When I was in 7th grade I decided to run track. I tried football, but my small school in the sticks of South Arkansas did not have pads and helmets small enough to fit me. That made for a terrible football experience. I remember specifically one practice where the coach told me to run out 15 yards and then turn quickly and catch the ball. As I ran out and counted off 15 yards I turned my head to see the oncoming ball. The helmet was so big on my head that it did not turn all the way with my head. So since I could not see anything I most certainly did not see the football coming at me. Like I said, not a good experience.
I tried out basketball. Skinny white kid of average height. I know, I know, get to know the fundamentals. Learn to dribble the ball, pass, and shoot the ball. Well, no excuses. I just wasn't a good basketball player. I had plenty of time "riding the pine". The only time I actually got any playing time was when our team was either ahead by 50 points or behind by 50 points and the game was almost over. At that point there really wasn't anything I could do to influence the game in a negative way. Oh yeah? Well I made it my mission to leave my mark. Once there was only a minute left on the clock and my name was called up by the coach, I was in. My mission was clear; It wasn't to score 100 points to win the game, or to assist the guy that could. No, mine was much more sinister. I was going to foul out in a minute or less. Sometimes it worked and sometimes I only made the other players mad. Oh well, I gotta be me.
But you see, the problem was, I wasn't being me!
Let me explain. My brother, older than me by 4 years, was great at every sport he played. I grew up with my father telling me I had more natural talent than my brother. God bless my dad, he was great at encouraging me and speaking good and positive things into me, but more natural talent? Surely he was mistaken. I had plotted my course to follow in my brother's footsteps and do what he did well. You read previously how football and basketball went - not good. In our small school the only thing left was to run track. How hard could this be? All you had to do was run. Run! I was a younger brother - of course I knew how to run! I had been training for this my whole life running from an older brother! Now, what I haven't told you is that my brother was great at running the 800 meter, or for the layman, the half mile. In fact, the last 3 years of high school he made it to the state track meet and placed either 1st or 2nd each time! It occurred to me and the other coaches that Kevin Morrison's younger brother would be great at the half mile also.
I hated it. It was two full laps around the track and they were murder. I started running that race every year starting in 7th grade all the way through my sophomore year. Each year was terrible. I never did any good in that stupid race.
Fast forward to my junior year in High School. As a family we had moved to a new state and therefore a new school. Of course when track season came around I joined the team and guess what race I told the coach I wanted to run? Yep, the 800 meter. Why? That was all I knew, all I had ever run. I wasn't good at it but it was familiar and I had become comfortable being less than mediocre. Well this year all my friends were sprinters and after I would do my 800 workout I would join up with them and run the sprint workouts just for fun. After all, it was just a short distance. I also practiced with them the hand-offs for the relay when one of their team members had to be out or do something else.
I will never forget the track meet in Branson that season. It was probably about the 3rd meet of the season and I had been bugging coach to let me change races so that I could run with my friends and do sprints. He'd told me no because we had all the sprinters we needed and he wanted me to run the 800. Anyway, we were at the Branson meet and one of the sprinters on the relay team sprained his ankle. All my friends looked at me and asked me to replace him. We would obviously have to clear this with coach. We ran up the bleachers and begged him to let me run with the relay team. He was resistant at first, but realizing that he did not want the team to have to forfeit all of the relay races that night, he gave in and told me I could fill in on the second leg of the relay but just for that night. We ran down to the field and did a last minute practice run with our hand-offs to make sure we could pull it off. When it cam time for the race we all lined up and the butterflies went crazy in my stomach. I was totally used to track meets but this was different. I was excited to run. I didn't have that feeling of dread, knowing that I was going to be terrible and lose. I had something to prove here, something to win for. Well the gun went off that the race begin. I remember standing on the other side of the field watching our first leg runner race around the corner coming towards me to hand off the baton. This was real. This was really happening and I was going to have to take off in a matter of seconds. It all comes down to this. I had to concentrate, take off at just the right time and give it my all. The runner hit the mark I had established and I turned to face down the track and took off. Half a second later I heard him shout "Hand!" and I shot out my left hand behind my back to receive the baton as he handed the race to me. I grabbed it and ran on my toes as hard as I could for 100 yards. The whole time there was no one beside me - we were winning! I handed off the baton perfectly and then watched the remaining two legs of our relay team as they brought us a first place. What was this? We won? We won! I had been part of this and we won! I ran across the field to the finish line and rejoiced with my teammates. When I found out our times I learned that I had run a faster time that the sprinter I replaced! What was this?! I was actually good at something, and a sporting event at that! I ran up to the bleachers, looked at my coach who had been watching and said, "Can I run sprints now?!" He slowly nodded his head with a sly grin and said yes.
