4-27-2010
Lacking One Thing… “Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come follow Me.” Mark 10:21
What one thing do I lack letting loose of for the Lord? Is it my heart? A house? An automobile? My finances? Is it an attitude of pride in my good works? Is there a hidden sin of fraud that I have not faced up to? Or, do I justify my one hold out with the 95% I have surrendered? Idols have a way of subtly suffocating my unconditional surrender to my Savior Jesus.
Yet--He loves us--even when we dismiss Him in disobedience, or ignore His invitation to intimacy. Because He cares for His children, He raises His expectations for us to exceed what the world does. He looks at our inconsistencies and lovingly exposes our hypocrisies. Jesus knows it takes extreme measures to root out idols that have so deceived us that we don’t recognize their control. Like an addict that denies addiction, we act like things are all right when in fact we lack giving up the one thing that hurts Him.
Are you able to follow Him wholeheartedly, or is there a portion of your heart that has yet to feel the freedom of surrender? Has a child or a career garnered more of your attention that Christ and the poor? Once you surrender 100%, Jesus has you in a position to receive His blessing. What you give over to Jesus qualifies to be given back by Jesus.
What you give up, He makes up for exponentially. Like the fish and loaves (Mark 8:4-9) that were given up on behalf of the masses, He multiplied their provision with providential care. Therefore, surrender your soul, your relationships, your opportunities, your finances, your job, your children, your thought life, your health and your trust. Surrendering to Jesus leads to sweet success in your Savior’s eyes. Make your one thing… His thing.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).
What is the one thing I lack giving up for the Lord? How will my surrendering bless others?
Related Readings: Genesis 42:34; 1 Samuel 1:27-28; Matthew 16:26; Acts 3:6
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Bible Lives
4-26-2010
The Bible Lives
Generation follows generation
– yet it lives.
Nations rise and fall
– yet it lives.
Kings, dictators, rulers come and go
– yet it lives.
Torn, condemned, burned
– yet it lives.
Hated, despised, cursed
– yet it lives.
Doubted, suspected, criticized
– yet it lives.
Damned by atheists
– yet it lives.
Scoffed at by scorners
– yet it lives.
Exaggerated by fanatics
– yet it lives.
Misconstrued and misstated
– yet it lives.
Ranted and raved about
– yet it lives.
Its inspiration denied
– yet it lives.
Yet it lives
– as a lamp to our feet.
Yet it lives
– as a light to our paths.
Yet it lives
– as the gate to Heaven.
Yet it lives
– as a standard for childhood.
Yet it lives
– as a guide for youth.
Yet it lives
– as an inspiration for the matured.
Yet it lives
– as a comfort for the aged.
Yet it lives
– as food for the hungry.
Yet it lives
– as water for the thirsty.
Yet it lives
– as rest for the weary.
Yet it lives
– as light for the heathen.
Yet it lives
– as salvation for the sinner.
Yet it lives
– as grace for the believer.
To know it is to love it.
To love it is to accept it.
To accept it means life eternal.
-Written by 0. Woods
The Bible Lives
Generation follows generation
– yet it lives.
Nations rise and fall
– yet it lives.
Kings, dictators, rulers come and go
– yet it lives.
Torn, condemned, burned
– yet it lives.
Hated, despised, cursed
– yet it lives.
Doubted, suspected, criticized
– yet it lives.
Damned by atheists
– yet it lives.
Scoffed at by scorners
– yet it lives.
Exaggerated by fanatics
– yet it lives.
Misconstrued and misstated
– yet it lives.
Ranted and raved about
– yet it lives.
Its inspiration denied
– yet it lives.
Yet it lives
– as a lamp to our feet.
Yet it lives
– as a light to our paths.
Yet it lives
– as the gate to Heaven.
Yet it lives
– as a standard for childhood.
Yet it lives
– as a guide for youth.
Yet it lives
– as an inspiration for the matured.
Yet it lives
– as a comfort for the aged.
Yet it lives
– as food for the hungry.
Yet it lives
– as water for the thirsty.
Yet it lives
– as rest for the weary.
Yet it lives
– as light for the heathen.
Yet it lives
– as salvation for the sinner.
Yet it lives
– as grace for the believer.
To know it is to love it.
To love it is to accept it.
To accept it means life eternal.
-Written by 0. Woods
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Righteousness
4-23-2009
Righteousness
Righteousness can be defined as morally upright; without guilt or sin. Righteousness is also noted as one of the keys to success according to the bible. I believe a key to righteousness is to avoid negativity. Do the right things for the right reasons.
In 1 Peter 3:12 Peter says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Let’s look at some other versus where righteousness is focused upon.
“What the wicked dreads will overtake him, what the righteousness desire will be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).
“A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man” (Proverbs 12:2).
There are a lot of versus stressing the importance and need to be righteous, but how many of us truly focus on being righteous? We are called to strive for sanctification, or to be Christ like. The question I would ask of all of us is do we focus more on being righteous, or more on worldly things?
According to the bible, if you are truly doing things the right way for the right reasons, you will be blessed. If you aren’t, then you will not be blessed. God does not bless those for doing right. He blesses those that have pure motives and are Christ honoring. Are there individuals that have a lot of worldly riches, yet they do things the wrong way for the wrong reasons? YES! Remember, that doesn’t mean they are peaceful or happy. They simply have a lot of stuff. Those of us that live a righteous life, rest our heads on our pillows at night in peace. We all make mistakes, but you can make mistakes without guilt or sin. Allow God to be your focal point, and you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!
Application:
1.Read Psalm 58
2.Is there any part of your life that is lacking righteousness?
Righteousness
Righteousness can be defined as morally upright; without guilt or sin. Righteousness is also noted as one of the keys to success according to the bible. I believe a key to righteousness is to avoid negativity. Do the right things for the right reasons.
In 1 Peter 3:12 Peter says, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Let’s look at some other versus where righteousness is focused upon.
“What the wicked dreads will overtake him, what the righteousness desire will be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).
“A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man” (Proverbs 12:2).
There are a lot of versus stressing the importance and need to be righteous, but how many of us truly focus on being righteous? We are called to strive for sanctification, or to be Christ like. The question I would ask of all of us is do we focus more on being righteous, or more on worldly things?
According to the bible, if you are truly doing things the right way for the right reasons, you will be blessed. If you aren’t, then you will not be blessed. God does not bless those for doing right. He blesses those that have pure motives and are Christ honoring. Are there individuals that have a lot of worldly riches, yet they do things the wrong way for the wrong reasons? YES! Remember, that doesn’t mean they are peaceful or happy. They simply have a lot of stuff. Those of us that live a righteous life, rest our heads on our pillows at night in peace. We all make mistakes, but you can make mistakes without guilt or sin. Allow God to be your focal point, and you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams!
Application:
1.Read Psalm 58
2.Is there any part of your life that is lacking righteousness?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Game Plan
4-22-2010
Game Plan
For those of you that know me personally, or have heard me speak, you will often hear me say, “Have an approach.” More specifically, have a “systematic approach.” In other words have a game plan. As a former professional pitcher, I didn’t simply grab the baseball and throw it over the plate. Before every game, I did some research on the team I was pitching against, and I knew each and every hitters strengths and weaknesses. By doing my homework, I was able to formulate my game plan (approach). If I knew certain hitters liked inside fastballs, I worked them away and/or threw off speed pitches.
For those of you that don’t know anything about baseball, allow me to use shopping as an example of needing a game plan. If you are smart, you don’t simply go to the store. First, you look and see what you need, and some of you probably make a written list of what you need. The next step in the game plan is to go to the store. Once you get to the store, the store itself has a systematic approach so you can find what you are looking for as fast as possible. Certain foods are put into certain rows, and most stores even have signs to guide you from isle to isle. This may sound silly, but this systematic approach makes shopping easier.
If it makes sense to have a game plan for sports, shopping, driving, hiking, vacationing, and etcetera, doesn’t it make sense to have a systematic approach with your spiritual life? What is your game plan for personal development? Trust me, if you don’t have a game plan in place to track your personal development and spiritual progression, you are missing the catalyst to reaching your God given potential in life! I want to encourage you to stop the busyness of life and focus at least 10 minutes every day on growing YOU! If you want to be the best dad, husband, wife, son, daughter, student, boss, employee, you can be, it starts with YOU!
