Building

1 Thessalonians 5:11

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

The word for build is edify, which means literally to build or repair a building.  Carries with it the idea of promoting growth in a believers life in their walk with Christ and their character.

Building things can be both fun and hard work at the same time.  I have had the privilege of helping to build homes for families in Honduras and watch as those building are completed the joy and excitement that it brings to each families life.  
However in building each home like all homes it started with the foundation and worked up from there till you completed the roof.  The process was not easy, actually some of the most difficult work I have ever done.  The building itself did not look all that appealing during the process either.  By the time we finished the project it was amazing to see and even more amazing to see it being used for its intended purpose.
Building each other up in our walk with Christ is very much the same.  Its a process that can both be fun and hard work at the same time.  A believers life does not always look pretty or even what it is supposed to look like but the end product is amazing.  We are all supposed to help with the process of building each other up so that we might be able to accomplish the call God has given each one of us.  

God Knows Best

Psalm 145:17-21

The Lord is righteous in all his ways faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him,  to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

God's will his best.  Do I really believe that or is that just a nice sentiment for us as Christians to be able to claim.  But when it comes to living it out is a whole different thing all together.  "The Lord is righteous in all His ways" means that everything He does is good, pleasing and perfect.  Clearly from this passage we see that those things are also for our benefit and ultimately for our good.  There is an old saying, "Mother knows best", well in this case our heavenly Father knows best.  But yet I find it difficult to lean and trust on Him at times.  Why?  Because I think that while I acknowledge "God knows best" my flesh wars against it with "I know best".  Oh that I might be able to surrender my will to God's that I might be able to in every situation say "God knows best".

Father today may I lean on you, may I turn to you, may I follow you wherever you lead me.  Help to not just acknowledge you with my lips but to truly serve you with my heart.

Growing Intentionally

2 Peter 1:5-9

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

"Add to", and "increasing measure" are two phrases that challenge us to grow intentionally in our faith.  Our faith cannot be a passive one, for if it is Peter warns that our vision (the way we see the world and God) is hindered and we have taken for granted what Christ has done for us.  
However if these actions are true of our lives then we will grow in our relationship with Christ.  The specific actions we are to add to our faith is first of all moral goodness or purity (saying no to sin and yes to God).  Then moral knowledge (desire for right living) and to this self control (the ability to master our desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites).  Then to self control add patience (steadfastness, consistency).  Then to these things godliness (reverence of God or respect for things of God) and then to this mutual affection (respect for God's people).  Last but certainly not least is love which we know is what binds them all together from other writings of Peter and Paul.
These are to be increasing growing in my life and as a result I will be effective and will produce fruit in my life.  

Father help me to grow in these areas of my life, but I need your strength, I need your power in order to grow.  Give me the determination today to see and adding of these things in my life.  

Delight

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law does he meditate day and night.  

The word delight means something that brings great pleasure.  In this life we have many things that bring great pleasure, but I wonder where the Bible ranks on that long list.  I am not even sure people would view the Bible as a delight.  I think sometimes we think of it more like a text book.  Ah man I got to read that again or ok I need to sit down and study.  But delight, really do I really find great pleasure in reading it, spending time pouring over its content.  Yet this is what the man of God according to this passage is saying, he stays away from sin and those who would take him down the wrong path of life and he delights in the law (Word=Bible) of God.  As a result of finding delight he meditates (thinks) about it constantly.  Wow I am so convicted by this because I know that often it is not God's Word that fills my thoughts but often the pleasures of this life or worries of it as well.  But how can I make it something I delight in?  Same way you would make anything something you find pleasure in, you simply get into it, try it, spend time reading, thinking, studying and meditating on it.  At the same time I believe praying that God would give you a hunger and thirst for it that out weighs the other pleasure items of this life.  Overtime God's Word will become a delight that I know will radically impact my life and the lives of those around me.  Because lets face it was we find pleasure in we tell others about and that ultimately is our most important job in the Kingdom is making disciples who make disciples.