Now, you've read through that whole story just so I could tell you this - The whole time up until then, for the previous 4 years, I had been running someone else's race. I had not been running my race. I had not searched out where I was supposed to be. I had just assumed that what someone else had done before me was exactly what I was supposed to do. And because of that I had not reached my potential. I had become comfortable with being less that mediocre and accepted that as my fate. It wasn't until I had stepped into my own race and actually started running it did I realize what my race was. Then I was able to find joy and a sense of accomplishment in the race that I ran.
Let me ask you: Are you running someone else's race? Have you settled for less than mediocre? Do you need to start running your own race today?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Be still
Have you ever had a parent or a teacher tell you to be still? It used to happen to me on a daily basis when I was growing up. I just hated to not be moving around doing something. There was always something to do or look at or break or take apart or see how it works or find out what kind of sound it made. Something. Or how about sitting? I hated to sit somewhere with nothing to do!
Sometimes that's how life treats us. It never seems to leave well enough alone. If things are going easy and well, then just wait a minute and somehow it can get all turned upside down.It seems that life can be just like I was as a little kid. It wants to break or take apart or see how we work or even what kind of sound we can make when we get squeezed or stressed out. Life never seems to leave us alone. That's good and, well, not necessarily bad, but can be a little scary sometimes. That's the thing about life, always moving whether we want it to or not, good and bad.
Mark 4:35-41
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Notice a couple of things here:
Jesus doesn't get scared (verse 38). When things get hectic and scary in your life, Jesus ain't scared. He is always in control.
Jesus told the weather to be still (verse 39). Different translations of the Bible say Hush, Quiet, Silence, but my favorite version says "Peace, be still."
Do you need Jesus to declare peace in your life and tell it to be still? Do you know someone else that needs peace? Take a moment and pray that Jesus would call that out over your life or someone else you may know that needs peace.
Sometimes that's how life treats us. It never seems to leave well enough alone. If things are going easy and well, then just wait a minute and somehow it can get all turned upside down.It seems that life can be just like I was as a little kid. It wants to break or take apart or see how we work or even what kind of sound we can make when we get squeezed or stressed out. Life never seems to leave us alone. That's good and, well, not necessarily bad, but can be a little scary sometimes. That's the thing about life, always moving whether we want it to or not, good and bad.
Mark 4:35-41
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Notice a couple of things here:
Jesus doesn't get scared (verse 38). When things get hectic and scary in your life, Jesus ain't scared. He is always in control.
Jesus told the weather to be still (verse 39). Different translations of the Bible say Hush, Quiet, Silence, but my favorite version says "Peace, be still."
Do you need Jesus to declare peace in your life and tell it to be still? Do you know someone else that needs peace? Take a moment and pray that Jesus would call that out over your life or someone else you may know that needs peace.
Friday, September 30, 2011
What's your job?
Did you know we all have a job? Your job is in your home, where you live, to keep order and to serve. After all, isn’t that all of our jobs? So what is expected of you? What are some of your chores? Do you get paid for your chores?
Growing up I had to clean my room, help put away the dishes, I didn’t have to do my own laundry but I did have to put it away. And then I had to cut the grass.
In Ephesians 6:1-3 it says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
It says that if you honor your parents (and what they say and obey) then things will go well for you. I’m not gonna ask because we all want things to go well for us. Nobody likes to have bad days.
Notice that it also says to obey "because you belong to the Lord." You don't belong to yourself anymore.