In Psalm 143, we hear David crying out in the midst of hopelessness and depression. He is hiding in a cave from Saul as fear had led him into hiding. Once David realizes the first step in any systematic approach is to call out to God for guidance and deliverance, David gets back on track. Think back to a situation in your life where you felt like David. It may be now? Take out the panic, lift up your prayers to God, and game plan!
Application:
1.Read Psalm 143
2.What areas of your life need structure (finances, spiritual journey, relationships, etc.)?
Game Plan
For those of you that know me personally, or have heard me speak, you will often hear me say, “Have an approach.” More specifically, have a “systematic approach.” In other words have a game plan. As a former professional pitcher, I didn’t simply grab the baseball and throw it over the plate. Before every game, I did some research on the team I was pitching against, and I knew each and every hitters strengths and weaknesses. By doing my homework, I was able to formulate my game plan (approach). If I knew certain hitters liked inside fastballs, I worked them away and/or threw off speed pitches.
For those of you that don’t know anything about baseball, allow me to use shopping as an example of needing a game plan. If you are smart, you don’t simply go to the store. First, you look and see what you need, and some of you probably make a written list of what you need. The next step in the game plan is to go to the store. Once you get to the store, the store itself has a systematic approach so you can find what you are looking for as fast as possible. Certain foods are put into certain rows, and most stores even have signs to guide you from isle to isle. This may sound silly, but this systematic approach makes shopping easier.
If it makes sense to have a game plan for sports, shopping, driving, hiking, vacationing, and etcetera, doesn’t it make sense to have a systematic approach with your spiritual life? What is your game plan for personal development? Trust me, if you don’t have a game plan in place to track your personal development and spiritual progression, you are missing the catalyst to reaching your God given potential in life! I want to encourage you to stop the busyness of life and focus at least 10 minutes every day on growing YOU! If you want to be the best dad, husband, wife, son, daughter, student, boss, employee, you can be, it starts with YOU!
In Psalm 143, we hear David crying out in the midst of hopelessness and depression. He is hiding in a cave from Saul as fear had led him into hiding. Once David realizes the first step in any systematic approach is to call out to God for guidance and deliverance, David gets back on track. Think back to a situation in your life where you felt like David. It may be now? Take out the panic, lift up your prayers to God, and game plan!
Application:
1.Read Psalm 143
2.What areas of your life need structure (finances, spiritual journey, relationships, etc.)?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Leadership Gauge
4-21-2010
The Leadership Gauge
We are all leaders, so the only question is are you a good or bad leader? Every single person in your life can be led in a positive or negative direction by your influence. If you want to gauge how you are doing as a leader check to see if anyone is following. If you truly want to test yourself, call someone you know and tell them to meet you somewhere at a certain time. If they are willing to do so without any questions, you are doing a great job of leading. If they start asking you a ton of questions, that MAY be a sign you need to work on your leadership skills. There are exceptions to every rule of course, but one of the greatest honors is having the ability to influence and mentor lives.
I’ve heard it said that success is not gauged by the number of successes, but by the number of successors. In other words, are you leading people to success, or do you lead so you can have success? Zig Ziglar says it best, “If you help enough other people get what they want, you will get what you want.” This is leadership! It starts with serving others. Jesus Christ came to this earth to serve, not be served. He gave us the perfect example o f leadership, and when he asked his followers to do something, they did so! When you get to the point where you can call someone and tell them to be at your house at 7 pm, and they say, “ok, I’ll see you at 7 pm,” and they don’t ask you why until they are already at your house, you are a leader!
Application:
1.Read Matthew 20: 20-28
2.Call someone you know well, and “gauge your leadership.”
The Leadership Gauge
We are all leaders, so the only question is are you a good or bad leader? Every single person in your life can be led in a positive or negative direction by your influence. If you want to gauge how you are doing as a leader check to see if anyone is following. If you truly want to test yourself, call someone you know and tell them to meet you somewhere at a certain time. If they are willing to do so without any questions, you are doing a great job of leading. If they start asking you a ton of questions, that MAY be a sign you need to work on your leadership skills. There are exceptions to every rule of course, but one of the greatest honors is having the ability to influence and mentor lives.
I’ve heard it said that success is not gauged by the number of successes, but by the number of successors. In other words, are you leading people to success, or do you lead so you can have success? Zig Ziglar says it best, “If you help enough other people get what they want, you will get what you want.” This is leadership! It starts with serving others. Jesus Christ came to this earth to serve, not be served. He gave us the perfect example o f leadership, and when he asked his followers to do something, they did so! When you get to the point where you can call someone and tell them to be at your house at 7 pm, and they say, “ok, I’ll see you at 7 pm,” and they don’t ask you why until they are already at your house, you are a leader!
Application:
1.Read Matthew 20: 20-28
2.Call someone you know well, and “gauge your leadership.”
Holy Spirit
4-20-2010
Holy Spirit
The following devotional from Wisdom Hunters is a great description of the importance of walking with the Holy Spirit on our lives!
Number One Influencer… “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:17-18
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Holy Spirit
The following devotional from Wisdom Hunters is a great description of the importance of walking with the Holy Spirit on our lives!
Number One Influencer… “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:17-18
Who is my number one influencer? Is it my wife? A friend? Is it my mom, brother or mentor? All of these are important and influential, but I desire the number one influencer in my life to be the Holy Spirit. He is the one whose advice is always full of integrity. When I am Spirit led, I can be confident of outcomes that mirror God’s will.
It is easy to be influenced by a culture whose standards are below what’s best. For example, the world may whine and say it’s old fashion to have boundaries with the opposite sex. But, as believers in Jesus we know it’s wise to keep emotional distance from someone who is not our spouse. Spirit-led living does not linger long around unwise activities.
Who is your number one influencer? Perhaps it’s a coach, a colleague or a counselor that gives you good advice. All of these have their place, but never allow an individual to replace the Holy Spirit as your most important influencer. Sometimes a friend will suggest one thing and God’s spirit another; go with God! His promptings are meant to triumph any attractive offer that may tease your emotions. Trust the Spirit’s leading.
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
It may be hard for you to follow the influence of your Heavenly father, because your earthly father may have abandoned his responsibilities. However, the Spirit of your Father in heaven is trustworthy and true. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. His Holy Spirit is sensitive to exactly what you need and when you need it. He is reliable.
So, once you have confessed and repented of your sin, ask Him for the fullness of His Spirit to flood your soul. The Spirit of God flushes out the foolishness of the flesh and fills it with wisdom from the Lord. The Holy Spirit brings wholeness to your heart and truth to your head. Be intoxicated by the Spirit’s influence and you will walk wisely.
“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:11).
Do I submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s control? How do I know when the Spirit leads me?
Related Readings: Galatians 5:25; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:4; 1 John 3:24
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Cognitive Dissonance and Rational Thinking
4-19-2010
Cognitive Dissonance and Rational Thinking
As a whole, we all need to do a better job of asking ourselves the question, “Why do I believe the way I believe.” This question can be asked of just about anything, and to change an assumed thought process can be referred to as cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance can also be described as the reshaping of one’s mind. It’s in this process that assumption of truth may not be true after all, thus they were merely assumptions. For instance, many couples believe having kids is nothing more than the next step in their lives until they get to the point where they struggle to conceive. They may have assumed having kids was easy, and through cognitive dissonance, they view having a child completely different.
Rational thinking refers to logical or reasoning being involved in the thought process. It refers to providing reasons or rational behind thoughts ... Rational thinking refers to logical or reasoning being involved in the thought process, and is extremely important as it pertains to our faith journey as it may lead to cognitive dissonance, thus changing the way we view Christianity.
As we mature in our faith journey, we begin to think “supernaturally.” In other words, we start to view everything we do and experience from an eternal perspective instead of a temporal perspective. Our value of worldly things pales in comparison to the value we put on God’s agenda. This transformation takes place by seeking truth and by the renewal of our minds of what is true, and the best place to find such truth is in the scriptures. Once this truth is meditated upon, one’s faith increases dramatically. Faith is a reasoning trust, thus we have faith because of what we know to be true based on our rational thinking.
There’s a clear lack of rational thinking in society, thus the reason people consume themselves with things of zero importance. Moreover, society ignores things of extreme importance! One simple example can be found in obesity. Society concerns themselves more with a celebrity’s life, than their own personal health. If people would spend as much time working out as they do reading People Magazine, just imagine the shape we would all be in!
