"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Phil 4:13 (NKJV)
I often write and speak about the similarities between physically working out and growing spiritually. In a nutshell, "resistance equals growth". The more resistance (weight) we lift in the gym or at home, the stronger we become. Likewise, as we go through spiritual resistance (trials, tests, persecution, etc...), we grow in strength in our walk with the Lord. Case and point- an experience I had last year sometime when I hit a personal best on squats in the gym...
I always had a set goal in mind when it came to what I wanted to reach in my maximum squat. I had come close several times, hitting a slightly smaller weight total, and even tried my goal- but to no avail. Then I got some great advice from a friend of mine who was a power lifter. I changed a few minor things in my fundamentals- but what a difference they made! Here are 5 key points that will not only help you in working out (should you decide to go that route)- but most importantly, in your walk with Jesus:
1. Confidence. "Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace..." -Heb 4:16 (NKJV)
The word boldly here is the same word that means "with confidence". As I stood and looked at the weight on the bar before I stepped under it, I not only had to have the confidence that I could make the lift, but I had to come strong. That is the same way we should draw near to our relationship with Christ, with confidence- knowing that we are accepted as is and that He will only make us stronger.
2. A spotter. In weightlifting, a "spotter" is someone who stands near you when doing a heavy lift to help you just in case you can not do the weight or your own. He or she is there to assist when needed, to help keep you from getting hurt. In life, we can have several types of spotters- primarily our closest friends and family, accountability partners, and mentors. These are people who are in our lives to help us through the resistance when we can't make it ourselves, to keep us from getting hurt. (See Ecc 4:9-12) My friend stood behind me to not only encourage me before I performed the squat, but to stand ready should I need him to help me.
3. Foot positioning. Even though I had lifted for multiple years, I discovered after watching several professional power lifters, that they stood with a wider foot stance than I had done in the past. Turns our when I positioned my feet the same way, it helped my form and technique tremendously! "And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." -Eph 6:15 (NASB) Back in the ancient Roman empire, the foot soldiers wore hard, studded shoes, able to grip in the dirt and give them a firm stance while in battle. When we stand on the Word of God, we as Christians establish a stance on a foundation that can not be shaken, thus giving us balance and stability to not only withstand an attack, but to fight back and defeat our enemy!
4. Keep your eyes up! When performing a squat, one of the basic rules is to pick a spot out somewhere high or the wall or on the ceiling, and focus on it. This eliminates both the distractions around you and the possibility of falling forward. What do I mean by that? Well, basically, wherever your eyes are focused- your body will go that way. If I'm doing a squat but looking at the floor, my body will want to tend to go where the eyes are looking, thus I would fall forward with all of that weight on my shoulders. Huh, sound familiar? When we keep our eyes downward (focused on worldly things), we tend to lose focus and fall. However, when we keep our eyes fixed upwards on God, we remain still and can fight through the resistance. (Se Psalms 121:1-2 & 123:2c)
5. Keep your "core" tight. Your core is the middle of your body- your abdomen, low back, spine, and all of the stabilizer muscles that are in between. Without a strong core, you will never reach your maximum potential in working out. Think of it like this: if I have very strong legs and a strong upper body, but the middle (trunk portion) of me is soft and unconditioned, how can I possibly expect to handle a lot of weight on my shoulders and reach my squat goal? Could I do it? Probably- but I would be very shaky coming up and could get hurt. The final piece of advice my friend gave me before I performed the lift was to put ALL of my focus and attention on having a strong and tight core when I attempted my lift. I cut everything else out. I focused on my breathing and I tightened my abs- all at the moment of resistance. As followers of Jesus Christ- ALL of our focus, attention, and mind must be focused on Him. When Christ is our core (not our families, money, jobs, hobbies, etc...) and we put the emphasis on our relationship with Him, we will stand strong and firm when placed with that spiritual resistance on our shoulders! Just like He tells us in Matthew 22:37: "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (NKJV) Place Him as your center and everything else will stand strong.
