

The Center of Attention

2008-03-28T10:04:00.002-05:00

The Center of Attention

Scripture:
Judges 4:9 — She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Observation:
Throughout scripture, God continually uses men and women to accomplish great tasks and amazing miracles. But never does he allow anyone other than Himself to be the center of attention. He always accomplishes His will in such a way that we know it was His power. David used a sling shot to kill a giant. Moses used a stick to part the Red Sea and provide water from a rock. Gideon only had 300 men, Joshua used instruments, and Samson used a jawbone. In all these cases it was not the person’s strength, wisdom, or knowledge that allowed he/she to accomplish such great things. The same is taking place here with Barak. Deborah, a well respected and trusted judge tells Barak that he is about to kill Sisera, the captain of the Canaanite army. I am sure that Barak began to ask himself- Do I have enough men? Am I prepared for this? How will I do this? His fear lead him to experience a weakness of faith. Deborah assures him he will be okay but then the real twist comes. She tells him a woman will be the one to kill Sisera, not Barak or his men. Barak probably does not seem surprised. He probably assumes that the woman is to be Deborah. Prophets were known for having direct communication from God. Deborah was a prophetess therefore they felt her presence brought divine knowledge and power. But as the story continues, Deborah was not the woman God used to kill Sisera. Instead He uses a woman by the name of Jael who was just hanging out in her tent. Once again God uses His power through an unexpected person to accomplish His purpose.

Application:
I am youngest in my family with a brother who is six years older than me. So you can imagine the attention I received growing up. Still to this day my brother reminds my parents how great life was for him UNTIL I came along. I was very shy and quiet, and unlike some kids, I did not act out or be loud to get attention, it just came naturally. I was the only girl, the baby of the family, and I learned from my brothers mistakes. So all these equaled attention, and I enjoyed it, who wouldn’t? Everyone loves to get attention or recognition. It is a part of our human nature. We all love the feeling of acceptance and approval. It is one of our core needs as a human. But there are times when it is easy to get caught up in being the center of attention and begin to forget that it is God who is allowing us to do great things. Then there are times when God chooses to allow someone else to be the “center of attention.” When this occurs, one may be forced to take the back seat in order to allow God’s will to be accomplished. This is what I thought of when I read Judges 4:9. Barak was told that he was going to be a part of a great victory but was not going to get the credit. But to make it even worse, he was told a woman was going to get the credit. Now I understand how fragile the male ego can be when it comes to competition and recognition. I grew up with a very competitive and athletic brother, and have been married to a husband who in 10 years has never let me win a game of monopoly. I was reminded of such an incident a few weeks ago when we were bowling with our small group. I am not great at bowling, just lucky. I had one of those lucky games and beat my husband (who is a pretty skilled bowler I might add). Not that it was bad enough that I beat him, but I did it in front of our small group. When the game finished, the first words out of his mouth were, “I will never hear the end of this”. So I can only imagine what a warrior like Barak thought when he was told a woman was going to get the credit for killing the captain of the army he was going to war against. But what I admire about Barak is that he does not become envious or jealous, instead he was humble and supportive.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the reminder today of how you can use anyone and anything to accomplish your plan in our lives. Help me to be as humble as Barak and as courageous as Jael. Never let me get so focused on being the center of attention that I take away from you being the center of my life. Continue to teach me your truths as I study your word and the examples you have laid out in scripture.

— Emily Suggs, children’s ministry, Madison/Ridgeland campus

The Body of Christ

2008-03-27T11:03:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
I Corinthians 12:26- And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Observation:
1 Corinthians 12 addressed the use of spiritual gifts. Paul reminded the entire church that every gift was given by God for building up the church. He used an analogy of the human body to illustrate the indispensable nature of each gift. He addresses that every part of the body has a purpose much like every member of the church. Then in verse 26 he says that if one part of the body suffers then the whole body suffers. This is true with our bodies. If the head hurts, it affects your whole body and how you feel. If you hurt your foot it affects how the rest of the body operates. The word “suffer” is referring to disease or sickness. It only makes sense that the rest of the body would suffer because if one part is affected by the disease, then generally the disease spread to other parts of the body and affect it as a whole. There should be the same connection and sense of concern in the church. If someone is suffering then the church should feel it. If some one is struggling and burdened, the church should sympathize with them through their hardships. The same is true for someone who has been blessed. All members should rejoice and be excited for that person. This is not always the case and probably was not in the church of Corinth. Paul addresses throughout this chapter that there is not to be jealousy or envy over gifts. Evidently some of the members had decided that some gifts were more important to the work of the church than other gifts. Paul encourages them to rejoice with one another when someone is able to use their talent or gift in an extraordinary way for God.

Application:
As a child I grew up in an amazing church. I was blessed to experience what Paul talks about in verse 26. I remember the encouragement they gave me when I gave my life to Christ. I experienced their support when I went through hard times and struggles. But one time really sticks out in my mind where I felt them rejoice with me. When I was a senior in college, I participated in a mission trip to Brazil. I had to raise all of my money in order to participate. Like the rest of the college students, I did not have that kind of money sitting around. I was on staff as a part time student ministry intern and every penny I made was going towards starting seminary the following fall. The church I was on staff with had offered to help me, but before they could give me a dime my small country church I had grown up in had paid my entire way to Brazil. I was blown away by their eagerness to help me. It was their way of rejoicing with me. It is exciting when the body of Christ supports one another through hard times as well as through good times. Throughout the years as my family has moved, the hardest part of moving is always when we have to leave our church family. I have been blessed to have been a part of some amazing church bodies where the members understand the importance sympathizing and rejoicing with one another.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to be a member of the body of Christ who rejoices with others in good times and cares for others in hard times. Allow our body of believers to be united in such a way that they reflect a movement of You.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Relying on God

2008-03-26T10:30:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Psalm 44: 6-8 — “For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted all day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever.”

Observation:
In these verses, the author of the psalm is sharing that he has hope and confidence that God will save them. Earlier on in the chapter he compares himself to his ancestors who also did not obtain the promise land by their own strength or skill. He lays the foundation that it is not about his personal strength or possessions but about his trust in God. Verse 6 is followed up with him remembering times when God had protected them from their adversaries and enemies. Then he confidently states that, “in God we have boasted all day long”. To me this is the best part of the verses. He is not boasting as we think of. Here boasting refers to “praise.” So he is praising God all day long and is completely reliant on Him. It is not a temporary or momentary thing. It is a constant or habitual form of praise and reliance on God.

Application:
It is easy to get caught up discovering what our strengths and weaknesses are. I know I love personality and spiritual gifts tests. And it is always an eye opening experience when I learn more about my strengths and weaknesses. Yet I often wonder if I spend so much time focusing on my strengths and weaknesses that I forget the importance of actually relying on God. I become self-reliant on the gifts God has given me rather than reliant on Him and allowing Him to use those gifts. I believe this is what the writer of this psalm was referring to when he emphasized not depending on his own bow or sword. In those days, it seems like everyone carried a sword or bow as a mean of protection and survival. But God did not need their swords and weapons to fulfill His purpose. Just like God does not need my gifts and talents to accomplish His will. He enjoys me using them to bring Him glory and honor, but He does not need me. Yet the exciting thing is He wants me to be a part of His work. He wants to watch over and protect me. He wants me to be reliant on Him. And He wants me to praise Him all day long!

Prayer:
God, allow me to be completely and solely dependant on Your strength and not my own. Continue to remind me that my strengths come from You and are not something I have accomplished with my own abilities. Cultivate humility in my life as You did in the life of the author of this psalm. Thank You for wanting me to be a part of Your great work.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Emergency Exits

2008-03-25T10:41:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
I Corinthians 10:13 — No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Observation:
In chapter 10, Paul is warning the church to not make the same mistakes as their fathers did in the Old Testament. There were some great accounts in the Old Testament of how God provided and took care of the Israelites needs. Yet at the same time the Israelites were not perfect and continually found themselves doing things that displeased God. They grumbled. They worshipped idols. They acted immorally. They even tested God. Paul reminds the people that these accounts are examples of how we should not live. The Israelites mistakes caused them to be punished, and Paul is instructing the church to not be tempted in the same manner. But what I love most in this chapter is what Paul has to say in verse 13 about temptation. We hear people say things like, “I just could not help myself” or “I had not control over what I did.” Paul tells the church differently. He straightforwardly tells them that God does not tempt beyond what they have control. He tells them there is always a means of escape and they can endure temptation.

Application:
I am not a good person to be with when an emergency like a fire occurs. I never pay attention to emergency exits or what to do in case of emergencies. I am the one on the airplane who talks to the person in the seat beside me while the flight attendant is giving the spill on emergency exits/landings. I have at times thought about what my family would do in case of a house fire and how we would evacuate the house, but I in no way have a plan. Then there are those people like my husband who are alert and always know what to do in case of an emergency. They know the emergency exits in a restaurant and they have a plan for what their family should do in case of a house fire. They have thought ahead and plan for those times of emergencies. I believe this is what Paul was trying to communicate in verse 13 when he is referring to God not tempting us beyond what we can withstand. Temptation is much like emergencies. They usually come when you least expect it. There may be some warning signs but if you don’t know what to do then it is a little too late to start planning. This is why schools, hospitals, and other facilities have fire and tornado drills. They want to assure they know what to do when something arises. The same is true with temptation. If I don’t have an emergency exit plan for temptation then chances are I will fall prey to the same traps over and over again. So for me the way God allows escape from temptation is to have a plan of what I need to do when I am tempted. If I know that being around people who are negative and grumble influences me to be negative as well, then I need to plan to limit my time around them and find people who are positive and uplifting to surround myself with.

Prayer:
God, you have promised us that you are faithful and will never tempt us beyond what we can endure. Help me to remember that you trust me enough to allow temptations to come. You also expect me to have a plan and make wise choices. Thank you for providing us with an example through your Word of how to live our lives.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

A Competitive Runner vs. A Disciplined Runner

2008-03-24T13:40:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 — “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

Observation:
1 Corinthians 9 is packed full of rich, insightful verses. Paul teaches so much through this one chapter about salvation and our daily walk with Christ. In the verses I chose to focus on today, Paul is using the example of being a runner to communicate a point about our walk with Christ. He is encouraging believers to not be so focused on the here and now but remember the real goal should always be to keep the focus on what is to come on earth as well as the future kingdom of heaven.

Application:
I don’t know a lot about running but what I do know is that I am not very good at it. I think my problem is not that I am not competitive. I am highly competitive when it comes to sports, games, etc. My problem is I am not disciplined enough. To be a good runner, you must have discipline. It does not matter how competitive you may be. If you don’t have discipline, then you are going to have a hard time training for a marathon. I do believe most disciplined runners have a competitive spirit. It helps drive them to want to win. At the same time, it is their discipline that allows them to get up at wee hours in the morning and train in all conditions — cold, rain and even heat. It is their discipline that pushes them to go farther and run faster.

This is true for my spiritual life. When I read these verses and it mentions that not all runners will receive the prize, my competitive attitude arises telling me I need to do more and work harder in order to be one of the winners. But what Paul is teaching me is that it is not about being a “competitive” Christian but about being a “disciplined” Christian. What is the difference? A disciplined Christian stays focused on the long-term goal, while a competitive Christian is focused on instant gratification. We live in a world of instant gratification. The idea of working hard and disciplining yourself to receive a prize is something rarely found. We want it now! I know I am guilty of this so often. I forget that God has great treasures in store for me.

A disciplined believer knows it is not about what he/she can get out of a relationship with God, but it is about how he/she can bring glory and honor to God through spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, worship, scripture memorization, and more. A disciplined believer learns to exercise self-control in order to be better prepared for the spiritual marathon. A competitive believer does not always see the benefits of self-control, because he/she is only interested in today’s sprint.

Prayer:
Lord, help me be more disciplined in my spiritual life. Being disciplined takes a lot of forethought and strength. Grant me the self-control needed to become more discipline in my daily life. Give me the endurance needed to withstand the tough spots of the journey. Most of all, allow my disciplined life to bring you glory and honor because I know it will only be through your strength that I will be able to finish the marathon.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Grey Areas

2008-03-23T13:39:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 8:1-4: “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one”.

Observation:
The church of Corinth was facing some several issues that were dividing them as a church. In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul addresses one that arose because pagans in Corinth believed meat was contaminated by demons. If a person ate meat without first having it cleansed of its demonic influence, then the evil attached to the meat would enter a person’s body when he/she ate it. The non-believer in Corinth would first take purchased meat to a pagan priest in order to have him remove the evil influence.

Once the meat was cleanse of its demonic influence, the person who purchased the meat would cook it and invite all his/her neighbors to a feast. The Christian community was divided over whether or not the meat was acceptable to eat. Weak believers refused to eat the meat. Strong believers accepted the invitation to eat meat. Ultimately, Paul advised strong Christians to give up their rights to eat meat that had been offered as a sacrifice to pagan gods for the good of their weaker brothers and sisters.

Application:
These grey areas can be tricky. I can relate to the struggles that were going on in the church of Corinth. I know there have been times when I knew something was not a “sin” but I had to stop and ask myself what others who may not feel the same way would say. Would it cause them to doubt my relationship with Christ? Would it cause them to question my character? There are even times as a mother I have to be careful because my four-year old picks up on everything. If I say it, you better believe she will be repeating it in the next 24 hours and usually it is repeated to teacher, neighbor, friend or family member. I believe this is what Paul was instructing the church of Corinth to be aware of. If there is something that can cause another to doubt my character or my authenticity as a believer, then I should also give up my rights like Paul instructed Christians of Corinth.

Prayer:
Lord, help me not be a hindrance or distraction to others in their walk with you. Allow me to be sensitive to your teachings and guidance when grey areas arise in my life that could cause others to question my relationship with you.

— Emily Suggs, children’s minister, Madison/Ridgeland campus

Inheritance

2008-03-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
Joshua 13:33 “But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give and inheritance: The Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance as he had promised to them.”

Observation:
Chapter 13 basically describes how the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes. Joshua was old and needed to make sure the tribes had their inheritance (13:7). Then in verses 14, 33, 14:3-4 we see that the tribe of Levi did not get land. They actually got something so much better. It says that they actually got God as an inheritance! The Levites were like worship leaders in that day. They went into God’s presence for the people. The beautiful thing about this passage is what the New Testament says about our inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11, “also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose.”
Colossians 1:12, “giving thanks to Father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”
1 Peter 1:4, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you.

There is an inheritance beyond what we can imagine. It is greater than any amount of money or piece of land that may come on earth. It is the inheritance of eternal perfection in the presence of the God of glory. It is being face to face with Jesus for a billion years plus infinity!

Application:
Today, the day Jesus was in the grave, was the day that this inheritance became a reality. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” So today I am waiting to celebrate the resurrection because it is the moment everything was made right for all eternity. I am thankful He is “in the grave” because I know that tomorrow He beats death for me. My application is simple gratitude for what He did.

Prayer:
Thank You for the inheritance that comes through the cross the grave and the resurrection. Thank You for the billion plus infinity years I get to be with You.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Living in Honor of the Cross

2008-03-21T11:39:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
1 Cor. 6:18-20 – “Flee immorality…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.”

Observation:
Paul is continuing to get on to the church at Corinth about the way they are sinning. There is apparently a pretty big issue of sexually immorality. In verse 17 he reminds us that through Christ we are joined, or united with Christ through the Spirit in us. I like the aggressive nature of the phrase “flee immorality.” It gives me the picture of getting as far away from immorality as I can and doing it as fast as I can. He says RUN AWAY! Then the reminder that our bodies are not just bodies. They are the dwelling place of the spirit of God in the way the temple was. The temple was a sacred place that required people to be clean from sin to meet with God. IT was a set apart place. The temple was a holy place, not just another place and that is how he describes the body of the believer. He then turns the corner to say, “You did not come to have the Spirit of God in you by anything you did.” God did it. So now you do not belong to you. You belong to God. The final reminder and response is simple. I have been paid for with a huge price so I should glorify God in my body.

Application:
What does it mean to glorify God in my body if I am not caught up in sexual immorality? 1 Peter 1:13-19 comes to mind. It reminds me of the price that was paid…the spotless and unblemished blood of Jesus. It reminds that the Father I call on is Holy and I should pursue to be Holy. It reminds me of the cross and all God “said about himself” on the cross. Peter says to “conduct yourselves in fear during your time of stay on earth.” Today I want to be reminded of the cross and judge my behavior based on the work of Jesus on the cross. Does anything I do communicate that the cross did not matter? I am I acting in a way that is respectful of the price paid for me?

