You may wonder why I did two days today. Well, we got two days behind over the course of the 40 days and I was compelled to continue on today! So...
Day XXXIX: As You Go
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
God entrusts us to reach the world and help take his kingdom message to the planet. Us?
Yes, us. Not angels, us.
One of my personal favorite and very true quotes:
"It's not your ability, but your availability."
"Jesus begins his last word to his guys by reminding them that he's the boss. All authority in heaven and on earth is his. That's a lot! So what he says goes, and what he says is "Go.""
Jesus calls us to make disciples. "Not pew sitters, disciples. Not retreat goers, disciples. Not people who just buy Christian CDs and books, but people who obey Jesus Christ. The law of nature is like produces like... You and I can't produce disciples if we aren't disciples ourselves, and the level of commitment of those we influence is seldom higher than our own... If you and I want people to follow Christ, we have to live and breathe the grace and truth of Jesus."
I work with middle school ministry. I have had the most wonderful opportunity to share my life with my students. Our words and our actions make profound statements about what we believe. My girls are impacted by me and my decisions. If I am not rooted in Christ, they will not see Christ in my life. Let's get rooted!!
Day XL: The Next Step
Matthew 16:24-27
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."
"Jesus calls us to make choices about him, about ourselves, and about how we live. If it doesn't shake us up from time to time, we must already be dead!.. Let God change your identity, and you'll never be the same."
Yes, Satan will always be scheming and distracting us from Christ, but if we are aware and on guard we will know how to respond to danger (1 Peter 5:8).
Making a decision for Christ isn't a one time thing, it's every day. We see this as Demas and Paul near the end of their lives. Demas' heart shifted from Christ to this world. He allowed the devil to get a foothold(Col 4:14, 2 Tim 4:10). Paul, however, plowed through life's struggles and strained through daily obedience because he was looking for the age to come.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul's Last Words before he was martyred in Rome.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Where will you stand on the day of judgement? How will you prepare for the Kingdom? We are in the womb of eternity, let's GO and make disciples!
November 19, 2009
November 17, 2009
Day XXXVII: A Fork In the Road
"Jim Elliot experienced the grace of God, and that grace worked deep into his soul. He wanted more than anything in the world for his life to count for God... His passion was for God to work through him in a powerful way, and that God would get the glory for it all. Elliot realized that ministry consists of a series of moments of crossroads in people's lives. In these moments, they make choices.... Elliot prayed: Father, make me a crisis man. Bring those I contact into a decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."
Jim Elliot had radical commitment to radically different leader, Jesus. This is different than a political cause... like that in the Middle East. Those suicide bombers are radically committed to killing people... just goes to show that radical doesn't mean much. But wait.
"A radical commitment to Jesus Christ is different: It combines zeal with compassion, conviction about the cause with kindness. Jesus said some really hard things to those who opposed him, but he reached out a hand of love to everyone, even those who despised him... [Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul's] toughness was awesome, but so was his gentleness... That combination of zeal and compassion is what makes us different form political zealots around the world."
Matthew 18:1-6
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
"I think that Jesus means that real spiritual strength comes from enjoying being loved by our Heavenly Father, having a simple heart of trust in the Father, and not being concerned with power and authority... If we have that kind of simple faith, God will use us in incredible ways, but if we are plotting to get power and recognition, God will oppose us (see 1 Peter 5:5)."
Jesus clearly displays how we should relate to people and how we should be more concerned with furthering the Kingdom that ourselves. There are some people in my life that pang my heart because they oppose God so much. They chase after empty endeavors in search of truth, but end up where they started: empty, hopeless, lost. These relationships are some of the most trying, but the most rewarding. The love for these people and the passion for the furthering the Kingdom are woven together in passionate prayers and humbled service. It's amazing how God orchestrates our friendships to teach us more about him and his image in us.
"The paradox is that we have the greatest impact for God when we don't care about fame, power, and approval. This is really good news for you and me. You see, this means we don't have to have a certain profile of ability for God to use us."
My personal favorite quote on the topic:
"It's not your ability, but your availability."
We are just called to be faithful in Christ in accordance to who we are in the body. Your spiritual gifts are made for a distinct purpose and your position is not important. In listening to him, he will use us and communicate his love and grace.
"You and I can be a fork in the road for people. As we live the grace and truth of Christ, it will ooze from every pore. When people met Jesus, they faced the truth about God and the truth about themselves. At that moment, they had a choice. Jesus never forced them to decide one way or the other. He simply loved them and pointed the way. In the same way, you and I have the unspeakable privilege to tell people about them. We don't have to push. We just need to be clear. We don't have to force a decision. They will make one on their own. God is in control."