Luke 9:23-24
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Take up your cross and get rid of selfishness. Selfishness has no place in the Kingdom, and in your heart. This is something I have been convicted of lately. When you have selfish motives and selfish ways, the Lord really can’t use you.
Take some time to meditate on these scriptures and if this has been an area where you mess up then ask the Lord for forgiveness. Think about the commitment you made to Him when you got saved and give up your selfishness to Him. Die to your own selfish desires and as it says, carry your cross not just today, but everyday.
Growing up I had to clean my room, help put away the dishes, I didn’t have to do my own laundry but I did have to put it away. And then I had to cut the grass.
In Ephesians 6:1-3 it says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
It says that if you honor your parents (and what they say and obey) then things will go well for you. I’m not gonna ask because we all want things to go well for us. Nobody likes to have bad days.
Notice that it also says to obey "because you belong to the Lord." You don't belong to yourself anymore.
Luke 9:23-24
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Take up your cross and get rid of selfishness. Selfishness has no place in the Kingdom, and in your heart. This is something I have been convicted of lately. When you have selfish motives and selfish ways, the Lord really can’t use you.
Take some time to meditate on these scriptures and if this has been an area where you mess up then ask the Lord for forgiveness. Think about the commitment you made to Him when you got saved and give up your selfishness to Him. Die to your own selfish desires and as it says, carry your cross not just today, but everyday.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Art Work
I have 2 young children and they love to create "art work" for me and my wife. Sometimes it's really cool and sometimes it's just scribbles. But we are all very proud of it and I am especially proud to get the art that is made specifically for me. It will probably never bring millions of dollars and not be appreciated by anyone else other than me and their mom.
Did you know that you are the art work of God? Did you know that as your father in heaven (Matt 6:26) God is the one that appreciates you the most?
Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Yes, God sees you as wonderful and beautiful! After all, He made you in His image! God's image! You are a work of art fashioned after God.
Genesis 1:26a, 27
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.
27 So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Today, stop believing any lie that says you are ugly or that God made a mistake when He made you. He knew exactly what He was doing when He created and fashioned you. Maybe others can't appreciate your beauty, but He is amazed by you and is so proud of you. Spend time thinking about these scriptures and asking God what He loves most about you today.
Did you know that you are the art work of God? Did you know that as your father in heaven (Matt 6:26) God is the one that appreciates you the most?
Psalm 139:14 says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Yes, God sees you as wonderful and beautiful! After all, He made you in His image! God's image! You are a work of art fashioned after God.
Genesis 1:26a, 27
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.
27 So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Today, stop believing any lie that says you are ugly or that God made a mistake when He made you. He knew exactly what He was doing when He created and fashioned you. Maybe others can't appreciate your beauty, but He is amazed by you and is so proud of you. Spend time thinking about these scriptures and asking God what He loves most about you today.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Selfish
Confession time: I am a selfish person. Now, if you know me, depending on how well you know me, you might be saying "Well duh, I could'a told ya that!". Some that think they know me very well might be saying, "No. Now come on you're just being hard on yourself." Truth is, if you were inside my head, you'd be shaking yours. Why? Because as I said, I'm a selfish person. I asked the Lord tonight why I'm so selfish and He gave a quick and honest reply; "You need to die to self. You're saved, but you need to die to your self, daily." That means every day. That also means that there are days, seasons even when I've died to my 'self', but it does not seem to me that this is one of those seasons. Galatians puts it bluntly and beautifully:
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:16, 17, 19-23 NLT)
Wow. Convicting. Ask yourself the hard question right now (it slapped me in the face!), on the inside of you, which nature is predominant? Which one needs to be?
Lord, I choose today, right now to die to my 'self' and to live unselfishly, to live according to your Spirit. I ask that the fruit of the Spirit would grow more and more each day in my life so that it is so evident as I serve others for the sake of your kingdom. Christ Jesus I belong to you so I crucify the sinful nature in my life, and choose to live by your Spirit. Amen.
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:16, 17, 19-23 NLT)
Wow. Convicting. Ask yourself the hard question right now (it slapped me in the face!), on the inside of you, which nature is predominant? Which one needs to be?