Today in history Jesus went to the cross. He died for me. He went through pain. He took on my sin. He took my place. He became sin that I might be God’s righteousness. He brought me near to God by the cross. He has given me eternal life. He has made me holy. So, I want what I do in body to honor the work of Jesus on the cross.

Prayer:
Thanks you for the cross. Help me remember the great price paid for me. Help my life honor you.

— Doug Hunt, pastor of worship/programming

Thankful

2008-03-20T12:33:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Joshua 7:1 “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban…therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.”

Observation:
Joshua is a really tough passage to understand. There are some tough issues that are really hard to get my mind around that cannot be ignored. In chapter 6 Israel takes Jericho and they all shout because God had given them the city. Now all of the belongings in the city were to be destroyed. Everything! Then God tells the people not to take things that were under the ban because it would cause them to sin and Israel would be accursed (6:18). It was discovered later that Achan had taken a bunch stuff he was not supposed to take. God tells Joshua that the people need to get up and purify themselves. Achan comes forward and admits that he stole things. But this did not remove him from having to face the consequence of death. He sinned against God and had to pay the price of his own life. God is serious about paying the price of sin.

Application:
Even in all the things of God that I do not understand I come to see a couple of things.
1) God will not tolerate sin.
2) A price will be paid even if sin is admitted.

Today that makes my heart fill up with gratitude for the cross. Today is that day that Jesus shared the last supper with the disciples, having loved them he showed them the full extent of his love (John 13). He washed their feet. He ate. He went to the cross.

It brings to mind what the writer of Hebrews said, “Through Him (Jesus) let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of lips that give thanks.”(Heb. 13:15) It also makes me think of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us form all unrighteousness.” The price has been paid by Jesus to satisfy God’s justice so that I do not have to die. So I will remember today to continually thank Him to glorify his Name.

Prayer:
Thank You Jesus for what You have done.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Deeper

2008-03-19T14:04:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
Joshua 3:15-17 “…and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water…the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap…And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

Observation:
This was a “God moment” in the life of the people of God and their leader Joshua. Moses had died. Joshua was appointed his successor. They had been in the wilderness a really long time. God had brought them to the banks of the Jordan and they had to get to the other side into the Land that God had promised. There is so much going on in this story but what grabs me in the stage of life that I am in is the point where the feet are dipped into the water. I can’t imagine what that moment had to be like. The river was overflowing (v.15). It wasn’t like a little creek in the back yard. This was a huge river that was running full steam. I think there are multiple things that lead them to actually following through on such a seemingly impossible mission. 1) God had brought them that far. They had seen Him at work for years and knew that was for them. 2) Joshua was a great leader. I think he was a little nervous about walking in Moses shadow but he did not let that paralyze him. He led anyway. 3) The glory and presence of God was before them. They had the ark and it went first. It was the thing that held the presence of God for them. It represented Him and they put Him first just as God had told them to do. 4) They took the step into the water. There was that moment when there was nothing else to do but obey and so they obeyed. Then God did exactly what He said He would do. The river stopped and they all walked across on dry ground. I bet their experience with God was deeper that day than what I can even imagine.

Application:
My application is pretty simple today. I want to thank God for all the times He has been faithful in hard seasons of my life. There have been plenty of times when I have thought the river was too much for me and it was. In some of those moments I never stepped in and I think I missed out on something God had for me. There have been other times where God has given me the grace to dip my feet in. He has never let me drown. So I thank God today for all the times He has taken me deeper.

In remembering those times I want to grow in my faithfulness to embrace more rivers and let God take me even deeper. I want Him to make me more like Jesus and have as much of me as possible. I want my eyes to be open to see Him in the midst of huge moments and I want to step in. He has brought me this far. He will help me overcome fear. I will keep Him in front. I will step in.

Prayer:
I know that You are good and that you will carry me. Help me to step in and go deeper with You.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Control and Delight

2008-03-18T13:36:00.000-05:00

Scripture:
Psalm 37:3 – Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness…trust also in Him…Rest in the Lord…Wait for the Lord.”

Observation:
David is writing to give wisdom and comfort to those who are watching the “evil” and getting overly bothered and envious of them. He says in verse 1, “Be not envious toward wrongdoers.” Why would someone envy wrongdoers? Maybe because they seem to get away with doing wrong and “prosper” as a result. Maybe they seem happier in some ways? But, throughout the Psalm, David is trying to bring the reader back to an understanding of how God deals with wrongdoers as well as show the better way of the life of faithfulness. He says not only should you not do evil but you should cultivate righteousness in your life. Or simply put “DO GOOD.” It reminds me of when Paul said, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” There are three words that stand out as being the philosophy of living for the righteous. They are TRUST, REST and WAIT. All three of these are counter to human instinct and I think David knows that through God’s inspiration. Here is what he says in relationship to these three words.

TRUST- Commit your ways (what you do) to honoring God. In doing this God will bring righteousness and good judgment.
REST – Be patient in regards to God acting towards the wicked. It is His to handle. He will take care of it.
WAIT – Do not get ahead of God in what is His to do. He will act justly. He will reward when He wants to.

He also says that in this trusting, resting and waiting life there is DELIGHT! “Delight yourself in the Lord (v.4),” “The humble…will delight themselves in abundant prosperity(v.11),” “He (God) delights in him(v.23).” It is a better way to live.

Application:
In the end I think this is a message of letting go of control for me and trusting that God has great delight for me. Trusting, resting and waiting mean that I am ok with NOT being in control everything. I need to examine things, situations, relationships, etc. that frustrate me and pursue to trust that God is handling it. Not being in control (trusting, resting and waiting) is so counter to my culture of self advancement, efficiency and expediency. Those are the way of life in suburban America…but not the way of life for God…for a disciple of Jesus. Where do I need to let go? I know I need to admit that I am not in control. I know I just need to do more good. I think this is telling me that if I let go and trust God then I will be:
(1) Delighting or pursuing greater pleasure in knowing God.
(2) Enjoying the pleasure of God’s reward.
(3) Being found as a delight to God.

That sounds really good to me. I want that kind of life.

Prayer:
Father help me to release control of things in my life and trust you more. Keep me from being envious. Move my desires towards trusting your, resting in you and waiting on you. Help me believe that delighting in you and your ways is better than anything else.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Humility and Power

2008-03-17T12:24:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
1 Cor. 2:3-5 – “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

Observation:
Paul is continuing to encourage the church in Corinth by talking about putting their reliance upon God and not themselves. At the end of chapter 1 he says, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I think he is saying this to start counteracting a growing sense of pride and arrogance in the church. It sounds like the Corinthians were “thinking more highly of themselves than they should” (Romans 12:3) and relying upon themselves and what they are able to do rather than on God alone. So Paul is saying “even when I came and preached it was not out my ability or skill. It wasn’t based on me being good at it. It was based on the power of the Spirit of God.” I love how he says that he came weak and even scared. For me this is a glimpse into Paul’s humility. I don’t naturally think of Paul as humble but he was. And it was from the platform of his humility that God had room to display great power. Paul said that all that mattered was Jesus Christ and Him crucified. So based on that alone he opened his mouth and began to preach and is showed that GOD was great.

Application:
I know that I depend on my talent and skill too much. I judge God’s use of me whether I play music good or teach well. If I am completely honest I would say that I judge God’s work through me whether or not other people tell me I am good. I am reminded today that the power of God is not about me being good at something. It comes through Jesus Christ and Him alone. My motivation doesn’t need to be seen as having “power” but the glory of Jesus Christ. If I will make that my aim then I will come to him in everything embracing weakness and pursuing humility with great passion. I need to ask myself, “Am I doing this thing so that people will see me as good or God as good?” I believe that the greatest platform for God to do whatever He wants in my life is a heart of humility. I hope I become more humble and pursue to know nothing other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Prayer:
Strip away all pride from my life. Search every motive. Examine every action. Convict me. Lead me to repent. Help me to be humble.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Unity

2008-03-17T10:30:00.003-05:00

March 16, 2008

Scripture:
1 Corinthians 1:10 “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no division among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and the same judgment.”

Observation:
Paul is writing the church at Corinth because he has gotten word that they are fighting with one another. He is reminding them that God has given them everything they need through His grace. They, as a church, “are not lacking in any gift” (v. 7), and “are enriched in everything” (v. 6). God has been really generous to them as a people and Paul wants them to remember. First he is reminding them and then in verse 10 he is EXHORTING or speaking very strongly to them to help restore them to unity. I like how Paul “exhorts” them to unity. He starts off saying “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. I take this to mean that the only way, and only basis of true unity is the truth of Jesus. Jesus is the only one with the power to unify people. He is the common factor among true believers. They were getting divided (v. 11-12) over who they claimed to follow. Some said I am with Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or Christ. But Paul is saying the only one who unifies is Jesus Christ. I think this also means that I can be unified with people that I am really different than because of common factor of Jesus. Then Paul goes onto in verse 10 to say things like “agree,” “have no division” and “be made complete.”

Application:
Agreeing, having no division, being of the same mind sound like a pipe dream in many ways. That would have to be a supernatural thing. How can it really happen? I am starting by asking myself some tough questions:
Do I view people in my church through the lens of the common bond of Jesus Christ or through ways that we differ?
Do I show preference to people based things other than Jesus like how they dress, how they talk, how much money they have…?
Do I do anything that knowingly or unknowingly causes division at my church?
Do my life and words promote anything other than Jesus Christ as being what we need to be unified around?
What would Paul say about the things that we “fight” about at church?
I hope that I will pursue to be a person who fights for unity around the person of Jesus and nothing else.

Prayer:
Father help me to be a unifier and not a divider. Reveal to me the hard things about myself. Have mercy on me and help me change and fight for unity in my church.

— Doug Hunt, Pastor of Worship/Programming

Serving Others

2008-03-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Observations:
Paul has been teaching the Galatians the burdens placed on them by living under the Mosaic law. In Galatians 5:14 it says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Under the law of Christ we are to love one another and by doing so we fulfill the law of Christ. The word used here for “burdens” means a load that is more that one person can handle and exceeds ones strength. It is a weight that will drag you down. Bearing that weight for each other means supporting, shouldering, comforting and assisting each other. It means being there in times of need and going the extra mile. It means helping even when someone may not realize they need assistance. It means being the arms and legs of Christ in a lost world.

Applications:
I’m pretty good at helping others. Most of us are. If a friend or neighbor asks us to help, we usually will. We need to be observant and aware of opportunities to serve others. I tend to get caught in my own little world and ignore the things going on around me. God is helping me to remove my blinders and see chances to help others. The other side of the coin is a little more difficult. Most of us like to believe that we are independent, self-reliant people. I know that I am. I like to think that I can do things myself, to take care of any issues and problems that may arise. It seems like I have failed when I can’t take care of something on own. So I tend to keep struggling and fighting until I get to some type of solution. It probably wasn’t the best outcome, but at least I’m done with it. During the clean up after Hurricane Katrina, I went with a group of men to clean trees off an elderly couple’s house. We worked on that house for about eight hours. After we had finished and prayed with the couple, the husband said that he had always been the one that had helped others and that he had never asked for help. He said he didn’t know how to accept help. His words have resonated with me. I don’t really know how to accept help. What will others think of me if I ask for help? What if they say no? All those negative thoughts go through my mind. My pride can beat me up here. We were blessed to have been able to help that couple and others. The command to love your neighbor as yourself was lived out. It fulfilled the law of Christ. I still have work to do in this area. I still have a tendency to want to help myself, but God is working on me. He reminds me that my desire for independence and pride may be robbing someone else of a blessing. I need to give them the opportunity to live out loving your neighbor as yourself.

Prayer:
God, help me to recognize the burdens of other and to be willing share the load with them. Help me to realize when I need help and to put aside my pride and receive help. God, never let me refuse to be your agent in loving others.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Freedom

2008-03-14T10:45:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Galatians 5:1 – It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Observation:
Freedom can be a tricky thing. On the surface it sounds easy enough to understand and grasp. The Galatians didn’t really know what freedom meant. They had never really been free. Someone else had ruled over them. They had freedom under the control of the ruler. Then Paul came talking about freedom. Paul had preached and taught the Galatians the true Gospel message. They had accepted it with unbounded joy. Later others came and brought a different message. The messages of these false teachers had just enough of the true Gospel to seem plausible, but their message contained differences that greatly impacted the Galatians spiritual life. They were teaching that to become a Christian you must first become a Jew or that you had to follow a list of “don’t” or that you could do anything you wanted because you are forgiven of your sins. Paul is showing here each of these is a type of bondage. Jesus sacrificed himself to free us from condemnation under the law and Jesus as king has freed us from the bondage of sin. Paul is encouraging them to the steady and unwavering in guarding their freedom. Paul wanted them to have the courage to defend their freedom.

Application:
America is called the land of the free. Are we free from something or free to do something? It’s actually both. Freedom in Christ is that way also. We’re free from the guilt and free from bondage. We’re free to worship God as He leads us. Each day God teaches me more about freedom in Christ. I strive to walk closer with Him each day not because I’m obligated to do it, but because I want to know Him. I don’t do my Life Journal because it’s a requirement, but because God teaches and encourages me through His word. One of my greatest feelings is when God shows me or teaches me a truth from His word. I want to love God with all my heart, soul and might.

Prayer:
God, thank you for the freedom I have in Christ. Continue to develop a hunger and thirst for you within me. Help me to stand firm and steady in the face of attacks from Satan that lead me back into guilt and bondage. Show me the truths in your Word that help me get through each day.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Joy

2008-03-13T15:52:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
Galatians 4:14 & 15 – …And that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

Observation:
Paul was trying to assure the Galatians that his anger toward them was based on their attitude toward the Law and not at them because of a grudge that he had against them. In fact, Paul reminded them that the Galatians had welcomed him with open arms. They had accepted him when other would have turned him away because of his illness. They didn’t receive Paul out of compulsion or keep him at arms length, but rather greeted him like as a long lost friend or even as they would have received Christ. Paul could have asked for anything and the Galatians would have tried to do it for him, to the point of giving themselves. So what happened? The Galatians were so excited and enthusiastic for the Gospel message and for Paul. They had been robbed of their joy by the Law. The Law makes you feel guilty, feel not good enough, feel you need to do more to be accepted. Where once he had incredible friends because he shared the truth, Paul now had opponents.

Application:
I love to watch people’s expressions when they receive an unexpected gift or when they have a great need in their life met from an unexpected source. Their emotions and responses are pure and real. They have a joy and excitement that is often hard for them to express verbally. Their first response is usually that they can’t believe that someone would do that for me. All of us have the same response to unexpected acts of love. I have been privileged to see that from Pinelake’s work on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in Jackson. It is hard for any of us to communicate our gratitude for these undeserved deeds. After the initial shock has worn off, one of our next thoughts is, “I need to do something for them for them to repay their kindness.” Actually we’re not very good at receiving gifts. If we receive a gift at Christmas, we immediately rush out to get that person a gift. If it’s on our birthday, we get them something on their birthday. We feel like we have to repay their kindness. Just like the Galatians, I can easily fall into the trap of trying to repay Jesus. I think I’m not good enough, I need to be doing more for Jesus, or look how much more he is doing than I am. I get robbed of my joy. It’s during those times that I think back to the joy I received when I am walking close with God. I remember it’s not about what I can do for God or earning God’s favor, but rather what God has already done for me in sending His Son to die for me.

Prayer:
God, I just want to thank you for sending your Son. Continue to teach me to live in your love and not under the law. Teach me to live in the joy of my relationship with you.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Common Ground

2008-03-12T09:12:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Galatians 3:28 & 29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Observation:
The Galatian Christians had heard the true Gospel, had believed and received the Holy Spirit. Sometime after Paul left, the Gospel had been distorted by false teachings. They were adding requirements from the law. The main requirement was that the Gentiles must become Jews to be a Christian. Paul exposed these by explaining that you are not justified by works of the law, but only by faith in Jesus. One of other things that Paul exposed was the differences that the law made between Jew and Gentile, male and female, slave and free. During that time social standing meant a lot to how you were treated and the things that were available to you. Paul was saying that while those thing existed in society and still do today, that in God’s eyes we are all equal. We are all saved the same way, through faith in Christ Jesus. We’re not accepted because of who we are nor are we rejected because of who we are. We are all granted the same privileges. We all confess that we are sinners and that we are saved not through anything that we do or who we are, but rather by the merits of Christ Jesus. As believers, we are members of God’s family and heirs to the promise and entitled to all the blessings and freedoms of it.

