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God's Plan Matures Us Slowly

Here is a devotional I read this morning, by Rick Warren. Great reminder for all of us....

So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. (Ephesians 4:22-24 TEV)

Although God could instantly transform us, he has chosen to develop us slowly. Jesus was deliberate in developing his disciples, just as God allowed the Israelites to take over the Promised Land "little by little," so they wouldn't be overwhelmed. (Deuteronomy 7:22) He prefers to work in incremental steps in our lives.

Why does it take so long to change and grow up? There are several reasons -

We are slow learners. We often have to relearn a lesson forty or fifty times to really get it. The problems keep recurring, and we think, "Not again! I've already learned that!"—but God knows better. The history of Israel illustrates how quickly we forget the lessons God teaches us and how soon we revert to our old patterns of behavior. We need repeated exposure.
 
We have a lot to unlearn. Many people go to a counselor with a personal or relational problem that took years to develop and say, "I need you to fix me. I've got an hour." They naïvely expect a quick solution to a long-standing, deep-rooted difficulty. Since most of our problems—and all of our bad habits—didn't develop overnight, it's unrealistic to expect them go away immediately. There is no pill, prayer, or principle that will instantly undo the damage of many years. It requires the hard work of removal and replacement. The Bible calls it "taking off the old self" and "putting on the new self." (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22-25; Col. 3:7-10, 14) While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

Growth is often painful and scary. There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. Every change involves a loss of some kind: You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new. We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self-defeating, because, like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable and familiar.

 Good habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can't claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind—you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can't claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them—and that takes time! There are no instant habits. Paul urged Timothy, "Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15 GW)

What If The Pharisees Had Twittered

Below is a post by I read written by Pastor Perry Noble, and I thought it was pretty amusing....

Disclaimer…some of these phrases MAY be over 140 characters, work with me!  :-)

• “Heard this guy named Jesus teach today, not very impressed.  All He did was tell stories, didn’t really go in depth like the guys do at the tabernacle.”
• “That Jesus guy healed a dude on the Sabbath right in front of everyone, which was so disrespectful.  Sure, it was nice that the person got healed, I just don’t agree with the way He went about it.”
• “BIG DEAL!  So this Jesus guy fed over 5,000 men with five loaves and two pieces of fish.  Seems to me like He is just into trying to do entertaining things to get people’s attention rather than teaching them anything of substance.”
• “The people that seem to be following Jesus and taking on some responsibilities for Him have not been to seminary…this is not acceptable!”
• “This Jesus guy keeps talking TO and ABOUT ‘lost people.’  I think His singular focus is going to be destructive to His ministry.”
• “This Jesus guy won’t answer any of our questions.  I think He is arrogant to not listen to us…doesn’t He understand who we are?”
• “Jesus didn’t wash His hands before He ate a meal with me last night, I did, therefore I am so much cleaner than Him!”
• “Jesus called me a snake/viper today, I am not quite sure that was appropriate language and I think that kind of talk is going to damage His reputation.”
• “Jesus always calls me and my friends out for His perceived problems with us…and quite often isn’t very ‘loving’ in the way He does it.  I think He has temper issues and should stop being so reactive.”
• “Jesus keeps hanging out with the wrong people…doesn’t He know that the people who are closest to Him don’t have their act together?”
• “Jesus lost His temper today and threw things and people out of the temple.  His irreverence for the things that matter to me is quite disturbing.”
• “This guy Jesus waters down His teachings, the way He is presenting things ANYONE can be forgiven!”

For more of Perry Noble, check out his blog at perrynoble.com

Happy New Year!

I love the thought of a fresh start. As the new year approaches, I like to spend some time reflecting on where I am, where I've been, and where I need to go, and then with God's help make the much needed adjustments.

As I was doing some reading this morning I came across this brief devotional that is super relevant for all of us, by John Walker, author of 'Growing with Purpose',  as we begin a new and exciting year. Check it out:

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)

If you're thinking about making some New Year's Resolutions, consider this one from The Apostle: "This year I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified."

Paul's message is radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone. What does this mean?

It's not Christ plus your good behavior.
It's not Christ plus the years you taught a Bible study.
It's not Christ plus your tithe.
It's not Christ plus the church you attend.
It's not Christ plus the number of verses you memorize.
It's not Christ plus your title in the church.
It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar.
It's not Christ plus a desert fast (or even a dessert fast!).
It's not Christ plus a good driving record.
It's not Christ plus well-behaved children.
It's not Christ plus the right job.
It's not Christ plus the right spouse.
It's not Christ plus the latest technology.
It's simply Christ. Christ plus nothing.

That's a message that is as right throughout the coming year as it will be in 2999. May your new resolution for the year be nothing but Christ and him crucified.

Great Book

I recently read the book, Relational Intelligence, by Steve Saccone and I loved it! It is a must read. Here is a clever little promo video for it...