Lord, I choose today, right now to die to my 'self' and to live unselfishly, to live according to your Spirit. I ask that the fruit of the Spirit would grow more and more each day in my life so that it is so evident as I serve others for the sake of your kingdom. Christ Jesus I belong to you so I crucify the sinful nature in my life, and choose to live by your Spirit. Amen.
Monday, August 29, 2011
A New Season
So here I am, facing what feels like a new season in life. I am somewhat confused because I don't know why it would be any different than the other seasons of my life, but it sure does feel like it.
First of all, personally, things are a little different at home. My wife has decided to homeschool my 5 year old daughter, so that changes a few dynamics there. But I also have felt a little sluggish since camp. I did not get much sleep at all during camp, but that's not really any different from any other year. The thing is though, I have not been the same since camp. I have stopped going to the gym to work out for the last month (although I started going back today) and I think that has put me through some changes. Has it only been a month? Feels longer than that. Oh well. Anyway, I am trying to get back on track with that.
There have been some changes at work - good changes. We have added a new position to my department so we are getting more work done. At least we should be. I don't know if we have learned how to be efficient with these changes though. I am trying to structure myself and my work week a little bit better.
Change is hard sometimes. But I am willing to give it a go. I will not, however, say that I am going to try and blog everyday because that will jinx me...
First of all, personally, things are a little different at home. My wife has decided to homeschool my 5 year old daughter, so that changes a few dynamics there. But I also have felt a little sluggish since camp. I did not get much sleep at all during camp, but that's not really any different from any other year. The thing is though, I have not been the same since camp. I have stopped going to the gym to work out for the last month (although I started going back today) and I think that has put me through some changes. Has it only been a month? Feels longer than that. Oh well. Anyway, I am trying to get back on track with that.
There have been some changes at work - good changes. We have added a new position to my department so we are getting more work done. At least we should be. I don't know if we have learned how to be efficient with these changes though. I am trying to structure myself and my work week a little bit better.
Change is hard sometimes. But I am willing to give it a go. I will not, however, say that I am going to try and blog everyday because that will jinx me...
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Empowered
If you could have any super power what would it be?
Why?
Philip
Acts 8:39
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
I’ve always wanted to fly. Had dreams about it. Why can’t we fly?
Example, fly like a bird. We don’t have a birds traits or build or equipment, but might try to fly because we saw one do it and got inspired. Just being inspired does not empower. That’s not who we are.
The person that you think you are, the identity you assume, will determine what you do and how you treat others. God wants you to know who you really are. The problem is we already think we know.
When I was in Jr. High, my identity was wrapped up in being Kevin’s little brother. Since my brother was popular, and a lot of the girls liked him, I assumed the identity that took on his persona. I was relaxed around people, felt confident around girls, and if there ever was doubt, I just told people who I was. It was great. It opened all kinds of doors for me. It even determined how others looked at me and the kind of person I was, even if I really never opened my mouth around them. That was the identity I took on. It empowered me to do things that I may not otherwise have thought I could do. It was a built in ability. The identity created friends. It gave me an instant inroad to talk to girls that were older than me and that I knew were out of my league. I didn’t care, I didn’t have to worry about that. I knew I was Kevin’s little brother, and they needed to know that too.
Ephesians 1:4-6
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Galatians 1:15
15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me[e] so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
I’m gonna ask you a question: Who are you? How does that define what you do, what you say, and how you act around people? We naturally live, act, operate out of an overflow of who we think we are.
I will ask you again, who are you? Do you know?
You see, we let people and circumstances define our identity. Loser. Ugly. Flirt. Dumb Jock. Insignificant. Invisible. Proud. Scared. Insecure. Rich. Poor. Intelligence that creates crazy expectations. How we see ourselves skews how we look at the world, how we see God. What we do or do not do.
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Why?
Philip
Acts 8:39
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
I’ve always wanted to fly. Had dreams about it. Why can’t we fly?
Example, fly like a bird. We don’t have a birds traits or build or equipment, but might try to fly because we saw one do it and got inspired. Just being inspired does not empower. That’s not who we are.
The person that you think you are, the identity you assume, will determine what you do and how you treat others. God wants you to know who you really are. The problem is we already think we know.