Application:
I have had the privilege of making a numbers of mission trips to various parts of the world. At first, I thought as Americans that we had something special to share with the rest of the world. Rather God taught me that as believers that we all share a common background. We were all lost and have become brothers and sisters through our faith in Jesus. God taught me that the people of those countries didn’t need my American ways. They needed the hope of Jesus and that their faith put them on an equal footing with all believers. In a lot of ways, I did the same thing in Jackson. I saw us a having something that only we could provide. I quickly realized that just like all people, their hope had to be in Jesus. They are God’s creation and they have the same need as me. It wasn’t in what Pinelake or the other churches that came to Jackson to serve could give them. It was showing them that we loved them, because God loved us and them. God loved us while we were still sinner and we needed to do likewise. As I often heard, the ground at the foot of the cross is flat. We all have equal status in God’s kingdom.

Prayer:
God, I pray that you never allow me to think of myself as better than others. I thank you for your grace that is available to each and every one of us, if we’ll just ask and receive it. Teach me to love as you loved. I never want to judge others by their outward appearance, but rather to see them as you do.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Alone in the Crowd

2008-03-11T11:06:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 18:9 – “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.”

Observation:
God knew that the Israelites were a people that were easily led astray and distracted. He had seen it with the golden calf, the first time they were to enter the Promised Land, and when they were hungry and thirsty in the desert. They completely forgot about God and it became about their wants and desires. God is warning them because He knows them and that they will abandon Him and His teachings again. God knew the lies and the lures that the Promised Land contained. To “learn” something, you have to spend time with it, study it and make a decision in your mind to know it. God knew that these detestable ways would be all around the Israelites and he wanted them to be aware of them and the harm they can do to them. Romans 12:2 says, “don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” God didn’t want them to accept the evil ways, but rather to make a mental decision and to be prepared for how they would respond once they entered the Promised Land.

Application:
I can’t tell you how many times I told my children they couldn’t do something or go somewhere and their response would be, “But so-and-so (insert friend’s name here) is doing it or gets to go!” Everyone wants to be accepted and to be part of the “crowd.” I was the same way. I didn’t want to get left out. My parents tried to set limits and teach me the situations to avoid. Once I grew up, I got to set my own boundaries and make my own decisions. I still made mistakes, but because of my parents’ teachings I didn’t have to make all the wrong decisions. Just as God was trying to warn and teach the Israelites of the dangers that were waiting for them, He wants to teach me. Through His word, prayer, Holy Spirit and others God wants to guide me through the pitfalls that come my way everyday. I want to learn more about God’s way and not the world’s way. The great thing is I know that God wants to teach me and guide me. He just asks that I be a willing and eager student. I need prepare my heart and mind to deal with the darkness of this world. I want to stand out from the crowd.

Prayer:
God, I want to thank you for being there for me. Show me the situations to avoid. Teach me to rely on you and your wisdom. I want to daily die to myself and live for you. Help me each day to set my mind on you and your ways.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

Eyes Wide Open

2008-03-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 15:10 & 11 — “You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”

Observation:
Money. Wealth. It can be a blessing or a curse. It’s easy to look at others that appear to be better off wonder what it must be like to be them. Why didn’t you get the breaks to get to their level? God wanted the Israelites to understand that although there were differences, He cared for all of them as His people. Who are the poor? How did they get that way? When we begin to look for reasons or blame the poor for their condition, it becomes easy to close our eyes to them. We think they should be taking care of themselves. After all we live in America and there are plenty of ways to help ourselves. We can take the approach of “out of sight out of mind,” but they are always on God’s mind. God makes a point of saying that there will always be poverty around us and that it is our responsibility to care for them. God adds that if we take care of the poor, He will take care of us and bless us. Our attitude toward giving is much more important than the amount. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Application:
God can change our heart toward people. I needed an attitude adjustment. For the longest time I lived out at the Reservoir and really just ignored what was happening in Jackson. It was easy to avoid Jackson. I could shop, eat and get anything I needed and never have to go there. About a year ago God began to convict me about Jackson and wrote in my prayer journal that I didn’t know what that looked like, but that we needed to do something. Since that time God has opened my eyes to the people of the city. I had always just looked at the city and seen it as a problem, until I spent time there. I realized that God was working in the city. He loves the people of Jackson and wants me to love them. I have come to love God’s workers and the people they are serving. I still have thoughts about how the poor got that way, but God has helped me to see that the why doesn’t matter to Him. He wants me to be involved.

Prayer:
God, I want to thank you for the changes that you have made in my heart toward your people. I pray that you continue to change me, to allow me to see others through your eyes. Give me a humble spirit and a loving attitude in serving others.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

A History Lesson

2008-03-09T11:19:00.001-05:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 10:12 – 13 — Now Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Observation:
The generation of Israelites that had been in captivity in Egypt had passed away and the new generation didn’t know all the things that God had done for them. Moses had been giving the Israelites a history lesson. They needed to learn from the past and not make the same mistakes their parents had made. I’m sure most were amazed by the stories. I’m sure there were some that wanted to know what all this meant to them. Moses boiled it down for them: respect God, follow God, love God, serve others and be obedient to God. This is God’s blueprint for our lives.

Application:
There were times when I was growing up that there seemed to be an endless supply of rules. There were rules at home and at school. Each sport had its own set of rules. Learning to drive brought another set of rules. Then getting married had rules that I never imagined. Everywhere I turned there were rules. It can get to the point with the vast number of rules that you just throw up your hands and say “I quit”. If I’m not careful I can make things really complicated and confusing. I can get sidetracked on things that are not that important. I can totally lose my focus. It’s at times like that when I need to bring everything back to what God requires of me; to respect Him, follow Him, love Him, serve others and to be obedient to Him.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I that you help me to keep my focus on you. I want you to be at the center of everything I do. When I become distracted, I pray that your Holy Spirit would remind me that’s it is all about you. God never let me complicate your word or the Gospel, but let your simple message come through.

— David Hardin, community missions pastor

To Do That I Gotta Do This

2008-03-08T13:29:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 8:11 — “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today…”

Observation:
Out of all of the things that I have read in Deuteronomy this week chapter 8 is the one I have like best. It’s just filled with such good news. As I read it I get so excited at the potential and the promise. The imagery is staggering. A land awaits that if filled with honey and barley and wheat and copper and fruits and abundant water and the list goes on and on. Plus, the people are told that they will prosper and multiply. It’s a great day! Oh, and by the way don’t forget God. What?!? How could we ever forget God? He is the reason for all of this. But the warning is issued to be careful because one day you will be prosperous and comfortable. And it is if the people cry out, “We will never forget our God”.

Application:
What a great way to end today’s reading, right? But then I had to go and read Mark 15. The crucifixion of Jesus. God’s way of ultimately blessing all people. Why did He have to do it? Because His people kept forgetting about Him. They (and we) were incapable of keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes. If God was to bless His people He was going to have to go further, much further, than giving people guidelines to live by. So, because of His great love for us, He sent us His only son so that we could ultimately kill Him so that in His death we could have true life. To accomplish what God wanted to do he went to the ultimate length – To do that, He had to do this. I wonder if he finally has our attention?

Prayer:
God, may I never forget you. May my attention always be on you. I am so sorry to pray this, but forgive me for the times that I forget and do my own things. Thank you for Jesus – for giving me a way to you that is about you and not me. Your love is too much for me to comprehend. Help me love you more. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Watch Out For That Rock!!

2008-03-07T20:34:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 5:32 — So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Observation:
God gave the people of Israel the Ten Commandments and instructs them to follow them. God gave order, a path to follow. It is true of all people that left to our own will get off the path. We all sin and miss the mark. In the verse I am journaling today God is instructing the people (all people) to not turn aside either to the right or to the left, but to stay on track. Right now I am looking out the window watching it snow like crazy (I am in Kansas City this week). Because of the snow I am not really feeling like spring is just around the corner, but I know that it is. And with spring comes the desire for me to ride my mountain bike. I have been riding for about 10 years now and love it. One thing that I noticed early on was this simple biking truth: Wherever you look, that’s where you go. Its true! I can be riding on a sweet single track trail that has big rocks that you have to maneuver around and if I look at a rock I will hit it. If I look at the space between the rocks I will miss the rocks. Its almost like magic. If I look at something I go towards it.

Application:
The lesson of riding the bike is obvious, isn’t it? Today’s verse reminds me that I am in danger of going off to the right or to the left. I have found that when I enter into sin it is almost always because I have taken my eyes, my focus, off of the way I should be going and placed it on something off to the side. It really is all about where I put my attention. If I place my attention on what other people have that I don’t, it is just a matter of time until my attitude becomes one of coveting what they have. If I were to place my attention on getting ahead no matter what I can only imagine that it would be just a matter of time and I would lie and cheat and steal to get what I want. But, if I make sure that my attention is placed on the path that God has set before me I find that righteousness is the outcome. It is not easy and there are always things that “sneak up” on me, that is why I so desperately need Jesus in my life to offer me salvation. Yet the rule of biking is so true – now to practice keeping my eyes on my God.

Prayer:
God help me to be focused on you and forgive me when I am not. God as I go through my life give me wisdom to discern your path from the ways that seem right to me at the time, but are not leading to you. Thank you for your guidance and your love. Your patience with me is long and gentle. Your love is amazing. Your grace more abundant than my sin. I do not deserve, nor have I earned your presence in my life, yet you offer it to me in love. O how great a God you are. Amen

— Darren Miley, student pastor

I Just Ain't Got The Words

2008-03-06T21:46:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Psalm 36:5 — Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (NIV)

Observation:
I love this scripture because I love the song that Third Day sings based on Psalm 36. The first time I remember hearing this song, though, it was not Third Day singing the song, but Pinelake’s own Jason Elam. This was long before either of us had moved to Pinelake. In fact, I think Jason was still in school at Mississippi State. I had asked Jason to come and lead worship for a retreat that my church and another church were doing for our student ministries. Early one morning, right before we were to start a large group worship time, one of my adult leaders came in and got me and said, “Darren, you’ve got to come and see this.” I went outside and down on the pier by the lake was Jason. There was still a mist rising from the lake, it was early, and Jason was singing this song. He had his guitar and he was worshipping. Just Jason and God. Jason had absolutely no idea that anybody else was anywhere around. We just stood there and watched and listened to Jason play and sing, eavesdropping on a child of God telling God how amazing His love is. I was blown away. Not because I had never seen Jason worship before, and not because of the words of the song, but because it just seemed so natural…so right.

Application:
Now the truth of the matter is this: No worshipper will ever be able to say anything that will even begin to describe how awesome and amazing God is. We just do not have the capacity to comprehend or describe God. Yet as we attempt to do the impossible God will many times intervene. This is what I watched and experienced that day while Jason was singing. As we turned our attention to the indescribable nature of God, God met us there. By “there” I mean that the Holy Spirit of God began to make up for what we lacked. He met us there in something that could only be described as Holy. Now, I don’t know if Jason remembers this event the same way I do. I can’t remember if I ever even told him that we were watching him, but I remember being touched by God there. The ancient Celtic Christian used to refer to “thin places,” places where heaven and earth just seemed closer than others. I know that that morning the distance between us and God felt very thin indeed. I love the Psalms because in them we see the writers attempt to understand and connect with God. I love Psalm 36 because it reminds of one of the many times when God reached down and connected with me.

Prayer:
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness stretches to the sky.
Your righteousness is like a mighty mountain, and your justice flows like the oceans tides. And I will lift my voice to worship you my King, and I will find my strength in the shadow of your wings. O God my all the places we find myself be “thin places” so that in all things we see you. May your name be forever high and lifted up for you alone O God are worthy of our praise. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Once Upon A Time

2008-03-05T10:53:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Deuteronomy 1:1 — These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab.

Observation:
YYAAAAWWWWNNNNNN!! Just reading this first verse wears me out. All these place names and dates and people groups. Man, what a snoozer. The first couple of books of Deuteronomy is simply a retelling of the plight of the people of Israel. It is basically just a thumbnail sketch of what took long chapters in earlier books to convey. As I read these verses it just feels like another story. It really doesn’t even seem real – more like a sort of made up “Lord of the Rings” type of a saga. For me it is difficult to remember that this is the story of real people in real situations. I mean as I read some of these Old Testament stories I am just amazed at how hard headed and stupid the people of Israel were. There they were right at the point of going into the Promised Land and they chicken out and tick God off in the process. What faithless losers. But, remember that these are real flesh and blood people. So what if my wife, our three boys and I were in that crowd? Let’s just suppose that all we had known up to this point was slavery in Egypt? We had left the only life we had ever known and now we were facing a huge army and Moses tells us to that God wants us to go and take the land by force. Good grief, all I’ve ever done is make bricks and God wants me to go take a land away from an army. You have got to be kidding? It just isn’t logical. It’s well…crazy is what it is.

Application:
All of a sudden it seems a little more real now. Maybe I can understand why the people of Israel were so boneheaded after all. But what about today? A lot of people would say that they have never been in that situation or known anybody that has. Here is a question: Could it be that the reason that we have never been in a situation that would require us to do something that seems so ridiculous is because we never have left the land of our slavery? The people of Israel were never asked to walk in that level of faith while in Egypt. In Egypt they were in bondage. It was only in a state of freedom that God expected them to do such outlandish things.

Prayer:
God help me to live in your freedom so that I will be asked to so something for your kingdom that appears to be totally insane by the eyes of the world. And in that moment may I not hesitate to do something “crazy” for you. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Who Told You That You Could Do That?

2008-03-04T11:00:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 11:27-28 — They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?”

Observation:
A short time prior to what is happening in this passage Jesus goes into the temple and overturns the tables of the moneychangers and runs them out of the temple. This sends the chief priests and the scribes into a fury. Verse 18 says that this event leads them to seek ways to destroy Jesus. In this passage Jesus is again in the temple there in Jerusalem, and the chief priests and the scribes (the same ones who got so angry because of Jesus running the moneychangers out of the temple) come up to Jesus and begin to question Him. They want to know by whose authority He is doing the things he is doing. I absolutely love the response Jesus gives in verses 29 – 33.

Application:
Now there is so much that I could journal in regards to this passage, but at the moment my thoughts are on the idea of what is going on with the chief priests and the scribes. They were upset about what went on with the moneychangers. Why they were upset is a conversation for another time, but the fact is that Jesus was right and they didn’t want the truth to be told. Since they had no firm ground on which to stand they decided to simply question by whose authority he was under. These guys questioned God. They had the audacity to actually confront Jesus in regards to His authority. How dare they? Yet I know that I have sometimes been just as audacious. God requires something of me and I have been known to walk up to God and ask Him what is up with that.
This passage has reminded me to not follow after the way of the chief priests and scribes, but to remember that God is God.

Prayer:
God forgive me of the times when in my heart I have questioned you and acted as if you were my equal. You alone are God! There is none like you. You possess all authority and power. My response to you should always be one of submission for the life I now live in you. You are life. You are my God. Amen

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Children should NOT be seen or heard

2008-03-03T17:13:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 10:13 – And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.

Observation:
In this incident many people are bringing their children to Jesus so that he may touch them. It is safe to assume that some of the children would have been sick or lame and that their parents, having heard that Jesus was a healer, was hoping that the touch of Jesus was going to provide healing. And it is also safe to assume that some of the children were being brought to Jesus with the hope that he would touch them and bless them. Whatever the motivational factor this verse makes it clear that the disciples were going to have no part of it. After all, these men knew that their leader, Jesus, was a very important man and they were getting used to large crowds pressing in on Jesus to receive from Him. They perceived part of their purpose to be to provide security for Jesus – sort of like Jewish bouncers. It is clear from Jesus’ response to them that they felt that a bunch of little kids were too insignificant to deserve a one-on-one with Jesus. Yet Jesus goes so far as to say that, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (verse 15).

