What - Who?

The “what” of our future is determined by the “Who” of eternity.

A Slippery Road

For years I lived in North Missouri and the winters there can be atrocious. I traveled with a singing group for a number of years and we had an old Greyhound bus we drove around the country to our concerts.

One night while driving home in a snow storm at Hamilton, MO- I hit a patch of ice and spun the bus around. I cannot explain the helplessness I felt as I held on to the steering wheel and that 35 foot long, 8 feet wide, 10 feet tall, 10 tons vehicle circled around me. I remember thinking I was doing well driving in that mess until the tires broke loose on the ice. At that moment all I could say is OHHHHHHHHH! At that moment I realized I really needed God.

Why do we sometimes try to go it alone in life when at every moment we have access to God? In Gen. 28:15 He said: “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go.” And, He assures us: in Heb. 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Let me encourage you today to not go it alone. As God to go with you, direct you and clear the slippery path before you.

The Mundane

Max Lucado is quoted as saying, "Make it a point to seek God even in the mundane tasks of your life."

I have learned that if I seek God I can and will find Him everywhere.

Jesus must increase; I must decrease.

Jesus must increase; I must decrease.

It is human nature to want to be recognized for our accomplishments. He was first, she was the best, and so on. I think that is ok but sometimes we do thing simply for the recognition and that really isn’t right. So many times we try to determine who deserves the most credit when something is done well and that is often counterproductive

If you remember the church at Corinth was split into two factions—those who followed Paul, and those who followed Apollos. The apostle Paul told them, “I planted, Apollos watered . . . . Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters” (1 Cor. 3:7). He reminded them that they were “God’s fellow workers” (v.9), and it is God who gives the increase in ministry (v.7).

I like this verse by Horton that says:
Let others have the honors,
The glory, and the fame;
I seek to follow Jesus
And glory in His name.

When we become so concerned about who deserves the credit, it serves only to take away the honor and glory that belong to Christ Jesus alone.

You Gotta Have Faith

I have always been a man of faith. I believe God has a plan for my life and that if I am obedient and faithful to him He will bless and prosper me. I was asked the other day what if you faith fails you? What happens when you don’t see God’s blessings or when what you ask for doesn’t happen?

This has happened to me before and through that experience I have learned that our greatest tests come when we cannot see positive results from our faith and obedience. When that happens we must die to our expectations and entrust them to our Lord. After all, He knows what is best for you.

Servant's Attitude

We are blessed at Santa Fe Christian Church to have so many people with servant’s hearts. I watched at a recent meal time as someone, probably a child, dropped a piece of cake on the floor and walked away. I spotted the food and didn’t want someone to slip on it so I went to find a paper towel to pick it up. As I returned I noticed a woman, who has no small children, bend down and pick up the mess.

No one cheered; no one applauded her, as a matter of fact probably no one but me even noticed. I never said anything to her either, but I sure noted her humbleness and servants attitude. I noticed, but I know that God noticed too. Remember, no deed is too small when done for Christ.

God Never Closes Shop

Psalm 92:1-2 (KJV)

1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Driving by a darken business late one night I saw a flashing sign that said “Open.” It was obvious that the store was closed and someone forgot to turn the sign off. When reading this scripture I was reminded that God never closes shop. He is open to us 24-7-365. Anytime is a good time to thank and praise Him.

Perfect Conditions

Eccl 11:4 NKJV
4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Eccl 11:4 MSG
Don't sit there watching the wind. Do your own work. Don't stare at the clouds. Get on with your life.

Eccl 11:4 NLT
4 If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.

I love to look at different translations of the Bible to compare one with the other. In doing so I find that clarity often comes.

The other day I began cleaning out my garage. Wow, what a mess. I have put it off for months waiting for the right time, “the perfect conditions.” I realized it is never the right time to clean a messy garage. However, I started and quickly realized it was a multi-day job and I needed some shelving and totes to store stuff in. The bottom line is I started and now I can actually walk around in the garage and find what I need.

Rick Warren says, “God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention."

Time Management

As a corporate trainer I was asked at times to do a session on time management. It is amazing how much you can get done in a day if you plan your work and work your plan. What I have found is that if I really want to maximize my time I will first pray and ask God to help me with my organizational and though processes. Let me encourage you with this if you want make the most of your time, first take time to pray.

Conviction - God's Warning Light

The other day the “check engine” light in my car came on. When that happens; I immediately see a $1000 bill in my future. Knowing that, I decided to drive it for a while. Every day I would get in my car and try to ignore that little yellow light. I’m sure it is my imagination but it seemed to get brighter with each passing day. Finally it got to me and I took the car in for service. I realized that I need to pay attention to warning lights that are trying to get my attention—they can mean something is wrong.

Conviction is God’s warning light.

I ask you this question today, “What warning lights are flashing in your life?” What needs to be tuned up or repaired through confession and repentance? God has time for you today. You can get into Him with no appointment needed.

THE BIBLE

I believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, Word of God. It is more than just a historical relic. It is alive and how we encounter the Lord and discover how to live for Him and honor Him. I consider it a privilege to be able to seek God in His Word each day.

I have heard it said, “To know Christ, the Living Word, is to love the Bible, the written Word.”

Giving is a Form of Worship

At Santa Fe Christian Church I have said many times that we worship God in various forms and ways. We worship in music, prayer, communion, scripture readings and giving . . . yes, giving.

I have tried to stress to our people that giving of tithes and offerings is a form of worship. Many have caught on and give joyfully, and generously. Others haven’t really grasped the concept of worship through giving.

For me it has never been about the amount people give, it is really about the attitude of the heart toward giving. Remember this, God looks at the heart, not the hand; the giver, not the gift.

Anger

Ephesians 4:26

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

I had a professor in Bible School said this scripture was one that helped keep his marriage together. He humorously added that he had many sleepless nights down through the years.

Sometimes anger calls our attention to an injustice that needs to be addressed, and appropriately so and we are spurred to righteous action. Most of the time, however, our anger is ignited by the violation of our selfish expectations, rights, and privileges.

Anger is a human emotion that God made into each and every one of us. Anger is not a bad thing, but one thing is sure, anger was never intended to continue unchecked.

An Ordinary You

During a recent sermon series called “What God Can Do Through An Ordinary You” I said that when God looks at an individual, He looks at their future, not their past. He is always looking at the person He has created you to become, not the person you are now.
As with Noah, Moses and even King David it took years for them to move into their area of service. Many times people miss God’s plan for their life because they cannot see themselves moving into that role.

Let me ask you this today, “How does God view your life? What is the destiny He has chosen you to fulfill?"

Remember that God see’s your potential. You can do something significant for Him. Just be willing, obedient, patient, and available, and God will use even and Ordinary You!

Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide.

Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide.

I know not by what methods rare
The Lord provides for me;
I only know that all my needs
He meets so graciously. —Adams

Jesus said, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8). Peter wrote that we can cast all our cares upon Jesus, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

He is constantly caring for and seeking the best for us—a reminder that in times of hardship, need, and fear, we have someone who cares. Isn’t it wonderful that we can turn to Him in our time of need?

We Build People

For a number of years I was in corporate management. I had a warehouse manager that would always say, “People are important; take care of your people and they will do anything for you.” A friend of mine who pastors told me his church motto is, “We Build People.”

My life’s philosophy is “to leave it better than you found it.” That includes people. I have tried to invest a lot of my time in building, training, mentoring and encouraging people. My goal is to bring out a person’s best and help them grow, and to become what God made them to be.

Imagine the impact you could have if you would commit yourself to being a people-builder. You have a lot to give. So today let me encourage you to give to building people and in turn your life will be greatly enriched as well.