We all need to continue to renew our minds with what is true (Romans 12) through the process of rational thinking, so we may understand why we believe what we believe. Our faith in Jesus Christ is riding on our ability to think! Don’t allow the world to tell you what to believe, instead turn to the scriptures, as they are the only truth that stands the test of time. Truth is the way things are, not the way we necessarily want them to be. Christianity is about facts and acts, not hear say!
Application:
1.Do you understand the importance of Cognitive Dissonance and Rational Thinking?
2.How do these two processes impact your life and the way you see the world?
Cognitive Dissonance and Rational Thinking
As a whole, we all need to do a better job of asking ourselves the question, “Why do I believe the way I believe.” This question can be asked of just about anything, and to change an assumed thought process can be referred to as cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance can also be described as the reshaping of one’s mind. It’s in this process that assumption of truth may not be true after all, thus they were merely assumptions. For instance, many couples believe having kids is nothing more than the next step in their lives until they get to the point where they struggle to conceive. They may have assumed having kids was easy, and through cognitive dissonance, they view having a child completely different.
Rational thinking refers to logical or reasoning being involved in the thought process. It refers to providing reasons or rational behind thoughts ... Rational thinking refers to logical or reasoning being involved in the thought process, and is extremely important as it pertains to our faith journey as it may lead to cognitive dissonance, thus changing the way we view Christianity.
As we mature in our faith journey, we begin to think “supernaturally.” In other words, we start to view everything we do and experience from an eternal perspective instead of a temporal perspective. Our value of worldly things pales in comparison to the value we put on God’s agenda. This transformation takes place by seeking truth and by the renewal of our minds of what is true, and the best place to find such truth is in the scriptures. Once this truth is meditated upon, one’s faith increases dramatically. Faith is a reasoning trust, thus we have faith because of what we know to be true based on our rational thinking.
There’s a clear lack of rational thinking in society, thus the reason people consume themselves with things of zero importance. Moreover, society ignores things of extreme importance! One simple example can be found in obesity. Society concerns themselves more with a celebrity’s life, than their own personal health. If people would spend as much time working out as they do reading People Magazine, just imagine the shape we would all be in!
We all need to continue to renew our minds with what is true (Romans 12) through the process of rational thinking, so we may understand why we believe what we believe. Our faith in Jesus Christ is riding on our ability to think! Don’t allow the world to tell you what to believe, instead turn to the scriptures, as they are the only truth that stands the test of time. Truth is the way things are, not the way we necessarily want them to be. Christianity is about facts and acts, not hear say!
Application:
1.Do you understand the importance of Cognitive Dissonance and Rational Thinking?
2.How do these two processes impact your life and the way you see the world?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Hope
4-16-2010
Hope
We completed our last day of baseball camps today, and throughout the week, you can probably imagine all of the questions I receive from hopeful parents. Questions such as, “What would it take for my son to make one of your Dallas Patriots teams,” and, “at what age does my son really need to start focusing on baseball over some of the other sports,” are asked regularly. I love working with kids, and I really love teaming up with their parents to help each boy fulfill his dream of playing baseball at the highest level, and today was no different. We actually had to teach an 11 year old to throw with his left hand when he had been throwing right handed his entire life! I have to admit, that was a first. His dad and his coach were both amazed at the progress this 11 year old boy had made in only 3 days, which brings me to today’s topic: HOPE!
If you take a quick peak back at the two questions I mentioned earlier, you will notice both of them evolved from a “hopeful” parent. If that parent didn’t think their son had a chance to make one of our Dallas Patriots teams, they wouldn’t have even asked me about the topic. Quick background so you can understand the situation. Our camps are held at our indoor baseball facility, Premier Baseball Academy, and they are open to everyone. We have a totally separate entity, the Dallas Patriots, which is made of the best baseball players in the country. We have teams starting with 6 year olds all the way to 18 year olds, and any kid would be blessed to make one of these teams, so when working with non-Patriots players at camp, many of them HOPE they can make it one day into our program.
I believe that hope evolves from a confidence that is instilled in you. When you are confident about something, you become hopeful, and based on the improvement at our camps, non-Patriots become hopeful they can make one of our teams. When you become confident, you become hopeful. With that hope, you become motivated to work hard at something. What are you hopeful for? What is it that keeps you going?
One of my favorite versus in the bible about the subject of hope occurs in Philippians 3:13-14, “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 Jesus.” I love Paul’s message of pressing forward. The past is the past, and we all have one! We have all made mistakes that we wish we could do over, but we can’t. To focus on something you have no control over is wasting time and energy. You cannot rewrite the past, but you do have chapters of blank pages staring you in the face. Just as Paul had a horrible past (he was a key factor in the killing of Christians when he was Saul), yet the HOPE he found in Christ Jesus, he was able to let go of the past guilt, and focus on what God had put before him. Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on the past. The grace of God gives all of us hope that we can be, do, and have more!
In the example of the 11 year old boy and his dad, we simply encouraged them to forget the past and take action on the here and now. We cannot go back years earlier and have him start throwing left handed at the start of his baseball career, but we can buy him a glove for his right hand and start pressing forward NOW! The 11 year old was struggling at the beginning, but we continued to encourage him until he believed he could do it. Why did he believe he could make the change from throwing right handed to left handed? He had hope! Hope is the same reason Victor Frankel was able to survive the Nazi prison camps. Hope is the reason people survive cancer. Hope is the reason you continue to fight during hard times. Whatever you do, never give up! Never lose Hope! As Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” If all of your hope is in anything other than Christ, you have put all of your eggs in a basket with holes. Understand this very important point: everything comes and goes on this earth, but Christ is the one constant that will never forsake you! Put all of your trust and hope in Him, and you can rest assured, you will never play the game of life alone.
Application:
1.What area(s) in your life is lacking in hope, and what steps do you need to take to regain the confidence necessary to restore hope? (Relationships, job, fitness, etc.)
2.Where do you rest your hope? (Things of this world, or in Christ)
3.Read Luke 18:35-42…understanding that Hope in Christ Jesus led the blind man in Jericho to ask for sight! No matter how desperate your situation is, if you put your faith and hope in Christ, He will be there because He is there. Just call on Him!
Hope
We completed our last day of baseball camps today, and throughout the week, you can probably imagine all of the questions I receive from hopeful parents. Questions such as, “What would it take for my son to make one of your Dallas Patriots teams,” and, “at what age does my son really need to start focusing on baseball over some of the other sports,” are asked regularly. I love working with kids, and I really love teaming up with their parents to help each boy fulfill his dream of playing baseball at the highest level, and today was no different. We actually had to teach an 11 year old to throw with his left hand when he had been throwing right handed his entire life! I have to admit, that was a first. His dad and his coach were both amazed at the progress this 11 year old boy had made in only 3 days, which brings me to today’s topic: HOPE!
If you take a quick peak back at the two questions I mentioned earlier, you will notice both of them evolved from a “hopeful” parent. If that parent didn’t think their son had a chance to make one of our Dallas Patriots teams, they wouldn’t have even asked me about the topic. Quick background so you can understand the situation. Our camps are held at our indoor baseball facility, Premier Baseball Academy, and they are open to everyone. We have a totally separate entity, the Dallas Patriots, which is made of the best baseball players in the country. We have teams starting with 6 year olds all the way to 18 year olds, and any kid would be blessed to make one of these teams, so when working with non-Patriots players at camp, many of them HOPE they can make it one day into our program.
I believe that hope evolves from a confidence that is instilled in you. When you are confident about something, you become hopeful, and based on the improvement at our camps, non-Patriots become hopeful they can make one of our teams. When you become confident, you become hopeful. With that hope, you become motivated to work hard at something. What are you hopeful for? What is it that keeps you going?
One of my favorite versus in the bible about the subject of hope occurs in Philippians 3:13-14, “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 Jesus.” I love Paul’s message of pressing forward. The past is the past, and we all have one! We have all made mistakes that we wish we could do over, but we can’t. To focus on something you have no control over is wasting time and energy. You cannot rewrite the past, but you do have chapters of blank pages staring you in the face. Just as Paul had a horrible past (he was a key factor in the killing of Christians when he was Saul), yet the HOPE he found in Christ Jesus, he was able to let go of the past guilt, and focus on what God had put before him. Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on the past. The grace of God gives all of us hope that we can be, do, and have more!
