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*****Weekend of July 4th (2010)*****
I happened across a TV broadcast of a preacher talking about what it really means to live out the book of James and the calling of Jesus Christ. He mentioned that when going through religion that God finds no fault with (taking care of widows and orphans), he and his congregation started asking what this really meant.
So he decided to go to the local social services-foster care place and asked just how many families it would take to make sure every child had a home in their county/region. After being laughed at a few times, they finally replied "150 family units -- that will never happen"...
Well, the pastor went back to his church and shared the conversation. After much prayer, the pastor encouraged any family desiring to become a foster care provider to sign up -- amazingly, over 170 families signed up!
I share this story more for my benefit than yours probably, but it reminds me of a couple of powerful truths. As the church, we need to get out there and serve and not become "comfortable" with our in-house activities. Also, it reminds me that God is alive and well through the activities of His people -- we serve a God of miracles and we get a chance not only to see them daily, but to play a part in them as well.
What is God calling you to do? Where might He be calling you to go? Are you being challenged to get out of your comfort zone? If you truly can proclaim that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior -- get ready and hang on tight. God has something for you to do -- for His glory -- for eternity...
*****Week of May 17th (2010)*****
Another year is coming to a close, and I begin to wonder about what our kids have really learned this year. I know that academically they are well on their way to success, as over 90% of our current crew score above average on standardized testing. But that is the world's measuring stick of success. Is there something more important?
I would submit to you today to consider getting on God's standard of measurement, which begins by checking your heart and its "health" for Jesus Christ. Educating the mind without the heart leads to disappointment, but staying focused on God will always lead to eternal satisfaction -- now understand what this means -- not always "easy" but always worth it.
Are you focused on God's standard of and measurement for excellence for your life? It begins, and ends, with Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Keep Him first and you will always know you are a a success, no matter what the world tries to tell you.
*****Week of April 5th (2010)*****
Every morning we begin school at HCS with pledges to the American and Christian flags, the Bible and then we have group prayer as a school family. Recently, I have tried to encourage students to lead us in prayer (I don't always have to speak!) and one morning, one of our amazing 1st grade girls started her prayer something like this: "God, I hope you have a good day today..."
I'm not sure I have ever thought about giving God a good day -- seems to me that I am usually focused on having the good day for myself...
Here is my point. Do you know and realize the impact you have on others everyday, and do you know that your personal relationship extends right to your Heavenly Father? Why not strive (today and tomorrow) in giving God a "good day"?
He said you were worth it -- He is worth our (meager) best too!
Read 1 Corinthians 13 today and remember His love for your life.
*****Week of February 15th*****
My wife and I were blessed with a vacation trip away recently. Upon coming home, we received a phone call that a dear loved one of ours had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and that if we wanted to see them one last time we needed to go immediately and say good-bye before they were moved away to be with their family in another state for their remaining days...
Trouble and bad times never seem to take a holiday. No matter how much we wish to "escape completely" we will never find the complete haven of rest we desire to experience -- or can we?
Jesus seems to put out this invitation for a break from the grind of living when in Scripture he beckons "All who are weary and heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest." God knows that the load of life may seem overbearing and completely impossible to handle -- but it isn't -- IF you call on Jesus Christ to walk with, and He will carry you when you just cannot seem to go on. But the encouragement to all of us is to not wait until the load of life gets to heavy to bear, because that probably means we have been (or are) relying too much on our own strength -- and that will fail us every time...
My prayer for any reader this week would be simply this (from the famous gospel song) -- "Turn your eyes upon Jesus -- look full in His wonderful face -- then the things of earth will grow strangely dim -- in the light of His glory and grace." God wants you to rest in Him -- to rely on Him -- to have a relationship with Him -- will you?
***"Week of January 18th*****
Hard times can happen out of the blue. We can plan and prepare, and yet the best laid plans can fold in the blink of an eye. This year, I promised my family that I would on having more "fun" in my daily life with them. My wife and kids are the most important people in my life, hands down.
Yet, when I am at school, I consider students and staff as my "extended family", and I try my best to treat everyone with the love I give to my crew at home. Sometimes that "fun" does not translate very well -- and sometimes it is severely misinterpreted. Have you ever thought you were doing exactly what God told you to do, to only be "dressed down" as incompetent or a complete failure?
This scenario remindes me that while our actions speak louder than words, those words, when spoken -- can really alter a person's outlook on life. I am not perfect -- I am prone to error -- I know I need Jesus. Reflect on the words offered about your life recently, or those maybe you offered to someone else -- maybe you can/have come to this conclusion: You need the bumps to help you grow, you need the value of opinion to challenge you to move forward, and God may allow not-so-good-stuff to see where our character is really at.
Do you know that Jesus loves you? When you speak -- does it bless? When you offer constructive criticism -- does it give direction for growth? And when you react, what does it say about you? Hopefully, whether on the giving or receiving end, it points to and glorifies God.
***Week of January 4th***
I am so thankful for the "newness" that God blesses us with every year -- every day for that matter. I am not so sure I am into resoulutions very much -- they can be broken on a whim or at a moments notice. But as Scripture tells us, "His mercies are new (or fresh) every morning..." -- that kind of renewal just strikes me as amazing.
The living God, while knowing everything past, present and future that happened, is happening or ever will happen, seems to have as much excitement and expectation about each moment to come (obviously more) as we should and can have -- wow!
Are you excited about the "newness" of 2010? Are you excited to see what can become "fresh" in your life today? I encourage you to view life as a wonderful adventure and not a dreaded here-we-go-again or have-to experience -- your perspective, when shaped through God's lens, can become NEW and FRESH -- become ALIVE in the love of Jesus Christ tday!
***Week of December 4th***
One of our pre-school family mom's came to the office the other day with a very cute, powerful, yet simple story about what her child said concerning Jesus.