Application:
When I read this Scripture and attempt to find a way to apply it to my life, two things emerge. The first is what I perceive to be the most obvious and clear application. If I desire to understand and take part in the kingdom of God then I must be humble and trusting, much like a child. To come to God any other way is impossible. The second thing that I pick up when reading this scripture is that if I am not careful then I may, like the disciples, end up keeping those that Christ desires to come to Him from actually doing so. Many Christians have been guilty of either pressuring people to clean up their lives so that they could then come to Christ or by making the process of coming to Christ way too difficult and cumbersome. How many people have walked away from faith in Christ because well intentioned Christians have turned them away and kept them from coming to Christ? May I always remember that we are all to come to Jesus as one of these little ones.

Prayer:
Holy and loving God please help me to understand what child-like faith is all about. I desire to have that type of faith and trust in you. Forgive me for not approaching you like that all the time. I also pray that you will help me to learn the lesson of this incident with the disciples. May I never be guilty of keeping anyone from coming to you. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

Trusting

2008-03-02T11:18:00.004-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 9:32 — But they (the Disciples) did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him (Jesus).

Observation:
What is happening here is that Jesus has just foretold His death and His resurrection. He basically tells them that He is going to be killed, and after His death He will rise three days later. Now as I was reading over today's Scripture I knew that I would journal about this verse before I even had finished reading all of the Scripture. In and of itself verse 32 just really gives so little information. The Disciples didn't understand something Jesus said, and for some reason they were afraid to ask Him to explain Himself. Now why they were afraid is not specifically stated, but we can only imagine that if has to do with the difficulty that they had earlier with casting out the unclean spirit from the boy (verses 14 – 29). Don't you just know that they were so embarrassed by the whole thing? Not to mention that over and over Jesus has been asking then when will they ever understand. Whatever the reason, they were afraid to ask for clarification on what could possibly be the most important thing Jesus had ever said to them up to that point. Here it is all laid out for them and they let their fear place them in a position so that they missed it. Unfortunately, I think I can relate all to well with the Disciples on this one.

Application:
Sometimes when I come across Scripture that is hard to accept or when I sense that God is leading me to do something difficult, instead of going to God and seeking understanding and clarification, I allow fear to freeze me up. I hate it when it happens, I feel so defeated and so cowardly. You see, here is the rub: I know that I can trust God? He has proven that to me over and over again, yet I still fear Him at times. I think it has to do with the fact that so many times I want what I want and not what God wants. Its not like that all the time. Sometimes I follow hard after God. There have been many times when I have made very risky decisions because I believed I was following God. Still there are times when I, like the disciples, don't understand what God is saying and I am afraid to seek better understanding.

Prayer:
God please help me when I fear you. I know that your plans for me are to prosper me and not to cause me harm, yet I so often hesitate to follow you fully. Forgive those times and help me to be bold, for you are God and therefore worthy of being followed without question. Thank you for your patience with me. Please continue to teach me how to follow hard after you. Amen.

— Darren Miley, student pastor

The Cost of Discipleship

2008-03-01T13:51:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 8: 34 — “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”

Observation:
To take up your cross in Jesus’ time was a sign of accepting a shameful slaves death. Nothing about this statement was exactly appealing, yet it was Jesus’ call to His disciples. So many times today, I think we downplay the cost of following Christ. There is a cost to following Christ. It’s not simply the act of salvation followed by church attendance and a moral life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. That’s the cost. It means refusing to follow the worldly desires that surround us. It means letting God lead and guide every step we take. Yes, there is a cost to discipleship but after receiving the undeserved gift of salvation, it is the natural inclination of your heart to want to follow God on the path He has for your life.

Application:
I must consciously lay down the worldly desires of my flesh and follow Christ in obedience. I need to learn to see myself as a modern-day disciple, following Jesus, sharing His Word and His love with those around me. I must never take my salvation for granted, getting comfortable with the fact that I’m saved for all eternity and forget that I must daily follow and grow with Christ.

Prayer:
Shepherd, help me to daily lay down my rights of freewill to your perfect plan for my life. Help me to not pawn off salvation as simply a “fire insurance” plan but as a way of life. Spur me on in the times I struggle to lay down selfish and worldly desires. Thank you for your willingness to grow me in Your word. Thank you for laying down Your life for mine.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister

Holy God

2008-02-28T10:49:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Numbers 27:13-14 — “When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was; for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.”

Observation:
What a sobering story. Moses, who God used to free His people from bondage, who had led God’s people for forty years through the wilderness, who was handed the Ten Commandments, was now being told that he could not enter into the Promised Land. The reason … he had not honored God as holy and as I read it, on ONE occasion. If this doesn’t show the importance of fearing and honoring God’s name I don’t know what does. God’s holiness is absolute. It can’t be tailored to accommodate sinful people. Moses had sinned and there was a price to be paid. It didn’t matter that it was Moses. It didn’t matter that it was one of God’s trusted leaders, a faithful follower, or even a Godly man. He had sinned. How much more amazing is the grace that God pours out on us. That in our sin, He sent His Son to pay a price we could never pay.

Application:
I must never forget that my God is a holy God and will never compromise His holiness to accommodate my sinfulness. I need to constantly be mindful that He is a holy God who demands my utmost respect and honor. I also need to be mindful that there are consequences to sinful behavior. Knowing that forgiveness is gift that is undeserved and not to be taken for granted.

Prayer:
God, You are The Holy God. You are not a God who can go against who You are. You are a just, righteous and lawful God. Help me to never take Your gifts of forgiveness, salvation and love for granted but to live in the awareness that You are the Almighty.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister

Getting Unfamiliar With Jesus

2008-02-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 6:3 — “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us? “ And they took offense at Him.

Observation:
Jesus’ return to his hometown was not a pleasant homecoming. Although the people were astonished by Jesus’ wisdom and miracles, they couldn’t get past the fact that he once walked among them. They were so familiar with Him that they enjoyed no blessing. In fact only a few sick people experienced Jesus’ healing. Jesus was FAMILIAR to them. I think this is often a danger in my own life at times and even in churches. Jesus becomes so familiar to us that we miss things He has for us. Worship becomes a Sunday ritual instead of a meeting with the Almighty. Prayer becomes a must do as opposed to a hallowed conversation.

Application:
I cannot allow myself to become familiar or comfortable in my relationship with Christ. Even though I live in a place where there is a church on every corner and Christian people are not scarce I must never forget WHO my Jesus is.

Prayer:
God, help me to never be lax in my walk with you. May I never get comfortable or stale in our relationship. God you are the creator of the universe, the jealous God, the unchanging, never-failing One who loves me. I am not worthy of the blessings you richly pour out. Help me to never come into Your presence without the proper reverence for who You are.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister

God of Healing

2008-02-26T08:31:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 5:34 — “And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.’

Observation:
I’m sure in a crowd this size this woman was not the only one with a need yet she was the only one with the faith to reach out to Jesus. I’m sure it wasn’t easy. She had to push her way through the crowd, past the pain and beyond the embarrassment. She showed even greater faith than Jairus in showing that if she could only touch Jesus’ clothes, she would be healed. She had a faith that acted. Not a blind, hollow belief but a faith that pushed her to action.

Application:
I must allow “sickness” in my life to bring me to the foot of Jesus’ robe. I should never be ashamed to act on my faith and should always have full confidence that in the Lord’s presence miracles happen.

Prayer:
Healer, help me to never be so shamed by “sickness” in my life that it pushes me from your presence. Push my spirit to work on any sicknesses that I harbor. Help me have the courage to put feet to my faith even in the midst of chaos, business and pressure.

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister

God of the Storm

2008-02-25T13:44:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 4:39 — “And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.”

Observation:
I see two things in this verse. First, the preceding verses leading up to this crisis of belief in the disciples was following Jesus’ illustration of mustard seed faith. It makes the disciples so human for me. I know in my own life, Jesus has to repeatedly teach me the same truth in different ways. I also noticed that it was Jesus who suggested crossing the lake. The disciples were not out of God’s will when they got caught in the storm. I know that many times we confuse hard times and storms to with being out of God’s will and I see that this is simply not true. And lastly, the calming of the storm didn’t seem to rely on the amount of faith the disciples had (for that was little) it had to do with God’s will to calm the storm.

Application:
I must learn to live my life knowing that God’s will for me is to follow Him and trust Him completely, even if my obedience leads me into storms. And to realize that not all storms are an indication of being out of His will. I need to open my eyes in the midst of the storm and see what things God may be trying to teach or show me. It may be those lessons that He has tried to teach me in other ways (such as with the disciples).

Prayer:
God, help me to first walk in Your will daily and have faith that wherever that path leads, You are in control. Provide me with opportunities to grow my faith in You. And when those opportunities arise, give me the strength and the wisdom to handle them. Thank you for your unfailing protection and guidance. You are God of all storms!

— Crystal Stringer, high school minister

Pick Your Battles Wisely

2008-02-23T09:42:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Numbers 13:32 — So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.

Observation:
The Israelites have reached a great moment of truth. It is time to enter the land they have longed for, the land of Canaan. They will have to fight for this new home God is giving them, so they send twelve spies into the land to scout out the situation. However, ten of the spies come back from the mission so scared that they begin spreading exaggerations about the enemy, they say they are big and tough and well fortified. This is going to win over the hearts of the Israelites — being in God’s Army means engaging in battle and now they don’t want any part of it. Oh, the Promised Land sounded so good when they were back in Egypt, being abused as Pharaoh’s slaves. And God’s power was great to have when He sent the plagues to get them released, and when they crossed the sea, and when they ate and drank in the wilderness. They have entered into a covenant at Mount Sinai and have seen God’s presence at the tabernacle. But now, their visible enemies seems greater to them than God and they decide to fight against God’s plan instead. This is a bad decision and the Israelites will pay a high price for it.

Application:
It is easier for me to fear what I can see than what I can’t see. In other words, it is not so easy sometimes to fear God more than things that are visible and tangible. When I think about it, I know that God has saved me for a purpose, His purpose, and now I belong to Him. He has plans for me and His Word has specific commands I am to follow. Why is it that I so often choose to fight against God’s plan? Do I not fear God like I should? Sometimes it seems that I am so prepared to consider God’s grace that I become desensitized to consequences for disobedience. Yes, I want to follow God out of love for Him, but I think it is healthy for me to maintain an appropriate fear of Him also. Whenever I wholeheartedly follow God, I have to make choices. There will certainly be things that I can not do because I have spent my time and resources to follow God. Let’s face it, following God makes me vulnerable and dependent upon Him, and that has a strong element of fear attached to it. However, not following God has serious consequences also. I need to pick my battles wisely. Will I fight in God’s Army for His purposes, or will I crater to my own fears and my own agenda? Think about the Israelites, it is never a wise decision to battle God.

Prayer:
God, I am in. I belong to you and I want to fight in your Army, for your purposes, your battles. But please have mercy on me Lord. I am weak, I need your strength; I am discouraged, I need your support; I am confused, I need your clarity; I am foolish, I need your wisdom; I am scared, I need your assurance; I am short-sighted, I need more faith; I am forgetful of you, please walk beside me. I can only go into battle if you are with me, but I will engage Lord because I love you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

Touching a Leper

2008-02-22T12:26:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Mark 1:41 — Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Observation:
A leper has approached Jesus and asked to be healed. Jesus is deeply moved and heals the man. This act of compassion was unheard of in that day - Jesus actually touched the man. Touching a leper would be a violation of the cultic law, yet Jesus understood that the law is not intended to prevent Him from an expression of love when appropriate. The man had asked to be healed, but he could not know how Jesus would respond. A leper was an outcast in their society, rejected and avoided, unclean. No matter who you were before you got leprosy, you were now an exile. Waiting anxiously to see what Jesus would do, the man must have wondered if he had come in vain and would be rejected by Jesus just like he was everyday. From the second Jesus begins to reach out his hand toward him, he must have been flooded with encouragement, he had asked for the impossible and his request was being answered.

Application:
Who are the lepers today? Who have I turned my back on, who do I try to avoid and ignore? It’s pretty obvious that desperate people live all around me, some with great physical need and some with great spiritual need, many with both. I like my buffer zone from the lepers and have found my comfort level in suburbia. Most days I just get wrapped up in life here in the Reservoir. Yet eleven miles to the west, lepers are asking for help. They are walking into shelters, soup kitchens, backyard worship gatherings, any place that might offer some compassion and a hand. Single mothers are trying to find a way to get a decent house and make sure that life won’t turn out for their children like it did for them. Elderly people are living out their last years unable to fix the leaks in the roof or heat their home adequately. It’s easier to just not know sometimes, but Jesus walked around with His eyes wide open. I won’t be able to fix every need, but no doubt Jesus calls me to work on what I can. I don’t want my children to grow up in a generation like mine who dreamed of a nice middle-class life, ignoring social injustice, poverty and deep spiritual need. It’s not going to be the easiest thing I have ever done, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Prayer:
Lord, I am sorry for all the years of neglect and avoidance of those who are in need. The task seems overwhelming, we need your help. I need your encouragement and your affirmation in this journey. Help me to make a difference for your Kingdom. I know that you will guide me if I just give myself to you. So here I am Lord — use me, use my life, use my family. We love you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

The Big Picture

2008-02-21T11:07:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 28:23 — When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.

Observation:
Throughout Paul’s life, his presentation of the gospel was made from the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul’s evidence of who Jesus is comes straight out of the Law of Moses and the Prophets, in other words, from the entire Old Testament. Jesus is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament anticipated — the coming of the Messianic King, our Savior. For Paul, the backbone of his testimony was found in the Old Testament, and Paul knew it well enough to persuade people that Jesus is the Messiah.

Application:
It is easy to look at the Bible and see it as two rather disconnected pieces, the Old Testament and the New Testament, each containing very different purposes or messages. Yet in the testimony of Paul, the Old Testament is the proof of who is Jesus is and why He is the Messiah. The message of the Old Testament is in unity and harmony with the message of Christ. It makes me realize that I need to pull back the lens sometimes and marvel at the whole picture. What a story of redemption, woven together by a wonderful, sovereign God. No doubt there were years of study behind Paul’s grasp of the Scriptures. What an encouragement to keep up with the Life Journal and to take seriously the study of the whole Bible. Like Paul, we can look forward to increasing our faith, growing spiritually, and gaining assurance as we become grounded in God’s Word. Most of all, we become more and more equipped to persuade others concerning Jesus, at home and in the world.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the Bible, and thank you for revealing yourself to us in your incredible story of redemption. I also thank you for the leadership of Pinelake who have answered the call to teach this flock to be self-feeders of your glorious Word. Please grow your Church up to unity and maturity. Please produce in us a hunger for your Word, and pour out your Spirit upon us that we may grasp its Truth. Lord, I want to know you more and bring glory to you by persuading others concerning Jesus. I love you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

Influence

2008-02-20T11:50:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 27:31-32 — Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it fall away.

Observation:
Paul is on a ship that has been trying to fight through the early winter storms and make it to safe port. It is likely that Paul and a couple of Paul’s companions are the only Christians onboard the ship. The situation has been desperate for a long time and the crew believes they will not survive. However, Paul announces that an angel of his God has appeared to him and told him that the ship will be destroyed but no one on the ship will die. In the middle of a dark night, as the situation worsens, some of the sailors plan to lower the lifeboat and escape. This is when Paul declares that all the men must remain on the ship to be saved. The sailors respond by cutting the ropes to the lifeboat. Paul is a prisoner, yet something about him and his walk with God makes a group of frantic unbelievers not only listen to him, but follow him. The crew puts their physical lives in the hands of Paul’s God, obviously believing that God has the power to keep His promises and that Paul has a living and active relationship with Him.

