Finishing Well

“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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.”

Philippians 3:12-14

 

 

What is the single most important item to a runner?

Their running shoes, right?

You would never think of running a race in flip-flops or high heels.

The very image makes us laugh but would never make us take the person seriously.

If you are serious about winning the race you are very serious about wearing the right shoe.

A runner does not save an expensive new pair for the day of the race either.

He breaks them in and is certain they will do the job he expects ahead of time.

As believers we too have ‘equipment’ to help us run the race.

Prayer, fellowship, study of the Word and sharing our faith.

Like the serious runner we know that without these four things being present in our lives we will stumble along the course as if we were running in high heels or flip flops.

Instead of setting ourselves up for success we would be running toward sure failure.

Ours is more than just a quick prayer in a moment of crisis – that would be like the new sneakers on the day of the race – ours is a lifestyle of prayer.

Fellowship is more than an occasional ‘pot luck dinner’ it is the deep understanding that we need one another and sharpen each other.

We study His Word in order to know Him better and not to impress others with how many verses we can quote.

Finally, in sharing our faith, we understand that works of service done through love can be as powerful or more so than standing on a street corner and shouting out impending judgment.

These are just a few of the tools made available to the one who would not only enter the race but who is determined to finish it well.

Is that you?

 

 

Take Off the ‘Rear View Only’ Glasses

“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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.”

Philippians 3:12-14

 

You are in the starting block.

Feet positioned properly.

Ready. Set. Go!

The starting pistol is fired and you are off.

Now imagine a large pair of glasses fastened tightly to your face.

You run looking toward the goal.

Suddenly you find yourself remembering and thinking about the last race – that time you fell – and went on to complete the race dead last.

Then it is as if your glasses were covered with that memory and you could see less clearly now.

As you continue on your thoughts go back to that laughing coach from the opposing team who said you would never be a runner – at least not a successful one.

Another old memory from the past clouds the lens a bit more.

Get the point?

The successful race can only be run when we let go of past failures, laying them down at the foot of the cross.

If we are so focused on our past we cloud the future with it and are unable to see the finish line set before us.

Sometimes it is even past successes that hinder our race.

We can think that because success happened when we used this or that particular method or training regimen then I must always and only follow that course.

But our focus must always be on the Lord Jesus Christ.

When it is – the course of our race becomes clear before us.

Don’t let your past hinder your future.

Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead…

Take off those ‘rear view only’ glasses.

The Wind at Your Back

“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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.”

Philippians 3:12-14

 

 

Suppose you were watching one of the Olympic track and field events, one of the races where several runners are all lined up in different lanes.

As the starting gun goes off the runners all take off.

But as you continue to watch a funny thing unfolds before your eyes.

One of the runners begins making faces and childish gestures at his competitor running alongside in an adjacent lane.

The fellow athlete pays no attention but keeps his focus straight ahead on the finish line.

Which one finishes well?

Pretty easy to answer that question isn’t it?

And yet as Christians we can be guilty of running our race in the same way.

When we treat the race as a competition we can allow envy, jealousy and our own personal interests to impede our progress toward the goal of becoming like Christ.

We forget there is a prize for all who complete the race well and perform as if my goal is to be soundly beat everyone else on the field.

We each have a race to run.

There is a prize – not for a single winner – but for each who finishes well.

As a matter of fact my best effort while running this race will happen as I encourage and build up fellow runners along the way.

What happens when this is what I sow?

I will reap it back into my life.

Take the time today to encourage a fellow believer along the way.

You will find it will be like having the wind at your back as you run!

Let’s Go Run Out of Shirts

Todays' blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

Have you ever heard someone described as a person who would “give you the shirt off his back?”  It’s one of the highest compliments someone can receive.  It means that person can be counted on to help others in their time of need, even if it means sacrificing their own needs in the process.

Jesus tells the story of someone like that.  He’s called the Good Samaritan.

Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (Luke 10:30-34)

After seeing the injured person, the Good Samaritan was filled with unconditional, agape love, a love that we learned about earlier in the week.  It’s a pure love that causes a consuming passion for the well-being of others regardless of the cost and moves us to act.