Once I had all of these points in place- I placed myself in position to go for my goal. I stepped back from the squat rack, my shoulders supporting more weight than they had ever done before. I was ready. Down I went and without any help from my spotter, I rose strongly and boldly to a new personal best in squats! I had done it, I had finally reached a goal that had only been a dream before hand! Confidently I racked the weight and high-fived my buddy. Since then, I have done the same lift several more times. Did the weight (resistance) change? No- I am now more CONDITIONED to handle it. The same goes in life- some resistance will never change (dealing with difficult people, finances, stress, etc...), we just become more conditioned to handle it as we grow in our walk with the Lord. I pray this has been helpful for you. You may be going through the same trials and tribulations over and over right now, but are you growing or are you just getting beat up? No matter what, it's time to come boldly to the throne; surround yourself with a godly support system; stand firm on the Word of God; keep your eyes on Jesus; and make Him your core. If you do all of these things, you will become your absolute best in Him!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The 4 o'clock Crash
"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." -Isaiah 40:29, 31 (NKJV)
How does the middle of the day treat you? Are you like so many millions (myself included) who just CRASH physically and mentally about mid-day? Based on my personal experiences and schedule- I usually start hitting a wall somewhere between 2 and 4pm. I also find that it is at these times that I am very prone to spiritual attacks. When we are tired, our defenses are down. We have an enemy who does not fight fair, often he's such a coward that he will only attack a strong Christian when we are at our weakest. Although we are born again and live by the Spirit, we are still very prone to human weaknesses such as exhaustion and sickness. When I'm in one of these states, I see the flesh act up more. My eyes sometimes fail me; my language may go south a bit; and all too often during these times, my attitude does not uphold to the standard that has been set for us.
Thank God that He sent Jesus to die in our place to save us from our (as Paul says) "wretched" selves! God is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins (1John 1:9). However, it is our job as well to "condition" ourselves for times when we are at a weak point, or when more difficult and unexpected circumstances pop up. (See my blog entitled "The Spiritual Workout" for a better description of this.) As I (we) grow stronger in our walks, we will be better equipped to remain in the Spirit and not give in to the flesh. Yes, we're human- but no, we do not have to succumb to our flesh. The flesh is extremely strong, but He's stronger in us. (1John 4:4) Spend quaility time with the Lord. Get into the Word and prayer regularly and faithfully. When you do, you will find a strength deep down inside of yourself that you may have never known before. Listen to Paul's words to the Corinthians: "...I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." -1Cor 9:27 (NKJV)
So the next time you start to hit a mid-day (or whenever) crash, pause and recognize the moment. Take a minute to step back and listen to God. Talk to Him and ask Him for that strength and focus that only comes through the cross. It will be victories such as these that will continue to lay brick after brick on the foundation of Rock you are building in Jesus Christ!
How does the middle of the day treat you? Are you like so many millions (myself included) who just CRASH physically and mentally about mid-day? Based on my personal experiences and schedule- I usually start hitting a wall somewhere between 2 and 4pm. I also find that it is at these times that I am very prone to spiritual attacks. When we are tired, our defenses are down. We have an enemy who does not fight fair, often he's such a coward that he will only attack a strong Christian when we are at our weakest. Although we are born again and live by the Spirit, we are still very prone to human weaknesses such as exhaustion and sickness. When I'm in one of these states, I see the flesh act up more. My eyes sometimes fail me; my language may go south a bit; and all too often during these times, my attitude does not uphold to the standard that has been set for us.
Thank God that He sent Jesus to die in our place to save us from our (as Paul says) "wretched" selves! God is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins (1John 1:9). However, it is our job as well to "condition" ourselves for times when we are at a weak point, or when more difficult and unexpected circumstances pop up. (See my blog entitled "The Spiritual Workout" for a better description of this.) As I (we) grow stronger in our walks, we will be better equipped to remain in the Spirit and not give in to the flesh. Yes, we're human- but no, we do not have to succumb to our flesh. The flesh is extremely strong, but He's stronger in us. (1John 4:4) Spend quaility time with the Lord. Get into the Word and prayer regularly and faithfully. When you do, you will find a strength deep down inside of yourself that you may have never known before. Listen to Paul's words to the Corinthians: "...I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." -1Cor 9:27 (NKJV)
So the next time you start to hit a mid-day (or whenever) crash, pause and recognize the moment. Take a minute to step back and listen to God. Talk to Him and ask Him for that strength and focus that only comes through the cross. It will be victories such as these that will continue to lay brick after brick on the foundation of Rock you are building in Jesus Christ!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A Breath of Fresh Air
"For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in...The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" -Matt 25:35-40 (NASB)
I recently was introduced to an organization in New York that takes children from disadvantaged homes in the inner city and connects them with host families in the country. These children are then given an experience that we all still draw upon from our youth- summer vacation! Do you remember those days? For myself, I grew up in Northern Michigan. I had access to lakes, woods, and uncharted beaches. I remember some days when my little brother and I would launch our boat out at 6am, go fishing for a while, swim & eat, then back to fishing in the evening. We literally would be on the water all day long! It is now during my "adult" times in life, when the stress in peaking, that I still recall some of these memories vividly. The smell of a summer breeze, a certain song, and so on can bring back some great memories very quickly.