In the example of the 11 year old boy and his dad, we simply encouraged them to forget the past and take action on the here and now. We cannot go back years earlier and have him start throwing left handed at the start of his baseball career, but we can buy him a glove for his right hand and start pressing forward NOW! The 11 year old was struggling at the beginning, but we continued to encourage him until he believed he could do it. Why did he believe he could make the change from throwing right handed to left handed? He had hope! Hope is the same reason Victor Frankel was able to survive the Nazi prison camps. Hope is the reason people survive cancer. Hope is the reason you continue to fight during hard times. Whatever you do, never give up! Never lose Hope! As Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” If all of your hope is in anything other than Christ, you have put all of your eggs in a basket with holes. Understand this very important point: everything comes and goes on this earth, but Christ is the one constant that will never forsake you! Put all of your trust and hope in Him, and you can rest assured, you will never play the game of life alone.
Application:
1.What area(s) in your life is lacking in hope, and what steps do you need to take to regain the confidence necessary to restore hope? (Relationships, job, fitness, etc.)
2.Where do you rest your hope? (Things of this world, or in Christ)
3.Read Luke 18:35-42…understanding that Hope in Christ Jesus led the blind man in Jericho to ask for sight! No matter how desperate your situation is, if you put your faith and hope in Christ, He will be there because He is there. Just call on Him!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Weaknesses
4-15-2010
Weaknesses
Strengths and weaknesses can be very apparent in other people, but how many of us do a great job of taking a good hard look at our own strengths and weaknesses? I heard the joke about three guys sitting in a row, side by side. They are listening to a speaker, when the speaker says, “did you know that 1 out of every 3 people are crazy? So, take a look at the person on your left, a look to your right, and if they are both normal, then…” The reality is we are all messed up! Here’s the great news, God loves you anyway.
As I really started to take a hard look at my own strengths and weaknesses, a few weaknesses screamed at me. First, I have to have better patience. I tend to think that everyone should go at the same pace I choose to go. Second, I am extremely blunt and transparent, and this can be very misunderstood at times. Therefore, I pray every day for a humble confidence so I won’t appear arrogant. My weaknesses go on and on, but what I want to encourage you to do is to write down a list of weaknesses you need to work on. Once you identify those weaknesses, begin to pray daily that God will deliver you from those weaknesses so your impact in the world can be maximized to the fullest. Understand that some characteristics can be both a strength and a weakness. For instance, I am a Type A personality. This personality trait is a tremendous blessing in many facets of my life, but it can be a hindrance when not controlled. Another example is pride. Pride can be a huge motivator, but it can also be a harmful characteristic that can ruin relationships.
I want to encourage you to dig deep into who you truly are, so that you may get to the root of you. In the book of Romans, we are told a transformation that MUST take place for all of us to truly live. As long as we continue to conform to the patterns of this world, we will be LOST, and ultimately we are limiting the potential God has in store for us.
Application:
1.Read Romans 12:12 (it is quick and you will be happy you read it)
2.Pray that God will reveal your weaknesses to you and that you will grow through them
3.Continue to remind yourself of your strengths while working on your weaknesses
Weaknesses
Strengths and weaknesses can be very apparent in other people, but how many of us do a great job of taking a good hard look at our own strengths and weaknesses? I heard the joke about three guys sitting in a row, side by side. They are listening to a speaker, when the speaker says, “did you know that 1 out of every 3 people are crazy? So, take a look at the person on your left, a look to your right, and if they are both normal, then…” The reality is we are all messed up! Here’s the great news, God loves you anyway.
As I really started to take a hard look at my own strengths and weaknesses, a few weaknesses screamed at me. First, I have to have better patience. I tend to think that everyone should go at the same pace I choose to go. Second, I am extremely blunt and transparent, and this can be very misunderstood at times. Therefore, I pray every day for a humble confidence so I won’t appear arrogant. My weaknesses go on and on, but what I want to encourage you to do is to write down a list of weaknesses you need to work on. Once you identify those weaknesses, begin to pray daily that God will deliver you from those weaknesses so your impact in the world can be maximized to the fullest. Understand that some characteristics can be both a strength and a weakness. For instance, I am a Type A personality. This personality trait is a tremendous blessing in many facets of my life, but it can be a hindrance when not controlled. Another example is pride. Pride can be a huge motivator, but it can also be a harmful characteristic that can ruin relationships.
I want to encourage you to dig deep into who you truly are, so that you may get to the root of you. In the book of Romans, we are told a transformation that MUST take place for all of us to truly live. As long as we continue to conform to the patterns of this world, we will be LOST, and ultimately we are limiting the potential God has in store for us.
Application:
1.Read Romans 12:12 (it is quick and you will be happy you read it)
2.Pray that God will reveal your weaknesses to you and that you will grow through them
3.Continue to remind yourself of your strengths while working on your weaknesses
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Perseverance
4-14-2010
The best-selling book of all time isn’t actually a book, it is a canon, which is a collection of books, and it is the bible. I’ve also been told the bible is the most stolen book as well! Crazy isn’t it? Every answer you will ever need to know about life exists in the bible, but most of us don’t even know where to begin reading. As I began researching Christianity, I had no clue where to start, so I have to believe I’m not the only one.
Let’s be honest, there are a few books in the bible that can be a little confusing at times! It’s not that there isn’t wisdom and truth, because the entire bible is truth. The fact is some of the bible is simply hard to understand. That being said, I have decided to focus on the book of James for a little while, as we continue to grow with one another through these daily devotionals.
Understanding the context of what you are reading is as important as understanding what you are reading. I’ve often called the book of James, “The how to be a Christian” book of the bible. The actual purpose is to explain proper Christian behavior, and to expose incorrect Christian behavior. James, Jesus’ brother, was a leader in the Jerusalem church, and is the author of the book. James is all about documentation, and he is tired of people saying one thing and doing another.
James begins his letter by outlining some general characteristics of the Christian life. First and foremost, James wants all believers to understand that not only are you not immune to trials and struggles in life, but you will have them. James also tells us how to handle tough times, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4). Wow! James is saying embrace the tough times, and to find the positive in every situation. James isn’t saying you are going to be happy during struggles, but consider it joy that you are struggling because something good will come of it.
Very few people have what it takes to persevere through hard times. I would submit to you that in the past decade, we have created a generation of quitters. My wife and I run a select baseball organization for kids, and I can’t believe how many parents allow their kids to quit, and usually it’s the parent’s idea! When I grew up, I played for one team, and I was LOYAL to that team. From little leagues all the way to the big leagues, it is rare to see a player stay with the same team for more than a couple of seasons. We must understand that quitting cannot be an option! If you make a commitment, fulfill it! Persevere and see your task through. Once the task is completed, evaluate the situation and decide if it is time to move on to another task. James is speaking about this exact topic in the first few chapters. Anyone can be on top of the world and happy when times are good, but only champions fight through the tough times. Some say character is built during the struggles of life, but I would submit to you that character is REVEALED during the struggles of life. It is through these struggles and the testing of your faith that develops perseverance. Embrace the tough times in a positive light, and know you are NEVER alone as God promises to be with you at all times.
If you can show me someone that has accomplished anything of significance, I can just about guarantee you they went through some tough learning experiences to get them where they are today, and if it weren’t for those learning experiences, they wouldn’t have accomplished all they’ve accomplished. Remember, there’s no such thing as a smooth mountain, if there were, there wouldn’t be a way to climb it.
Application:
1.Read James 1:1-4
2.What struggles are you going through in life, and do you need to change the way you take on those struggles? Are you finding the positive?
3.Who can you encourage during right now, that you know needs encouragement? Have them read James 1: 1-4
The best-selling book of all time isn’t actually a book, it is a canon, which is a collection of books, and it is the bible. I’ve also been told the bible is the most stolen book as well! Crazy isn’t it? Every answer you will ever need to know about life exists in the bible, but most of us don’t even know where to begin reading. As I began researching Christianity, I had no clue where to start, so I have to believe I’m not the only one.
Let’s be honest, there are a few books in the bible that can be a little confusing at times! It’s not that there isn’t wisdom and truth, because the entire bible is truth. The fact is some of the bible is simply hard to understand. That being said, I have decided to focus on the book of James for a little while, as we continue to grow with one another through these daily devotionals.
Understanding the context of what you are reading is as important as understanding what you are reading. I’ve often called the book of James, “The how to be a Christian” book of the bible. The actual purpose is to explain proper Christian behavior, and to expose incorrect Christian behavior. James, Jesus’ brother, was a leader in the Jerusalem church, and is the author of the book. James is all about documentation, and he is tired of people saying one thing and doing another.