I’m sure the Samaritan had other places to be, schedules to keep, other things to spend his money on, but he put all that aside to meet the needs of someone else.

 I can’t help but wonder if the priest and Levite would have stopped if there was an audience to recognize their act of kindness.  Someone to applaud them, pat them on the back and say “well done.” How often do we show love, but only when someone is watching?  How often do we position ourselves so that our sacrifices are done out in the open to receive praise from men? That kind of love is from the head and motivated by merit.

But true unconditional, agape love comes from the heart and is motivated by genuine concern for others.  Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what he wants us to be like.  At the end of the story Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” (v.37)

Will you join me in asking the Lord to fill our hearts with His agape love and to become a people who will give the shirts off our backs for others?  Then, let’s go run out of shirts.

Merry CHRISTmas!

“But the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid. I bring you

good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.”

Luke 2:10

 

 

My sincere prayer for you

this Christmas is that

you may know Him,

who is eternal life,

in greater more intimate

ways in the days ahead

so that you will more effectively

reflect Jesus Christ to a world

desperately in need of His love,

His presence and His power.  

On behalf of myself, my wife Wendy and our children Aaron and Amanda as well as our other contributors David Trotta and Denise Friedman have  a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day!

Greater love…

“This is my command: Love each other.”

 John 15:17

 

 

Agape.

Unconditional love.

A pure love that causes a consuming passion for the well-being

of others regardless of the cost to the person.

Tomorrow we celebrate CHRISTmas around the globe.

What a great demonstration of God’s love.

Years ago a songwriter expressed it this way –

“Love was when God became a man.”

Jesus said this concerning love:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

John 5:13

Jesus was, quite literally, born to die.

He knew that and He willingly laid down His life for you and I – His friends.  

Let that true meaning of CHRISTmas sink into your spirit.

Jesus demonstrated that unconditional love through His death on the cross.

It was made available to you and me by His resurrection.

We can be His ‘carriers’ of unconditional agape love by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.

This CHRISTmas don’t just display His love with a manger scene in your home.

Display it to others through His love in your heart expressed by your actions.

 

God is Love

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them”

I John 4:16

 

 

All love originates from God.

On the one hand that may be a very easy statement for some to accept.

On the other hand some simply cannot believe it.

Why?

Because like so many other things from God, it has been received by man and abused.

Sexual love comes from God.

Those trapped by others in the sin of human trafficking for sexual purposes have experienced man’s abuse of this gift from God and would struggle to see sex as a gift, let alone a blessing.

But God gave it as a gift and set for us boundaries.

We have broken and thrown off those boundaries and so for many the vision of sex as a gift from God has become blurred at best.

That love we know as a ‘friendship’ love has been abused through one-sided friendships where it becomes ‘all about me’ causing the other person to withdraw from trusting and establishing friendships lest they be trapped into the same situation all over again.

Abuse.

Dr. Myles Munroe, who is now at home with the Lord, once taught a valuable lesson on the word ‘abuse’ showing how it is derived from the words ‘abnormal use’.

In other words anything we abuse – be it drugs, sex, friendship, intimacy, means we are using it outside of its’ intended use.

Do you want to know Gods’ intended use for love, sex, friendship or intimacy?

Then don’t look to popular culture or our society for the answer.

Go to the Creator.

Find the answer from Him.

Go to the One who is Love!

God is love! 

 

 

 

 

A Four Letter Word

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:12

 

 

Love.

Powerful word.

Equally powerful force.

So what is love?

Love is a combination of an act of your will, expressed with deep emotion, which is always demonstrated by your actions.

In other words – love is a choice that you make.

It is not void of emotion but neither is it ruled by the emotions.

That love which comes from God is not an indifferent love devoid of any impact.

Remember these words: “For God so loved the world that He gave…”

In those words we discover Gods’ will, His emotion and His action.

In those words we discover Gods’ love for us.

You see God is more than just a great example of love…God is love.

His very nature of love motivates the actions He takes toward us.

Always has and always will.

He hasn’t changed.

Some will try to tell you that because of that love God will not ever punish or discipline.