Application:
Do I have the kind of relationship with God in which unbelievers can actually see His power displayed in my life? Do I trust God so explicitly and walk with Him so closely that unbelievers are compelled to accept that God is real? When I think about a person at the great moment of salvation, it is the picture of coming to God in desperation, abandoning their own futile plans and putting faith in God whom they barely know. I certainly hope that their confidence is bolstered by having witnessed my walk. I want the kind of life testimony that influences others to follow my God, the real God, and to call on Him in the moment of their greatest need. I will trust God completely, cut the ropes to any other lifeboat, and call others to do the same. There is only one way to be saved, and those who are perishing must hear.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for saving me. Thank you for the people you placed in my life and for using them to direct me toward you. Please use me to influence others and to point them to your saving grace. Help me to walk as a light in the darkness and to boldly tell others about the only way of salvation. May my life give irrefutable evidence of a living and active relationship with you, the one true God.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

A New Direction

2008-02-19T11:13:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 26:20 — “but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”

Observation:
Paul is before some Roman officials giving his defense regarding some false accusations brought against him. He is telling the officials about his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. From the moment of his conversion Paul had been on a radically new path, heading in the complete opposite direction from his old ways. Before his conversion, Paul was on a mission to stamp out the Christian movement, but now he is consumed with declaring that Jesus is the Son of God, crucified and raised, the very Messiah that had been promised and anticipated in the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul says that those who repent and turn to God will perform deeds that evidence their repentance is genuine.

Application:
When I was growing up, it seemed that repentance simply meant being really sorry for doing something wrong. I often wondered if I was being sorrowful enough for God to forgive me. The Christian life appeared to me to be defined as faithfully following a list of do-not-do this and do-not-do that. Even now, I find that it is more common for the Church to be defined by the things that we don’t do than to be known by the things that we do. However, the Bible’s idea of repentance embraces both turning away from the things that prevent us from having full devotion to God, and then turning to God in love and obedience. In other words, it is a radical reorientation of our life — a new life with a new Master. I have heard Chip say that we are saved by faith alone, but that genuine faith is never alone, it is always accompanied by corresponding good works. Paul says the same thing about repentance. When I come to the point of repentance, I will certainly feel remorse and turn away from sin, but the genuineness of my repentance must be evidenced by a desire to engage in new things that please God. I want to see bad fruit being replaced by good fruit.

Prayer:
Lord, I love you and want my life to be devoted to you. Please search my heart and reveal areas of my life in which I need to repent. I want my repentance to be more than refraining from sin, I want to go on to produce good fruit for your Kingdom. Help me to reorient any area of my life that is not under your Lordship.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

God's Ways are Higher than My Ways

2008-02-18T12:49:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 25:11 — “If, then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

Observation:
Festus has now succeeded Felix as governor of Judea. The Jewish leaders are still plotting to kill Paul and have approached Festus to help them by sending Paul back to Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders are plotting to assassinate Paul as he travels. Festus wants to do the Jews a favor, so he tries to get Paul to agree to go back to Jerusalem to face the tribunal there. Paul is not afraid to die if he were guilty; however he smells a rat and makes a wise move. You see, Paul is a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22:28) which is rather uncommon in that day. As a Roman citizen, Paul could exercise certain rights, such as requesting a hearing before Caesar’s tribunal. This would force Festus to send Paul safely off to Rome, and this was certainly looking like Paul’s best option. Although Paul was acting to save himself, I also remember Jesus appearing to Paul in Acts 23:11, telling him to take courage and that he must be a witness in Rome. A real twist is coming in chapter 26 when it is revealed that if Paul had not requested the appeal to Caesar, he would have been set free and avoided the whole trial in Rome.

Application:
It seems that whenever trouble comes, I will almost always end up begging God to get me out of the pinch. I mean surely God would not intentionally put me in bad circumstances, so why not focus on getting a little divine help out of a bind – am I right? And what about Paul, he decided to take his chances by going to Rome – wasn’t that a bad call in hindsight? I would kick myself a thousand times for that one … he could have been free. Yet as I look at Paul’s circumstances, he made a wise decision based on the facts in front of him at that moment. It was God’s sovereign plan that would send Paul to Rome in order to be His witness in the capitol city of the most powerful nation on earth. That seemingly bad circumstance was not some sort of punishment from God, it was not the result of a bad decision by Paul, nor was it a situation that Paul should try to wiggle out of. Instead Paul rested in God’s sovereignty and followed God’s plan on to Rome. Worldly wisdom could never understand bad circumstances being in God’s good plan. I need to look for God’s wisdom and sovereign purpose in every circumstance rather than focusing on how I am going to make things better for myself.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to see your unfolding purpose in every circumstance of life. I want to learn to focus on you and your plan, not on me. Your ways are higher than my ways and I submit myself to the wisdom of your eternal plan. Please give me your wisdom Lord and help me not to lean on my own understanding. Thank you for being in control. I rest in you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

New Priorities

2008-02-17T11:15:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 24:25 – But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”

Observation:
Paul is in custody in Caesarea and is facing a serious situation. He is appearing before Felix, the governor of Judea, to defend himself against false accusations being made by the Jewish religious leaders from Jerusalem. The Jewish leaders are bent on shutting Paul up forever. Since Felix had spent several years in Palestine, he was familiar with the Christian movement, commonly called “the Way.” Recognizing that the leaders’ hatred of Paul was religiously motivated and the charges were likely trumped up, Felix decides to wait on making a decision. Later, Paul is summoned to talk with Felix and his wife, Drusilla. Drusilla is Jewish, and perhaps the couple wants to hear a little more about the Way. But Paul knows Felix and Drusilla have a bad reputation. Drusilla is Felix’s third wife and they came together under adulterous circumstances. They are heavily invested in the things of this world. Paul pulls no punches and declares the ethical implications of following Jesus. Life change and the final judgment is not what Felix wanted to hear about — he is not ready for repentance — he decides he would rather hear about the Way some other time.

Application:
Holding on to the things of this world can make it awfully hard to follow Jesus. Like Paul’s confrontation of Felix and Drusilla, the Lord always seems to ask for what I don’t want to give up, whether material things or a “hidden” sin. But salvation is a change of heart that always displays itself in life change. The world can never understand how a Christian spends their time or their money. We are called out to a different life, and that is going to stand out like a light on a dark night. I must always remember that the cost of discipleship is high. Nothing can be kept back. Paul could have helped himself greatly by keeping his mouth shut and not declaring the truth of God’s Word. The Gospel can be unpleasant to someone who is not ready for it, but if I love them, I work to make sure they hear it. Living and speaking God’s truth will probably keep me from some worldly gain in this life. Even so, live a life that knows God is my Judge, and that all of my actions and motives will be exposed at the final judgment.

Prayer:
Lord, I love you. My desire is to live a life publicly and privately that glorifies your Name. Help me to always pursue what is right in your eyes. Remove my attachments to the things of this world. I give myself over to you as your disciple. Thank you for your Word, strengthen me in it that I may never compromise its statutes in order to get ahead. Help me share the Good News and make disciples. Your salvation has bought me with a price and I owe you my life. Please use it for your glory. Nothing compares to you.

— Chuck Newton, missions mobilization pastor

Fuel for the Journey

2008-02-16T09:51:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 23:11— “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, ‘Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.’”

Observation:
Paul was in the midst of a great fight centered on theology and politics. He had set off such a volatile spark with his witness for Jesus that a Roman commander actually thought Paul would be torn to pieces by an angry mob. Right here, in the midst of violence and chaos, the Lord comes to Paul and comforts Paul with the power of promise and providence. The Lord’s message is a heavy one—Paul would be called upon to spread the message of Jesus to the heart of the Roman Empire. He could take courage because Jesus Himself had promised him that his life wouldn’t end here at this skirmish. There were other battles ahead.

Application:
The power of promise and providence is truly the fuel for my Christian journey. I can’t see my destination, but I know it’s the best possible place for me. I also know my path is directed by an amazing Savior who will empower me all along the way. I love the personal touch we see from Jesus in this passage. He came to Paul Himself to comfort Him, point His vision past His circumstances, and empower Him with a mission. I praise the Lord today that Jesus is personal with me too. He truly cares enough to take my fears away, put His love in my heart, and provide me with a Bible full of incredible promises that strengthen me and point my eyes toward eternity. I must remember this when life circumstances get out of my control. I can cling to God’s promises and know that my personal Savior has more battles for me to fight.

Prayer:
Lord, give me long vision today. Be right by my side and encourage me through my temporary struggles so that I can see the bigger picture. Thank You for Your amazing promises in scripture. Bury them deep in me heart so that they trigger automatically in my mind in the midst of the struggle.

— Curt Hale, children’s pastor

History & Experience

2008-02-15T15:27:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 22:21—“And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Observation:
Acts 22 shows how Paul was perfectly prepared to minister in this specific place, to these specific people, at this specific time. God’s providence is clearly on display in this passage. The fact that he was a Jew trained in the scriptures by a respected rabbi lent his message credibility. However, he was also a born Roman citizen with esteem and rights even beyond the soldiers who attempted to beat him. Experientially, he had a radical conversion that was personal and life-altering. Anyone who had known of Paul (Saul) before the Damascus road could easily see that the guy who approved of Stephen’s death was gone forever. God uniquely prepared Paul to publicly announce the new inclusion of Gentiles in the “way” before these Jews, and when the time came he did it with courage and conviction.

Application:
The question of the day is, “What is God uniquely preparing me for?” From the time of my birth until this very moment God has shaped my history and experience according to His will. The plans He has for me are FOR ME. No one else can be used in the same manner in God’s great plan. It’s nothing special about me; it’s God’s wonderful grace to honor me in His service. Now my focus must be readiness for the moments when my history and experience collide in opportunity to serve with conviction and courage.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord for your unique workings in my life. No one else has my history, no one else has my experience, and no one else has the potential to serve you in the unique ways You’ve planned out for me. Help me to see those opportunities and respond with courage and conviction.

— Curt Hale, children’s pastor

In Right Standing with God

2008-02-14T13:26:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Ps 24:3-4 — “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.”

Observation:
There are four clear requirements for rightful standing before God in this passage. First, I must have clean hands. In other words, the activities of my life must remain righteous and holy before God. Next, not only must my actions be holy, but the motivations behind my conduct must be pure as well. Merely doing the right things never cuts it in Scripture. God is always most concerned with the heart.

David, the author of this passage, continues the requirements by declaring the importance of keeping God my first and foremost master. God truly is a jealous God who will not share the throne of my heart. Finally, I must be a man of honesty and integrity. David states that if I maintain these four requirements, I may stand before my God.

Application:
It is absolutely astounding to think that any man or woman could enter, much less stand in the holy place of the Lord. The Bible is clear in the book of Romans that without the blood of Jesus none of our hands are clean. Praise God that I am offered this incredible gift of reconciliation. I need it desperately to enter into the throne room of my King. Having arrived, I echo the words of the Psalmist, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere!” (Ps. 84:10). God saw fit to attribute Jesus’ holiness to me and I am forever thankful.

This passage reminds me today that I never have any business going through the motions of religious routine. Time and time again Scripture proclaims strongly that it is all about my heart. God cares less about what I do than the “why” behind my actions. My ultimate motivation must be a thankful response to the clean hands granted me by Jesus. If I sing, I sing because I’m free to do so. If I serve, I serve in celebration of the One I serve.

Prayer:
Give me clean hands and a pure heart, O God of Jacob. I will not lift my heart to anyone else. For you are my God, and I serve you with joy on my heart and thanks on my lips. I count on You, Jesus, for righteousness and holiness. Only because of You can I stand on that holy hill, and that is exactly where I love to be.

— Curt Hale, children’s pastor

All In

2008-02-13T09:48:00.002-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 20:35 — “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than receive.’”

Observation:
I’ve always been amazed at Paul’s boldness to use Himself as an example to other Christians. He did so, yet he could also claim humility (verse 19) as well. I really don’t get a sense of self-pride in his recorded words to the elders from Ephesus. Rather, Paul simply states the facts of his outstanding service with absolutely no apology. His life was a witness of Jesus’ words that he quoted in verse 35, “it is more blessed to give than receive.” For the sake of the Gospel Paul underwent trials, testified in homes and in public, raised his own money, and submitted himself to a life of missions and service. He wasn’t arrogant about this, but he was confidant in his own faithfulness. The great outpouring of love the elders showed him at the end of this chapter is proof that his confidence was well-founded.

Application:
Paul’s complete comfort with his own faithfulness is testimony of the strength of his own integrity. That he set himself up as an example to other believers without blinking an eye shows me that he had no worries of skeletons in his closet coming out into the open or secret compromises becoming revealed. This high level of righteousness came through his abandonment to service in Christ. Paul truly was all in for Jesus. I get this concept today and I want it so badly. I want to be so completely sold out to the cause of Christ that I’m completely comfortable with my own Christian witness. Yet, even now I begin to think about the people closest to me… the ones who know me at my worst. What would “So-and-So” say if I told him to “follow my example”? The thought is a great motivator to cling to Jesus and allow Him to mold me into a “giver” rather than the selfish “receiver” that my flesh tempts me to be.

One more thing today: this text also makes me think about the sin of false-humility. It seems like so many of us work so hard to deflect, deny, and self-depreciate all in an effort to stay humble. Yet if God has empowered us to do something, or bestowed a gift or talent upon us, or blessed us with God honoring character qualities we should praise God for His great goodness. It is not true humility to leave God’s blessings unrecognized. Instead, we should acknowledge the working of God in our lives and take care never to attribute His good gifts to ourselves. This is a much truer picture of real humility.

Prayer:
My Lord, I want to be totally abandoned to Your service. I want to know the blessings of a life of giving and deny that part of me that longs to be a receiver. I celebrate this morning the good gifts You have given me and I pray that You would use me in Your service for Your glory alone.

— Curt Hale, children’s pastor

Serving the Name

2008-02-12T16:10:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 19:15 — “And the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’”

Observation:
I love this story about the seven sons of a Sceva! It reveals so many truths that get me excited to fight the Good Fight beside my incredible Savior. First, it shows that evil spirits know and tremble before Jesus. In the passage before this verse the mighty name of Jesus healed, drove out demons, and performed miracles. Now we hear that this evil spirit knows the Name above all Names very well… and it should. Jesus is the champion of the universe and the author of that spirit’s ultimate damnation. Secondly, this verse reveals that true disciples of Jesus are also known in the spiritual realm. Paul was a general in the great spiritual fight. The enemy knew him and recognized him as a force. Finally, Jesus’ name is not a mere “magic word” that will do anyone’s bidding. No, the Name we are called to serve, will never serve our own interests.

Application:
Wow, demons tremble before my Master! I know without a doubt that I’m on the right side of the spiritual war. Evil spirits know and fear Jesus, and they also know His soldiers. Again, this excites me, but it also gives me a sense of beware. If I truly serve Jesus passionately the enemy will know me and target me and my family. I must cling to the One who holds victory in His hands. Finally, I also see that Jesus’ power does not work for me, rather I work for Him.

Prayer:
Lord, I serve your Name and trust in your power. Your Name is not a magic word, it is my identity. I want to get totally lost in Your name so that the enemy knows without a doubt that I belong to You. Jesus, I beg You to protect and strengthen me and my family for the fight.

— Curt Hale, children’s pastor

Fill in the Blanks

2008-02-10T14:08:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
“So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said…”

Observation:
Paul had been in the city for some time. He had walked around and taken notice of the people and their ways. We are told earlier that his spirit was provoked by the idols that the people worshiped and that he had been teaching in the synagogue. Upon hearing his teaching, he was given an invitation to teach the people whose idols had stirred him so. As he stood up, there where many things he could say and many ways he could react. Paul demonstrated some restraint and went after their false idols by taking what he had observed and applying it to God’s word.

Application:
What would I say? If someone was writing about my life and they said “Jason stood in the midst of _______ and said _______.” How would I fill in the blanks? Oh sure, it is easy for me to watch what goes on around me, formulate opinions and get upset at the behaviors of others. I can become quite cynical and judgmental to the actions of others. Often, I can picture what I would say and how I would say it. But then comes the moment of truth and I have the opportunity to speak about it. There are two typical reactions from me. I normally either clam up and say nothing or speak out of my flesh and say the wrong thing. Either way, I miss an opportunity to impact a life and someone misses an opportunity to hear the truth from God. I really admire Paul’s walk with God. He stayed in tune with what God was doing around him and joined Him in it. In the heat of the moment, he did not back down nor did he lash out. He worked through his internal turmoil and found a way to speak the truth in a manner that would be understandable to the people around him. He did not worry about hurting their feelings; he went right after their practices. The results were amazing. Some believed and gave their lives to Christ while the others remained open to hearing the truth again. I need to prepare myself for the moment when I stand up and have the opportunity to speak.

Prayer:
It is the blanks that scare me. I often worry over the words that will proceed from my mouth when I have the opportunity to speak. I can blow it. I have seen me do it many times. I need Your help. Open my eyes to observe the things that are going on around me. Allow me to be stirred in my Spirit when I see something that stirs you. Grant me the Wisdom I need to understand how to clearly articulate the message that you have for those You place in my life.