This organization, known as The Fresh Air Fund (www.freshairfundhost.org) is currently looking for host families for the upcoming summer season. As followers of Christ, and many of us as parents ourselves, we are called to open our homes to the needy, and provide comfort and love to others. (Matt 22:39, John 15:13, Heb 13:2) Many of us have been given so much in life, and it would not be our nature to do the same for others. Programs such as Fresh Air fill a void in society in areas where society itself has failed. None of us could have ever controlled where we were born, and to whom- but through the love of Jesus, everyone is given the same opportunities to experience Him. My life is no different. Yes, I was born in a well-off family, but love was something that was totally foreign to me growing up. Now looking back, I would have gladly traded all of the "stuff" my parents gave me for just a few "I love you's" or some sort of fatherly affirmation. Fresh Air provides this sort of opportunity for us to not only show love to kids who may not get it at home, but to grow ourselves.
Listen to Paul's words to the Corinthians: "For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men." -1Cor 16:18 (NASB); "Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all." -2Cor 7:13 (NKJV) He follows up the same theme of "being refreshed" in his letter to Philemon, "Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ." -v 20 (NASB) We are all called to ministry, and programs such as these are a great way to get involved. If you can not sponsor a child due to location or other circumstances, even making a donation online would be filling Kingdom purposes. Whatever you do, do it with all of your might. (Ecc 9:10, Col 3:23) Now is the time for us to get involved with today's youth more than ever. Our kids are hungry for a love that this world can not provide, even if they don't know it yet. Let's stretch ourselves- be the hands and feet that we are called to do; and not only refresh another generation- but bring a revival of strong, young leaders like this nation has never seen before!
I recently was introduced to an organization in New York that takes children from disadvantaged homes in the inner city and connects them with host families in the country. These children are then given an experience that we all still draw upon from our youth- summer vacation! Do you remember those days? For myself, I grew up in Northern Michigan. I had access to lakes, woods, and uncharted beaches. I remember some days when my little brother and I would launch our boat out at 6am, go fishing for a while, swim & eat, then back to fishing in the evening. We literally would be on the water all day long! It is now during my "adult" times in life, when the stress in peaking, that I still recall some of these memories vividly. The smell of a summer breeze, a certain song, and so on can bring back some great memories very quickly.
This organization, known as The Fresh Air Fund (www.freshairfundhost.org) is currently looking for host families for the upcoming summer season. As followers of Christ, and many of us as parents ourselves, we are called to open our homes to the needy, and provide comfort and love to others. (Matt 22:39, John 15:13, Heb 13:2) Many of us have been given so much in life, and it would not be our nature to do the same for others. Programs such as Fresh Air fill a void in society in areas where society itself has failed. None of us could have ever controlled where we were born, and to whom- but through the love of Jesus, everyone is given the same opportunities to experience Him. My life is no different. Yes, I was born in a well-off family, but love was something that was totally foreign to me growing up. Now looking back, I would have gladly traded all of the "stuff" my parents gave me for just a few "I love you's" or some sort of fatherly affirmation. Fresh Air provides this sort of opportunity for us to not only show love to kids who may not get it at home, but to grow ourselves.
Listen to Paul's words to the Corinthians: "For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men." -1Cor 16:18 (NASB); "Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all." -2Cor 7:13 (NKJV) He follows up the same theme of "being refreshed" in his letter to Philemon, "Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ." -v 20 (NASB) We are all called to ministry, and programs such as these are a great way to get involved. If you can not sponsor a child due to location or other circumstances, even making a donation online would be filling Kingdom purposes. Whatever you do, do it with all of your might. (Ecc 9:10, Col 3:23) Now is the time for us to get involved with today's youth more than ever. Our kids are hungry for a love that this world can not provide, even if they don't know it yet. Let's stretch ourselves- be the hands and feet that we are called to do; and not only refresh another generation- but bring a revival of strong, young leaders like this nation has never seen before!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Guaranteed!
