A few days ago, Shami saw something odd. She saw a robin…….running!!
There’s nothing wrong with a robin running and I don’t want anyone to think that I am against birds using different modes of transportation, but birds were not made to run! They were made to soar in the air!
You and I were made for something too. What were we made for?
We were made to “Give God Glory!”
Giving God Glory is giving Him the highest honor in your life. He is more important than your spouse, your kids, your home, your job, your…well…anything. When we put God first it transforms your heart and your life. You begin to look at things through the lenses of eternity and the things of earth lose their luster and shine.
Think about it. Who can compete with a place that has streets of gold! What we view as a precious metal and pay expensive prices to wear as jewelry, God uses for people to walk upon every day in heaven! I think that’s amazing!
I love what Isaiah says to those of us who might feel overwhelmed with life and unsure of our purpose...
“those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
It is in God that you find that purpose and can live life with an unearthly patience. Give God Glory today and begin soaring in the air!! It what you were made for!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Spring Forward by Giving Up
Something happened this past Sunday that has left me wondering.
I am in no way a perfect man, pastor, father or husband and it was evident to me on Sunday as I lay on the ground up front during worship. As I covered my face with my hands, I felt like I was going through a tunnel. Deeper and deeper I passed and as I did I asked God what was keeping me from engaging Him with all I had that day. He revealed some unconfessed sin in my life.
I knew that I needed to confess to Him, right then and there…Giving Him those sins! When I did that, this weight or burden came off of me and I was free as a bird to soar in the sky and I openly shouted my praise to him!! I knew how I felt in that moment was not available for just me, so I came to the front of the platform and shared this verse with everyone…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – I John 1:9
A very small number responded to the call to confess sins, give our sins over to God. I was frustrated. I knew there was a need for coming and giving our sins to Him that day. This is what has been stirring in my heart since then...
Do we come to God more often when we can get something from Him or are we going to come to God more often to give something to Him?
It’s just like Daylight Savings Time. I don’t know how you feel, but I would rather give up an hour of sleep for more sunshine than be given an hour of more sleep for more darkness. I love it when the sun is out past 9:00 pm!! For that to happen, I have to be willing to give up 1 hour of sleep on 1 night only 1 time a year! I’ll take that trade any day!!
I want you to have a deeper relationship with God’s SON and find true intimacy with Him, for that to happen we have to be willing to give up our sins, ourselves to God so that darkness does not close in on us!
Don’t wait for this coming Sunday to Spring forward in your life! Stop right now and confess any sin you have left unconfessed and find the Son waiting to shine brighter than ever in your life!!
I knew that I needed to confess to Him, right then and there…Giving Him those sins! When I did that, this weight or burden came off of me and I was free as a bird to soar in the sky and I openly shouted my praise to him!! I knew how I felt in that moment was not available for just me, so I came to the front of the platform and shared this verse with everyone…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – I John 1:9
A very small number responded to the call to confess sins, give our sins over to God. I was frustrated. I knew there was a need for coming and giving our sins to Him that day. This is what has been stirring in my heart since then...
Do we come to God more often when we can get something from Him or are we going to come to God more often to give something to Him?
It’s just like Daylight Savings Time. I don’t know how you feel, but I would rather give up an hour of sleep for more sunshine than be given an hour of more sleep for more darkness. I love it when the sun is out past 9:00 pm!! For that to happen, I have to be willing to give up 1 hour of sleep on 1 night only 1 time a year! I’ll take that trade any day!!
I want you to have a deeper relationship with God’s SON and find true intimacy with Him, for that to happen we have to be willing to give up our sins, ourselves to God so that darkness does not close in on us!
Don’t wait for this coming Sunday to Spring forward in your life! Stop right now and confess any sin you have left unconfessed and find the Son waiting to shine brighter than ever in your life!!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
You don't need God?
Last night on the news I heard of a new billboard that is going to be placed at 4 different locations along the 465 that circles Indianapolis. This is what it will say…
“You don’t need God…to hope, to care, to love, to live”
They then cut to the response of a few Christians, and one lady was quoted saying, “I’ll see it but I won’t look at it.”
WHAT? How do you see without looking?
Anyways, guess what?
They then cut to the response of a few Christians, and one lady was quoted saying, “I’ll see it but I won’t look at it.”
WHAT? How do you see without looking?
Anyways, guess what?
The billboard is true. You don’t need God for those things. You really don’t.
Then what do you need God for?
Yes, we need God for our salvation. Acts 4:12 says that “salvation is found in no one else!”
But is that all you need God for…Salvation?
“If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”
I need God because I am in love with Him!!
I need Jesus because he has transformed me!!
I need the Holy Spirit because he comforts me!!
I don’t just need Him…I want Him!!
I want God with me in my highs and lows, in my best times and my worst times.
If I had nothing, but had Him I would have enough!
I believe that because I want God…
…it drives me to hope in eternal things that will never end and not temporary, earthly things that one day will fade away.
…it drives me to care for people with a greater, self-less, active compassion than if I was without Him.
…it drives me to love Him and others, no matter what, with no strings attached just like He loves me.
…it drives me to live a life that is more abundantly full of joy, trust, and a desire to see lives around me renewed, and restored.
The billboard is right I don’t need God…I have to have God!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pray that you come to that point in your own life. And then be unashamed about sharing that with those in your life each day whether you meet them just once or you have known them for a lifetime!! Remember that they do need God!
Then what do you need God for?
Yes, we need God for our salvation. Acts 4:12 says that “salvation is found in no one else!”
But is that all you need God for…Salvation?
“If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”
I need God because I am in love with Him!!
I need Jesus because he has transformed me!!
I need the Holy Spirit because he comforts me!!
I don’t just need Him…I want Him!!
I want God with me in my highs and lows, in my best times and my worst times.
If I had nothing, but had Him I would have enough!
I believe that because I want God…
…it drives me to hope in eternal things that will never end and not temporary, earthly things that one day will fade away.
…it drives me to care for people with a greater, self-less, active compassion than if I was without Him.
…it drives me to love Him and others, no matter what, with no strings attached just like He loves me.
…it drives me to live a life that is more abundantly full of joy, trust, and a desire to see lives around me renewed, and restored.
The billboard is right I don’t need God…I have to have God!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pray that you come to that point in your own life. And then be unashamed about sharing that with those in your life each day whether you meet them just once or you have known them for a lifetime!! Remember that they do need God!
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