— Jason Hester, exec. pastor of ministries

Focused on the Father

2008-02-09T08:28:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 16: 24 – 25 — “Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Observation:
What faithfulness Paul and Silas were demonstrating. They had been beaten, placed in painful stocks, yet they prayed…. Yet they praised! Their audience was God, but their fellow prisoners were privileged to listen. Regardless of the cost, these men were determined to be faithful to the call of God upon their lives. Even when the price to pay for obedience was high, they found their strength and drive to carry-on, through a focus on their heavenly father. They sought Him in prayer. T hey sought Him in praise. They praised who He was and refused to be led to doubt by their present conditions. Ones faithfulness impacts others. Those imprisoned surely heard the prayers and were curiously touched by the praise.

Application:
These verses challenge me as to what my response would have been. What if I were in these conditions, such as Paul and Silas? Would I be filled with prayer and praise or resentment and doubt? These men knew where to turn at the most difficult of times. They maintained a faithful focus upon their Father. They knew how to seek Him… through passionate prayer and praise to the One in whom was their trust. Their Father responded and eternal miracles followed. I must be a seeker of Him. In times of difficulty when my heart desires to doubt, become angry and worry, I must apply the truths exposed in His Word. I must seek Him in prayer and praise, regardless of how difficult or delightful I might find my life. I must be a man focused on my Father.

Prayer:
Father, at the start of my day, help me to be a man who heart is set upon you. Regardless of what this day may hold, I want to pursue you in prayer and praise. You surely desire this today. Create a hunger and yearning in my heart to worship you today and to walk faithfully in your ways. Thank you that when Your child seeks You, that You are there and that You listen and that You answer.

— Steve Parten, family pastor

The Greatest Desire

2008-02-08T07:49:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Leviticus 9: 23-24 — “Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Then fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the alter; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

Observation:
The visible appearance of God's beauty, majesty, and perfection manifested itself before the people of Israel as fire rained down from heaven and consumed their offering. It was such and amazing sight that people fell on their faces and shouted out — what a scene that must have been! It is easy to lose sight of just how amazing is the God we are called to serve.

Application:
What is it that I seek? What images manifest themselves in my mind and hold my desires? As I persist through the challenges of life, what are the things that I pursue? God's Glory has the power to provide more for my life than anything else I could ever hope for. Yet when I examine my life I am shocked at how little I actually think about experiencing God's Glory. If I am totally honest with myself, it is often missing from my daily desires. I like to say that it is there and I even fool myself into thinking that, but when I take an honest assessment of where I spend my time or I list out the thoughts on my mind God's Glory is seldom at the top of the list. I must return to the basics of my faith. God's Glory must no longer get lost in the shuffle of all the other thoughts I have running through my head. I must refocus the desires of my heart to seeking what can be seen of God's Glory here on earth and attach my deepest longing to seeing God's Glory revealed in the life of others.

Prayer:
Your Word tells me that I should have nothing before you and that I should seek you first. The basic command from Your Word is to love You with all my heart. I must confess that I often fail in keeping my attention focused on You above all the other things that are in my life. I forget just how beautiful you are. I don't want to continue like this. Guide me as I seek to be reacquainted with the majesty that is Your Glory. Bring to my memory all the times in my past that I have caught a glimpse of Your Glory and allow me to treasure those times above anything else that I have experienced. Create inside of me a desire to seek Your Glory that will literally alter the course of my life.

— Jason Hester, executive pastor of ministries

God Knows the Future

2008-01-31T09:12:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 7:6-7 — But God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I myself will judge said God, and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.

Observation:
Everything I’ve been reading for the past few days about what happened in the days of Moses, God knew would happen hundreds of years in advance. In Genesis 15:13, God told Abraham that his descendants would be held captive and then He would free them so they could come out and serve Him. I often say that, “God knows everything,” but this story reminds me that He really does. He doesn’t just know what is going on today, He knows what will be going on hundreds of days and years from now. When the Bible says He knows the plans He has for us — that is more than just wishful thinking or a quick fix for a sad heart. God really knows the future. He really knows what life will be like and how He will be moving to bring about His glory. He will always move to ensure that He has a people, and His people have a God who is like none other and one who fights for them even through the most unlikely and unbelievable circumstances.

Application:
God knows the end even from the beginning. He knows His plans for my life. Nothing is going to come at me or against me that He isn’t fully aware of. This also tells me just how foolish it is for me to resist Him and His plans. If He knows where we are headed, then it just makes sense to me that I would want to cooperate with Him to enjoy and be part of His plans — not fight against it and miss the blessing. I sit in awe today of the foreknowledge of God. I need to trust Him more.

Prayer:
God, You know all things. That’s not just preacher talk today, I really believe it. You know. You know who will be our next president, when time will end, what tomorrow holds, and how I can best be prepared to enjoy Your work. You are in control of history and of me. You are in control of life. You are taking us toward an end that You have told us about just like You did for Abraham. Yes, I live in a sinful world and things may go from bad to worse. But You have promised the day of deliverance. Like the Egyptians, You will break the bonds of sin and Satan forever. When You do I don’t need to be surprised, but can rejoice in Your faithfulness. Between then and now Lord, help me to surrender all the details and decisions of my life to You — knowing that in following You I am best prepared to enjoy this journey. Reveal Your way to me each day. Grant me faith to follow in it. I praise You Father for being an all-knowing and all-wise God.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

The World Can't Hang

2008-01-30T13:57:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 6:10 — But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

Observation:
There have always been “haters” — those who are against and try to bring down anybody who is doing good. God was working powerfully through Stephen’s life. He was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some self-proclaimed religious leaders wanted to argue with him. We don’t know what the argument was about, but no doubt what these guys were trying to do was push Stephen down a notch or two on the “love-and-respect” scale with the religious crowd. They wanted to be the leaders so they argued with Stephen presumably to discredit him and make themselves look good. But the Bible says they couldn’t cope with Stephen’s wisdom and Spirit with which he spoke. We know Stephen to be a man full of faith and the Spirit, full of grace and power. Stephen wasn’t in a contest with other people. He just loved Jesus and let Christ rule in his heart. There was incredible power that flowed through his life. And there was incredible wisdom that flowed through his mouth.

Application:
There are times when people want to ask trick questions or argue about spiritual matters. What God is showing me is that I don’t need to worry about fussing and fighting. My concern should be with the simplicity of devotion to Christ. My call is to be like Stephen, a man full of faith, the spirit, grace and God’s power. If I humbly walk with Christ, letting His grace rule in my heart, He will always give me the words I need to say and the spirit I need to say them in, even when I find myself in hostile company.

Prayer:
Lord I pray that You would rule my spirit. I ask You to fill me with Your grace, with faith, with Your spirit, and with power. When I find myself in a situation where my faith is under attack, would You please give me the wisdom I need and the spirit I need to answer for the hope that is in me.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

God's Amazing Grace

2008-01-29T13:24:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Psalm 14:2-3 — The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Observation:
God’s grace is amazing. These verses tell me that when God looked down from heaven He saw total depravity. All have turned aside, have become corrupt, no one does good, no one understands or seeks God. He would have been justified to send another flood or some other catastrophe and wipe us all out. But instead He chooses to love us in spite of our sin. He chooses to send Jesus to us even though He knew what we would do to Him. He let Christ, His son, die for us with the full knowledge that we could never pay Him back or come close to deserving that love. He gives us eternal life and His presence daily even though we still find ourselves turning aside, not doing good, being corrupt, and not seeking Him. That is amazing love.

Application:
That amazing love isn’t just for people in general, that love is for me. I am on just like these verses describe. I am like Isaiah said, “on my best day my righteousness still is like dirty rags before Him.” I am forgiven and I live every day because of God’s amazing grace toward me. Right now I sense a need and desire to be more thankful to God for what He has done. Sometimes I forget how bad I have been and am. But now I am reminded of my total dependence upon God’s grace. I also sense a greater desire to give myself to God. He has been so good — He deserves my life in return. I know I can’t earn His favor nor can I earn my way into heaven. But I would at least like for Him to be able to look at me and say, “There is one who is seeking — he doesn’t understand it all, but he is trying to get it right more and more every day.”

Prayer:
Lord, I just say thank you for Your great love. Thank you for forgiveness in Jesus. Thank you for grace and mercy that are new every day and don’t run out. Thank you for not giving up on me even when I have given up on You. Thank you for so many undeserved blessings that come strictly by Your grace. Father I want to be pleasing to You. Forgive me for my sin and my foolish and unwise choices daily. Cover me in Your grace. Grant me the strength through Your Holy Spirit to live for You. I want to understand. I want to see You. I want to do good for You. but I know that has to come from Your spirit in me. Have more of me today than You have ever had before. I don’t want Your grace toward me to be in vain.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

God Uses the Simple

2008-01-28T13:24:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Acts 4:13 — Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Observation:
The religious leaders wanted to know how the disciples were able to perform the miracle of healing a lame man. But the more they looked the more they realized there was nothing outstanding about the disciples — they were just average guys — very average guys actually. The Bible says they were untrained and uneducated, they were just country hick fishermen. The religious leaders were amazed the Scripture says. How could these nobodies have such confidence and affect such a miracle? But the closer they looked, the clearer it became as to what set these men apart. The Bible says they “began to recognized them as having been with Jesus.” I wonder how they “began to recognize” this? Did somebody tell them? Was it the way the disciples talked or acted or carried themselves that betrayed the fact that they had been with Jesus so much that His life had marked theirs? Either way, the point seems to be that God can use anybody — even untrained, uneducated, backwoods country boys — if they have the one necessary qualification: they spend quality time with Jesus.

Application:
For me, this is encouragement that I don’t have to worry about the latest fads and trends in ministry. I don’t need to build a resumé to be noticed by men. The one thing that qualifies me and empowers me for ministry is that I spend time with Jesus. That’s what ministry really is — it is what I leave behind me as I follow Christ. My goal and my priority need to be to spend time with Jesus every day. It is because I spend time with Him that my life begins to be noticeably changed. I develop a positive testimony for Him, and I possess the power of God to see miracles happen. I also need to be straight on whom I look to and follow as examples in ministry. What matters is not how much, how many, or how recognized some ministry or minister is. Nor does is it matter that a person has no seminary training or formal education. What matters is if the person has spent time with Jesus.

Prayer:
Father, would you grant me time in Your presence today. As I work, as I drive, as I sit still, would You come to me and spend time with me. I want to learn from you. Father would You grant me confidence to do Your work just like the disciples. Deliver me from ever trying to impress others with my spirituality or credentials. Keep me focused instead on loving and serving You every day for the simple and pure joy it brings. Shape me — my words, my actions, my disposition and attitude so that it is obvious I have spent time with You.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

God Fights for Me

2008-01-26T11:26:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Observation:
I can almost hear Moses saying to the people, “Enough already. Just be quiet.” As the Egyptian army closed in on the Israelites, the once bold believers melted into a mass of moaning and complaining. Their confidence turned to cowardice and they wished they had never left Egypt. But Moses didn’t lose faith. He assured the Israelites that they would be saved before the day was done. Egypt’s army would be wiped out. God was about to fight for the people. He would handle their problems. Their job was to shut up and follow while God fought. Moses said God will fight while you keep silent.

Application:
Too often when I find myself between a rock and a hard place my tendency is to talk too much. I whine and complain about the circumstances I’m facing. I try to tell everybody how bad things are or I try to figure out some solution on my own. This verse tells me that what God really wants me to do is to “zip it” and trust Him. If God has brought me to difficulty, He will see me through difficulty. As I keep silent, I don’t have to keep still. God told Moses to tell the Israelites to go forward. That means I am supposed to follow while God fights.

Prayer:
Lord, I want You to fight for me. I need You to fight for me. I need You to fight for a positive impact in my neighborhood. I need You to fight for wisdom to raise my kids and for their protection as they enter a treacherous period of their lives. I need You to fight for our church — showing us where to go and fighting the spiritual battles that confront us daily. I need You to fight for me in my personal walk with You — protect me, provide for me, keep me. I need You to fight for me in the death to myself and my being made alive to You. Fight for us Lord as we try to see our city transformed. Fight for the light to be shown into the world. And Lord, forgive me for when I’ve doubted and grumbled and complained. Forgive me for when I’ve tried to fight and told You to keep silent. Thank You for being an all-powerful God who delivers for Your name’s sake. God grant me trust in You, and give me feet to follow You while You fight.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Take the Long Way

2008-01-25T11:01:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Exodus 13:17, “Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’”

Observation:
God’s ways are not our ways. If I had been leading the Exodus, I would have taken the shortest, easiest, quickest road to the Promised Land. The goal in my mind would have been just to get where I was going as fast as possible. God had a different goal. He wanted the people to be prepared when they got to the Promised Land so they would stay there. That’s a different goal and required a different approach. In His wisdom, God knew the people weren’t prepared for the challenges waiting in the Promised Land. So He chose to take them the long way home — a way that seemed to make no sense to those who traveled. But to God, it made perfect sense. It was on the long way that the people would develop the character, faith and desire they needed to press on amidst the threat of war waiting for them.

Application:
There are times in my life when I need to trust God’s leading even if it doesn’t make sense to me. He not only knows the future — my future — but He also knows my character and if my heart is prepared for what is ahead. If and when God leads me to take the long way, I don’t need to resist Him and fight Him. I need to trust Him and His wisdom. I need to trust Him in the long way financially, the long way at work, the long way in my marriage or with my kids. I often want God to snap His fingers and solve my problems or make provision instantly, quickly, the easiest way I can see. But it is in trusting God and learning to walk with God in the long way that I am prepared for His answers and provision when they come.

Prayer:
Father, You are all wise. I know You are smarter than I am. I know You know me and what lies ahead. God would You please grant me trust in You when You take me the long way. Grant me patience. Keep my eyes on You. Don’t let me run ahead or complain or lose faith. Grow in me the character of Christ —likeness I need. Thank You for caring enough about me to do what is best for me, not just what is easiest for me. Forgive me when I don’t get it, and when in my short —sightedness and selfishness I grumble against You or lose faith. You are wise. You are good. I lay my life before You in trust.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

An Open Mind

2008-01-24T09:40:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 24:45, “Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”

Observation:
Jesus opened the minds of the overwhelmed disciples. They had been in intellectual and emotional overload for a period of days. The whole arrest and crucifixion ordeal was enough. But now reports rolled in from the women and a couple of men that Jesus was alive. Finally Christ appeared in their midst and showed them his hands and feet and he ate some fish with them to show them it was really Him. I am sure they were filled with all kinds of emotions and thoughts in that moment. But Jesus opened their minds to understand that His death, burial, and resurrection had been part of God’s plan from long ago — God was redeeming the world through Jesus. If He opened their minds to understand the scripture, that means for a while their minds were closed. They didn’t get it. They couldn’t understand. But at the right time and without a word, Jesus turned the lights on in their minds and they finally could see the power and plan of God revealed in the scripture. They understood the wisdom of God in putting a plan in motion that would provide forgiveness to the nations.

Application:
I need Jesus to open my mind to understand the scriptures too. Like the disciples, I’ve read and heard way more of the Bible than I understand and get. If I’m ever going to really understand what God says and know what He is doing, I must have Christ open my mind to understand. I want to see the truth and know God’s purpose and plans. I know they are revealed in the scripture. But I know I can’t get it by myself. I need help to truly hear what God is saying.

Prayer:
Father, I ask You to open my mind to Your truth. I don’t want to know just the elementary teachings of the Bible, I want to know the deeper purposes and plans You have. I want to know You intimately. Father, I ask You to help me. When I open the Bible, would you open my mind? Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. In seeing the words, let me see You. Lord, I pray that I would not seek truth and understanding just for the sake of knowledge. Please grant me wisdom to live out Your truth. Grant me capacity to share Your truth with others. God, transform my life by opening and renewing my mind.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

I'm Yours

2008-01-23T10:53:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Exodus 6:7, “Then I will take you from My people, and I will be your God and you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

Observation:
This is what God has always wanted — a people who would belong to Him and a people to whom He could give Himself. God had chosen Israel as His people. From the time of Abraham on, God was looking for a people that would agree to be His and the nation of Israel was that people. God moved on their behalf to redeem them and free them so that they would know without a doubt that He is the Lord their God. In this relationship, if they would agree to love Him and let Him be their God, He promised to give Himself to them as a benevolent Lord.