Knowing God is ultimately in control is relieving, but sometimes extremely hard for me. Some days, I want to push my own agenda. However, it is in the spontaneous moments when the largest impacts are made. It's in being last and loving every person, all the time. We all know that can be a challenge in it self... but when we trust, oh the reward that is gained!
Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
So will you be a fork in the road or just a mile marker?
Jim Elliot had radical commitment to radically different leader, Jesus. This is different than a political cause... like that in the Middle East. Those suicide bombers are radically committed to killing people... just goes to show that radical doesn't mean much. But wait.
"A radical commitment to Jesus Christ is different: It combines zeal with compassion, conviction about the cause with kindness. Jesus said some really hard things to those who opposed him, but he reached out a hand of love to everyone, even those who despised him... [Like Jesus, the Apostle Paul's] toughness was awesome, but so was his gentleness... That combination of zeal and compassion is what makes us different form political zealots around the world."
Matthew 18:1-6
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
"I think that Jesus means that real spiritual strength comes from enjoying being loved by our Heavenly Father, having a simple heart of trust in the Father, and not being concerned with power and authority... If we have that kind of simple faith, God will use us in incredible ways, but if we are plotting to get power and recognition, God will oppose us (see 1 Peter 5:5)."
Jesus clearly displays how we should relate to people and how we should be more concerned with furthering the Kingdom that ourselves. There are some people in my life that pang my heart because they oppose God so much. They chase after empty endeavors in search of truth, but end up where they started: empty, hopeless, lost. These relationships are some of the most trying, but the most rewarding. The love for these people and the passion for the furthering the Kingdom are woven together in passionate prayers and humbled service. It's amazing how God orchestrates our friendships to teach us more about him and his image in us.
"The paradox is that we have the greatest impact for God when we don't care about fame, power, and approval. This is really good news for you and me. You see, this means we don't have to have a certain profile of ability for God to use us."
My personal favorite quote on the topic:
"It's not your ability, but your availability."
We are just called to be faithful in Christ in accordance to who we are in the body. Your spiritual gifts are made for a distinct purpose and your position is not important. In listening to him, he will use us and communicate his love and grace.
"You and I can be a fork in the road for people. As we live the grace and truth of Christ, it will ooze from every pore. When people met Jesus, they faced the truth about God and the truth about themselves. At that moment, they had a choice. Jesus never forced them to decide one way or the other. He simply loved them and pointed the way. In the same way, you and I have the unspeakable privilege to tell people about them. We don't have to push. We just need to be clear. We don't have to force a decision. They will make one on their own. God is in control."
Knowing God is ultimately in control is relieving, but sometimes extremely hard for me. Some days, I want to push my own agenda. However, it is in the spontaneous moments when the largest impacts are made. It's in being last and loving every person, all the time. We all know that can be a challenge in it self... but when we trust, oh the reward that is gained!
Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
So will you be a fork in the road or just a mile marker?
November 2, 2009
DayXXII: Be a Doer
James 1:22, 25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says... But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
I grew up with the phrase, "You know what you should have done..." Now, we just joke about that phrase. However, this statement really brings me to the state of my heart: being critical. Instead of what someone else ought to do, what should I be doing.
The Pharisees focused on what one ought to do, they even wrote an entire manuscript about it: the Talmud. The Pharisees would do right, but not always with the right purpose. They failed to do God's law. They failed to be righteous on the inside, despite their outward appearance. They were hypocrites.
When I think of that phrase from my childhood, "You know what you should have done..." I think that phrase is missing the point, just like the Pharisees were missing the point.
Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
God knows our hearts and desires to affect every aspect of our lives. "His truth gives us direction about loving God and honoring him through forgiving those who have hurt us, reaching out to the lost, serving God, and how to handle our time and money. The word of God...challenges our hearts, our motives, our wallets, and our schedules. In fact, if the truth of God doesn't make a difference in these areas, we really aren't doers of the word at all. We're not even really good listeners."
Therefore, it is imperative that we dive into the word:
observe, interpret, and apply the truth.
Observation: What does the passage say?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: What does it mean in my life?
"Application moves our feet and hands."
This October, I was jumping up and down with a sixth grade girl who just accepted Christ. We talked about what it meant to follow Christ and how to stay strong and persevere. She had always just flipped to a Bible passage and never read a book before. She was so encouraged to find that when you read a book, the context and the concepts help us understand the reality of what it means in our lives. Oh what an awesome moment! A life changed!
By applying God's word, we are strengthened, filled with joy, and continually desire more: more truth, more relationship, more.
James 1:19-27
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says... But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
I grew up with the phrase, "You know what you should have done..." Now, we just joke about that phrase. However, this statement really brings me to the state of my heart: being critical. Instead of what someone else ought to do, what should I be doing.