When I was in Jr. High, my identity was wrapped up in being Kevin’s little brother. Since my brother was popular, and a lot of the girls liked him, I assumed the identity that took on his persona. I was relaxed around people, felt confident around girls, and if there ever was doubt, I just told people who I was. It was great. It opened all kinds of doors for me. It even determined how others looked at me and the kind of person I was, even if I really never opened my mouth around them. That was the identity I took on. It empowered me to do things that I may not otherwise have thought I could do. It was a built in ability. The identity created friends. It gave me an instant inroad to talk to girls that were older than me and that I knew were out of my league. I didn’t care, I didn’t have to worry about that. I knew I was Kevin’s little brother, and they needed to know that too.
Ephesians 1:4-6
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
Galatians 1:15
15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me[e] so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
I’m gonna ask you a question: Who are you? How does that define what you do, what you say, and how you act around people? We naturally live, act, operate out of an overflow of who we think we are.
I will ask you again, who are you? Do you know?
You see, we let people and circumstances define our identity. Loser. Ugly. Flirt. Dumb Jock. Insignificant. Invisible. Proud. Scared. Insecure. Rich. Poor. Intelligence that creates crazy expectations. How we see ourselves skews how we look at the world, how we see God. What we do or do not do.
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Set Free
Tangled – great movie, but it has a great story for us today. Do you remember the story of Rapunzel? Let me tell you how they portrayed it in the movie.
She was taken when she was a baby for her magical hair and kept in a tower for 18 years. She was the child of the king and queen, but did not know it and the woman that captured her and kept her prisoner under the pretense that it was just too dangerous out in the world. She finally sets out and explores the world and finds out that who she really is.
Many of us have been told that we are someone we are not. The problem is when we believe a lie. Trapped in a tower of lies and told we can’t leave because it will just be too painful.
Galatians 5:7
7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.
The problem is that it is more painful not knowing who we really are, and some of us hope and wish that the lies we believe weren’t true. We even fantasize about fitting in, being accepted and loved for who we really are on the inside. Do you know who you really are? Odds are you don’t. Some of you have been lied to for a long time. Today it’s time for you to learn the truth and be set free.
John 8:31-36
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Jesus says the Truth will set you free. Now, there are two parts here that I want to explain to you.
1. Slaves to sin.
You see, sin separates us from God. It keeps us from being and knowing who He created us to be. So, when He says knowing the truth will set us free, He is talking about knowing Him. Knowing Jesus, really knowing Jesus, is to be in relationship with him and knowing Him as Lord and Savior, so that He can save us from our sins and set us free. Notice how he talks about a slave not being part of the family but a son is? To receive Jesus into your life is to receive the gift of adoption, thus bringing you into His family.
Ephesians 1:4-8
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
2. Slaves to lies.
You were not created to be a slave! God CHOSE you to be part of his family before the world even began! Remember in the story that Rapunzel was really a princess, royalty, but she didn’t know it because she was lied to all her life? Some of you believe lies – that no one, not even God loves you, that you aren’t accepted, that you are stupid, unwanted, ugly, that you are just too bad or that you have gone too far and that you can’t do anything right. Some of you struggle with the same sin over and over and you think that God just doesn’t want to mess with you anymore because you are a lost cause. Those are all lies. You need to know the truth about who you really are. You are the son, the daughter of the king. You have been chosen and adopted. Today it’s time to know truth, because the truth will set you free.
She was taken when she was a baby for her magical hair and kept in a tower for 18 years. She was the child of the king and queen, but did not know it and the woman that captured her and kept her prisoner under the pretense that it was just too dangerous out in the world. She finally sets out and explores the world and finds out that who she really is.
Many of us have been told that we are someone we are not. The problem is when we believe a lie. Trapped in a tower of lies and told we can’t leave because it will just be too painful.
Galatians 5:7
7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.
The problem is that it is more painful not knowing who we really are, and some of us hope and wish that the lies we believe weren’t true. We even fantasize about fitting in, being accepted and loved for who we really are on the inside. Do you know who you really are? Odds are you don’t. Some of you have been lied to for a long time. Today it’s time for you to learn the truth and be set free.