Application:
This is really what God wants from me too. I get carried away thinking that God wants me to do things for Him — preach, act a certain way, do good things or whatever. But God isn’t looking for my actions nearly as much as He is looking for my devotion and love. I can have actions without loving Him, but I can never love Him without living for Him. In my spiritual life, I need to realize this is all God wants. He wants me to love Him and trust Him as my God. If I do that, His promise is to be my God and to show Himself strong on my behalf. Like He redeemed and freed Israel from bondage to the Egyptians, He redeemed me and frees me from the bondage of sin. He is my God.

Prayer:
Lord, I want to be a part of a relationship like this with You. I want You to be my God. I put my trust in You. You have forgiven me and freed me from sin. You have shown Your love and power to me. I now lay my life before You and say to You I am Yours. My life is in Your hands. Show Your power and strength in and over my life. And may my love be given to You alone.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

God Knows

2008-01-22T15:25:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Exodus 3:7, “The Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their task masters, for I am aware of their sufferings.’”

Observation:
This verse tells me that God knows. He had saw what was going on in Egypt, he heard the cry of the people, he was aware of their suffering — He knows. As I read through the rest of this burning bush experience, I see that God even knew the future. He knew He would be with Moses, that the Israelites would listen to him, that Pharaoh would not listen to him, that miracles would occur, that Pharaoh would let go, and that Israel would plunder the Egyptians on the way out of town. God knows. He knows all things past, present and future.

Application:
As I think about my own life, it encourages me to know that God knows about me. He sees what I go through, He hears me when I call out to Him, He is aware of all my circumstances. This encourages me to pray to the Lord and tell Him the things on my heart — He hears me when I call. This encourages me to know that if I am in trouble or hurting in any way that it doesn’t escape His notice — He is aware of every hurt, every stress, every fear, every worry. This encourages me to trust God with my life and my future. He already knows it. I need to listen to Him and follow Him — He knows where I am going. I need to ask Him for guidance and then follow His leading — He knows what waits beyond the horizon. This encourages me to know that because He knows and because He is God, He comes to me, to help me, to see me through anything and everything that I face.

Prayer:
Lord, I don’t know how You can know everything about everybody, but I believe You do. I trust that You see me and know me, even better than I know myself. You see and know all things, even what awaits me, and the things I will encounter in the future. Thank You Lord for caring. Thank You for watching over me and hearing me when I call out to You. I thank You for never leaving me by myself, but always You have you eyes on me. You do know the plans You have for me — I trust that. Father, I tell you today that I trust You to lead me into tomorrow today. Help me to follow Your instruction, believing that You are far wiser than I am draw close to me. Father walk with me as You did with Moses. Lord as I think about you knowing everything it also means You know when I fall and when I fail You — when I rebel, when I sin, when I walk away from You. It also means You love me anyway — in spite of the way I too often treat You. Forgive me. Help me to choose to follow you each day.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Ain't No Rock

2008-01-19T18:00:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 19:40, “But Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!’”

Observation:
God loves the praise of His people. As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people began praising God joyfully. They hailed Jesus as the king coming in the name of the Lord for they had witnessed his many miracles. But while they declared peace in heaven, there was unrest on earth. The religious leaders couldn’t understand why they praised Jesus this way and they told Him to make His disciples stop. Jesus’ response shows that God will be praised no matter what. The praise they offered and the glory they gave to God the Father was right and Jesus wasn’t going to make them quit. He said that even if they did quit, the rocks would begin to cry out the praises of God. That’s amazing. But it tells me that God will be praised. He must be glorified. If we will not, creation will in our place.

Application:
I don’t need to be silent about the goodness of God. He has been so good in my life. I have seen His miracles and fell like my life is a walking miracle. It is right for me to declare the glory of the Lord — to sing and shout that there is peace in heaven and glory in the highest. I don’t need to let the voices of the disgruntled or unbelieving shut me up. I am reminded of the psalm that says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” I want to praise God when we worship at church. But I also see that I am supposed to praise God and speak of His glory even when I’m not at church.

Prayer:
Father, You deserve all praise for You have done great things. Lord you have been so good to me — You are so faithful. I tell You today that You are great. But God, You want me to tell the world of Your greatness. Lord, don’t let me be ashamed of You or the hope that is within me. May I never stop speaking of Your glory and goodness. Put Your praise on my lips and in my heart. Father, I am reminded of the song that says, “Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place.” Lord let that be true of me. When I am at home, with friends, at work, or out doing the things of life, let my words tell of your glory and grace.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Choosing to Forgive

2008-01-18T08:52:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Genesis 45:5, “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Observation:
If anyone did, Joseph had every right to be mad at his brothers. All those years separated from his family, spent as a slave in Potiphar’s house, spent in prison after being wrongly accused, left alone and forgotten by Pharaoh’s officials – all of them could be traced back to Joseph’s brother’s decision to sell him as a slave. It seems it would have been easy for Joseph to blame all those years on his brothers, and now was his chance to get his revenge.

But Joseph chose a different route – the route of forgiveness. Joseph chose not to focus on all the bad things that had happened in his life. Instead, he chose to see how God had used those things to place him where he is now. Now Joseph was in a place where he could preserve life – even the life of his family. Even though they had done him harm all those years ago, Joseph chose to bless even those who had harmed him (Luke 6:28).

Application:
When we’re in the midst of hardship, it’s hard to see the big picture. Typically, I want to blame or strike back at others for my circumstances. But this passage teaches me two different responses.

This teaches me to forgive, and to not hold a grudge against others for wrongs committed against me. I’m reminded of what Jesus said in the reading yesterday in Luke 17:4: “If (a brother) sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Joseph lived this out.

This passage also encourages me to look past my immediate circumstances and focus on the bigger picture. God had a plan for Joseph’s life. How sad would it be if Joseph had given up on God or himself all those years in prison? He would have missed all that God had for him in life. And all the generations of Christians since him would have missed out on the encouragement that comes from his story.

Prayer:
Lord, I pray that you would help me to develop an attitude more like Joseph’s. Help me to be more forgiving, even to those who harm me personally. Help me to realize how much I have been forgiven. Thank you for not holding all my sins against me, but for extending grace and mercy when I didn’t deserve it. Develop this same character in me.

I pray also that I would learn to not focus so intently on the here and now, but that I would constantly be setting my heart and mind on things above – on things eternal. I know you have a plan and purpose for my life. I pray that I wouldn’t allow the circumstances of my life to so distract me that I miss seeing you.

— Michael Manuel, college & single adult pastor

They Are Watching and Following

2008-01-17T13:38:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 17:1, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!”

Observation:
Jesus is clear here that I will face temptation. It is inevitable. It is a guarantee. I will have a chance to sin. It is reminds me of other Scriptures where Jesus teaches me to pray that I will not be led into temptation and where Peter says that God can rescue us from temptation. I also think of the promise in Scripture that says that no temptation will come that God has not given me strength to overcome.

Jesus turns the table here. Not only does He say that temptation will come but also that it is possible to be someone who tempts others or causes “little ones” — children in life and faith — to sin. Jesus seems to have a ton more sympathy on those who sin than on those who cause someone to sin … “Woe to YOU” … Woe to ME! It would be better for me to go through pain, suffering and death than to face God as someone who causes “little ones to stumble.” It seems like He is saying there is nothing worse.

Application:
His words are pretty alarming to me. They remind me that what I do matters to the “little ones” in my life. They cause me to ask a basic question as a follower of Jesus. Do the things I say and do lead people to please God or do they lead people to do things that do not please God? I need to inspect my life with these questions and ask God to change me where I am a fault. In my home do I set an example to my children of what is good to watch on TV? Are they learning bad language or bad behavior by what I am allowing in my home? Do I talk right about people while in the company of younger believers? Do I do things without grumbling or complaining or do I have a public attitude of thankfulness? Do my responses to people’s praise teach my children humility or pride? Are they becoming more like Christ or more like the world because of my life? They are watching! And they are following.

Prayer:
Father have mercy on me and forgive me for anything I have ever done to cause someone to stumble. Reveal to me the things that still happen in my life that could lead my children and other young believers to do something that displeases you. I want to be a man who leads people to live holy and be disciples of Jesus. When you show me where I am at fault help me have the desire and strength to change. Thank you for your mercy in my life. Thank you for providing a way out when I’m tempted. Thank you for your patience.

— Doug Hunt, pastor of worship & programming

Motivated by Consequences

2008-01-16T15:19:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Genesis 39:9, “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?”

Observation:
Relentless. That’s how I would describe Potiphar’s wife and her attempted seduction of Joseph. Day after day she tried everything she could to break down his resistance. One day he rejected her advances and gave a glimpse into the source of his will power and strength to remain pure. He resisted the temptation because he was keenly aware of the downside — the consequences — the part Satan always seems to skip. Joseph knew he had much to lose in leadership. He had a huge responsibility and oversight of everything in Potiphar’s house. To sleep with the boss’s wife would mean the loss of everything he had been blessed to oversee. His leadership would be lost. Joseph also had much to lose relationally. I think he and Potiphar had a great relationship of trust. Potiphar trusted Joseph with his life … and his wife. To violate that trust would be a great evil and would have destroyed a great relationship with a trusted friend. Joseph also had much to lose spiritually. God had plans for Joseph and Joseph knew it. He remembered the dreams God had given him; he felt the favor of God that spared his life in the pit and elevated him to a significant status in Egypt. He understood clearly that the other two losses are nothing compared to the potential loss of spiritual blessing. To say yes to this woman would be saying no to God. It was evil. It was sin. It was not at all what God wanted. It was not at all what God would ever conceive of blessing.

Application:
Although other cultures, both now and before, have been saturated with sexuality, it seems like America today is about as sex-obsessed as you can get. Affairs seem like an acceptable outlet for a lack of passion at home. The singles scene is just as bad with people swapping partners like they are trying on shoes. Temptation is everywhere, and I’m not above it. I need to be like Joseph and be strong. God wants me to resist the temptation to sexual sin at any level. When tempted I need to remember what Joseph did … namely that after the encounter, when it all comes to light (and even if it doesn’t), the cost is high. I will lose leadership — no doubt I feel the weight of responsibility. God has blessed so much, too much to throw it all away. I will lose relationships — an affair is always deeper than two consenting adults. There are spouses, kids, family members, and friends who are all at stake. People who trust me and believe in me would be wounded… for life. My relationships would never be the same. But above all, my walk with God would be compromised. I know he forgives and never stops loving me — but to say yes to temptation is sin. It’s evil and it’s a violation of the One who has love me and blessed me beyond measure. I don’t want to wound Him, embarrass Him, disappoint Him, or sin against Him.

Prayer:
Father I love you. I truly am thankful and mindful of all your blessings on my life at this moment. I am where I am by Your grace. You have forgiven so much already. You have been so faithful, so patient through these years and in spite of my foolishness. When temptation comes my way, please press on my heart the reality of the high cost of sinning against You. Remind me of my church, the people I love, my wife, my children, my family and friends. Give me sense to see how stupid sexual sin is and how much I stand to lose. Father, I remember what one man said about temptation — that in the moment of temptation, God is quite unreal — and I agree. So I ask You to overrule me if you have to. Kill me if you must. But keep me from sin. Make me like Joseph, strong in you. Make me like Christ — holy and pure. Keep Your hand on me and never let me go. Remove temptation far from me. Deliver me from the evil one. Grant me all I need in You.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Welcome the Sinful

2008-01-15T21:35:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 15:1-2, “Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near to Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the Scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’”

Observation:
This man receives sinners and eats with them. Those words tell me how Jesus felt about sinful people. He receives them. He welcomes them with open arms. He doesn’t hold their sin against them. He knows they haven’t been good, but it doesn’t matter because He sees past what they are to what they can be by His grace. He not only receives and welcomes them, but He eats with them; he hangs out with them. You get the sense that Jesus enjoys their company. He pursues a relationship with them. Some people didn’t get it. They grumbled and complained. Hanging out with sinners didn’t fit their religious mold. In their mind “those people” were to be avoided at all cost. They would never dream of hanging out with and starting a friendship with a tax collector or sinner. I’m thankful that Jesus welcomes sinners. Without it there would be no story of Noah — a drunk; Abraham — a liar; David — an adulterer and murderer; no redemption of Rahab — the prostitute; no second chances for Peter — the denier or Thomas — the doubter or Paul — the Christian killer…. And no hope for me.

Application:
I need to develop the attitude and love of Jesus. More often than not I spend my time with those who are already on the right path. Nothing wrong with having Christian friends and hanging out with people who pursue God — God wants my closest friends to be believers who live for Him. But Jesus’ example tells me I need to find some sinners to spend time with too. I have got to break out of the comfort zone of my “holy huddle” and start mixing it up with people who find themselves in “left field” spiritually — living in sin, having a bad reputation, but open to God. I want to and need to have a positive influence with and a positive relationship with people who are open to and seeking spiritual truth.

Prayer:
Lord, would you grow this part of me? I don’t mind hanging out with the tax collectors and sinners of my day — at least I don’t think I do. Would you grant me grace to see them like you do? Give me strength to influence them without compromising my own life. Put them in my path, let me recognize who it is that you are drawing and working in already. Grant me love; grant me time; grant me words to say; grant me favor. Thank you for welcoming and forgiving a sinner like me. May the hope I have be the hope I give to those who need you today.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Love God Most

2008-01-14T13:18:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”

Observation:
Jesus told a story about a man giving a big dinner and a long list of guests RSVP’d. But when it came time to actually go to the dinner, they all made excuses as to why they couldn’t come. One bought land, another some oxen, and a third got married. Jesus then spoke these words about the priority of God in our lives. He said you can’t love other things and other people more than God. He used the word “hate” — you have to hate those closest to you — but I know He isn’t literally saying hate them because in other places he says don’t hate, but love, even your enemy. What He was doing was making a comparison. Compared to the love you have for God, the love you have for others should pale to the point that it isn’t even close. The hardest part is to love God more than yourself — more than your way, your advancement, your comfort or your pleasure. To be Christ’s disciple meant making no excuses though. It means going all in and all out for God.

Application:
What is it or who is it that sits as the biggest rival to God for my love and devotion? To me it is clearly my wife, kids, and definitely self. But the requirement of me, if I want to come to Christ and be His disciple, is that I learn to love Him and show devotion to Him more than anything or anyone. Part of that means I need to love God so much that it affects the way I live with my wife and treat my kids. Another part of that means I need to die to my own ways, plans and direction and live for God more than I live for me.

Prayer:
Father, I need your help in learning to love you like this. I want to come to you and I want to follow you. Please don’t let me use my wife and kids as an excuse not to walk in your way. Lord if you call me, that means you are calling them and will provide for them as we live under your command. But God my greatest battle is with myself. I am so self-centered in so much of my life. I confess that and seek your mercy and grace. Please grow my love for You so that I love You more than I love me. Today, Lord, help me to choose Your way over mine without excuse.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Click here to report this email as spam.

You Won't Get Away With It

2008-01-12T17:57:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 12:2-3, “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the Light and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Observation:
You won’t get away with it. That seems to be what Jesus was saying to the thousands gathered to hear Him. He had just ripped into the Pharisees and the lawyers for their hypocrisy and He turned to the crowd and said, “Don’t be like them.” These religious leaders looked great on the outside and talked a good game in public, but Jesus saw straight through them. He knew that behind closed doors they were frauds. They didn’t practice any of what they preached and it wasn’t OK. After exposing the dark side of the religious leaders he told the people that whatever you think you can get away with behind closed doors, when you’re out of town, or in some dark back alley, just know that there will come a day when everything you’ve done and who you really are will be exposed – shouted from the top of the roof.

Application:
This is a clear call for integrity in my life. Today it is so easy to cloak dark deeds behind the secrecy of the internet, the convenience of cell phones and the illusion that what happen in Vegas – or any other place out of town – will not follow you home. But Jesus said what happens in Vegas eventually will be broadcast to the world to my shame. What I do when no one is looking, how I talking the privacy of my own room, every impure motive and every hint of hypocrisy is fully within the eyesight of God. Light and dark are nothing to him. He knows my thoughts, so I know He sees and hears everything I say, text or email. If a bird can’t fall to the ground without His knowledge, then obviously I can’t act like a fool and think that no one sees. He promises me that every event will be exposed. This makes me check myself. Is there anything in my life that would embarrass me if it were revealed? Am I hiding things and keeping secrets? Am I indulging in the dark in things I would denounce in the light? If so, get it out now. Don’t wait and think I can get away with it – I never will.

