Attic Prayer

We've been talking about praying in crisis mode. We had the perfect example in small group tonight. A man in our group talked about his experience with Hurricane Ivan. Water rose so quickly at his house that he and his wife and some neighbors ended up in the attic. I asked him if he was praying "now I lay me down to sleep" prayers or " thank you for the food" kind of prayers; and of course we know the answer. So, if you need to know how to pray "I'm in a crisis crying out to God" kind of prayer; imagine yourself in the attic with rising water praying to the good Lord to call back the waters. ---Of course, his story didn't end there; God made amazing provisions like only God can do...when we cry out. How well do you know Him? We can experientially know God in a new way through crisis. Don't discount the crises in your life.

Who Cares?

Warning: this is a sport's take so if that's not your bag you can pass on this one. (I just have to let it out every now and then.)
We just kept battling...we just kept chipping away...we just kept working...---just a few words you often hear from champions. (recently NBA, CWS)
It's funny how the NFLPA and the NFL representatives keep meeting secretly in different cities to solve their CBA (Greed Agreement). They would save time by staying in one city, in one hotel and carving out an agreement. Fans aren't going to stay loyal.
Who really cares, but Tiger ought to just sit out this year and get his head together and let his knee heal.
Play like you mean it.
Preach like you mean it.
Pray like you mean it.

Experientially Know God Thru Crisis

Crisis offers us the opportunity to know God in a way we never knew Him before. Are you satisfied with how well you know God? Is He faraway to you? Is He just a story book God to you? There is purpose in crisis. Here are five things to do to get you unstuck and to help you know God in a greater or more intimate way.

1.Identify the Crisis

2.Be honest that you've tried everything but crying out to God kind of prayer.

3.Pray like you've really ticked some people off, they're chasing you and now you're trapped with no way out---your life is in danger.

4. As God delivers you, stop and admire the moment. Be still and know God.

5. Give praise and be loyal to the God who loves you so much to deliver you.

The same God that fought for Israel (Ex.14:14) will fight for you. Be still.

<> Do these things or stay stuck where you've been the last year, 5, 10, 20 years.

I hope you'll do this. God will change your world.

For more: listen to "Unstuck"

http://livingtruthchurch.com/podcasts.htm

The Young&Restless, and the Old&Weary

Eleven years in the Pastorate and thirty years in ministry combined puts one in a place where they've seen a lot of stuff to celebrate and a lot of heartache. I have noticed a disturbing trend the last ten years. Not only are marriages failing at what was commonly known as the "seven year itch", but now it's 15, 25, and 35 years. People are quitting on the promise. That is sad, because on the day of the wedding it is such a jubilant time (not the stress stuff!). The one thing that is a constant need in marriages is "it takes work." It takes work to keep the commitment the two love birds made at their wedding whether it's been 5, 25, or even 35 years. I require couples to go through four counseling sessions before I will marry them. Some pastors do more and some do less. Oh, they can play games and fake me out through the counseling, but it does them no good. Unfortunately, we know as we marry a couple that in today's climate there is a 50-50 chance they stay together. I don't like those odds. Marriage is about love, but it is even more about a commitment. We are saying to one another that we are going to go through this journey of life together forever. We even say words to that effect in our vows. But to keep that commitment takes work along the way. I know that doesn't sound romantic, but you know it's true. There is a give and take that has to take place as the years pass by and continues as a habit. The sweet old couples you see on the swing-set in their golden days know that. The man will do anything in the early days (even go to church) if he knows that will make her happy. The woman will do anything (no example, I'm not a woman) if she knows that will make him happy. But as time goes, LIFE HAPPENS all around us (work, sickness, schedules, babies, etc.) like in everything else in life we are tempted to go back to our "default" status which is selfish. If life were a canoe ride, we start paddling different directions and run into stuff or flip the canoe over. Or we stop paddling at all and things become stagnant. ----Whether you are among the Young and Restless (5-10 year itch), or the Old and Weary (20-30 year itch) there is something you need to know. As a pastor I'm speaking mostly to followers of Jesus, but this wisdom could be passed on to those that don't know Christ yet. There is a force out their that wants to divide and conquer relationships. As a church body we are fully aware that Satan does his best work when he causes "in-fighting". His plan is to divide and conquer. Similarly, the family is the basic relationship unit, and was initiated by God. If Satan and his cronies can break up families, then he is mocking God. Aren't most marriage ceremonies enveloped in promises, God, and forever? If Satan can break up a promise, he has succeeded on the day. I just want to cast a light on why marriage is hard at times. It's not always that way. It's funny when we go through challenging times we forget that the majority of times or the times leading up to the rough patch were good times, even great times. Fight for your marriage as if you were fighting the very forces of darkness (not your mate), because you are. God wants you together. You made a promise to the love of your youth. ---No you're not the same person you were when you got married. You are older and you should be wiser. When did you start being selfish again? You would both give and do whatever it took to catch the other one. It's a sweet accomplishment to finish with the one you started the journey with. There is no doubt it pleases God and makes Him proud. He built us for one another. Don't quit. Die to self. Do whatever it takes. The question is not "Can we?" We have to. ---There are things in life that you and I had to do. We looked around hoping someone more qualified would do it, but as we looked around we were the only ones there; thus we had to do it. You two are the only ones in the canoe. Everyone else is back at the landing. Calm down. Talk about it. Start paddling in the same direction, and by all means stay away from the bushes there might be a snake up in there! The best thing you can do, however, is pray like you mean it. Cry out to God! I promise, God will hear those cries.