The Pharisees focused on what one ought to do, they even wrote an entire manuscript about it: the Talmud. The Pharisees would do right, but not always with the right purpose. They failed to do God's law. They failed to be righteous on the inside, despite their outward appearance. They were hypocrites.
When I think of that phrase from my childhood, "You know what you should have done..." I think that phrase is missing the point, just like the Pharisees were missing the point.
Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
God knows our hearts and desires to affect every aspect of our lives. "His truth gives us direction about loving God and honoring him through forgiving those who have hurt us, reaching out to the lost, serving God, and how to handle our time and money. The word of God...challenges our hearts, our motives, our wallets, and our schedules. In fact, if the truth of God doesn't make a difference in these areas, we really aren't doers of the word at all. We're not even really good listeners."
Therefore, it is imperative that we dive into the word:
observe, interpret, and apply the truth.
Observation: What does the passage say?
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: What does it mean in my life?
"Application moves our feet and hands."
This October, I was jumping up and down with a sixth grade girl who just accepted Christ. We talked about what it meant to follow Christ and how to stay strong and persevere. She had always just flipped to a Bible passage and never read a book before. She was so encouraged to find that when you read a book, the context and the concepts help us understand the reality of what it means in our lives. Oh what an awesome moment! A life changed!
By applying God's word, we are strengthened, filled with joy, and continually desire more: more truth, more relationship, more.
James 1:19-27
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
I want to be a doer, not just a hearer.
November 1, 2009
XXI: True Worship
Romans 12: 1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Every single thing we do to honor God is worship. It is a lifestyle.
When our life is honoring God, our actions and our words intersect. We intersect with God. Our lives are authentic. We have one life: not a home life, a church life, a school life, a work life, etc. One life.
In John 4, Jesus calls us to authentic worship. "Worship is turning your mind's attention and you're hearts affection to God. It's declaring, by word and deed, God's great goodness, power, and mercy."
So what about worship music?
"Worship songs bring us into the presence of God. Sometimes that experience is wonderfully comforting, but sometimes God chooses to shine his light on sin in our lives." When we are singing worship songs, allow the song to be: a spotlight on your heart, the cry of your heart, a benchmark of your integrity, and translated from lyrics to your lifestyle.
The other day, I was at church singing the song by ANTHEM, To Do Your Will. I just stopped. I thought about Jesus following the Father's will. He asks our Father to take away the unbearable, excruciating pain of the Cross. Jesus knew this reality that following the Father's will was the crucible of choice. In Matthew 26:42, Jesus prayed "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." I sat in silence while voices harmonized around me. I wanted that to be the cry of my heart and the action produced in my life. I knew that at that moment, God tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Now, Jessica, listen. Just listen. I want you to reorder your heart. I want to be in the center. I know you want to do my will, but you have to give up yours right now." That checked my integrity and caused me to come to back to the Cross.
Sometimes, just listening to the lyrics and the voices is more powerful than singing or lifting our hands high. Hearing a thousand voices reminds us of what God has done and yet to do... Listening and Following Jesus is a lifestyle, a life worth living.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Every single thing we do to honor God is worship. It is a lifestyle.
When our life is honoring God, our actions and our words intersect. We intersect with God. Our lives are authentic. We have one life: not a home life, a church life, a school life, a work life, etc. One life.
In John 4, Jesus calls us to authentic worship. "Worship is turning your mind's attention and you're hearts affection to God. It's declaring, by word and deed, God's great goodness, power, and mercy."
So what about worship music?
"Worship songs bring us into the presence of God. Sometimes that experience is wonderfully comforting, but sometimes God chooses to shine his light on sin in our lives." When we are singing worship songs, allow the song to be: a spotlight on your heart, the cry of your heart, a benchmark of your integrity, and translated from lyrics to your lifestyle.
The other day, I was at church singing the song by ANTHEM, To Do Your Will. I just stopped. I thought about Jesus following the Father's will. He asks our Father to take away the unbearable, excruciating pain of the Cross. Jesus knew this reality that following the Father's will was the crucible of choice. In Matthew 26:42, Jesus prayed "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." I sat in silence while voices harmonized around me. I wanted that to be the cry of my heart and the action produced in my life. I knew that at that moment, God tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Now, Jessica, listen. Just listen. I want you to reorder your heart. I want to be in the center. I know you want to do my will, but you have to give up yours right now." That checked my integrity and caused me to come to back to the Cross.
Sometimes, just listening to the lyrics and the voices is more powerful than singing or lifting our hands high. Hearing a thousand voices reminds us of what God has done and yet to do... Listening and Following Jesus is a lifestyle, a life worth living.
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