John 8:31-36
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
Jesus says the Truth will set you free. Now, there are two parts here that I want to explain to you.
1. Slaves to sin.
You see, sin separates us from God. It keeps us from being and knowing who He created us to be. So, when He says knowing the truth will set us free, He is talking about knowing Him. Knowing Jesus, really knowing Jesus, is to be in relationship with him and knowing Him as Lord and Savior, so that He can save us from our sins and set us free. Notice how he talks about a slave not being part of the family but a son is? To receive Jesus into your life is to receive the gift of adoption, thus bringing you into His family.
Ephesians 1:4-8
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
2. Slaves to lies.
You were not created to be a slave! God CHOSE you to be part of his family before the world even began! Remember in the story that Rapunzel was really a princess, royalty, but she didn’t know it because she was lied to all her life? Some of you believe lies – that no one, not even God loves you, that you aren’t accepted, that you are stupid, unwanted, ugly, that you are just too bad or that you have gone too far and that you can’t do anything right. Some of you struggle with the same sin over and over and you think that God just doesn’t want to mess with you anymore because you are a lost cause. Those are all lies. You need to know the truth about who you really are. You are the son, the daughter of the king. You have been chosen and adopted. Today it’s time to know truth, because the truth will set you free.
Love
He loves us. Yep, we've all heard the song, probably sung it a few hundred times. When I think about this song and the original singer/songwriter, I think of my good friend Chris Kuykendall that first told me about him and directed me to his music on iTunes. Chris passed away from a car accident a year ago May 11 and I still think of him constantly. Everyone who knew Chris misses him. We sang this song at Chris' funeral.
Here is the story behind the song, and the guy that originally wrote it; John Mark McMillan.
Here is the story behind the song, and the guy that originally wrote it; John Mark McMillan.
Friday, January 21, 2011
can't stop
So I don't find it very fair that my brain tends to go really deep when it's late and I'm in bed and I'm trying to go to sleep. Nevertheless, that's where I find myself tonight. I should be dead tired and falling asleep quite easily.
Last night right after my wife went upstairs to go to bed, I was downstairs in the kitchen cleaning out the humidifier. She told me that she was feeling a bit under the weather and with running the heat I thought it would help a little to run the humidifier. So, as I was in the kitchen, a little 4 yr old (my oldest daughter) came peeking around the corner. She had already been in bed for a couple of hours so I asked her what she was doing up. "I need a drink of water." I told her ok but it was gonna be just a minute while I was finishing up what I was doing. That was fine by her so she sat down on the floor just at the entry of the kitchen. As I was finishing up, I heard a strange noise from her and looked over. She looked at me with a playful look on her face and I thought she was just making cute little noises with her mouth. I turned away to finish up and just a few seconds later she spewed. All over the floor. Well I overreacted like I usually do and said something like, "Oh wow! Oh man, wow! There it is!" to which my wife called down asking what happened. When I didn't answer she quickly came downstairs just in time to see her first born unload for a second time on the tile floor.
Throughout the night my oldest child threw up multiple times, keeping all three of us up most of the evening and early morning. We were scheduled to go out of town today and visit grandparents and great grandparents, but now that was out of the question. I have a strict "do not travel with vomiting children" policy. So we stayed at home and did nothing - it was great. Except that most of mine and my wife's attention was spent watching a close eye on my 4 yr old to make sure we heard not gurgling sounds and feeding her very bland and safe food.
We made it through the day and most took naps, well all took naps but I took the shortest at about 30 minutes. I don't really feel like I accomplished anything today, but I did spend some QT with the fam.
Last night right after my wife went upstairs to go to bed, I was downstairs in the kitchen cleaning out the humidifier. She told me that she was feeling a bit under the weather and with running the heat I thought it would help a little to run the humidifier. So, as I was in the kitchen, a little 4 yr old (my oldest daughter) came peeking around the corner. She had already been in bed for a couple of hours so I asked her what she was doing up. "I need a drink of water." I told her ok but it was gonna be just a minute while I was finishing up what I was doing. That was fine by her so she sat down on the floor just at the entry of the kitchen. As I was finishing up, I heard a strange noise from her and looked over. She looked at me with a playful look on her face and I thought she was just making cute little noises with her mouth. I turned away to finish up and just a few seconds later she spewed. All over the floor. Well I overreacted like I usually do and said something like, "Oh wow! Oh man, wow! There it is!" to which my wife called down asking what happened. When I didn't answer she quickly came downstairs just in time to see her first born unload for a second time on the tile floor.