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." -2Cor 5:1 (NKJV)
"...for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal."
-2Cor 4:18 (NASB)
In this marvelous world of technology and marketing that we live in, we are literally bombarded daily with thousands of advertisements, marketing statements, and guarantees. One thing I have learned for sure (and I know I'm not the only one), is that if we put our trust and faith in worldly things, we will surely be let down. A good example of this is the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. As we watched the chaos unfold, ecosystems destroyed, and lives changed forever, we could only sit helpless watching how our world was impacted in a matter of minutes before and after the explosion. Fishermen and surrounding communities that had absolutely no affiliation with BP were impacted directly, as were shareholders thousands of miles away. You see, many people in Europe and around the world owned stocks and dividends in BP. These dividends were their so called "nest egg"- a good investments that they could rely on to retire with, but still continue working currently. Well, as you may already know- BP was forced to pay out tens of BILLIONS of dollars to the victims and their families. All of a sudden, that so called "nest egg" (which most of these people did not even work for BP)- was gone.
Even recently, I experienced a major hit in my life. I was engaged to a wonderful woman for the past year, and we had our whole future planned out. Through a series of events and fall outs, we watched as our relationship- which we had worked on so hard to build the right way, began to crumble. So now we are both left wondering, "How did we get to this point?" Things still may or may not work out for us- it's too early to tell. What I can tell you through all of this, though, is that storms, disasters, trials, and unexpected situations will surely arise in life- but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His character is perfect and never changes, and His will for our lives can not be matched. All of us have been through something, especially if you're a single father. How we respond to these times reflects directly on our personal relationship with the Lord. Stay in the Word, even when you don't feel like reading. Keep praying, even if it feels like your prayers are bouncing off of the ceiling- because they're not. I am speaking from experience here, and Jesus will bring you to a level of peace and comfort that the world can not. (Phil 4:4-6) That is the ONLY guarantee in life.
"...for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal."
-2Cor 4:18 (NASB)
In this marvelous world of technology and marketing that we live in, we are literally bombarded daily with thousands of advertisements, marketing statements, and guarantees. One thing I have learned for sure (and I know I'm not the only one), is that if we put our trust and faith in worldly things, we will surely be let down. A good example of this is the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. As we watched the chaos unfold, ecosystems destroyed, and lives changed forever, we could only sit helpless watching how our world was impacted in a matter of minutes before and after the explosion. Fishermen and surrounding communities that had absolutely no affiliation with BP were impacted directly, as were shareholders thousands of miles away. You see, many people in Europe and around the world owned stocks and dividends in BP. These dividends were their so called "nest egg"- a good investments that they could rely on to retire with, but still continue working currently. Well, as you may already know- BP was forced to pay out tens of BILLIONS of dollars to the victims and their families. All of a sudden, that so called "nest egg" (which most of these people did not even work for BP)- was gone.
Even recently, I experienced a major hit in my life. I was engaged to a wonderful woman for the past year, and we had our whole future planned out. Through a series of events and fall outs, we watched as our relationship- which we had worked on so hard to build the right way, began to crumble. So now we are both left wondering, "How did we get to this point?" Things still may or may not work out for us- it's too early to tell. What I can tell you through all of this, though, is that storms, disasters, trials, and unexpected situations will surely arise in life- but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His character is perfect and never changes, and His will for our lives can not be matched. All of us have been through something, especially if you're a single father. How we respond to these times reflects directly on our personal relationship with the Lord. Stay in the Word, even when you don't feel like reading. Keep praying, even if it feels like your prayers are bouncing off of the ceiling- because they're not. I am speaking from experience here, and Jesus will bring you to a level of peace and comfort that the world can not. (Phil 4:4-6) That is the ONLY guarantee in life.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Our Weakest Point
"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..." -Matt 4:1 (NKJV)
If there is one thing I understand and am constantly learning- we have an enemy that does not tire, and will usually hit us the hardest when we are down. However, I also know that without a doubt...we have a great High Priest who is constantly interceding for us on our behalf. Recently I experienced a shake in my foundation that rattled me pretty hard. In fact, some of these events altered a portion of my life, albeit temporarily. I was mad, hurt, and offended- a PERFECT breeding ground for bitterness and revenge to set it. It may have not been instantly, but my reaction was to turn back to the flesh and my old ways...ways that almost destroyed me once before.
