Category Encouragement
Don’t Forget This:
I Don’t (just) Believe in Jesus
Do you believe in Jesus?
Tonight, a simple thought that I hope will challenge you as a Christian:
Belief in Jesus just isn’t enough. There has to be behavior that follows.
Do you remember what James 2:19 says? It reminds us “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” Satan and his demons believe in God, believe in Jesus, and believe in the Spirit.
Believing is great. I believe in Jesus. But that is not enough.
There has to be action. There has to be response. How will you show you are a believer? What will you do to show that you’re a follower of Jesus? Belief is just a step. Taking action is a big step – will you take it?
What’s Holding You Back
Tonight’s post is just a simple graphic. So, what is holding you back?
When God Slams the Door In Your Face
Mid South Youth Camp was my home away from home for 4 straight summers during college. There were 6 guys and 7 gals serving as counselors at the camp each week. We each had our own cabin we dealt with, and a different group of kids came in each and every week.
The counselors had a special place to “live” which was located on a screened-in porch. Each of these porches was the main entryway into the cabin. The only way into the cabin was a wooden screened door.
Each and every week, my first rule when I shared the cabin rules on Sunday night was this: DO NOT LET THE DOOR SLAM WHEN YOU ENTER AND EXIT. I know it sounds silly, but spend 9 weeks in a row listening to a door slam next to your face, and you’d make it a rule too!
Its a simple rule, but hard to to follow for 8-18 year old guys. So, needless to say, I would constantly hear the door slam as the guys would come and go. The boys would run out of the cabin in a rush, and about 4 seconds later – WHAM!! Pictures would fall off the wall of the porch, my ears would ring for a few seconds, and this happened countless times each day.
This rule, when broken, had consequences. If you let the door slam, you had to come back, open and shut the door gently and quietly 20 times. It was great fun watching these guys run out, forgetting the rule, hearing it slam, and hanging their head as they had to come back to open and shut the door 20 times quietly.
I hated that sound. I never could understand why they couldn’t grasp the idea of not letting the door slam.
You know what else I don’t understand? Why does it seem like God allows doors to slam in our face as well? Have you ever felt like God opened up a door for you to walk through, only to have it slammed in your face? A wonderful opportunity comes up, everything looks awesome, and WHAM!!! The door is slammed in your face.
Why does this happen? Could it be that maybe we conjure up our own idea of what God’s will should be, and when it doesn’t happen we are disappointed? Maybe upset?
What I’ve learned is that when we feel like God slams a door in our face – He calls us back to assess the situation, and as we look back, we realize that God has put us where we need to be instead of where we want to be. If we let Him, God will lead us where HE wants us to go, and will keep us out of the places we need to pass by.
Today – maybe we should praise God for slamming doors.
(I wrote this “article” for the church bulletin in Ashland City, TN, where I had my first Youth Ministry job. It was printed on April 18, 2004. My mom found a copy of it in a closet at home with some old pictures.)
Huh? (The one about if you were paying attention in church today…)
What did your preacher teach about this morning during his sermon? What did you teacher talk about in class?
Since I started working in ministry 14 years ago, I’ve realized that Sunday morning doesn’t just happen – but rather it takes days of preparation. I have a great respect for those who preach and teach.
Most ministers will spend anywhere from 15-40 hours preparing for the 30 minutes they will preach on Sunday mornings. For those ministers who work for churches who still have a traditional Sunday evening service, you can add even more time to that. On top of that, they have to prepare and study for their Sunday morning class if they teach one. What impresses me even more are those who work a full time job, and still volunteer to teach.
How do you reward your preacher for the time he’s put into the lesson? How do you reward the teacher who takes time above and beyond their regular job and life to prepare to teach? Do you simply sit there and listen? Those who teach and preach spend a lot of time preparing so you can learn. So, let me suggest a few things that will help encourage your preachers and teachers at church, and will in return bless you as well.
- Take notes. Find a good note taking app for your phone, bring an old fashioned notebook. Jot things down in your Bible. My wife has been taking notes for as long as we’ve been married, and began long before we got married. It helps her listen and retain things that were taught.