James begins his letter by outlining some general characteristics of the Christian life. First and foremost, James wants all believers to understand that not only are you not immune to trials and struggles in life, but you will have them. James also tells us how to handle tough times, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4). Wow! James is saying embrace the tough times, and to find the positive in every situation. James isn’t saying you are going to be happy during struggles, but consider it joy that you are struggling because something good will come of it.
Very few people have what it takes to persevere through hard times. I would submit to you that in the past decade, we have created a generation of quitters. My wife and I run a select baseball organization for kids, and I can’t believe how many parents allow their kids to quit, and usually it’s the parent’s idea! When I grew up, I played for one team, and I was LOYAL to that team. From little leagues all the way to the big leagues, it is rare to see a player stay with the same team for more than a couple of seasons. We must understand that quitting cannot be an option! If you make a commitment, fulfill it! Persevere and see your task through. Once the task is completed, evaluate the situation and decide if it is time to move on to another task. James is speaking about this exact topic in the first few chapters. Anyone can be on top of the world and happy when times are good, but only champions fight through the tough times. Some say character is built during the struggles of life, but I would submit to you that character is REVEALED during the struggles of life. It is through these struggles and the testing of your faith that develops perseverance. Embrace the tough times in a positive light, and know you are NEVER alone as God promises to be with you at all times.
If you can show me someone that has accomplished anything of significance, I can just about guarantee you they went through some tough learning experiences to get them where they are today, and if it weren’t for those learning experiences, they wouldn’t have accomplished all they’ve accomplished. Remember, there’s no such thing as a smooth mountain, if there were, there wouldn’t be a way to climb it.
Application:
1.Read James 1:1-4
2.What struggles are you going through in life, and do you need to change the way you take on those struggles? Are you finding the positive?
3.Who can you encourage during right now, that you know needs encouragement? Have them read James 1: 1-4
Monday, April 12, 2010
Personal Growth
4-13-2010
Personal Growth
Each and every one of us is unique and different. We all have special talents and passions in life that are unique. We all have strengths and weaknesses that need to be improved upon. The question I have for you is simple: what makes you, YOU?
For me, I truly feel alive when I am coaching people to success. I love seeing people grow and develop into the person God desires them to be! For you, you may love teaching, coaching, doing work no one sees, accounting, traveling, or maybe you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about! My prayer for you is that you find yourself throughout our journey together. Dig down deep and truly get to the core of YOU.
The world does an amazing job of telling us who we should be, or who people want us to be to the point where most of us start to believe it. I challenge myself daily to focus on who I truly am, and most importantly, who GOD desires for me to be. There are many times I feel I have more weaknesses than strengths, so I want to encourage you to spend time on your strengths. What makes you alive inside? Think of something you would do for free and find a way to make a living doing it!
Application:
1. Make a list of all of your characteristics ---strengths and weaknesses (spend time on this).
2.Ask a person you trust to give you honest feedback on the way they see you. Have them describe your characteristics.
3.Do your characteristics line up with your friend(s) descriptions of you?
Personal Growth
Each and every one of us is unique and different. We all have special talents and passions in life that are unique. We all have strengths and weaknesses that need to be improved upon. The question I have for you is simple: what makes you, YOU?
For me, I truly feel alive when I am coaching people to success. I love seeing people grow and develop into the person God desires them to be! For you, you may love teaching, coaching, doing work no one sees, accounting, traveling, or maybe you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about! My prayer for you is that you find yourself throughout our journey together. Dig down deep and truly get to the core of YOU.
The world does an amazing job of telling us who we should be, or who people want us to be to the point where most of us start to believe it. I challenge myself daily to focus on who I truly am, and most importantly, who GOD desires for me to be. There are many times I feel I have more weaknesses than strengths, so I want to encourage you to spend time on your strengths. What makes you alive inside? Think of something you would do for free and find a way to make a living doing it!
Application:
1. Make a list of all of your characteristics ---strengths and weaknesses (spend time on this).
2.Ask a person you trust to give you honest feedback on the way they see you. Have them describe your characteristics.
3.Do your characteristics line up with your friend(s) descriptions of you?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Loving For Today
4-12-2010
Living for today
We live in a world of I-phones, Blackberries, and tons of other types of scheduling devices, which ultimately leads to a life of extreme business. Before sitting down to write this devotional, I couldn’t help but notice how almost every second of my day is on a calendar. Someone could literally know where I am going to be at just about any moment! The advances in technology have enabled us to do more with the same amount of time. However, there is a downside to the fast pace world we now live in. Families rarely sit and eat dinner together, husbands and wives rarely go on dates, and friendships away from work for some seem like a distant memory.
James gives incredible advice about living for the moment. “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4: 14). Regret is one of the worst feelings in the world, so may I suggest we all start to prioritize? The typical person spends all of their left over time with the people they love the most. This isn’t done intentionally, and in most cases this is done with nothing but great intent. People are working hard to provide for their family, yet drive the very people they work so hard for away by accident.
Just as you become distant with friends, family, etc. your relationship with God becomes distant. As with any successful relationship, it takes work. We must schedule time to spend in prayer and reading God’s word each and every day, just as you schedule time for a business meeting. Here is the most important point I hope to get across: time with God is much more important than ANY business meeting! You cannot possibly love something you don’t know, and you certainly won’t know something you don’t invest time in. If you want to know Christ, invest the time to know Him, and until you do, everything you do will pale in comparison. When you know Christ, you will die to self and the world, and be born again. Once this life changing event takes place, you will see the world through a completely different set of eyes. Invest in your God, your family, and the people you care about. Live a life of significance, not a life of business!
Application:
1.Read James 4: 13-17
2.Schedule time to read a devotional every day, put it on the calendar!
3.Schedule a date night every week for you and your significant other and turn the phone OFF during this time!
4.Make time for your family, friends, and loved ones even if it is only a phone call once a week.
Living for today
We live in a world of I-phones, Blackberries, and tons of other types of scheduling devices, which ultimately leads to a life of extreme business. Before sitting down to write this devotional, I couldn’t help but notice how almost every second of my day is on a calendar. Someone could literally know where I am going to be at just about any moment! The advances in technology have enabled us to do more with the same amount of time. However, there is a downside to the fast pace world we now live in. Families rarely sit and eat dinner together, husbands and wives rarely go on dates, and friendships away from work for some seem like a distant memory.
James gives incredible advice about living for the moment. “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4: 14). Regret is one of the worst feelings in the world, so may I suggest we all start to prioritize? The typical person spends all of their left over time with the people they love the most. This isn’t done intentionally, and in most cases this is done with nothing but great intent. People are working hard to provide for their family, yet drive the very people they work so hard for away by accident.
Just as you become distant with friends, family, etc. your relationship with God becomes distant. As with any successful relationship, it takes work. We must schedule time to spend in prayer and reading God’s word each and every day, just as you schedule time for a business meeting. Here is the most important point I hope to get across: time with God is much more important than ANY business meeting! You cannot possibly love something you don’t know, and you certainly won’t know something you don’t invest time in. If you want to know Christ, invest the time to know Him, and until you do, everything you do will pale in comparison. When you know Christ, you will die to self and the world, and be born again. Once this life changing event takes place, you will see the world through a completely different set of eyes. Invest in your God, your family, and the people you care about. Live a life of significance, not a life of business!
Application:
1.Read James 4: 13-17
2.Schedule time to read a devotional every day, put it on the calendar!
3.Schedule a date night every week for you and your significant other and turn the phone OFF during this time!
4.Make time for your family, friends, and loved ones even if it is only a phone call once a week.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Submission
4-9-2010
Submission
I love all Christ honoring days of celebration, where both active church goers and the C & E (Christmas and Easter) church goers submit themselves to Christ. The churches are packed with guests and visitors all decked out in their Easter best, yet very few truly get the message that Christ intended to send.
This past week we celebrated Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, and He truly is alive. I heard a message about Easter, and this was by far the best message I’ve ever heard on an Easter Sunday, and perhaps the best message I’ve ever heard in my life outlining the absolute truth of the resurrection of Christ. The message was far from the typical Easter message of joyous celebration, beautiful Easter eggs, and nice clothes. This message was laced with bold facts about the absolute truth of the resurrection, I didn’t see a single Easter egg, and the pastor was wearing jeans and an un-tucked button down shirt! With complete humility and factual information he outlined the real reason Christ is Christ, the resurrection.