I wanted to pray, but they fell flat; I wanted to get in the Word, but could not focus; I received counseling and guidance from friends, but even that fell on deaf ears for the first week or two. I felt as if I was all alone, completely defenseless against the spiritual onslaught that I was being hammered with. Oh, what a great God we serve! "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." -Heb 2:18 (NKJV) I am now on the tail end of the attack. I know it will not stop, but I have regained my footing and am able to stand (with God's help) and fight back. This is attributed to several factors. One, God loves me (us) so much that He sent Jesus to die for us for moments exactly like this. Two, my foundation in Christ was built upon a Rock that took on the storm and did not fall. (Although I was not perfect through it all in regards to the flesh- I did not crumble and give in to more serious actions) This foundation has come over the past several years from spending QUALITY one on one time with the Lord in prayer, fellowship, and the reading of His Word. Three, I experienced a Holy Spirit encounter with a group of prayer warriors that I was not expecting. In short, one woman with such great discernment saw what was going on in my life, and I never even hinted to anything. Immediately the entire group began to lay hands on me, pray over me, and heal me. Evil principalities and forces were bound and cast out, and God's favor, healing, and anointing were loosened- all in the name of Jesus. It truly was one of the greatest experiences of my life!
The point I'm getting at here is that we will all go through great shakes in our foundation multiple times in our lives. Stuff happens- both good and bad. What you must know, though, is that nothing happens in your life that God does not allow. We may not understand why or how it did, but He has also equipped you with everything you need to get through. Maybe today you are suffering from a great hurt. Jesus took the full load of pain when He endured the cross. Perhaps you are facing a variety of temptations, He was offered all of that and more. (See Matt 4) Or finally, maybe you have lost your direction, footing, or foundation- then now is the time to cry out to God more than ever to help get you back on track. Some times are easier than others; but no matter what the trial- God has you. He will never leave, abandon, or forsake us. In fact, He sent His only Son to die on our behalf- THAT is how much He loves you! If you haven't gone through anything of this sort yet, be preparred. Our enemy is cunning and slick- always looking for a way to destroy us. (1Peter 5:8, John 10:10, 2Cor 11:14) Strengthen yourself daily in spending time with the Lord. When you do, you will not only be able to stand strong in the midst of the storm, but you will be able to flip the script and defeat the devil in that day!
If there is one thing I understand and am constantly learning- we have an enemy that does not tire, and will usually hit us the hardest when we are down. However, I also know that without a doubt...we have a great High Priest who is constantly interceding for us on our behalf. Recently I experienced a shake in my foundation that rattled me pretty hard. In fact, some of these events altered a portion of my life, albeit temporarily. I was mad, hurt, and offended- a PERFECT breeding ground for bitterness and revenge to set it. It may have not been instantly, but my reaction was to turn back to the flesh and my old ways...ways that almost destroyed me once before.
I wanted to pray, but they fell flat; I wanted to get in the Word, but could not focus; I received counseling and guidance from friends, but even that fell on deaf ears for the first week or two. I felt as if I was all alone, completely defenseless against the spiritual onslaught that I was being hammered with. Oh, what a great God we serve! "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." -Heb 2:18 (NKJV) I am now on the tail end of the attack. I know it will not stop, but I have regained my footing and am able to stand (with God's help) and fight back. This is attributed to several factors. One, God loves me (us) so much that He sent Jesus to die for us for moments exactly like this. Two, my foundation in Christ was built upon a Rock that took on the storm and did not fall. (Although I was not perfect through it all in regards to the flesh- I did not crumble and give in to more serious actions) This foundation has come over the past several years from spending QUALITY one on one time with the Lord in prayer, fellowship, and the reading of His Word. Three, I experienced a Holy Spirit encounter with a group of prayer warriors that I was not expecting. In short, one woman with such great discernment saw what was going on in my life, and I never even hinted to anything. Immediately the entire group began to lay hands on me, pray over me, and heal me. Evil principalities and forces were bound and cast out, and God's favor, healing, and anointing were loosened- all in the name of Jesus. It truly was one of the greatest experiences of my life!