While that is not true, it is also not the point of todays’ post.

We need to move beyond the love that only loves those who love us.

Gods’ love is infinitely greater than that.

Will you choose to be a vessel through which Gods’ love flows?

That is what we have learned is heart love and not head love.

What more appropriate subject to look at during Christmas week.

No Regrets This Christmas Season

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33).

That verse can be a bit more difficult to live up to during this time of year.  I don’t know about you, but as much as I try to make the Christmas season about Jesus, I always feel like I fall short.

The weeks leading up to Christmas become a hectic frenzy of planning, shopping, decorating, and cooking, and then culminate into a day of eating and opening gifts.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy everything about Christmas.  I enjoy the food, I enjoy the gifts, and I enjoy the extra time with family.  It’s an exciting time of year and one that contains many blessings from God.

My only regret is that after the day has passed, I almost always look back with some sadness because my thoughts and attention were more about the festivities than my Savior, yet it was my Savior who willingly left the halls of heaven to begin a journey that started in a manger and ended on a cross where He demonstrated the ultimate expression of love.

So, this Christmas season, no matter how hectic things get, will you join me in making time for Jesus by heeding the words of an old Christian writer who said…

Up now, slight man!  Flee for a little while they occupations; hide thyself for a time from thy disturbing thoughts.  Cast aside now they burdensome cares, and put away the toilsome business.  Yield room for some little time to God, and rest for a little time in Him.  Enter the inner chamber of thy mind; shut out all thoughts save that of God and such as can aid thee in seeking Him.  Speak now, my whole heart!  Speak now to God, saying, I seek they face; Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Fear Not!

 

Fear not!

Do not be afraid.

It is said that the most repeated command in scripture is “Fear not!”

How wonderful is that.

God’s most repeated word to us is not to fear.

Still, so many live in fear.

Fear of an enemy, fear of losing a job, fear of embarrassment or humiliation.

If you find yourself fearful today – take heart at those two simple words from God.

Fear not!

 

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 

Genesis 15:1

 “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

 

Psalm 118:6

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

 

Daniel 10:12

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.”

 

Luke 12:32

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

 

Go ahead and hit the search button on the words – Fear Not!  In your favorite Bible software concordance and be prepared to be encouraged!

 

 

Will You Be That One?

“Who is wise? Let them realize these things.

    Who is discerning? Let them understand.

The ways of the Lord are right;

    the righteous walk in them,

    but the rebellious stumble in them.”

Hosea 14:9

 

We are continuing to look at the importance of desiring to know God.

Today we have the words of Hosea the prophet for our scripture passage.

I asked you a couple of questions yesterday -

Do you want to know?

Are you inquisitive in the things of God?

Hosea tells us that there is a realization and an understanding given to the wise and discerning.

What is it that they realize?

What is it that they understand?

They come to know that the ways of the Lord are right.

They walk in those ways of the Lord – those right ways.

It is important to note here that it says Gods ways are right.

It does not say they are popular or embraced by all.

As a matter of fact we are told that in the last days men will no longer follow sound doctrines.

They will not be interested in the ways of God.

They will follow after their own passions and lusts.

All you need to confirm that is to watch the daily news.

What was once recognized as evil is now called good by many.

They are not wise – at least in the eyes of God!

They do not realize or discern the error of their ways.

But mercy recognizes that…such were some of you!

I would not be walking in the ways of the Lord except through His mercy and grace extended to me.

Neither would you!

So the next time you are tempted to turn away in disgust ask God instead to turn you to them in mercy and compassion.

It is the humble heart that God can and will use to reach those not walking in His ways.

Will you be that one?

 

 

 

Enquiring Minds Want to Know

“After three days they found him in the temple courts,

sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”

Luke 2:46

 

 

Do you want to know?

Are you inquisitive in the things of God?

Are you eager to find answers or do you just settle for the answer:

“Because, that’s the way it is!”

Some people are resigned to thinking that because God is all-knowing and we are not we shouldn’t seek to understand His ways.

Read this verse with me –

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 55:8

Now some people read that verse and consider it somehow to be a prohibition of knowing and seeking God’s ways and His thoughts.