Get Out of Your Seat

In my reading, I came across this great story:

Danny Cox, a former jet pilot turned business leader, tells his readers in Seize the Day that when jet fighters were first invented, they "flew much faster than their propeller predecessors. So pilot ejection became a more sophisticated process. Theoretically of course, all a pilot needed to do was push a button, clear the plane, then roll forward out of the seat so the parachute would open."

But there was a problem that popped up during testing. Some pilots, instead of letting go, would keep a grip on the seat. The parachute would remain trapped between the seat and the pilot's back.

The engineers went back to the drawing board and came up with a solution. Cox writes:

The new design called for a two-inch webbed strap. One end attached to the front edge of the seat, under the pilot. The other end attached to an electronic take-up reel behind the headrest. Two seconds after ejection, the electronic take-up reel would immediately take up the slack, and force the pilot forward out of his seat, thus freeing the parachute.

Bottom line? Jet fighter pilots needed that device to launch them out of their chairs. Question is, what will it take to launch us out of our seat?

source: Danny Cox, Seize the Day: Seven Steps to Achieving the Extraordinary in an Ordinary World (Career Press, 1994)

What I'm Chewing On

I love this passage!

Lamentations 3:20  I remember it all—oh, how well I remember— the feeling of hitting the bottom. 21 But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: GOD’S loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.  They’re created new every morning.  How great your faithfulness!  24  I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.

 Lam. 3.25   GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. 26  It’s a good thing to quietly hope,  quietly hope for help from GOD.  It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times. 28   When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. 29  Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.  30 Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. 31  Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.  33  He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way:

Have a great day!

Looking Back

This morning I am sitting in my favorite little coffee house in Wisconsin -- the Cracked Shoe. Two summers ago we moved in with my in-laws, here in the great city of Cedar Grove, Wi.We were in transition --  leaving one church and looking for another. I would come to the Crack Shoe every morning to drink coffee and think about what God in store for my family as we pursue our next step in ministry. A lot of coffee was consumed and a lot of conversations with God were had.

After a couple of months of praying and searching we received a phone call from the search committee of Harvest Chapel, and decided that this could be really be God. Two years ago this coming Sunday, we were elected as the new Pastors -- we were so pumped about the opportunity to serve and to be a part of what God was going to do.

Two year into this journey, we are still pumped! God is doing great things, and we are even more determined now to stay in step with Him to see what is going to happen next. I am grateful that I serve a God who can see further down the road than I can. I am grateful that He cares enough about me and my family that He would intervene and make the crooked paths strength.

I appreciate where I have been, and am I anticipating the future!

Prov. 3.5   Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
6  Listen for GOD’S voice in everything you do, everywhere you go he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Have You Been With Jesus?

Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Ordinary. Unschooled. Could we add that they were like us? Normal everyday people who were doing their best to allow their lives to make a big impact for the cause of Christ. Their ministry was creating quite a stir, from people being healed to coming into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. What was the key? Simple. They had been with Jesus. I love that description -- they had been with Jesus.

Can people tell that you have been with Jesus, or maybe the question should be when was the last time you spent some time with Jesus?  I pray that this can be said of us with much frequency -- they had been with Jesus!

Don't Let Go!

I've read this little poem a hundred times over the years. I really like it. For me it is a timeless challenge to keep plodding on! I'm not sure who wrote it, but maybe it will bring you some encouragement this morning....

I want to let go, but I won't let go.
            There are battles to fight,
            By day and by night
            For God and the right
                and I'll never let go!

            I want to let go, but I won't let go.
            I'm sick, 'tis true,
            And worried and blue
            And worn out through and through
                But I won't let go.

            I want to let go, but I won't let go.
            I will never yield.
            What?  Lie down in the field
            And surrender my shield?
                No, I'll never let go!

            I want to let go, but I won't let go.
            May this be my song,
            Mid legions of wrong,
            O God keep me strong
                So I'll never let go.

Focus

I hit my local coffee shop this morning to get a nice cup of coffee, and grab some study time before I attack the day. While I was in line, I had a gentleman, said he knew I was a Pastor, and ask me if I thought Obama was the Anti-Christ. I chuckled. He seemed pretty serious.

We talked about the matter for a moment and he said if anything weird began to take place he would be at the church repenting as fast as he could, and then he was on his way.

From where I sit, whoever is the White House, our job as Christ-followers is well defined. We are living in a time where people are hurting, confused, and far from God. This is an amazing time for the church of Jesus Christ to step up and be the Church! For Christ-followers to live in such a way that people will know that we are different because of God's life-changing love and grace.

Whatever transpires over the next several years, the fact remains that it is our privilege as Christ-followers to provide hope and direction that will last for eternity.

My prayer for the Church, that regardless of who is in the White House, we can be focused on reaching people who are far from God, and give them real and relevant opportunities to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Lord, help us stay on task.

This is still what I am chewing on:
Acts 2.41   That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.  42 They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. 43   Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!  44 And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.  45 They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.. 46   They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,  47 as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.