Beauty Not A Beast

For three days at a conference, I absorbed some of the most incredible teachings on Grace I have ever heard. The love I already had for a beautiful world without Christ increased even more. In Matthew 10:5 Jesus said go to lost, confused people… touch the untouchables. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Rather than seeing the world as the beast, Jesus saw the beauty of the world. Rather than seeing the sin of people, He saw the beauty of people, which prompted Him to want humanity as His bride. Jesus saw the beauty of humanity crippled by sin, broken and lonely, spiritually destitute and emotionally desperate, facing an eternal divorce sentence from God. Yet, to the contrary God is all about reconciliation, restoration, and healing.

Let’s be honest, there are many times when all we see is the beast side of people. Last thing we want to do is admit that people are beautiful and share with them how much God loves and values them.

I came away from this conference having received so much more than I could possibly ever give. I came away with a new burden for those who are hurting -- those it would be easier to turn away from than to turn toward -- holding God’s love and mercy in my hands. I have a new freedom, which means I also have a new responsibility to be God with skin on in my home, in my ministry, and in my daily life. I pray God uses us all to look for and reach out to those who seem to be unlovable -- those broken people who wait, longing for hope, love and healing.

I Love the Church

Do you know what time it is? It is consumerism time. Life since the mid 80’s has centered around consumerism. Yet in the past 15 years, that mindset has been even more evident. We are a generation of consumers. If we were to describe our culture, it would be self-centered, independent, and analytical. That mindset has made its way, in massive proportions, into the church. It is revealed in the refusal by followers of Christ to settle down and make a life investment into their spiritual community.

Is this what God wants for us? Is this what God design His Church to look like? Let’s fall in love with our Church. Let’s not forget that Church is not a denomination or a name; it is a family of Christ followers that serves as a support and growth tool on our faith journey. Our church is the place God grows us, encourages us, and uses us the best. Loving Jesus involves a passionate love commitment to His Church -- locally, nationally and globally.

It is time for us to get off the loner Christian journey and fall in love with the CHURCH and start journeying together in our faith with fellow members who love Christ.

Caring or Conversion

Do you want to jump start your faith? Do you desire a deeper spiritual relationship with Christ? I want to challenge you to care about other people’s spiritual condition. When you see the word CARE, you may conclude it means “being nice to people.” Nice is good, nice is all right, but I want to challenge you to care about people’s connection with God. Care that they understand God’s love and forgiveness and that they experience His influence and how He can redirect their course of life.

A lot can be said about our spiritual maturity based on how we care for people’s spiritual condition. When I say that, immediately we think, “I’ve got to be on a mission of spiritual conversion,” and yet, I want to challenge you to CARE for a person rather than trying to convert them. Use this acrostic of the word CARE to help people connect spiritually with God.

C – Common Ground. Find common ground in your conversations.

A – Accept people just the way they are.

R – Risk by stepping out to share your spiritual story about you and God.

E – Expect God to do His part as you do yours.

Friends! If He is indeed the Savior of the world, and you know that personally, and you believe that, then why would you not want other people to experience that He is indeed the Savior of the world? Why wouldn’t you be willing to risk? Why wouldn’t you be willing to face your fears, to really care for people, and to have spiritual conversations? Not with the agenda to convert, but with the agenda to care, and with the agenda to love and with the agenda to point them to Jesus because He is indeed the Savior of the world. That’s the challenge.

American Dream

We live in an amazing country -- a country that the entire world desires to visit or reside. Each day we meet people chasing after the American dream. If we were asked, would we find ourselves like others chasing the American dream? I used to think the American dream was a house, a nice car, and 2.5 children. Yet recently, for many people, that dream seems to consist of even more -- chasing after greatness, stardom, popularity, and even power. It is the reason for all the reality shows filling our TV airways. How many times have we seen the dejected? The tears of dejection flowing, because all of the hope they wrapped up in that one moment of opportunity, is suddenly lost. Their hopes and dreams of greatness dashed away, and they are left wondering, “Where will I find greatness now”?

What we are seeing today is not new. People have always been chasing the dream of greatness. It has always been with us, and it will always be in us to chase the dream of greatness. Yet, our greatness is not what we achieve or the awards we receive. Greatness and significance is found in the contribution we make through our life in serving. Jesus said, “He who desires to be the greatest among you will be a servant to you.” According to Jesus, the power chair, the popular chair, and the prestigious chair are all found in the serving chair.

God designed all of us to make a difference with the life He has given each of us. While our culture is pushing us to chase the dream of getting the most out of life, God created us to add to life. If we are going to give our lives for something, give it for a cause that will give real significance. God wants to use you to make a difference in the world. He wants to work through you. Exhaust yourself in your donation of service and ministry to others, and discover how your life will take on real meaning.