Father give me a hunger and thirst for you Word, may you be quick to remind me of all the goodness your Word brings to my life.  May you use your Word to speak volumes in my life and then in turn as you do that would you use me to spread your Word to those I meet everyday.

Proverbs 3:9-13

Proverbs 3:9-13

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

I remember my dad disciplining me and it never was a great thing at the moment.  I even remember him quoting this verse as he would do it and I am pretty sure I never thought well then go ahead and have at it.  Discipline is never fun, not for the one being disciplined or the one giving out the discipline.

But it is for our good!  It is for our benefit! Notice verse 12 and the words love and delight this describes God's view of us.  He loves us and He delights in us.  We must never forget that when we face discipline in our lives.  We must never forget that God wants us to find wisdom and gain understanding and I believe that comes through discipline (correction).  

Revelation 3:14-16

Revelation 3:14-16

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

The church of Laodecia was a church that settled in nicely in the Roman Empire.  It was a church that was surrounded by all kinds of worldly distraction that were typical of the Roman culture.  It was also very well aware of the word picture in this passage because it water system was lukewarm and very bitter and was not pleasant to drink.  Actually it would make you want to spit it out of your mouth, it was that bad.  The church was full of compromise, apathy and lacked vision.  All of which led it to being lukewarm.

Sadly like this church many churches are heading down the same road.  However I also see many churches that are striving to be hot.  To be about doing the things that God has called us to do.  Striving to take the Glory of God to the ends of the earth.  

But just as the church in Laodecia was full of individuals so our churches are full of individuals.  Individuals making decisions on a daily basis of whether to be hot, cold or lukewarm.  I wonder today which will I strive for in my daily living?  If the church in America wants to be hot, then each person who is a member or attender must be hot.  

Psalm 32:7-8

Psalm 32:7-8

7  You are my hiding place;    you will protect me from trouble   and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;   I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 56:3-4 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4    In God, whose word I praise in God I trust and am not afraid.    What can mere mortals do to me?

One particular phrase jumped out at me this morning, "I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."  Wow what an amazing truth about the character and activity of God.  God is..our counselor through the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He directs us through His word and He confirms it with His Spirit.  As the rest of the passage says we do not be afraid.  God is in control and "His loving eye is on us."  He is always aware of our circumstances and promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  Today lets rest and trust in Him.

Transform Christmas Honduras 2012

Hello to anyone who might read this blog: This year I have the privilege of being a part of a team that will be going to Honduras. We will be leaving December 15 and returning December 22.

 During that time we will be staying in a very small village called Las Brisas. This will be our central hub from where we will be working. The village is set back in the mountains of Honduras and sits right along the edge of the rain forest.

 We will be during that week going from village to village distributing food and toys to families throughout the area. Our goal is to reach 300 families and give them a weeks worth of food and a toy for each of their children. But most importantly we want to show them the true meaning of Christmas that being Jesus Christ.

 Obviously the food and toys do not just appear out of thin air and must come from somewhere. In order to get these items it will cost $35 per family. Below is a link that you can follow and give whatever amount you can in order to see families that otherwise would not be able to experience Christmas and hear about the true meaning of Christmas perhaps for the very first time.

 The link is a paypal link:      Donate

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

1 Peter 2:21-24

1 Peter 2:21-24 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” "He entrusted himself to him who judges justly" leaped off the page at me this morning. Jesus suffered, was insulted, died on the cross and so much more so that we can like Him entrust our lives to the Father. So we can have a relationship with the Father though Christ. That blows me away this morning as I am reminded of that great promise. But Peter takes it a step further and says "that we might die to sins and live for righteousness." Not only can we have a relationship with God the Father but we can through Christ's strength live for Him as well. Father thank you for sending and giving your son to be a sacrifice for my sin. Thank you that because of His death I can have freedom from sin's curse and have live in such a way to pursue righteousness in my everyday life. Give me the strength today to live like that in order that the Glory of God would be revealed in all nations.