Prayer:
Lord I want integrity in my life. I have seen so many people ruined by hypocrisy and private lives full of fraudulent behavior. Lord I never want to hurt you, my family, or our church by living a double life. Like David in Psalm 139, I say search me and see. Is there any matter, any thing, any action or attitude that I’m tolerating that is hypocritical? Father you are light and I long to live in that light. Please continue in Your grace to refine me and purify me. Father, guard my steps and ways. Please don’t allow hypocrisy and duplicity to creep in and be a part of my life. Lord I want everything I do, publicly and privately, to be pleasing to you. My life is before you – an open book – please guard the integrity of my heart.

– Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Daily Bread

2008-01-11T11:57:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 11:3, “Give us each day our daily bread.”

Observation:
After listening to Jesus pray, one of his disciples must have been impressed with the power of his praying. He asked Jesus to teach him to pray like that. Part of the way Jesus taught them to pray is to ask Him to give daily enough bread to get them through the day. Jesus wanted them to acknowledge that He is the provider. The prayer asks God to meet the daily need. This is a prayer of dependence. It is also a prayer that would have to be offered every day. We don’t ask weekly for weekly bread, or monthly or annually. We are not a bother to God. He wants us to seek Him on a daily basis. Jesus taught them to seek the basic necessities from God. Bread is not extravagant, but something basic, something necessary; something we ultimately can’t live without. We often ask God for the impossible, but He also wants us to remember He is the giver of everything.

Application:
As I think about how this verse applies to me it seems that God is telling me to stop and recognize that He is the one who gives me what I need. I am not independent of Him. I need him for the most fundamental things in my life. I must depend on Him. I also think He is saying to me to come to Him often — everyday — throughout the day. I don’t need to wait until I have a huge problem or I’m in trouble to come to him. God wants me to seek after him constantly everyday. I don’t bother him — I am His child and he wants me to come. I also need to make sure I’m not just asking for miracles, but acknowledging that my next breath comes from Him. He does give me bread for my body, but I also need bread for my soul in His word. I need rest for my body, peace in my mind and love in my heart. Each day I need to ask God for the things I can’t live without and only He can give.

Prayer:
Father, forgive me for my prayerlessness at times. I want to talk with You daily, constantly, and not just when I’m in pain or need a problem fixed. Lord you are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You provide for and meet my every need. Thank You for your gracious provision. Teach me to pray like Jesus. And teach me to depend on You for everything I need.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Anatomy of a Bad Choice

2008-01-10T12:08:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Genesis 25:34, “Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew and he ate and drank and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

Observation:
Esau made a horrible decision. As the oldest in his family, he was entitled to the birthright — the majority of the family inheritance and, more importantly, the honor and responsibility for leading the family after the death of his father. But one day, on an impulse, he gave it away. He traded the lasting spiritual blessing of leadership for the immediate gratification of a temporary need — the birthright for a bowl of soup. After the bowl of soup was gone, he despised the birthright. He regretted his choice deeply and every time he thought about the birthright and all that he lost, he was remorseful and mad at himself — ever reminded of the consequences of his foolish choice. It took years to undo what he chose to do in the heat of that moment, and some of the consequences he never got over.

Application:
Every day I have to make choices about my own life. I don’t want to choose poorly like Esau. A poor choice is made when I exaggerate my need. Esau convinced himself if he didn’t eat right then he would die. That was not true. And impulse choices are most often poor choices. I will also choose poorly if I listen to my body and flesh rather than making a choice based on a bigger picture. My flesh cries out for immediate satisfaction of a passing need — hunger, thirst, sex, pleasure, all are things my flesh might demand. But my physical desires must be governed by a higher spiritual truth and passion. I can either do life my way listening to my urges and fulfilling my own immediate desires; or I can do life God’s way walking after His purposes and desires. I will also make a poor choice if I don’t consider the consequences past the heat of the moment. Giving in to poor choices haunts you. If I buy something I can’t afford and put it on credit, every month I’m reminded of my foolish and costly mistake. In the same way, when I make a sinful choice the consequences haunt me too. Though God can forgive me in an instant through Christ, the result of my sin sometimes lingers. Like Esau I can lose money, relationships, peace, rest, joy, and then experience anger at myself along with a load of guilt that is overwhelming.

Prayer:
Lord, I ask you to help me choose wisely. Today as I make decisions, would you help me to get beyond impulses and the desire for immediate satisfaction of my temporary needs and let me see the downside of sin, which ruins my life. Remind me today Lord to look to you and to your way. Father, remind me to stop and seek your wisdom, guidance and counsel before I make any choice that could have devastating consequences for me and my family and church. I thank you for your Holy Spirit who lives inside of me to guide me. Speak clearly and loudly through Him in my life. God, I want my choices to make you glad and bring you glory. Help me today to choose wisely and make decisions that lead to blessing and not regret.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

True Greatness

2008-01-09T12:07:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Luke 9:48, “and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this child in my receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this one is the one who is great.’”

Observation:
In the context of this verse, the disciples had been arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest. I suppose that was a normal discussion in some ways. If Jesus was about to die, then they needed to know who the next leader would be. But the way they determined greatness was apparently on an external, human, natural scale — who was most powerful, popular, or possibly wealthy or handsome. They all boastfully put forth their own merits and at the same time diminished the value and worth of all their “competitors.” In the midst of their argument Jesus threw them a complete curve ball. It’s as if he said, “You want to know who the greatest is, then let me give you a real measure of greatness.” So he brought in a child — a person who as a “nobody” in their culture — and he basically said whoever gives time to a “nobody,” that one is the greatest. In God’s grading system, greatness isn’t determined by how many people serve you, but by how many people you serve. To be great in God’s eyes is to humble yourself before God by learning to serve others.

Application:
God’s way of determining greatness is so contrary to our culture and my nature. Like the disciples I am tempted to measure myself against other people and use the same standards they used to establish my own place in the pecking order in my mind. This scripture doesn’t tell me not to strive for greatness, but it does totally contradict and correct the way I measure greatness and go about trying to achieve it. Jesus is telling me to learn to humble myself and welcome and serve those my culture sees as having no way of doing anything for me. To call them “nobody” may be too strong, but He seems to be saying learn to serve people who are nobody who could do anything for you. I think of those who are most dependent like a child and I think of kids, the handicapped, orphans, widows, the homeless, illegal immigrants, the sick and the incarcerated. To serve these people is sometimes hard — it requires time, energy, and gets no recognition from others usually. But it is the very thing that catches the attention of God. God marks greatness by our Christ-likeness. Jesus received children, ministered to the poor, the sick, the needy and the outcast. I can strive for greatness on one of two tracks. The world’s way says the way to be great is to make much of me and diminish the value of others. Jesus’ way to greatness says make less of me and make more of others by learning to welcome and serve them.

Prayer:
Lord you know serving the “least of these” around me does not come naturally for me. Father I fight the flesh in regard to wanting my life to count and add value, but I am tempted to measure my value and perceived greatness in the wrong way. Would you grow in me a greater love for the poor, the hurting, the sick, the overlooked, and the left out. Lord teach me to decrease while I allow you to increase in my life. Open my eyes today to the “child” you will put in front of me. Help me to lose myself in serving them. Purify my desire. May I serve to be like Christ alone and not to be noticed by others.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

God My Provider

2008-01-08T11:57:00.001-06:00

Scripture:
Genesis 22:8: “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.”

Observation:
Abraham was asked by God to do the hardest thing in the world — to lose one of your children. This was especially tough because Isaac was his only son of promise — and even harder because Abraham was the one who would take his life. I know Hebrews says Abraham believed God would raise Isaac up from death, but what was going through his mind as they made this trip? Did he try to explain it to his wife? What was he thinking as he and Isaac walked up the mountain — fire, wood and knife in hand, but no sacrifice. And what went through his mind when his son asked him, “Dad, where is the sacrifice?” All the while knowing his son was the lamb. Abraham responded by saying “The Lord will provide for himself.” In Abraham’s mind God had already provided in a way. Isaac was a miracle child, born to an old man with a barren wife. God had provided the very sacrifice he required. It was in giving back to God what He had provided that Abraham demonstrated a true act of worship — valuing God above all things. And he demonstrated his fear and reverence for the Lord — the angel said, “Now I know you fear God.” Offering the sacrifice in obedience to God was an act of trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness to provide. God was providing Abraham with faith to believe in the impossible as he acted in obedience to make this sacrifice. In the end, God provided a ram and Abraham called the place “God will provide.” But he only learned that God was a faithful provider when he, with trembling hand, offered back to God the most precious thing God had ever given him.

Application:
To me this is an incredible story of faith and trust. As a father of a son, I can’t fathom the idea of sacrificing what is most precious to me … not even for God. But the truth is God provided my child. He is a gift from God (Psalm 127) and according to the bible his life is in God’s hands. Anything God ever asks me to give up to him, He Himself has already provided to me. On the other side of that, this scripture promises that if I will trust God as provider and make sacrifices of obedience to him, that I will know even greater provision from God. I know this isn’t teaching me that I give in order to get- but it is unmistakable that one of he blessings of obedience is many times a greater provision from God because I have demonstrated a trust in him and a love for him. In my life — my sacrifices of obedience should be motivated by my worship of God — He is more important than anything; my fear of God — He is God Most High, the One who is in control of all things; my trust in God — He can raise the dead and will never do anything to hurt me. When I offer any offering to God — my kids, my time, my money, my life, whatever it is, when I offer it to God I must do so remembering in my mind that He gave it to me in the first place and with a heart that worships, fears and trusts in Him.

Prayer:
Father I come to you with a conflicted spirit within me. On the one hand I do believe you and trust you and know that you can do anything. I want my love for you to be genuine and greater than anything else in my life. But on the other hand I know that there are things in my life that compete with you — things I’m not sure I would easily lay on the altar of sacrifice. I know you aren’t asking me to take the life of my kids, but God are there things or a thing in my life that you are asking me to offer you so that you can demonstrate that you are the Lord who provides? Have you given me something that you want me to offer back as an act of worship, fear and trust? Lord I sit before you now with an open hand my time I give; my family I give; my mind I give; my money I give; my life I give. They are yours. Help my eyes to look to you alone for my provision. I declare to you that I want to value you above all things. I declare to you I want to fear you more than death. I declare to you that my trust is in you. Be my provider today. And Lord the things I have laid on your altar today, please help me not to reclaim them as my own.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Don't Hesitate

2008-01-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

Scripture:
Genesis 19:16, "But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him, and they brought him out and put him outside the city."

Observation:
God sent angelic messengers to tell Lot that Sodom was about to be destroyed. The people there were extremely sinful, yet Sodom was a place where Lot was deeply invested. He had a house, friends, a job and wealth and a life there. When the angle told him it was time to go and leave it all behind, Lot hesitated. I wonder why? It was clear what God said and what God was going to do, so why didn't he just obey? The hold of the things on Lot's life in Sodom must have been strong. When Lot hesitated, the angels took over and literally dragged Lot out of town just as it was being destroyed. The Bible says they did this because God' compassion covered Lot. It was the overruling action of God that saved Lot and his family.

Application:

As I think about how this applies to me, it seems like there are times when I hesitate in giving God obedience too. Just like Lot, the things of this world too often hold me and captivate my attention or appeal to me enough so that I have a hard time obeying too. Sometimes it's the lust of the eyes, other times the lust of the flesh, and even the boastful pride of life all are daily temptations. God promises in 1 John 2:15-17 that all those things will soon be destroyed just like Sodom, but their allure is still powerful. I need to recognize the danger of loving the things of this world more than loving God and let go of anything that keeps me from immediate obedience to Him. In my moments of weakness or foolishness, I need the grace of God to cover me.

Prayer:
Lord I know that your word tells me that the things of this world won't last. You call me to hold on loosely to all of it and to forsake it for the cause of following you. Lord give me the strength, the wisdom and the desire to follow you when you tell me to act. Don't let me hesitate, but instead grant me the faithfulness of first-time obedience. As soon as you speak, I want to act. Keep me from hesitation. Free me from the temptations that you have promised will pass away. Break their hold on me. I desire to give total obedience to you. Father when I am weak, would you please overrule my life. Please let your compassion cover me and by your sovereign hand keep me from ruining myself. Like the angels who grabbed Lot and pulled him to safety, would you intervene in my life and take me to the place of safety in you? I thank you for your grace that watches over me. Today would you rule over my life and if necessary overrule me.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

Don't Live For the Approval of Others

2008-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Luke 4:22, "and all were speaking well of Him and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, 'Is this not Joseph’s son?'"

Observation:

On what appears to be Jesus’ fist day of public ministry, he stood up and read from Isaiah. The passage was a message of hope and deliverance to the poor, oppressed, blind and captive. As Jesus told the people the scripture was fulfilled, they loved it- they loved Him. He was bringing good news of hope and comfort. The scripture says they all spoke well of Him. But if you go 6 verses later, the people are filled with rage and ready to kill Him. What happened? Jesus spoke a hard truth — that many times people don’t believe a prophet of God from their own hometown. He gave examples of Elijah and Elisha. In both instances the people of Israel missed the power of God through great prophets. Now Jesus was saying to those in his hometown that they would be just like the people in old times. And he was right. In a matter of minutes they go from hot to cold, from love to hate, from feeling mushy toward him to feeling murder toward him.

Application:

What this tells me is that people can be fickle. The crowd can love me one day if I tell them good news and make positive promises; but the crowd can and will turn when you deliver a more sobering truth. Both messages came from God and were true. What I sense in my spirit is the need to live for God’s approval and not people’s approval because people may love me one day and hate me the next. My job isn’t to make people like me. My calling is to deliver the truth of God under the power of the Holy Spirit with a heart of love. Whether people like the message or love me can’t determine what I do. I have to learn to live for God’s approval alone. That isn’t true just with preachers and preaching. It’s in any area of my life. If I live to please people I will end up disappointed because people can be fickle. I just need to be me, who I am, and who God created me to be. I need to live for God’s approval alone.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live for Your approval over anything else. Help me to love people and love them enough to tell them the truth. But please deliver me from ever shaping that truth so that I gain approval. Help me to deliver the good news and the hard truth. And in other areas of my life — friendships, finances, whatever — help me to be true to you and to who I am in you and not to cower to the court of public opinion. Your truth will always stand and vindicate itself. And You will never change.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor

What Kind of Man Are You?

2008-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Scripture:

Genesis 6:9, "these are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God."

Observation:

The first thing we ever hear about Noah is that he was a righteous man. He both had a right relationship with God and he lived it out on a daily basis. He was right in heart and right in action. He was blameless in his time — that meant he must have lived faithfully in the midst of all kinds of temptation because the bible says that everybody else thought and did evil constantly. Noah said no to the peer pressure of his time. He stood strong in the cultural meltdown of his day. Noah walked with God. This is the key to his righteousness and blamelessness. He walked with God — that mean God was included in everything he did. This was a daily and constant conversation between a man and his God. This also seems to imply that God led Noah. God didn’t walk with Noah; Noah walked with God — God led and Noah followed.

Application:

As I think about my own life I wonder what pops into people’s heads when they think of me? What is the one word and the first word that would characterize my life? I want it to be the word “righteous.” I want people to know I have a heart that loves God and a lifestyle that honors him.

Prayer:

Lord would you help me walk with you — you want to be a part of my every day life. You want to lead me. Father help me to follow you. I believe you will lead me to stand strong and be blameless even in the midst of a sinking culture. You will help me say “no” to peer pressure and the temptations of the world. I need that. I know I am weak and vulnerable. I need your protection over my life. Father, help me to be conscious of your leading today. Will you direct my steps and my words? May my life bring you joy. May Your life be my joy too. Teach me to walk with You.

P.S. I also note that Noah was a righteous MAN. He was not a wimp or a weakling. He was not a boy — he was a man. And as a man the primary characteristic of his “manliness” was that he was righteous. Lord raise up some Noahs today starting with me.

— Chip Henderson, senior pastor