The point I'm getting at here is that we will all go through great shakes in our foundation multiple times in our lives. Stuff happens- both good and bad. What you must know, though, is that nothing happens in your life that God does not allow. We may not understand why or how it did, but He has also equipped you with everything you need to get through. Maybe today you are suffering from a great hurt. Jesus took the full load of pain when He endured the cross. Perhaps you are facing a variety of temptations, He was offered all of that and more. (See Matt 4) Or finally, maybe you have lost your direction, footing, or foundation- then now is the time to cry out to God more than ever to help get you back on track. Some times are easier than others; but no matter what the trial- God has you. He will never leave, abandon, or forsake us. In fact, He sent His only Son to die on our behalf- THAT is how much He loves you! If you haven't gone through anything of this sort yet, be preparred. Our enemy is cunning and slick- always looking for a way to destroy us. (1Peter 5:8, John 10:10, 2Cor 11:14) Strengthen yourself daily in spending time with the Lord. When you do, you will not only be able to stand strong in the midst of the storm, but you will be able to flip the script and defeat the devil in that day!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Let your light shine!
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." -Matt 5:16 (NASB)
God is good, all the time. We know that. Every day when I look around, I see not only all of the joys and wonders He has brought to my own life, but I see it in other's as well. Even when a situation does not seem ideal, through the eyes of Christ we can see so much potential to how He can work in a situation that may seem lost- but is only waiting for Him to be exalted. I have been blessed lately in being able to witness to a couple guys I know. One of them is a self proclaimed atheist, the other a gang member. Now, those may not seem like the type of people I should be talking with, but why not? The question arises: are we the Church or not? Jesus Himself said that it is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. He also said that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (See Luke 5:31-32 & John 3:17) The best part about all of this is that I really have not had to force myself upon either of one these men, in a sense- they are coming to me. Yes, I may have made the initial moves, introduced myself as a Christian, and asked a few probing questions- but that is because I have learned that 9 times out of 10 they will not come to us, we must go to them!
When approaching situations like these, obviously the first part is to stay keen to the Spirit and let Him lead you. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Plus, every situation is unique and should be handled as so. However, there are three things I have discovered over time that are key to strong witnessing. These are: building relationships with those you are speaking to; sharing your own personal testimony; and finally, making sure you are walking the walk you proclaim. Relationship takes time, be patient and not pushy. Sometimes I don't even discuss God with nonbelievers, I just"talk" to them as a person. No one knows your story and how you came to Christ better than you. Do not be afraid to share your testimony, Jesus both commands it and He is behind you all the way (Matt 28:18-20). Finally, the world is watching. In a time when Christians are constantly under the microscope of unbelievers, your light must shine like never before. I am by no means saying to be perfect, that's impossible. Rather, be transparent. People are not looking for perfection, they are looking for what this world is desperately lacking- openness and genuine love. John reminds us in his first letter: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." -1John 1:6-7 (NASB)
With all of this in mind and by staying true to my personal walk with Jesus, I have a great opportunity to plant some good seed in the good soil to both of these men. So far neither one of them has been hesitant to my speaking. In fact- they both receive it sometimes and challenge me in how much I really know. I see these as positives because the more they engage in conversations like this, the further they are pulling away from the world. Can I stop them from making the wrong choices? Maybe, maybe not. But I am also seeing conviction on their part, realizing that they are not on the right path and that there may be a better Way out there. Yes, there is a better Way, for all of us- His name is Jesus. Trust Him today with your life, the lives of your children, and let Him use you to be that lampstand on the hill- shining more brightly than ever before!
God is good, all the time. We know that. Every day when I look around, I see not only all of the joys and wonders He has brought to my own life, but I see it in other's as well. Even when a situation does not seem ideal, through the eyes of Christ we can see so much potential to how He can work in a situation that may seem lost- but is only waiting for Him to be exalted. I have been blessed lately in being able to witness to a couple guys I know. One of them is a self proclaimed atheist, the other a gang member. Now, those may not seem like the type of people I should be talking with, but why not? The question arises: are we the Church or not? Jesus Himself said that it is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. He also said that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (See Luke 5:31-32 & John 3:17) The best part about all of this is that I really have not had to force myself upon either of one these men, in a sense- they are coming to me. Yes, I may have made the initial moves, introduced myself as a Christian, and asked a few probing questions- but that is because I have learned that 9 times out of 10 they will not come to us, we must go to them!