Apparently, this student was drinking a whole lot of water, and mom was concerned about drinking too much. When asking her student, "Why so much?" her student replied, "Mom, Jesus lives in my heart and I want to make sure He has enough to drink and doesn't get thirsty either."
Wow -- we have access to the "Living Water" every day, yet I wonder how often we consider the King of Kings actually living inside of us -- in our hearts! This true story just reminds me of what our children are learning each day -- from all of us!
Have you given Jesus a "drink of water" today? Have you spent time with Him? Is He really a part of your life? I sure hope so. And if there are moments when you feel despair or seem to be losing your faith, find a child who can simply, yet powerfully, remind you that Jesus can be with you today!
***Week of November 16th***
Thankfulness -- for my family. Thankfulness -- for my employment. Thankfulness -- for good friends and extended family. Thankfulness -- for a God who loves me unconditionally.
What can you say you are thankful for today? And beyond that, what can you say and mean that you are thankful for today? I think it has become easy to use words in this day and age, but rarely anymore do we see actions backing those words up.
If you are truly thankful -- show it -- share it -- live it. Then involve the people in your life in the "becoming thankful process". You might be suprised what your thankfulness may lead to, for someone else's sake -- and for God's glory.
***Week of October 25th***
Last week while coaching at a youth baseball game, I had the unfortunate "luck" of having a parent question my ability -- not just in coaching but about the perception that I wasn't quickly responsive to a little boy who took a groundball to the knee. To top it off, the parent wasn't real discrete about voicing their displeasure in front of a lot of people!
Well, I don't plead perfection, but this circumstance reminds me that as Christians we shouldn't be surprised when the world unleashes attackes on us. How the person treated me was uncomfortable, and I wish they would have handled things differently (but I would rather it happen to me than to someone else). I was stunned, to be honest, but I kept reminding myself during the attack that the person was worth Jesus, and that my actions in response were equally as important to those who witnessed the event.
I sure am praying for a positive outcome. While we all need accountability, we need to remember to take care of each other and to lift one another up -- the world seems to forget or ignore this -- and within the church body, while we should be much better at it, we still struggle with this as well. And unless we decide to take the world's "stuff", when or where will the cycles of brokenness end?
What are you living for today? Maybe the better question is, "Who are you living for today?" If the answer begins with Jesus, then I believe you are on the right road along the journey. If the answer starts anywhere else, I would challenge you to examine your life, your actions, and your heart. Because when difficulties arise, your integrity is challenged or your faith is tested, what are you going to do? How are you going to respond? And whom are you going to go to get the answers?
I have a suggestion for you -- go to Jesus Christ. Make Him your answer today.
Read Psalm 100
Footnote: I showed up at the next game, and the parent that was unkind did not speak to me -- but interestingly enough, God answered my prayer by sending good friends to help me coach -- God always answers our prayers, just sometimes in ways we don't expect. And it was really the most fun I've had at a game in along time!
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***Week of October 18th***
This week I had the special surprise of having my former ACSI Regional Director, David Bates, visit from South Dakota. He is a wonderful man of the Lord, and he is now living in Florida working with ACSI in ensuring that pre-school programs like ours at HCS maintain the highest standards of quality and excellence.
In the course of our conversation, and while revealing my prayer concerns-needs-list, Mr. Bates gave me the following verse for encouragement:
Isaiah 58:11, which says: "And the Lord will be your guide at all times; in dry places he will give you water in full measure, and will make strong your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like an ever-flowing spring."
I stand amazed at how God brings people into our lives at just the right time to bring us a word of encouragement. I will admit that there are times recently that I feel like I am traveling through "very dry places". Without going into enormous detail about my problems, I want to encourage anyone who is going through tough times to remember that the Lord loves you and wants to meet your deepest needs. How can we go wrong if we cast our lot entirely for Jesus Christ?
I do not believe the Lord promises an easy life once we declare ourselves to be His. Rather, I trust that in the intensely painful moments, He promises to be right there with me, loving me unconditionally and guarding my heart while in His care. Things may not always turn out the way I think they should (and that's not such a bad thing) -- and I pray that the Lord always has His way before mine. So while others may let us down and fail us, while love from most will grow cold or problems seem too hard to bear, the Lord Jesus Christ will never fail me, forsake me or turn His back on me.
I remember that as a little boy, my father, who worker for Delco Electronics/General Motors as a supervisor, had this saying on his desk at home:
God is Greater Than ANY Problem (you or) I Have.
God IS greater -- Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life -- the strength and peace you can find in the midst of the storms will pass all understanding if you just ask God to take control of your life today. Let go -- and let God.
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***Week of October 4th***
While teaching at Bradenton Christian School, I had the opportunity to coach Vasity Baseball for one season. I wish I could say great things about our record (4-21 if I remember correctly). But one thing I wanted to make sure of was that we always kept our testimony while on and off the field. So as the head coach, I asked our athletic director to copy the following verse reference on the left sleeve of our uniform:
I Corinthians 15:57
What does it say? Well, in the NIV it says this: "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
I wanted everyone to be focused on the fact that we were winners, even if the final score of most of our games did not reflect that. It is easy to become defeated daily by all sorts of things -- but keeping our eternal focus on the fact that we are victors in Jesus -- we have already won it all!
And to top it off, I still wear my coaches shirt periodically, and last week in a local store a gentleman asked me about that reference -- which led to the opportunity of sharing the verse and my heart briefly.
May we never forget that we are on the "winning team" with Jesus. Even when the world may be crashing in around us, even when we feel like we have lost it all, we share in Christ's victory -- the ultimate defeat of death and sin, and the promise of living together forever in the presence of God's perfect love.
You are a WINNER in Jesus Christ! (1 Cor. 15:57)
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