- Embrace what was taught. How do you do this? You live it. You show it. You bring it up with the teacher.
- Share thoughts on social media – facebook, twitter, instagram. Not many things can encourage a preacher or teacher more than when he’s flipping through Facebook, or sees himself tagged in a tweet – that is someone quoting from his sermon or lesson. Not only are you encouraging them, but you’re also inviting others to share in what was taught that day.
- Thank them. Let them know you appreciate their lesson. Even better – send an email the next day, or on a Thursday, to let them know you’re still thinking about what was said on Sunday.
- Finally – Remember what was taught. If I were to ask you all what did your preacher speak on his sermon at your last service, could you answer in detail? If I asked you what your Sunday morning class teacher taught about, could you answer in detail? Or is all you remember the fact that you were at church and songs were sung, prayers were prayed, communion was served, and some dude got up to teach?
Sure there are other things that could make a difference, but I believe these 5 things will not only help your preachers and teachers to know you appreciate them, but you will find it enriches your life as well.
So, tonight, take a moment and go on social media and tag your preacher/teacher in a post, sharing how you appreciate them, and the key thoughts from the lesson.
P.S. – this works for all areas in the church – don’t forget about your kids’ teachers, your worship leader, the people leading prayers, and the list goes on and on. Not only do these things boost their self esteem a bit – but it also helps spread the Good News!
I Will Walk By Faith
Just a simple thought tonight:
How Can I Keep Holding It All Together? A post about how you don’t have to!!
Life happens, right? People mess up, people get sick, tragedy happens. There’s no stopping it in this fallen world we live in – so the question has to be asked: How do I hold it all together? How do I keep from falling apart? How do I keep on keeping on?
We were sitting in the upper section of Bridgestone Arena. Every time the Casting Crowns are nearby, we try to go hear them in concert. There’s something about this Christian band – its not that their songs are typical “worship” songs like Crowder and Tomlin sing. The songs they sing are lessons. They are stories. And if you have never heard Mark Hall crack jokes and teach – you are missing out.
We had just been through a rotten week. Our lives had been turned upside down in a few different ways. We were hurt, scared, anxious, and my mind was racing 8000 miles a minute.
Until about 5 songs in to their part of the concert – I hadn’t really been there. My mind was elsewhere. Sure, they sang a few of their popular songs to start with, and my heart felt joy listening. But then, off their newest album, they sang this song:
If you don’t want to watch the video, you’re missing out on the beautiful music that accompanies these words. But if you just want to read – read these words carefully:
“Just Be Held”
Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on
And when you’re tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There’s freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go
So when you’re on your knees and answers seem so far away
You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held
If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and I always will
And not a tear is wasted
In time, you’ll understand
I’m painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands
Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you’ll find Me
And where you are, I’ll hold your heart
I’ll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who wont let go
There, about 45 rows from the floor of Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN – my heart burst, as well as my eyes. I have a feeling these words may be able to offer you a big helping of relief like it did for me.
Today may God hold you. May God encourage you. May God assure you that He has the answers, He holds the future, and He loves you. May you let go of the pressures, the stress, the problems, and let God take them over. May you let God rule your heart, instead of letting fear do so.
I walked out of the concert, emotionally broken, vulnerable, and fragile – but knowing that God had already started strengthening me. Be broken today, and let God paint beauty with the ashes. In time, we’ll understand.
5 Things for Ministers to Consider During Transitions
God never promises that life will be easy. In fact, I would say that God promises the opposite. James 1:2 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” – and by various kinds, that could mean self inflicted, through no fault of your own, random, expected…the list goes on and on.
Job transitions are tough. In my field of ministry, they have a unique challenge though. You see, ministry is not a job. Its a lifestyle. Its a calling. We don’t just “go to work” but rather our life is our work.
Recently my life was faced with this very transition. Its tough. Its challenging. I have woken up every day thinking about people in my congregation who were hurting, struggling, dealing with various trials of their own – and its because while I may have left the ministry at that church, I have not left my ministry. My church family isn’t just made up of the people I work for at a certain time, but rather its made up of ALL the people I’ve ever worked with.