But take a moment and read it in context and you find it means the opposite.

God delights when we seek to know Him and understand Him.

As I read today’s verse I find that Jesus, even in his youth, had a hunger to know His Father.

But it was not an ‘unanswered hunger’.

We are told that his hunger took action.

He was sitting among the teachers listening and asking questions.

We are to be imitators of Christ.

When was the last time you sat quietly with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God listening and asking questions?

Enquiring minds want to know…

 

 

Avoiding the Cliché’s

“My mouth will speak words of wisdom;

    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.”

Psalm 49:3

 

 

“He’s the Reason for the Season”

Wise Men Still Seek Him”

These are just a couple of the phrases tossed about during the holidays.

Some even become angry at others when they declare “Happy Holidays!”

 instead of “Merry Christmas!”

Think about the message that anger is sending.

I am not saying that as believers’ we shouldn’t take a stand in opposition to popular culture.

I am not saying we should “go along to get along”.

I am simply taking this moment to remind us to be sincere in what we speak.

We can become trapped into what I would call a ‘cliché’ response.

We say what is expected of us (or at least what we believe is expected of us) without giving any thought to our words.

Imagine the power of words chosen wisely and spoken in a timely moment to someone.

Believers can be as guilty as anyone of glib speech.

Let’s make a concerted effort to surrender our words to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

This season, and always, let’s speak life to those who are dead in trespasses and sin.

Let’s speak fellowship and friendship to those who are lonely, joy and peace to those in sorrow and depression.

Lord:

I surrender my tongue to you.

May it be used as a powerful weapon for good.

May the Holy Spirit direct me to words that build up and encourage those closest to me and the strangers I interact with on a daily basis.

Let my words be spoken with a motivation of heart that is pleasing to you.

In that matchless Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen

 

Go, Go, Go…

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

An executive of a company I previously worked for always signed off on his emails with the words “Go, go, go.”  He often did that after giving his approval on a direction the team was taking. It was his way of saying “Ok, you have my approval and I support your efforts, now go fast and with a purpose.”  In other words, go get it done!  We had been sent on a mission.

As His church, Jesus is also telling us to go, go, go. s also telling us to go, go, go.Kings.  We can go with confidence you could respond with confidence because of the mandate you  In Mark 16:15, he said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” and again in Matthew 28:19 he said “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  He has given us a mandate of great urgency and importance to carry out on the earth.

At work, if anyone questioned the task or project we were working on, we could respond with confidence because of the mandate we were given and because of the authority and weight behind the person who gave the mandate.

Likewise, we can go with confidence because our mandate was given by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the whole weight of heaven is behind us.  We carry His approval and authority with us.  Even the kingdom of darkness can’t stop us because we have been given authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).

So, what are we waiting for?  Jesus is saying go, go, go.

“I Didn’t Want to Be ‘That Guy’!”

“…Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.”

Numbers 4:32b

 

 

During the Christmas season there are a lot of movies on T.V. about children and their wishes for Santa Claus.

Inevitably there is a ‘feel good’ story about a child who receives the exact wish they had made to Santa.

This past Sunday we listened as a member of the church at His Place shared a testimony.

As he told of how God used him to meet specific needs in delivering food, books and toys at places he did not even know existed before, he kept repeating the phrase –

“I didn’t want to be that guy”.

He didn’t want to be that guy that threw a toy into a collection bin once a year in order to ease his conscious and reward himself with a feel good moment.

He didn’t want to be ‘that guy’ who showered gifts on people for all the wrong reasons.

In other words, he didn’t want to make it all about him.

But a ‘funny thing’ happened as he surrendered himself to God’s leading.

He wasn’t ‘that guy’ but he became God’s servant.

A very ordinary day turned out to be a remarkably miraculous one.

Simply because he asked God to order his steps and use him as He desired.

God took him to locations where, what he had to give away was exactly what was needed.

God used him as a ‘matchmaker’, of sorts, between what was needed and what he had to give.

What a wonderful testimony of how God can use what you have to bless others.

But it was not through some ‘generic’ donation, God led him to people and places that had the exact needs he was able to fill!