Sign Like a Star

Philippians 2:13-16 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Have I ever had to do something that I did not want to do? Of course who hasn't? Did I do it without grumbling (complaining)? Nope Often my heart attitude toward such tasks is at best willing but full of complaining! If I read this right then those very tasks that I do not like or circumstances that wish could just go away actually may be a part of God working in and through me to fulfill His good purpose. I know often I talk with my kids about not having the right heart attitude about doing something, but I wonder where they get that from??? Yeah don't have to look very far (as I wave my hand in the air and point at my head, saying "It's me, It's me). The key is found in verse 16 "hold firmly to the word of life" which is the Word of God. Hold firmly means "to observe" or obey, what Paul is exhorting us to do is to obey the Word of God. Imagine that O_B_E_D_I_E_N_C_E is the very best way to show that you believe.

The Global Glory of God

Revelation 5:9 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,because you were slain,and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 7:9-10 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Often I think about how God has been opening my eyes to seeing how He is at work Globally and not just locally. For much of my ministry I have been focused on locally and really not thinking Globally. Oh I always think that I recognized that Gods desire is that all men know Him and respond to the Gospel. But not sure that I felt an urgency to join Him in seeing that happen. If you look at these verses it is obvious that people will be represented from every tribe, language, people and nation. So that tells me we have work to do. I know that over the last 3 years God has been opening my eyes to see this need and for now my focus is enable locally to send Globally. I want to help others to see the need, I want to equip others to go, and I want to help make opportunities available for God's people to get out of their context and into another one even if its for a short time, because I believe if that happens God will change their heart and open their eyes to some amazing work that He is already doing and they will want to join Him. I am thankful again this morning for this reminder of what God is doing and ultimately what will happen when the end has come.

Wisdom

Proverbs 2:1-9 2 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. Reading that who would want to ignore the wisdom that God gives? Yet so many do!!! Yet often I do!!!! It amazes me that as I read about the promises attached to getting wisdom from God that I would ever turn away from it and seek my own understanding. It reminds me of another passage in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your paths." That is the struggle that I have between to "Trust" in the Lord with "ALL" my heart and "Lean not on my own understanding". To trust the Lord is all of the spirit to lean on my own understanding is of the flesh. The flesh gets attacked by Satan repeatedly and my spirit sometimes get neglected by own lack of self control and discipline to nourish and care for it. Often the balance of getting attacked and caring for my spirit are completely out of whack. Thus the need as it says in verse 4 look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure. I believe that if I would look at wisdom and nourishing of my spirit with that wisdom which comes from God's Word the Bible I would struggle less with the attacks and be able to walk the path that God has laid out for me to walk.

The Bible

2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. It's amazing the Bible the only book that was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (God breathed) actually written by God through individuals. Is perhaps the one book I struggle to read everyday. When I say struggle I mean I have to choose to get into it everyday. Satan's ways of trying to get me not to spend time in it gives validity to this passage. Satan must know that the Bible is good for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training and so longs to keep it out of our hands and away from our minds. Then when you think about how much opposition that the Bible gets from the world and from several different places again it just validates it to me that what the Bible says is true. Otherwise why all the fuss, otherwise why all the debate, otherwise why such rejection if it were not true??????

Going for Gold

2 Timothy 2:14-26 14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. There is a a story told about a man who some time ago was competing in the Olympics. He was a runner and was set to win the Gold on the track. The runners got to their starting blocks and the gun sounded and they were off. The race was going well and this man was in position to win the Gold when out of no where he fell to the ground. His ankle broken he was balled up in pain. Seeing what was going on his father came out of the stands and came to his side. The man was determined to win gold and finish the race. His father picked him up and they hobbled to the finish line. The man did not win the gold or did he? This passage talks about pursuing things that are gold (eternal). In the worlds eyes (spectators) these things are good but not great. But to the greatest spectator and our father that comes to help us they are of utmost value. Which of these things will I pursue today?