To understand prophesies that were written before Christ walked the earth, and to see everything He did and say to fulfill those prophesies, cannot possibly be a coincidence. As you read this, prophesies that Christ said would take place are taking place. He walked the earth a sinless man, and carried out every prophecy that was written before he was born while he was on earth. He then died on the cross for you and for many, and on the third day he rose! Here are the facts, He said this would happen, it did, He did, yet some still haven’t devoted their lives to Christ.
As Easter came and went some truly gave thanks, broke bread, and celebrated the resurrection of Christ. Others, treated this day as another Sunday, but dressed up a little nicer and visited with family they haven’t seen in a while. Many have no clue what Good Friday and Easter are really all about. If you fall in one of the last two groups, I want to encourage you to invest the time it takes to understand Christ and all He has in store for you if you will simply submit your life to Him. I’ve been in the last two groups we are talking about. I chose to become educated about Christ, and it has changed my life!
Application:
1.Read James chapter 4: 1-12
2.Commit to diving into God’s word daily
3.If you don’t Christ, take the time to find out, it is the most important decision you will make.
Submission
I love all Christ honoring days of celebration, where both active church goers and the C & E (Christmas and Easter) church goers submit themselves to Christ. The churches are packed with guests and visitors all decked out in their Easter best, yet very few truly get the message that Christ intended to send.
This past week we celebrated Easter, the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, and He truly is alive. I heard a message about Easter, and this was by far the best message I’ve ever heard on an Easter Sunday, and perhaps the best message I’ve ever heard in my life outlining the absolute truth of the resurrection of Christ. The message was far from the typical Easter message of joyous celebration, beautiful Easter eggs, and nice clothes. This message was laced with bold facts about the absolute truth of the resurrection, I didn’t see a single Easter egg, and the pastor was wearing jeans and an un-tucked button down shirt! With complete humility and factual information he outlined the real reason Christ is Christ, the resurrection.
To understand prophesies that were written before Christ walked the earth, and to see everything He did and say to fulfill those prophesies, cannot possibly be a coincidence. As you read this, prophesies that Christ said would take place are taking place. He walked the earth a sinless man, and carried out every prophecy that was written before he was born while he was on earth. He then died on the cross for you and for many, and on the third day he rose! Here are the facts, He said this would happen, it did, He did, yet some still haven’t devoted their lives to Christ.
As Easter came and went some truly gave thanks, broke bread, and celebrated the resurrection of Christ. Others, treated this day as another Sunday, but dressed up a little nicer and visited with family they haven’t seen in a while. Many have no clue what Good Friday and Easter are really all about. If you fall in one of the last two groups, I want to encourage you to invest the time it takes to understand Christ and all He has in store for you if you will simply submit your life to Him. I’ve been in the last two groups we are talking about. I chose to become educated about Christ, and it has changed my life!
Application:
1.Read James chapter 4: 1-12
2.Commit to diving into God’s word daily
3.If you don’t Christ, take the time to find out, it is the most important decision you will make.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Communication
4-8-2010
Communication
It’s been said we remember 10% of what we hear, 50% of what we see, 70% of what we say, and 90% of what we see, hear, say, and do. I don’t know how true this is, but I would add that we typically remember just about 100% of the negative things we hear about us!
James begins chapter 3 by informing those of us that are in a leadership role, which is everyone on the earth, just how important and tough our job is as a believer in Christ. “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways” (James 2: 1-2). James is giving us clear advice that people will make attempts to shoot you down if you profess to live your life to a certain standard. Think about celebrities for a second, they can’t breathe without someone criticizing their every move. As a Christ follower, people are going to look at you more closely, and we must understand the leadership role we presume. The saying I like to keep in the back of my mind is, “you never know who is watching, so don’t let God down.”
James does give us a little slack by reminding us that we are going to make mistakes, but one thing we must focus on are our words. The tongue is such a small part of the body, yet it has caused wars, killings, breakups, etc. James says, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” We as human beings try and try, but we cannot seem to tame the tongue. I think we’ve all said things we regret saying, and we’ve had some moments where we’ve said the right things at the perfect time.
As you go about your life, really focus on avoiding the negative discussions we’ve all found ourselves involved in. Avoid gossip, putting others down, bragging, exaggerating, complaining, and lying. Just walk away from these conversations. God calls us to be slow to speak. In other words, think, don’t just ramble. Years of relationship building can all come crashing down by just a few small words in a moment. On the flip side, just a few small words can lead you to patching up a broken relationship, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
I am a very blunt person, and I really have to work on the taming of my tongue. I used to be the type of person that is going to tell you exactly how I feel all of the time. I’ve learned to control my speech and simply walk away (at times). One of the greatest blessings in my life is coaching younger kids. Talk about learning patience! If there is one major thing I’ve learned from coaching kids on the baseball field and adults in the business world it is this, people want you to be proud of them! No one wants to disappoint, and people will respond to encouraging words with a positive outlook and appreciation. If you are a dictator or use negativity to communicate, be prepared for a lonely life, as no one wants to be around these types of people. In the end, if we live our lives and speak with love, we will have incredible relationships that bless us and enable us to bless others. The way we communicate can make all the difference in the world, so love people not only with your actions, but with your words!
Application:
1.Read James 3:1-12
2.What areas of your life do you really need to tame your tongue?
3.Go out of your way to speak random words of kindness to people...it may be a simple
and a hello.
Communication
It’s been said we remember 10% of what we hear, 50% of what we see, 70% of what we say, and 90% of what we see, hear, say, and do. I don’t know how true this is, but I would add that we typically remember just about 100% of the negative things we hear about us!
James begins chapter 3 by informing those of us that are in a leadership role, which is everyone on the earth, just how important and tough our job is as a believer in Christ. “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways” (James 2: 1-2). James is giving us clear advice that people will make attempts to shoot you down if you profess to live your life to a certain standard. Think about celebrities for a second, they can’t breathe without someone criticizing their every move. As a Christ follower, people are going to look at you more closely, and we must understand the leadership role we presume. The saying I like to keep in the back of my mind is, “you never know who is watching, so don’t let God down.”
James does give us a little slack by reminding us that we are going to make mistakes, but one thing we must focus on are our words. The tongue is such a small part of the body, yet it has caused wars, killings, breakups, etc. James says, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” We as human beings try and try, but we cannot seem to tame the tongue. I think we’ve all said things we regret saying, and we’ve had some moments where we’ve said the right things at the perfect time.
As you go about your life, really focus on avoiding the negative discussions we’ve all found ourselves involved in. Avoid gossip, putting others down, bragging, exaggerating, complaining, and lying. Just walk away from these conversations. God calls us to be slow to speak. In other words, think, don’t just ramble. Years of relationship building can all come crashing down by just a few small words in a moment. On the flip side, just a few small words can lead you to patching up a broken relationship, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
I am a very blunt person, and I really have to work on the taming of my tongue. I used to be the type of person that is going to tell you exactly how I feel all of the time. I’ve learned to control my speech and simply walk away (at times). One of the greatest blessings in my life is coaching younger kids. Talk about learning patience! If there is one major thing I’ve learned from coaching kids on the baseball field and adults in the business world it is this, people want you to be proud of them! No one wants to disappoint, and people will respond to encouraging words with a positive outlook and appreciation. If you are a dictator or use negativity to communicate, be prepared for a lonely life, as no one wants to be around these types of people. In the end, if we live our lives and speak with love, we will have incredible relationships that bless us and enable us to bless others. The way we communicate can make all the difference in the world, so love people not only with your actions, but with your words!
Application:
1.Read James 3:1-12
2.What areas of your life do you really need to tame your tongue?
3.Go out of your way to speak random words of kindness to people...it may be a simple
and a hello.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Religion
4-7-2010
Religion
I had a meeting one afternoon with a friend of mine about some work related issues, and the topic of Christianity came up. I’ve known this particular person for a while now, and I knew he wasn’t brought up in a Christian home, and he isn’t a believer, but I am also not the type to beat people over the head with a bible. Little did he know, I had been praying that the conversation of salvation would come up, and that he would be open to the conversation, but I didn’t know that he would bring it up!