When approaching situations like these, obviously the first part is to stay keen to the Spirit and let Him lead you. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Plus, every situation is unique and should be handled as so. However, there are three things I have discovered over time that are key to strong witnessing. These are: building relationships with those you are speaking to; sharing your own personal testimony; and finally, making sure you are walking the walk you proclaim. Relationship takes time, be patient and not pushy. Sometimes I don't even discuss God with nonbelievers, I just"talk" to them as a person. No one knows your story and how you came to Christ better than you. Do not be afraid to share your testimony, Jesus both commands it and He is behind you all the way (Matt 28:18-20). Finally, the world is watching. In a time when Christians are constantly under the microscope of unbelievers, your light must shine like never before. I am by no means saying to be perfect, that's impossible. Rather, be transparent. People are not looking for perfection, they are looking for what this world is desperately lacking- openness and genuine love. John reminds us in his first letter: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." -1John 1:6-7 (NASB)
With all of this in mind and by staying true to my personal walk with Jesus, I have a great opportunity to plant some good seed in the good soil to both of these men. So far neither one of them has been hesitant to my speaking. In fact- they both receive it sometimes and challenge me in how much I really know. I see these as positives because the more they engage in conversations like this, the further they are pulling away from the world. Can I stop them from making the wrong choices? Maybe, maybe not. But I am also seeing conviction on their part, realizing that they are not on the right path and that there may be a better Way out there. Yes, there is a better Way, for all of us- His name is Jesus. Trust Him today with your life, the lives of your children, and let Him use you to be that lampstand on the hill- shining more brightly than ever before!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ariel and King Triton
"The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; her clothing is woven with gold." -Ps 45:13 (NKJV)
Every little girl dreams of being a princess- saved by the prince in a castle from the dragon. Countless books, songs, cartoons, and movies have been written with this familiar theme. My daughter is no different. A few years ago she wanted to be Ariel (The Little Mermaid) for Halloween, and she wanted me to be her father- King Triton. As much as I wanted to be a royal merman with a long white beard, only one of us dressed up that night. I will admit, though, we have had plenty of times when we have played this game at home- climbing over furniture and building castles in an imaginary kingdom.
Today, I am writing to you dads that have your own little princesses at home. She may be 2 or 12, maybe she is all grown. The fact of the matter is that these dreams never die within our girls, and even as adults- they still want to know that they are princesses and that their daddy will protect them. For some of us, getting into a silly game or acting all goofy may be foreign. Maybe you and your daughter's relationship is past those type of days, but is she still your little girl? Your princess? Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3-5 and again in Mark 10:14-15 that we ALL are to humble ourselves and become like the children in order to receive God's kingdom.
As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, our world is one that is quickly devaluing girls' impressions of themselves, as well as a sound family structure over all. Dad, you carry tremendous weight in determining who your little girl turns out to be, and how she perceives herself. If you are already involved in her life and constantly build up her self esteem- keep it up! If it's been a while since you've told your daughter how beautiful she is and how much you love her, now is the time. Jesus is our ultimate example of love. Continue to spend time with Him every single day, developing that all important relationship with your Father so we can continue to grow as godly ones ourselves.
Every little girl dreams of being a princess- saved by the prince in a castle from the dragon. Countless books, songs, cartoons, and movies have been written with this familiar theme. My daughter is no different. A few years ago she wanted to be Ariel (The Little Mermaid) for Halloween, and she wanted me to be her father- King Triton. As much as I wanted to be a royal merman with a long white beard, only one of us dressed up that night. I will admit, though, we have had plenty of times when we have played this game at home- climbing over furniture and building castles in an imaginary kingdom.
Today, I am writing to you dads that have your own little princesses at home. She may be 2 or 12, maybe she is all grown. The fact of the matter is that these dreams never die within our girls, and even as adults- they still want to know that they are princesses and that their daddy will protect them. For some of us, getting into a silly game or acting all goofy may be foreign. Maybe you and your daughter's relationship is past those type of days, but is she still your little girl? Your princess? Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3-5 and again in Mark 10:14-15 that we ALL are to humble ourselves and become like the children in order to receive God's kingdom.
As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, our world is one that is quickly devaluing girls' impressions of themselves, as well as a sound family structure over all. Dad, you carry tremendous weight in determining who your little girl turns out to be, and how she perceives herself. If you are already involved in her life and constantly build up her self esteem- keep it up! If it's been a while since you've told your daughter how beautiful she is and how much you love her, now is the time. Jesus is our ultimate example of love. Continue to spend time with Him every single day, developing that all important relationship with your Father so we can continue to grow as godly ones ourselves.
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