Living a Legacy

What can we do today that bears repeating? People rarely remember us after we've passed on. And most want to be remembered or make their mark on the planet. "I WAS HERE." Almost everyone has scratched their name into a desk or a tree (maybe spray-painted at a bridge or something) to show that they were here at one time or another. More is caught than taught. Well after we're gone people will do what we used to do or say what we used to say if it is worth repeating. We all remember a good story, or a motivational speech, phrase, and maybe even a good blog. All of these serve as kindling to motivate us to do good, to do better next time, to get out of the bed and get going and so on. However, words can never take the place of our actions; and we will be known for how we did "it" as well as "what" we did. Be intentional in how you live your lifestyle. You are passing it on whether you know it or not. Pass it on before you pass out. As I think of those that have gone before me, I am thankful; and I hope they will be proud, not of me, but proud that they stayed the course and people like me continued the race. The baton was handed off and we passed it on. I look at my kids...funny to call them kids now...all grown up. I'm extremely blessed to see them serving God in ways that would...well...make a daddy proud. As we will one day stand together in heaven, we will rejoice with the legacy that follows us into the Kingdom of God. We write our name into the hearts of the people that are changed because we lived out God's plan for our lives. Make your mark. Live for Him who died for you and rose again. So, let's rephrase: how can I mark that I was here today? We do it in the lives of the people we encounter today.

Sooner Than Later

Sometimes we wonder why someone dies what we would call prematurely. We especially wonder this about a person that seemed to have such potential, or even godly potential. From our perspective it almost always seems too early. Have you ever considered God's perspective? We won't even get into the whole "God is outside of time and space" thing. I have wondered at times why a pastor, missionary, etc. seemingly in their prime died "early." I think of singer-song writer Keith Green who was radically saved years ago. His passion for God was incredible (if you can find it, read his book "No Compromise"). He was killed in a plane crash at the beginning of his prime. The world had not yet seen the good he could have brought. Why? Why so early? So, I wonder sometimes did God just want them to Himself early? In 1 Kings 14, King Jereboam is upset because his son Abijah is sick and looks like he is going to die. He sends his wife to ask the prophet Ahijah about it. Unfortunately he gets the news that not only would the boy die, but because Jereboam had been a terrible king in leading Israel into pagan worship practices and such, that all his sons would be killed. However, God said that Abijah was the only good person out of Jereboam's house. In fact, God looked at taking Abijah home (death) to be a good thing. He would be the only son that received a burial. This Scripture devotion was timely. My wife's dad, Bill Butler, went to be with the LORD over ten years ago. He was in the midst of his prime serving the LORD. God saw fit to take him home. A good friend was kind with this reminder from Acts 11:24 "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord." And so his legacy and the likes of Bill Butler keep on perpetuating the Gospel through disciples that continue making disciples. Let this be a tribute to those that have served faithfully and gone on ahead of us. Thank you.

HOWEVER

I had been reading in 1 Kings about how great and awesome King Solomon was. His awesomeness was so awesome that royalty from other countries came to see him, his kingdom, witness his wisdom, etc. As I read, I began to think "uh-oh when is the shoe going to drop." Everyone was bragging on him telling him how great he was; and all of his wisdom and wealth was from God. I didn't hear him stopping the well-wishers and pointing to God. I didn't hear him bragging either. Then I read it: in 1 Kings 11 verse 1 "HOWEVER." It may have well said "UH-OH!" King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women. God had specifically told him (warned him) not to marry these foreign women, because they would eventually bring their pagan gods and worship with them. Perhaps Solomon thought he was too awesome to be swayed. There is a reason God calls his people to be holy, to be separate when it comes to worship. Choose your friends wisely. Mixed marriage led to mixed worship of God and pagan gods. Verse 9 says that the LORD became angry with Solomon. Up to now, Solomon had been great. He was blessed and highly favored of God. But sadly, he fizzled out. Faithful obedience to God is key to finishing strong. God was merciful to Solomon, but He did take the kingdom away from his son. This was a classic case of "forgetting who got you there." All blessings flow from God. Live for Him who died for you and rose again. Let the blessings keep flowing. Make people say positive things about you because God can't stop blessing you for your faithful obedience. Avoid the HOWEVER!