Isn’t God good?

The wonderful news is that He wants to do the same thing with you.

He is no respecter of persons and desires to use you to minister in sincere and genuine ways to others.  

Won’t you ask Him to do that today?

Maybe, it’s a physical need, maybe it’s out of the resources you steward for God or maybe it is simply bringing words that encourage and build someone up.

 Go ahead…He wants to minister through you to others!

“If You Build it They Will Come”

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Mark 1:17

 

 

Do you struggle to find workers for children’s ministry?

How about greeters or ushers?

Do you have a scarce supply of workers for every ministry the church has?

I’ve heard people quote the words of Jesus into just these situations.

“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

I’ll admit, in the past, I have even done it myself.

But I’ve come to believe that it is an unfair application of that passage.

“If you build it they will come” might be a great line for a movie but does it really apply to the church?

Not when what we build is contrary to the will or purposes of God.

I think we sometimes build to insulate ourselves and ease our conscience that we are doing something for God.

We build programs and buildings expecting to allure and entice the unsaved into them.

But look at the second sentence of the words spoken by Jesus above.

Do you see the words “send out” and “into”.

That leads me to believe that Jesus expected the opposite of what we are so often doing.

He expected that we would go out and into the world and not simply build a nice building and a ‘superb’ program and then invite them in.

Maybe, just maybe that is why the laborers are few – inside and out – because we have turned the command around.

We built it, but they just are not coming to it.

Perhaps it’s time to understand we bring the Kingdom of God to them.

Perhaps we change the words a bit…

If you bring it, they will come!

“…They are my Church…”

“and to present her to himself as a radiant church,

without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Ephesians 5:27

 

I know it is not possible to both close your eyes and read this post at the same time but for a moment let’s pretend it is.

Close your eyes and listen as the Lord whispers into your ear.

He says’ to you –

“I want my church to understand that they are my church that I am preparing for my Son.”

Did you hear Him?

We are His church – we are His Son’s bride.

Not a building, not an address, not a place.

A people, a church, a bride!

Let that sink in for a moment.

I have to admit that there are some pretty magnificent buildings on the earth.

But can any of them, past or present, compare one iota with the Bride of Christ?

Of course not!

The Eternal God fashioned and formed you.

He knit you together in your mother’s womb.

What brick and mortar can compare to the handiwork of God?

None.

When God speaks of His church, He is speaking of His people.

His called out ones.

Let us begin to take our eyes off of the campuses. The grand foyers, the million dollar state of the art sound systems and begin to focus on people.

Let us invest in eternal resources.

Let us invest in people.

Am I against buildings or property?

No.

But if they stand in the way of doing His work we all should oppose them.

Let’s recalibrate our focus on things that matter to God.

Let Him whisper in your ear…

“…they are my church…”

You are a part of His church!

You Have Been Sent…

“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

John 20:21

 

 

Did all of your education take place at school?

Did all of your nurturing take place at home?

For most of us the answer to those two questions is “No!”

Neither should we expect that our spiritual growth will take place inside the four walls of the local church.

I have to wonder how patient Peter, James, John and the rest of the twelve would be today in our modern model of the church?

I wonder how long before they grew restless with the “us in here and them out there” behavior.

Jesus taught once in the Temple.

He once overturned the moneychanger’s tables there.

But look at where most of the signs and wonders took place.

Look at where some of His greatest teachings were.

The Sermon on the Mount was not a sermon at the temple mount.

It was on a mountainside among the people.

He was out and about where the people were.

Some might argue that it was there only because that was where the crowds could be accommodated.

But that misses the point.

God sent His Son.

He sent Him to a world in need of redemption.

He sent Him to the sick in need of a physician.  

He sent Him to the woman caught in the very act of adultery.

In other words Jesus went where people were hurting.

Have you been sent?

Sounds like maybe we all have been…

 

 

I want to be a Mary!

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations. (Luke 10:39-40)

Sometimes I feel like the bug named Harry in the movie “A Bugs Life.”  If you’re not familiar with the movie, Harry is the bug that gets zapped because he’s so smitten by the beautiful blue light, he can’t resist flying into it.  He’s easily distracted.

