Tuesday February 1, 2011
Recently in my Quiet Time Devotions I ran across a saying by Max Lucado; “Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that Jesus will be there to pull you out of the water.” Of course it fit in pretty neatly with where I was reading, Matthew chapter 14. I was thinking about being afraid or embarrassed about doing something and failing...actually worried about what people would think of me...imagine that or maybe you have.
People often get embarrassed when they don’t know much about a specific subject. As soon as you start hanging out with people who are knowledgeable in an area you’re not, there are many opportunities for embarrassment. Sometimes that fear of embarrassment keeps us from going deeper. It’s easier to pretend that we’re not interested in something instead of admitting that we are new, untrained and unlearned.
There are several stories in the Bible that cause me to believe the apostle Peter can completely relate to that kind of embarrassment. The passage that I was reading from, Matthew 14, tells us about the time when Peter thought walking on water sounded like a great idea. A few moments later, he was gurgling Jesus’ name and crying out for help. Just several hours before this, Jesus had instructed the disciples to take their boat and go out to sea, but He didn’t go with them at the time. Later, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, they grew afraid thinking that He was a ghost. When Jesus identified Himself and told them not to be afraid, Peter said, “Jesus, if it’s really You, then tell me to come to You on the water.” What Peter was really asking is, “Jesus, does Your power work through me? Can I do what You do?” And if you think about it, the fact that Jesus told Peter to come didn’t really prove anything to Peter and the disciples. Anyone could have told Peter to try walking on water. It was only when Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water and did not sink that they knew—this is the Son of God. And while stepping out in faith and saying you need help is never easy and can sometimes be a little embarrassing, it’s always worth it. Peter was the only disciple who actually walked on water.
When Jesus was on earth, He did something incredible that I’ve recently begun to fully understand. Although He impacted thousands of lives directly through His preaching, teaching and healing, He chose only 12 men to disciple. There is a world of difference between teaching someone and discipling someone. Discipling is so much more. It involves teaching by example, leading through life circumstances and, in the end, helping to completely transform someone’s life.
The writer in Hebrews tells us all that we need to grow in our faith and addresses it this way in chapter 5 verses 12–14: “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” As followers of Jesus, it’s not enough to simply attend church on a weekly basis and assume that you’re experiencing everything God has in store for you. While experiencing church with the Body of Christ is absolutely a part of a healthy Christian life, God wants to disciple you through study of the Word, prayer and godly relationships. In turn, you will find that your influence in the lives of others will begin to grow. God’s influence on you will start to have an impact that runs deep and leads not only you but others to spiritual maturity.
Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus told His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). Jesus was explaining to the disciples that because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit they would soon receive, He would always be there for them. He would be there to continue training them, He would be there to continue guiding them, and He would be there to continue loving them. And because of His Holy Spirit within them, they were qualified to go and make other disciples. Here is a nugget for you that I have learned:. Jesus is still here to train us, guide us and to love us. That is what qualifies us to learn and grow in our walk with Christ, and then to go and make disciples.
Books Currently Reading: The Forgotten Ways … by Alan Hirsch
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11 with my small group
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra and Matthew
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Recently in my devotional time with God I read in Matthew that we are to be a light unto the world. In other wards we are to let our light that God has put in us to shine so others will be attracted to it. Some of my thoughts are included below but the inspiration was taken from a devotional I am following online. I modified it some but the theme is the same. Enjoy.
Jesus says in Matthew, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14–16). In this passage, Jesus gives believers a wonderful challenge. He exhorts us not to hide (which we may be inclined to do in this dark world) but to live as light. We are to shine, to illuminate … to glow. And how do we glow? By our good deeds. Jesus tells us that what we do and the way we live is a bridge to helping others praise, glorify and worship our heavenly Father. Our actions and lifestyle are significant catalysts in moving others towards salvation.
I have heard that in Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico people travel from all over the world to see the mystical waters that shine like stars in the sea. Usually a tour guide will guide you on a kayak journey through a canal into the middle of the bay where as night begins to fall your paddle propelling you through the water will cause it to exude a beautiful blue-green light. In that moment you begin to realize how awesome our God is.
Once in the middle of the bay, the tour guide gathers the group together and begins to explain the bioluminescence. His story tells of thousands of dinoflagellates (microscopic plankton) per gallon of water in the bay that, when touched, emit a flash of blue light that creates this wonderful radiance. In essence, a touch triggers the glow.
I wonder if that isn’t God’s intention for us as well. Could it be that part of the reason why God has so graciously touched our life is so that we would glow? Is it possible you and I were saved, healed and set free so that people from all over the world living in darkness would see His light in our lives and be drawn to Him?
Peter and Paul thought so. Peter suggested that a believing wife could win an unbelieving husband to the Lord through her actions (1 Peter 3:1–2), and Paul told Titus to teach slaves (who functioned in that culture much like our modern-day employees do) the importance of being a shining light so they would make the gospel attractive (Titus 2:9–10). May we then, as a response to His saving touch, glow for the glory of God at home, at work, at school and wherever else our travels take us. Now go and be a "Glowbug"
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubai
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra and Matthew
Recently in my devotional time with God I read in Matthew that we are to be a light unto the world. In other wards we are to let our light that God has put in us to shine so others will be attracted to it. Some of my thoughts are included below but the inspiration was taken from a devotional I am following online. I modified it some but the theme is the same. Enjoy.