Championship Redeemed

This is a sport's take, so you might want to turn your head. However, it is also a human interest story. I don't think God is really concerned who wins games and championships, but championship teams bring out the best in humans. Players have to get together and play as a team. A good team playing great together can beat a great team playing good. I must admit I am a basketball junkie and the most recent NBA finals were fantastic. The Dallas Mavs redeemed themselves after losing five years ago to the same Miami Heat (different players)team that came back to beat them. It was a story of resilience this year, but really more than that. It was a team that had a taste five years ago and had fallen. Yet, they kept coming back. This group came together with a new coach that had been dropped by teams after showing he was a good coach. I felt like he had been mistreated in the past. Good for coach Carlisle and his veteran team that wouldn't give up. Congrats.
*It's a long road in our Christian walk. It's a journey. It's a roller coaster...all that. Just keep plugging away. Do the right things. Hang in there. Victory is coming! Victory is promised. We have been redeemed. Praise the Lord, the most important redemption is not up to us. ---

Experiential Knowledge

There are people that we "know" because we've spent time with them, hung out with them, gone to battle with them, maybe even gone against them and came out with a better understanding and are now friends. We have a better understanding of people (or we know them better) when we go through the struggles of life together. ---We don't really know people we don't spend time with. We don't really know people if we've never seen how they react "tested under fire" in the struggles of life. We know this about people and relationships. This is common sense. We know that when a couple gets married and they have full knowledge of one another on that honeymoon night and thereafter...somewhere along the way this experiential knowledge will bear fruit. ---So it is for the follower of Jesus. Full experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ bears the fruit that God desires of each of His children. (Jn15) Jesus says that if we abide in Him then we will bear much fruit. He says that it is for the glory of the Father that we bear much fruit. God expects His children to bear fruit. So, why are so many Christians rotten fruit? Why are so many Christians barren? That answer is found in Jn.15, and Col.1:9-10. Too many Christians lack the full knowledge or experiential knowledge of Christ. We know people because we spend time with them. However, when it comes to God, we're too busy or distracted to spend quality time with God. We give God the scraps of our time. If we did that with the people around us, they would move on to new friends. We treat God as if He owes us something, or He is lucky we give Him five minutes out of our day (because we are so important. Ha!).---My hope is that we would all check ourselves on this blind spot. It's common sense. Are you better succulent fruit for God? Do you have full experiential knowledge of God? Do you know His will for your life? If you knew Him you would know His will for your life. For one thing, He wants you to bear fruit, but before that happens you must abide in him; like the branch is to abide in the vine. Abide, abide, abide in Him is the way to experience... to know God. When we do that we show ourselves to be Christ's disciples. Remember, it was the disciples that got to see the really cool stuff. Everyone else had to hear about it.

Living in Florida but

I think living in Florida is a blessing. With that said, it amazes me when christian folk use good health and good weather as a reason to disobey God's word by consistently skipping church. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not bitter. I'm not yo daddy. But you won't grow in knowing God that way, and that is sad; because God has great plans for you. You can't be a disciple by being a casual or token christian. And the Word is plain, the disciples were the ones that got to see amazing stuff. Quit cheating yourself. Go to church. Do the other stuff, after church. The rest of us do. Don't forsake the assembling of the saints.

Burning Bush

God shows up in places that don't make sense. Most of us either think we've got every thing figured out, or we're in the process of figuring it out. We wonder why life is in the crapper, or things aren't working out for us right now. All of a sudden things just don't make sense. Have you ever stopped to think maybe God was trying to take you to a new place...He was trying to do a new thing...maybe even a bigger thing, and He had to shake things up? Your and my reaction is what causes this new thing to stall. We keep trying to go back to the old, and trying to figure out what's wrong. Quit trying to make sense out of a messed up, or changed up situation; and be still. Work on your experiencing God skills. Moses ran into a burning bush in the middle of the desert that was on fire, but not being consumed. That didn't make sense! But it did get Moses attention. Moses had become quite the domesticated husband, working under his father-in-law. But God was up to something. God had a big plan in mind. He was taking Mo away from the time-clock. God was taking Moses on a road trip. He would be instrumental in rescuing a million people from slavery. ---What weird thing has got your attention? Are you trying to swim upstream? What new thing might God be doing through you if you wouldn't keep trying to go backwards? God is up to something huge, bigger and better. Read the signs. Join God at work. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.