But what do you do when you go through that inevitable transition? I think it begins before it ever happens.
Make sure that in your ministry, you don’t isolate yourself. Network, and network some more. Connect with other ministers, churches, and schools. Find people you can confide in, share your struggles with, and pray with on a regular basis who are outside of your church family. That way, when the transition comes, you won’t find yourself alone.
But when that day comes for you to leave your work – what do you? How do you handle it? Here are 5 ways to handle your transition time in ministry, whether you’ve been let go, you’re leaving on your own, or you’re moving to another church.
Realize that your church will move on, and probably a lot quicker than you will. As ministers, we should aim to leave a church just like our mothers told us to treat places we visited – better than we found it. If we have done our jobs, we have prepared the church for the next step, whatever that may be. Don’t be surprised or upset when they start posting a want ad for a new minister, announcing guest speakers, and move forward.
Remember that the church belongs to God, not to you. This is God’s church. God called you, led you, and put you there for a season. But, it will be just fine without you. God will lead a new person there to continue where you left off.
Remember your family is leaving the church as well. Your spouse has been there for you, supported you, waited up late for you after meetings, gone to events with you, and more than likely dedicated a giant portion of time and energy to the church. This hurts them just as much as it hurts you. I count it a blessing that I have a spouse who supports me wholeheartedly, and is always there for me no matter what the situation.
If you have children, remember that they may not completely understand. Its tough on them. I know people say that kids are resilient, and I believe that to be true, but saying things such as “God has other plans” don’t always work with a 5 year old, or a 15 year old for that matter. Be prepared to deal with lots of tears, questions, confusion, and for those of you with older children – resentment.
Don’t let Satan win. The evil one wants you to feel defeated. He wants you to feel like you’re not good enough, or that you’ve abandoned the best thing you’ve ever done, or that no one ever liked you. He will play so many tricks on you to get you to give up on ministry completely. Remember, he’s pretty good at this. You’ll begin to question your motives, your calling, your ability, and all of this is natural to a certain extent.Remember when Satan tells you these things, he’s just trying to get you blame God, to doubt God, to question God, or to give up on God. And the only way you can make sure these things don’t happen is to…
Immerse yourself in prayer. Pray without ceasing. Pray continually. Pray, and then pray some more. If you left on your own, for whatever reason, pray. If you were relieved of your duties, pray. If you were offered a job elsewhere, pray. Pray alone. Pray with others. Pray with your family. Pray for the church you just left. Pray for the church where you will be going. Pray for the church that has yet to be put in your path. Pray about the bad times. Pray about the good things God used you for. Pray, pray, pray.
The Keys: BACKSPACE
Have you ever heard about someone who has worked hard every day, always on the job, always working. To the point where they end up neglecting their family. And then on their death bed, they say they would take it all back and work less and not worry so much about the money – all for the relationship to be restored as fully as could be.
There is no backspace key in life. You can’t just hit a button and make things disappear and you’re able to start all over. But there are steps you can take to do your best to have a clean slate with other people, and with God.
One thing we have to do is realize the problem. Sometimes that comes with a self realization and a confession to the world – I need a change, I need to do something different.
We work and play so very hard, but we look back and see we have neglected our relationship with Christ and have put it on the back burner. This is one of the many relationships that we need to make sure, at the end of our life we don’t find ourselves saying “How I wish I could have drawn closer to God, closer to Him. How I wish we hadn’t neglected our relationship.
In fact, Sometimes we need to be shown the bad decisions we have made in our relationship with God. And that’s what God is doing in Isaiah 43.
God shows all the things that He has done for Israel. In the first 13 verses – God talks about how much He has done for them. How he created them, formed them, redeemed them. How he has protected them from enemies. How he loves them. How He is with them. How he has rescued them.
He then goes on to say How as Creator, the wild animals honor HIM, the jackals, the owls, because He provides for them. BUT then in verse 22 – He pulls out the hard words to read.