One of the major topics of conversation was his desire to reach the level of business success that I have been blessed to have achieved. He is new to sales, and he has the desire and drive to do big things in business, so I agreed a while back to give him advice along his journey as long as he would be coachable. As the conversation started, I asked him if he knew what I felt the most important thing in life was, and as God would have it, he made the comment, “I know you are very religious.” Here is my response:
I am not religious at all. In fact I cannot stand religion. To me religion is a bunch of people running around saying all the right things, doing the right things (at times), and they still don’t have a clue who Christ truly is. Anyone can memorize scripture, dress up on Sundays and go to church, and say the right things. I know someone who embodies these characteristics, yet she is clueless as to who Christ truly is! She is so caught up in religion that she misses the point of Christ’s death and resurrection. Do you know why most people go to the church they go to, or worship the God they worship? Their parents went to that church, or worshipped that God. They never truly studied why their parents took them to that church, or who Christ is and what Christ did. Christ literally walked this earth. He performed miracles that even non-believers admit they witnessed, but they chalked it up to magic or that He was demon-possessed! Christ walked this earth as a humble servant, he died, and he rose again. Everything Christ said would happen happened, and everything he predicted, has come to fruition, even as we speak. The bible is truth, and it is an account of exactly what happened before the birth of Christ, during the life of Christ, and after Christ ascended into heaven. If you were to read the bible, you would literally get chills at some points because you would realize the events Christ said would happen are literally happening over 2000 years later just as Christ said they would. So, the questions I have for you are simple: doesn’t it make sense to figure out exactly who this Jesus guy is? When Christ says there is only one way to Heaven, don’t you feel it’s important to figure out what that way is? Though I was taken to church as a kid, I still didn’t have a clue who Christ was until I overheard a friend of mine say something about “hearing God.” He was an older man, and he literally said, “God is speaking to me.” That fascinated me. I wanted God to speak to me, so what do I have to do to make that happen! I remember sitting in bed that night asking God to speak to me if He was real. I never got the immediate answer I was looking for that night. It wasn’t until I started researching Christianity before I realized God doesn’t literally speak to us. I’m not saying He can’t as He is God and He can do anything he wants, but the bible tells us, He speaks to us through the written word of God, the bible, and through various situations in life (people, events, etc.). After hearing the words, “God is speaking to me” I started researching different denominations, religions, churches, etc. I asked every question you could imagine, and through this process I learned the only way to real success, Christ. To answer your question, if you want to reach your God given potential in life, success, you need to know, understand, and accept Christ. Until you invest the time to do so, there will ALWAYS be a void in your life, and nothing will ever be enough. If you put your faith, hope, life, etc. into worldly things, you will be let down because everything of this world will disappear. Focus your trust on the eternal and you will quickly realize the things of this world don’t mean much in the way of success. If God is at the center of everything you do, you will never be let down because He will never abandon you. He may not answer you exactly when you think He should, but remember, you are on God’s time, not your time, and God never says, “Oops”! I don’t have all of the answers, I make mistakes all of the time, and I pray for forgiveness every day of life, but you must understand the difference between the worldly definition of success and the real definition of success. According to the world, you could say I am very successful. I have an amazing wife, money, house, cars, etc. The world views success in the temporal, but when you die, where does this stuff go? They certainly don’t put it in a U-Haul and attach it to your casket. Success is the understanding we must die to the world and we will then truly understand what it means to be alive. There are many times in my life when I wondered why God would allow certain things to happen, but I’m quickly reminded that we aren’t called to question God; we are called to have faith in God. I want you to be successful. I want to see you alive, but I do not want to force Christianity upon you. If you would like to take this conversation further, I would be honored to help you in any way I can. I do not want to force anything on you, but since you asked, I felt it was important you know that I am not religious, I am a Christ follower.
Application:
1.Read James chapter 2
2.Do you have genuine faith, or is there a little religious in you?
Religion
I had a meeting one afternoon with a friend of mine about some work related issues, and the topic of Christianity came up. I’ve known this particular person for a while now, and I knew he wasn’t brought up in a Christian home, and he isn’t a believer, but I am also not the type to beat people over the head with a bible. Little did he know, I had been praying that the conversation of salvation would come up, and that he would be open to the conversation, but I didn’t know that he would bring it up!
One of the major topics of conversation was his desire to reach the level of business success that I have been blessed to have achieved. He is new to sales, and he has the desire and drive to do big things in business, so I agreed a while back to give him advice along his journey as long as he would be coachable. As the conversation started, I asked him if he knew what I felt the most important thing in life was, and as God would have it, he made the comment, “I know you are very religious.” Here is my response:
I am not religious at all. In fact I cannot stand religion. To me religion is a bunch of people running around saying all the right things, doing the right things (at times), and they still don’t have a clue who Christ truly is. Anyone can memorize scripture, dress up on Sundays and go to church, and say the right things. I know someone who embodies these characteristics, yet she is clueless as to who Christ truly is! She is so caught up in religion that she misses the point of Christ’s death and resurrection. Do you know why most people go to the church they go to, or worship the God they worship? Their parents went to that church, or worshipped that God. They never truly studied why their parents took them to that church, or who Christ is and what Christ did. Christ literally walked this earth. He performed miracles that even non-believers admit they witnessed, but they chalked it up to magic or that He was demon-possessed! Christ walked this earth as a humble servant, he died, and he rose again. Everything Christ said would happen happened, and everything he predicted, has come to fruition, even as we speak. The bible is truth, and it is an account of exactly what happened before the birth of Christ, during the life of Christ, and after Christ ascended into heaven. If you were to read the bible, you would literally get chills at some points because you would realize the events Christ said would happen are literally happening over 2000 years later just as Christ said they would. So, the questions I have for you are simple: doesn’t it make sense to figure out exactly who this Jesus guy is? When Christ says there is only one way to Heaven, don’t you feel it’s important to figure out what that way is? Though I was taken to church as a kid, I still didn’t have a clue who Christ was until I overheard a friend of mine say something about “hearing God.” He was an older man, and he literally said, “God is speaking to me.” That fascinated me. I wanted God to speak to me, so what do I have to do to make that happen! I remember sitting in bed that night asking God to speak to me if He was real. I never got the immediate answer I was looking for that night. It wasn’t until I started researching Christianity before I realized God doesn’t literally speak to us. I’m not saying He can’t as He is God and He can do anything he wants, but the bible tells us, He speaks to us through the written word of God, the bible, and through various situations in life (people, events, etc.). After hearing the words, “God is speaking to me” I started researching different denominations, religions, churches, etc. I asked every question you could imagine, and through this process I learned the only way to real success, Christ. To answer your question, if you want to reach your God given potential in life, success, you need to know, understand, and accept Christ. Until you invest the time to do so, there will ALWAYS be a void in your life, and nothing will ever be enough. If you put your faith, hope, life, etc. into worldly things, you will be let down because everything of this world will disappear. Focus your trust on the eternal and you will quickly realize the things of this world don’t mean much in the way of success. If God is at the center of everything you do, you will never be let down because He will never abandon you. He may not answer you exactly when you think He should, but remember, you are on God’s time, not your time, and God never says, “Oops”! I don’t have all of the answers, I make mistakes all of the time, and I pray for forgiveness every day of life, but you must understand the difference between the worldly definition of success and the real definition of success. According to the world, you could say I am very successful. I have an amazing wife, money, house, cars, etc. The world views success in the temporal, but when you die, where does this stuff go? They certainly don’t put it in a U-Haul and attach it to your casket. Success is the understanding we must die to the world and we will then truly understand what it means to be alive. There are many times in my life when I wondered why God would allow certain things to happen, but I’m quickly reminded that we aren’t called to question God; we are called to have faith in God. I want you to be successful. I want to see you alive, but I do not want to force Christianity upon you. If you would like to take this conversation further, I would be honored to help you in any way I can. I do not want to force anything on you, but since you asked, I felt it was important you know that I am not religious, I am a Christ follower.
Application:
1.Read James chapter 2
2.Do you have genuine faith, or is there a little religious in you?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Listening and Doing
4-6-2010
Listening and Doing
I think we can all look back on our lives and think of times where we knew exactly what needed to be done, yet still didn’t do it. It might be something as simple as watching what you eat. We all know what we should or shouldn’t eat, but I can just about guarantee you if a cookie is put in front of me, I am going to eat it, and look for its friends!
In James 1: 19-27, we are given incredible advice on exactly how to listen and do the right thing all of the time. In chapter 19, James instructs us to be a great listener. If you want to be successful with people, be a great listener. We too often think it’s about what we say that makes a big difference, when in fact we may be speaking too much. If you are a parent, coach, boss, etc., make sure you take time to listen to everything your subordinate has to say before voicing your opinion, this way you won’t act out of anger, and the person that is communicating with you will feel you truly care and are approachable. You have probably heard the saying, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Refuse to throw advice at those in need. Be patient with your advice and understand the impact words can have on people. On the flip side, when you feel the need to be argumentative, take the high road. If you don’t have something positive to say, don’t say it. Silence cannot be misinterpreted!