The Words of God

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. I was thinking about the comparison of God's words to snow and rain. God sends snow and rain as Isaiah has said to water the earth and to cause things to grow. So it is with God's words that he gives us to compel us to grow and to nourish our soul. However in thinking about rain and snow it is interesting that with rain often the growth you see or the nourishment you see is almost immediate. Often if it rains the very next morning or evening within a short amount of time you see flowers blossom or grass get greener. But with the snow it's effect is not immediate. Rather you don't see the effects till a season later. Oh how true with the words of God. I have seen in my own life when I read something or hear a passage of scripture taught or preached it has an immediate effect on me. At other times I have heard a passage of scripture or heard one taught or preached and did not really take effect till sometime later. Again all this to say God's word always accomplishes what it sets out to accomplish and as Isaiah said it will not return empty. How awesome is the words of God. How much should it cause us to rely on them and to build our faith upon them and trust that God is in control and will do what He says He will do.

Holding Loosely

Philippians 3:8-14 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Wow what powerful words! Paul writes that everything in this life is not worth knowing Jesus, he even calls it a loss. He then writes that he has lost everything in order to know Christ. I truly have no idea what that is like. To lose everything for the sake of Christ. Oh I know what its like to no longer want to pursue the things of this world that I once had a desire to pursue. But to lose everything for Christ sake, no idea! To be honest I am not really sure I want to! However, in my spirit I would hope that unlike the rich man who was willing to part with this fortune in order to follow Christ that I would be willing to lay down those things and do what it takes to follow. Paul even calls them garbage, or in another translation dung, poop! I am not sure that Christ will call me to lose everything to follow Him, but I am sure that He calls me to hold loosely to everything in order to follow Him. Father today would you reveal anything to me that I am holding to tightly. Would you show me that I need to let go so that I can follow you so that I can like Paul press on toward the prize. Then give me strength to let go and follow you.

Run the Race

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. Life is a race that everyone must run and does run. The difference is that many have a different finish line. One finish line is worth the run, the other finish line while seemingly valuable here on earth really is worthless. Oh one may run it and gain all that this life has to offer but as Jesus said, "What good is to gain and the whole world and lose your soul." Sadly though many Christians run the race of life as Paul describes, like someone running without aim or a boxer who simply beats the air and yes they make finish line but barely. I want to hit the tape accelerating. The only way I will do that is if like Paul I discipline my self and surrender myself to ultimate trainer, Jesus Christ. So the greatest race that I can run is a race towards a relationship with Christ the rest of life will take care of itself and I have nothing to fear because He will guide me on the course.

Houses

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. At first glance of this passage one might be left scratching their head in wonder. Our "earthly tent" is our body of flesh and bone that is able to be destroyed. I know that if I die heaven will be my home and I will receive a new glorified body that cannot be destroyed. This part of the passage I understand. As I look at the rest of the passage as Paul is writing to the church in Corinth I hear his heart that longs to be with the Lord. What I keep asking myself is, "Is this true of me? Do I feel the same as Paul?" In this life we will have trouble the Bible tells us and so like Paul our earthly body does get sick, worn down, tired, sore, bruised, cut and hurt. But even in the midst of physical struggles am I looking forward to the day when I will be given a heavenly dwelling and so overcome with that in mind that the struggles of this life are "swallowed up by life"? I would like to think that verses 6 & 7 are true in my life and at times I believe they are, but often they are not. Why? Because its so easy to get focused on the trials, struggles and things of this life, that I lose sight of what is yet to come. I want to live by faith and not by sight. Father I need your strength, I need your gentle reminders of what is to come, I need you to remind me daily of your promises. So that while in this life I can rest in you and look forward to the day of being with you.