He says “You didn’t call on me…I was there for you, I helped you, I saved you, but you didn’t call.” In fact, look close at verse 22 – He tells the Israelites – “YOU HAVE BEEN WEARY OF ME.”
Instead of seeing God as a deliverer…they have grown weary of Him.
Its as if they’re saying – “You’re wearing me out with this, God!! – stop being there for me – stop trying to help me. We’re exhausted with all this.”
In verse 23 – He talks about the sacrifices, but the people don’t want to bring them. They did not want to bring sacrifices to God, or honor Him. They did not want to give their money, or their gifts to God.
Their worship was not centered on praising or honoring God. Instead they thought it was rather tiring. It was such a burden. It made them weary.
And God has a legitimate question – have i really been that big of a burden? The only true and living God, who has loved them through all sorts of messes, says “I’m the only true God…i’ll help you, i’ll protect you, I’ll carry you…
But they’re Not interested God.
SO God goes on in verse 24 and says if anyone is burdened, its not you…its ME!!
God had done so much for them, and He says “You burden me with all your sins..I’m the one carrying the load…”
Have you ever stopped and thought – “This whole God thing, its getting wearisome, its a burden, its hard, I just want to live my life, SURE i’ll go through those motions, I’ll bring a song to Him at worship, I’ll close my eyes during prayer, I’ll bring my 12 pack of soft drinks for the next event – but let me tell you what, if we go over time on Sunday morning, and if we don’t start singing the songs I like, and if they run out of food at the fellowship…”
But then you stop and hear this message from God: –
“You think its weary to serve me? – its a burden for me to carry your sins…”
Why is this a beautiful message? What does this have to do with the backspace key?? Well here’s what God says –
“Fine – I’ll leave you alone…that’s fine…I’m done with you…you don’t want to put a little more time into our relationship? You don’t want to bring gifts to me cheerfully? You don’t want to be wrapped up in my love? I’ll just find someone who does.”
NO – he doesn’t say that. In fact – He keeps doing, keeps trying.
Here’s why I like God, the one true God. Other gods, you do for them, you do for them, you do for them…but GOD – the one true God – keeps trying to win us over.
God says in verse 25 “Even though you are the way you are…I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
He had just finished saying “YOU HAVE BURDENED ME.” But in verse 25 – he says i’ll deal with it.. I’ll take care of it.
WHY is he saying that? Why is He dealing with it? He didn’t make the mistake. He didn’t mess up!!
HE says “for my own sake” – its not for us, its for HIM. He’s doing it because of who He is. He is goodness, He is loving, He is merciful. IN FACT we really have nothing to offer God that causes HIM to say “I’m going to do this for you”. He just says “You are wicked, you are evil, you are filled with sin, you keep messing up – but I love you – and I’m going to do this for you.”
He says I’m going to forgive you for my own sake and I’m not even going to remember them. We serve a God who says “I won’t remember your sins”. They’re gone.
Yes, there are consequences, called Babylonian captivity. But if you look at 44:1, God says “but listen up – i’ll help you. YOU Deal with the consequences – BUT I’M STILL… going….to… help you. Don’t fear, don’t be afraid.”
And then in verse 3 – HE SAYS “i’ll pour water out on the dry ground, I’ll pour my spirit on your offspring, and they will spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.” Now if you’re not understanding what Isaiah is saying here – HE’s saying A COMPLETE RENEWAL will occur. When God says I’m going to send rain or water – its usually a sign for renewal.
He is going to cause a radical renewal.
And notice VERSE 5 – They’ll be saying “I am the Lord’s” They’ll be a group that says they belong to God. That they are proud to belong to God. Maybe that’s what we should pray today. God will you change my heart to make me want to desire you more and more?
Ever wish there was a backspace key in your life? Where you can just start over? Clean slate? Its already there. Its called Jesus. He can bring about this fresh start, this cleansing.
Are you weary of service to God? Have you been through this charade too many times, and it means very little to you? God can change your heart. He can take you back to where you first fell in love with Him. Start over today.
God, help us to know you forgive us, you love us, and want to pick up right where we left off. Help us to forget our sins, because we know you do. Amen.
Being Changed from the Inside Out 