Throughout the night my oldest child threw up multiple times, keeping all three of us up most of the evening and early morning. We were scheduled to go out of town today and visit grandparents and great grandparents, but now that was out of the question. I have a strict "do not travel with vomiting children" policy. So we stayed at home and did nothing - it was great. Except that most of mine and my wife's attention was spent watching a close eye on my 4 yr old to make sure we heard not gurgling sounds and feeding her very bland and safe food.
We made it through the day and most took naps, well all took naps but I took the shortest at about 30 minutes. I don't really feel like I accomplished anything today, but I did spend some QT with the fam.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Safe Place to Fail
I find myself using these four words more often these days. But the question remains, do you have a safe place to fail?
Let me explain. I fancy myself in the business of training people. I say to them that I want to provide for them a safe place to fail. Hopefully this takes a little of the pressure to be perfect off of them and my expectations. Is anyone perfect? No. Am I? Not always. Ha! That's a joke. Anyway, I actually stole this saying from Brady Boyd years ago when he was leading a small group for men early on Thursday mornings at Gateway Church. He was talking about hearing God and lifting each other up. He explained that many times we don't speak into other people's lives because we are afraid we will get it wrong, so we just don't say anything. He went on to say that that small group was, say it with me now, a safe place to fail. He urged us to all have a little grace with each other and really try to hear God and use what we felt we heard from God to speak into each others lives and encourage each other.
Now I use that phrase when talking to people about ministry. I recently said it to my intern about my expectations of him. I told him that I expect him to screw up. Not screw up like you just killed a kid, but screw up like you said something the wrong way to a parent or a volunteer. I want to provide an atmosphere for him where he gets his hands dirty and learns how to make decisions and gets some experience. I don't give all the control, just enough to make him sweat for it. When he does mess up a little, it's a safe place for me to come alongside him and talk about it and analyze what went wrong. I don't dismiss it, I discuss it. It's not necessarily confrontation and it's not awkward. It's working through it. Then I set higher expectations because of his newly added experience.
A safe place to fail. I love it. My boss does it for me and it creates a lot more freedom to be me and make decisions. I get to celebrate the successes and learn from the failures. Create some safe places for the people in your life.
Let me explain. I fancy myself in the business of training people. I say to them that I want to provide for them a safe place to fail. Hopefully this takes a little of the pressure to be perfect off of them and my expectations. Is anyone perfect? No. Am I? Not always. Ha! That's a joke. Anyway, I actually stole this saying from Brady Boyd years ago when he was leading a small group for men early on Thursday mornings at Gateway Church. He was talking about hearing God and lifting each other up. He explained that many times we don't speak into other people's lives because we are afraid we will get it wrong, so we just don't say anything. He went on to say that that small group was, say it with me now, a safe place to fail. He urged us to all have a little grace with each other and really try to hear God and use what we felt we heard from God to speak into each others lives and encourage each other.
Now I use that phrase when talking to people about ministry. I recently said it to my intern about my expectations of him. I told him that I expect him to screw up. Not screw up like you just killed a kid, but screw up like you said something the wrong way to a parent or a volunteer. I want to provide an atmosphere for him where he gets his hands dirty and learns how to make decisions and gets some experience. I don't give all the control, just enough to make him sweat for it. When he does mess up a little, it's a safe place for me to come alongside him and talk about it and analyze what went wrong. I don't dismiss it, I discuss it. It's not necessarily confrontation and it's not awkward. It's working through it. Then I set higher expectations because of his newly added experience.
A safe place to fail. I love it. My boss does it for me and it creates a lot more freedom to be me and make decisions. I get to celebrate the successes and learn from the failures. Create some safe places for the people in your life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)