I also can be easily distracted by the many things going on around me.  For example, when I sit down to pray or study God’s word, my thoughts often go something like this…. “I really need to clean the gutters…I wonder what’s in the fridge for lunch…I need to organize the garage….”

And many times, if I’m not focused enough, those thoughts will win out and I’ll get up from sitting at Jesus’ feet and walk towards the blue light, only to get zapped by the challenges of life because I didn’t invest the necessary time in allowing God to mold and shape my heart.

As we’ve looked at this week, Mary was a great example of someone who recognized the importance of positioning herself at the feet of Jesus and not letting distractions pull her away.  What was her secret?  I believe, in part, it was because she recognized the unique opportunity in front of her.  Emmanuel, “God with us,” was in her home and she wasn’t going to let that opportunity slip by.

We have an even greater opportunity than Mary.  Jesus has taken up residence in our heart.  Our spirit lives in union with His.  What a tragedy to let that opportunity slip by because we allow the temporal things of this world to consume our attention.

Our time on earth is short and God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives, but we can’t be effective out in the world, without continually retreating to the feet of Jesus to be taught, transformed, and equipped.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be a Mary!

 

Attitude? What Atitude?

Todays' blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman and it offers me the opportunity to ask you a question. What is your attitude toward a post which would, at first read, appear to hold the same truths as something posted earlier in the week? If it is - been there, done that - do you think there is anything to gain from it for you? Maybe your attitude will close down that opportunity. But, if your attitude is - well this is repeated so maybe I need to pay attention to the message - then perhaps the Holy Spirit can accomplish something through the post. Please take this opportunity to read all that is written and let its' truth sink in and bring change. You won't regret it!
                                                                                                 Stephen Brisson

As we focus this week on distractions, today let’s look at hour life’s distractions affect our attitude.  We are looking at the story of Martha and Mary.  Yesterday we noted Martha had many distractions, sound like anyone you know? 

She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?  Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “You are worried and upset about many things.”  Luke 40-41

Jesus does not address the superficial problem of Martha’s current circumstance, he gets right to the core of the problem, which really was not her current busyness with the preparations, but instead her distraction with the busyness, which caused her to be frustrated with Mary.  How many times (a day!) could Jesus speak these same words to you?  Insert your name above.

When you become distracted and lose your focus on God, bring this Scripture to mind and allow Jesus to whisper these same words to you that he spoke to Martha so long ago.  .  Remember what we were told several weeks ago by our pastor:  What may have been ok for you to do previously might not be ok to do in the season we are in.  This doesn’t make it bad, but we want to keep our focus on Him.  Then, listen to Holy Spirit guide you to let go what is not producing fruit in the Kingdom.  Allow yourself the freedom to let go the distractions which are negatively affecting your attitude.

 

Focus

Todays' blog post was contributed by Denise Friedman:

Have you ever tried to stay focused on something only to be so distracted you lost sight of the original goal?  It might have been something as simple as going into a room for something, but forgetting what you intended to do because you see something else that needs to be done instead.  While this example may seem trivial, it exemplifies our topic of distractions.

Now, more than ever, it is essential to stay focused and position ourselves to receive all God is pouring out.  We need to be focused on His Word, His voice and what he is doing in both our church and in our world. 

Many are familiar with the story of Martha and Mary.  Martha was hard at work with all the preparations.  However, instead of doing what she needed to do while still focusing on Jesus, Martha became distracted by the preparations, which affected her attitude. (Another topic of study this week.)  The preparations were not bad; however, the fact that the preparations caused her to lose her focus on Jesus was a problem.

If you want to receive all God has planned for you, take a serious look at your calendar.  How many items on your “to-do list” advance His Kingdom on earth?  How many items are distracting you from this purpose?  I know, this may be a difficult realization.  I challenge you to purposefully plan your days, weeks, and months ahead.  Maintain your focus on scheduling time with God to read and draw near to Him.  The encounters you have with God will make the items you “sacrificed” seem like a small price to pay!

Lord, Don’t You Care?

“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

She came to him and asked,

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?

Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

but few things are needed—or indeed only one.

 Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:40-42

 

 

A former position I held required me to evaluate the performance of those working for me on ten criteria.

One of those criteria was attitude.

The question was something like this:

Did the employee exhibit a good attitude regardless of the assigned task and with whomever he was working with?

Your attitude is important in how you deal with the distractions of life.

It certainly made a difference in Martha!

“Lord, don’t you care…”

Martha was so distracted that she ‘copped’ an attitude.

Because her efforts were the most important and because no one rushed to help her she found herself accusing the Lord of not caring about her plight.

Of course He cared deeply – but not about all the preparations she was making – her cared about the attitude of her heart and the choices those attitudes were causing her to make.

The narrative does not tell us more beyond Jesus’ words at this point.

Did Martha heed what Jesus said?

Too often our attitude can cause us not to hear what others are saying.

Our mind is made up and we forge ahead regardless of any wise counsel to the contrary.

Don’t let distractions rob you of moving in the right direction.

Don’t let distractions sour your attitude.

Don’t let distractions cause you to be deaf to wise counsel.

What did Martha do?

Forget that question – here is a far more important one:

What will you do with life’s distractions?

Will they pull you away from Jesus or will they cause you to draw near?

Watch your attitude, it is a key in which choice you make!

 

 

Here Comes the…Bride?

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

She came to him and asked,

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?

Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

but few things are needed—or indeed only one.

 Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:40-42

 

 

Imagine a wedding ceremony.

The groom is at the altar standing next to his best man.

The music changes, the bride enters the sanctuary, the congregation rises and all eyes are on her!

Except the grooms eyes!

He is distracted by a spot he notices on his tuxedo sleeve.

He doesn’t look up until she is at the altar, slaps his arm and gives him that two finger gesture of moving her fingers from his eyes to her eyes – in other words – pay attention!

Never happen?

Can’t imagine that distraction?

Well, sometimes life’s distractions can pull us away from very important things.

Maybe you find our imaginary scenario a little hard to swallow but what if Jesus came into your room where you are reading this post right now and you didn’t notice His presence or give Him the time of day because you were too busy reading (for the record His presence will always trump this blog!).

Today’s scripture passage presents just such a scene.

“But Martha was distracted…”

Perhaps Jesus’ presence had become too familiar to Martha that she took it for granted.

Perhaps she was still angry about the last time she hosted a group in her home and Mary didn’t lift a finger.

Regardless, we are told that Mary was distracted by all the preparations.

What preparations do you have today that will keep you from His presence?

The holiday preparations?

The CHRISTmas cards? (get the subtle hint?)

Maybe a soap opera or reality show?

I’m going to reverse our opening scene just a bit and close with this.

Don’t ever be the bride so distracted that you miss the time and words of the bridegroom!

Set other things aside today to be with Jesus.

Something Great is Around the Corner

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

 

Have you ever gone through a period of spiritual dryness where God feels distant and heaven is silent?  A time where you don’t feel His tangible presence like you have felt so many times, but instead, it’s difficult to worship, pray, and read the bible?

 

I have felt that way many times before, but looking back, I also recall times of great refreshing, hunger, and revelation that immediately followed that period of dryness.

 

The wilderness can be a time of great growth if we don’t give up.  Our Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:1) and some of the greatest heroes of the bible went through a wilderness period just before being launched into their ministry or being used by the Lord to perform a great work.  Moses was in the wilderness when God called him to lead His people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1-2).

 

The wilderness can be a great tool the Lord uses to shape us and prepare us for the work that He has planned for us.

 

If you’re feeling that way today, hang in there, even if it’s by your fingernails. Keep your eyes on the Lord, even if all you can muster is an occasional glance.  A time of refreshing is around the corner.

And if the enemy whispers to you in the wilderness and tries to get you to take your eyes off the Lord and put your trust elsewhere, do what our Lord did and say “It is written…”

 

And, most importantly while in the wilderness, hold fast to God’s promise that “He will never leave your, nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).  He calls our heart His home with a promise to never leave, ever! 

So, hang in there. 

Something great is around the corner.