G.R.O.W.

Ok, here we go. I want to challenge you to grow. The statement I am about to make I believe, without a doubt, that you will agree with: “The number one cause of the problems we encounter is immaturity.” We find ourselves getting into all kinds of problems by saying immature things, making immature decisions, acting in immature ways. I know this may sound simple, but we just need to grow up. Let’s take the letters G.R.O.W. and follow a simple path that will provoke us to grow.

God - It is God’s will for every person that they grow. Hebrews 6:1 says, “Let us go on to maturity.” Simply put, God says, “Grow up.” That is why it is imperative that you belong to a local Bible-believing and practicing church, because the purpose of a spiritual community is to help each of us who belong to it to grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and relationally. One of God’s purposes for His Church is to help perpetuate individual growth.

Read - As a Christ follower, one asset to growing is learning the priceless value of reading God’s Word for yourself. Basically learning how to feed yourself. In Hebrews, again, the writer challenges us by stating, “You have been Christ followers for a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead you still need someone to teach you…” Here is a simple action plan for reading: Pick a daily or weekly plan; get a journal so you can write your observations from your reading; read in a group so you can dialogue if you have any questions; meditate on how you can apply to your life a truth or a principal that you have discovered; and ask God through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to help you live it out.

Obey - Jesus said, “You say I am the authority over life but you don’t even do what I say.” “Those who love me obey me.” Jesus went on to state that obedience is not following a bunch of church or denominational rules. In fact, it is the total opposite. Our obedience is a reflection of how much we value our relationship and our love for Him. Obedience, when it is relationally driven, is a mark of maturity and growth.

Walk - Make a choice to walk by your God-deposited faith and not your feelings. I can only walk it out by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the company of other Christ followers pushing me on. My walk reflects what God desires for me as His child – to grow… My walk is a direct result from a daily habit of what I am reading…. My walk is a love statement to Him that I not only hear Him, I choose to obey Him…

A little lengthy with this blog, but well worth your time…

Your Choice...

The moment a child is born, they automatically become part of the global family of humanity, and yet that child also needs a specific family to receive nurturing and care to grow up healthy and strong.

Now take that same physical truth and apply it to us spiritually. When a person is born again, they automatically become a part of God’s family worldwide, and yet they also need a local spiritual family to belong to. Here is the difference between attending church and committing yourself as a core member of a church family: Attenders spectate from the sideline; members get involved. Attenders consume; family members contribute. Attenders want the benefits of a church family without sharing the responsibility. It is similar to couples who want to live together without committing to marriage.

Why is committing to a local church family beneficial to your spiritual growth and spiritual maturity? Because it reveals your love and commitment to your spiritual brothers and sisters in reality, not just in theory. God wants us to serve each other, encourage each other, build each other up, spur each other on to spiritual growth, pick each other up when we fall or fail, and to share life with real people not ideal people.

If you are looking for the perfect, ideal church family, you will spend your entire life looking and never settling. Simply put, you will not find one. Yet what you will find in a church family is imperfect people like yourself that God challenges each of us to love. And as we learn to love each other and serve one another, we find ourselves spiritually growing in the image of Christ.

Response-Able Money Management...

Many people have a hard time seeing how money management can help accelerate their spiritual growth. I believe with all my heart that people who experience the reconciling love and personal relationship with Jesus Christ want to take that experience and develop a deeper and more mature relationship.

You may not realize this, but money management has a profound effect on your spiritual growth as a Christ follower. The Bible tells us that money is a tool and money is a test. It is a tool used for good. We are told in God’s Word to use our money to show our love for people. Don’t use people for money, but let your money influence and show your compassion for people. The Bible tells us that we are not taking our money with us. We are going to have it for a little while, so use it now to fulfill God’s purpose’s for your life.

Money is also a test. It is a test of our character. It tests our faith. It tests our priorities. It tests our values. It tests our responsibility. It tests all kinds of things in our life – spiritual maturity, faithfulness, and other things like that. The Bible says that God is watching how we use what He gives us.

God wants us to be blessed in every area of our life; this includes our finances. And yet, for us to be blessed, we have to be blessable. Being blessable results from how we are RESPONSE-ABLE with the resources that God gives us.

Being response-able begins with trusting God as your main source more than trusting other resources. Response-able is giving God the first and best part of our income and not our leftovers. It’s keeping good records, seeing the value of a savings plan, setting a budget, and being content with what you have rather than exhausting yourself for more.

In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus gives us wise counsel: Don’t worry…Your heavenly Father already knows what you need, and He will give it to you IF you give Him first place in your life AND live as He wants you to.”

Start 2010 off with a healthy God-designed plan for your finances and watch God’s blessing upon your life.