In verse 21, James refers to the salvation message we have received by saying, “the word planted in you.” In other words, as a true follower of Jesus Christ, you know right from wrong, and it is much more important to do what God says than to simply know what it says. Anyone can disobey God’s word, but very few are able to uphold the message in their day to day doings. Flee from what the world puts value on (money, power, rank, job status, material possessions) and stay focused on Christian values that Jesus himself carried out while on the earth. When you dive into God’s word on a daily basis, your words and actions will be reflected.
It is easy to forget that Jesus Christ walked this very earth that we walk today, and he never sinned. Can you imagine the words you would want to say to the people that are spitting on your face? Can you imagine the verbal abuse just about any human being would give those that mocked Jesus Christ? Jesus was tortured, yet never sinned. Not only did He not sin, but He asked His father to forgive them! May the words from our mouths be the meditations of our hearts, and may our hearts be filled with God’s truth.
Application:
1.Read James 1: 19-27
2.When is the last time you said something you wish you wouldn’t have? Do you need to ask that person or persons for forgiveness?
3.Are you investing time in God’s word daily, so you will respond in a Christ-like way at all times?
Listening and Doing
I think we can all look back on our lives and think of times where we knew exactly what needed to be done, yet still didn’t do it. It might be something as simple as watching what you eat. We all know what we should or shouldn’t eat, but I can just about guarantee you if a cookie is put in front of me, I am going to eat it, and look for its friends!
In James 1: 19-27, we are given incredible advice on exactly how to listen and do the right thing all of the time. In chapter 19, James instructs us to be a great listener. If you want to be successful with people, be a great listener. We too often think it’s about what we say that makes a big difference, when in fact we may be speaking too much. If you are a parent, coach, boss, etc., make sure you take time to listen to everything your subordinate has to say before voicing your opinion, this way you won’t act out of anger, and the person that is communicating with you will feel you truly care and are approachable. You have probably heard the saying, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Refuse to throw advice at those in need. Be patient with your advice and understand the impact words can have on people. On the flip side, when you feel the need to be argumentative, take the high road. If you don’t have something positive to say, don’t say it. Silence cannot be misinterpreted!
In verse 21, James refers to the salvation message we have received by saying, “the word planted in you.” In other words, as a true follower of Jesus Christ, you know right from wrong, and it is much more important to do what God says than to simply know what it says. Anyone can disobey God’s word, but very few are able to uphold the message in their day to day doings. Flee from what the world puts value on (money, power, rank, job status, material possessions) and stay focused on Christian values that Jesus himself carried out while on the earth. When you dive into God’s word on a daily basis, your words and actions will be reflected.
It is easy to forget that Jesus Christ walked this very earth that we walk today, and he never sinned. Can you imagine the words you would want to say to the people that are spitting on your face? Can you imagine the verbal abuse just about any human being would give those that mocked Jesus Christ? Jesus was tortured, yet never sinned. Not only did He not sin, but He asked His father to forgive them! May the words from our mouths be the meditations of our hearts, and may our hearts be filled with God’s truth.
Application:
1.Read James 1: 19-27
2.When is the last time you said something you wish you wouldn’t have? Do you need to ask that person or persons for forgiveness?
3.Are you investing time in God’s word daily, so you will respond in a Christ-like way at all times?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Cross
4-5-2010
The Cross
The “Jesus Story” is one in which you either believe or don’t believe. You are a follower or you aren’t. The resurrection of Christ is the absolute pinnacle of the Christian faith. To not believe is a faith in something else. To say one doesn’t have faith is wrong, as you either have faith in Christ or faith in something else. Regardless, you have faith. As a believer in Christ, you must believe in the resurrection of Christ…there isn’t an option. Below is an account of the cross by Boyd Bailey is a recent devotional.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”. Colossians 2:13-15
The cross is compelling because Christ is compelling. His character is compelling by the depth of its delivery; His love is compelling by the extent of its capacity; His holiness is compelling by the respect it demands; His forgiveness is compelling by the thoroughness of its cleansing; His power is compelling by its ability to disarm the enemy and deem him powerless.
Therefore, the cross compels Christ’s followers to be like Him. There is nothing neutral about the cross. Either it compels you or it repels you. The cross either frees you to forgive or it drives you away, stuck in a cycle of cynicism. The cross either leads you into a life of hope or it discourages you to remain in a state of fear and uncertainty. You cannot embrace the cross and self at the same time. It is not possible.
If it were possible, it would not be advisable. A house divided will not stand (Luke 11:17). A heart divided will collapse under the weight of diluted loyalties. Therefore, the cross compels you to make a radical commitment to Christ. For a moment, the cross looked like man’s torture chamber. But it turned into God’s remedy for redemption. The cross is not a symbol of compassion; it is compassion. Man won the physical battle that day, but God won the spiritual one. It took physical death to triumph over the enemy in the spiritual realm. Thus, the cross gives you the power to overcome.
Go back to the foot of the cross. This is where the love and the blood of Christ flowed down together for you. This is a rare combination that for generations has compelled millions to extend the love of God to the lost and the least. The foot of the cross is compelling because it is the location for the most leverage. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But what about the suffering we incur as we bear His cross?
The cross you bear is compelling (Luke 14:27). It is compelling because it reflects the sacrifice and salvation of the cross of Christ. Moreover, the cross you hold high in word and deed draws all men to Jesus (John 12:32). Christ compels all cultures, denominations, races, and socio-economic classes. His cross invites and even demands a response.
To remain neutral is not an option. The cross either compels you to repent, or it repels you to remain in your sin. You can choose a divine destiny or one of your own making. The cross means death to self and sin, but life in Christ. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34b).
Am I compelled or repelled by the cross? How can I bear Christ’s cross with grace?
Related Readings: Galatians 6:12-14; Philippians 2:8; 3:18
The Cross
The “Jesus Story” is one in which you either believe or don’t believe. You are a follower or you aren’t. The resurrection of Christ is the absolute pinnacle of the Christian faith. To not believe is a faith in something else. To say one doesn’t have faith is wrong, as you either have faith in Christ or faith in something else. Regardless, you have faith. As a believer in Christ, you must believe in the resurrection of Christ…there isn’t an option. Below is an account of the cross by Boyd Bailey is a recent devotional.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”. Colossians 2:13-15
The cross is compelling because Christ is compelling. His character is compelling by the depth of its delivery; His love is compelling by the extent of its capacity; His holiness is compelling by the respect it demands; His forgiveness is compelling by the thoroughness of its cleansing; His power is compelling by its ability to disarm the enemy and deem him powerless.
Therefore, the cross compels Christ’s followers to be like Him. There is nothing neutral about the cross. Either it compels you or it repels you. The cross either frees you to forgive or it drives you away, stuck in a cycle of cynicism. The cross either leads you into a life of hope or it discourages you to remain in a state of fear and uncertainty. You cannot embrace the cross and self at the same time. It is not possible.
If it were possible, it would not be advisable. A house divided will not stand (Luke 11:17). A heart divided will collapse under the weight of diluted loyalties. Therefore, the cross compels you to make a radical commitment to Christ. For a moment, the cross looked like man’s torture chamber. But it turned into God’s remedy for redemption. The cross is not a symbol of compassion; it is compassion. Man won the physical battle that day, but God won the spiritual one. It took physical death to triumph over the enemy in the spiritual realm. Thus, the cross gives you the power to overcome.
Go back to the foot of the cross. This is where the love and the blood of Christ flowed down together for you. This is a rare combination that for generations has compelled millions to extend the love of God to the lost and the least. The foot of the cross is compelling because it is the location for the most leverage. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But what about the suffering we incur as we bear His cross?
The cross you bear is compelling (Luke 14:27). It is compelling because it reflects the sacrifice and salvation of the cross of Christ. Moreover, the cross you hold high in word and deed draws all men to Jesus (John 12:32). Christ compels all cultures, denominations, races, and socio-economic classes. His cross invites and even demands a response.
To remain neutral is not an option. The cross either compels you to repent, or it repels you to remain in your sin. You can choose a divine destiny or one of your own making. The cross means death to self and sin, but life in Christ. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34b).
Am I compelled or repelled by the cross? How can I bear Christ’s cross with grace?
Related Readings: Galatians 6:12-14; Philippians 2:8; 3:18
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