Jesus says in Matthew, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14–16). In this passage, Jesus gives believers a wonderful challenge. He exhorts us not to hide (which we may be inclined to do in this dark world) but to live as light. We are to shine, to illuminate … to glow. And how do we glow? By our good deeds. Jesus tells us that what we do and the way we live is a bridge to helping others praise, glorify and worship our heavenly Father. Our actions and lifestyle are significant catalysts in moving others towards salvation.
I have heard that in Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico people travel from all over the world to see the mystical waters that shine like stars in the sea. Usually a tour guide will guide you on a kayak journey through a canal into the middle of the bay where as night begins to fall your paddle propelling you through the water will cause it to exude a beautiful blue-green light. In that moment you begin to realize how awesome our God is.
Once in the middle of the bay, the tour guide gathers the group together and begins to explain the bioluminescence. His story tells of thousands of dinoflagellates (microscopic plankton) per gallon of water in the bay that, when touched, emit a flash of blue light that creates this wonderful radiance. In essence, a touch triggers the glow.
I wonder if that isn’t God’s intention for us as well. Could it be that part of the reason why God has so graciously touched our life is so that we would glow? Is it possible you and I were saved, healed and set free so that people from all over the world living in darkness would see His light in our lives and be drawn to Him?
Peter and Paul thought so. Peter suggested that a believing wife could win an unbelieving husband to the Lord through her actions (1 Peter 3:1–2), and Paul told Titus to teach slaves (who functioned in that culture much like our modern-day employees do) the importance of being a shining light so they would make the gospel attractive (Titus 2:9–10). May we then, as a response to His saving touch, glow for the glory of God at home, at work, at school and wherever else our travels take us. Now go and be a "Glowbug"
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubai
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra and Matthew
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tidbits from the life of a Pastoral Care Pastor
Wednesday January 5, 2011
It’s hard to believe that 2010 has ended and 2011 has started. Happy New Year to everyone! I trust and pray that 2011 will be even better than 2010 and that you prosper in all the things that God has for you to do, just be sure to listen for His voice. This year our small group will begin the year by studying the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In the very first verse in the book of Genesis, we are told that the world began as an undistinguishable wasteland of voided emptiness. There was chaos and so much happening, yet nothing. There was so much movement, yet no benefit, no profit, no purpose. Have you ever had a day like that? So much going on, yet nothing coming from it? Maybe you’re going through the motions and still feeling dead. That wasteful and lacking feeling is something God does not like. God was not content with "nothing" he was only satisfied and though of something as "good" when it was producing, and this principle echoes all throughout the New Testament. Do you ever have those days in which you keep yourself busy just to escape from everything? Nothing was thrown together here; the scriptures use the word, “divided” for God separating the light and dark, etc. The word divided comes from the Hebrew word, badal which means to distinguish with a purposeful intent. When God began to shape and create the world, he started to assign, separate and distinguish this chaotic expanse that existed. In this we see the first glimpse of the personality and attributes of God. I heard somewhere this quote:
“The simplicity of your destiny is that the starting line begins wherever you decide, and the finish line ends wherever you can make it to.” The boundaries and confides of life are stretched between our wants and cans. God finished his creating acts by handing us the baton, telling us to create and shape our lives and our world. This is a charge echoed by Jesus to us in some of his final days on the earth.
So let us create! Let us dream! Using the principles found in the Creation week will lead to an amazing impact on our community but also in our own life. Let's strive together, to be tactful and create, assign and lead the way God did and don't forget to pass it on to someone else. I am looking forward to studying with my group the beginning of things as we start a new year together.
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubay
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra
It’s hard to believe that 2010 has ended and 2011 has started. Happy New Year to everyone! I trust and pray that 2011 will be even better than 2010 and that you prosper in all the things that God has for you to do, just be sure to listen for His voice. This year our small group will begin the year by studying the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In the very first verse in the book of Genesis, we are told that the world began as an undistinguishable wasteland of voided emptiness. There was chaos and so much happening, yet nothing. There was so much movement, yet no benefit, no profit, no purpose. Have you ever had a day like that? So much going on, yet nothing coming from it? Maybe you’re going through the motions and still feeling dead. That wasteful and lacking feeling is something God does not like. God was not content with "nothing" he was only satisfied and though of something as "good" when it was producing, and this principle echoes all throughout the New Testament. Do you ever have those days in which you keep yourself busy just to escape from everything? Nothing was thrown together here; the scriptures use the word, “divided” for God separating the light and dark, etc. The word divided comes from the Hebrew word, badal which means to distinguish with a purposeful intent. When God began to shape and create the world, he started to assign, separate and distinguish this chaotic expanse that existed. In this we see the first glimpse of the personality and attributes of God. I heard somewhere this quote:
“The simplicity of your destiny is that the starting line begins wherever you decide, and the finish line ends wherever you can make it to.” The boundaries and confides of life are stretched between our wants and cans. God finished his creating acts by handing us the baton, telling us to create and shape our lives and our world. This is a charge echoed by Jesus to us in some of his final days on the earth.
So let us create! Let us dream! Using the principles found in the Creation week will lead to an amazing impact on our community but also in our own life. Let's strive together, to be tactful and create, assign and lead the way God did and don't forget to pass it on to someone else. I am looking forward to studying with my group the beginning of things as we start a new year together.
Books Currently Reading: The Fire Within, by Thomas Dubay
Current Bible Readings / Studies: Genesis 1 -11
Devotions: Reading through the Book of Ezra
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