This Sunday morning I talked about how God uses trouble in our lives to bring about growth in His word, leadership, hope, Christlikeness, and spiritual power. Trouble and problems, however, can also leave a quite a mark, lasting scars, and resentment. A person’s view of the world and God will play a key role in how troubled times are endured and remembered.
What do we make of a world in which bad things happens to even the best people? What do we make of our God who expects us to endure hardships instead of rescuing us? What other issues seem to surface in the midst of troubled times? How has God used trouble in your life to accomplish great things?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
364 days til Valentine's Day
It is 364 days until Valentine’s Day 2012. What will you do until then to show your love toward your spouse, neighbors, and friends?
One of the biggest overlooked ways to express love is by working hard to make a contribution to society and earn an honest wage to provide for your family. We usually don’t think about diligent work as love, but take a closer look. Love is a choice to put others first, striving to meet the needs and goals of others. Isn’t that what working for a business is all about? You receive wages for your efforts. Perhaps you will receive promotions or other recognition. Sometimes the great greatest benefit is getting to keep a job (being employed is quite a benefit). You are benefiting from your labor. But you are helping the company make a positive impact on the community.
Also, you are “bringing home the bacon” for your family. Income from one or both adults goes into the family distribution of love: some money goes toward paying for the home, other resources for food, electricity, toys, vacations, and savings for the future (for days of trouble). All acts of love. Why else would you do it?
Flowers, cards, expressing words of love are all helpful in showing someone you love them. But so is paying your water bill, making your bed, and cooking dinner. Express your love today. Feel free to leave other comments and thoughts on how to share love the other 364 days a year.
One of the biggest overlooked ways to express love is by working hard to make a contribution to society and earn an honest wage to provide for your family. We usually don’t think about diligent work as love, but take a closer look. Love is a choice to put others first, striving to meet the needs and goals of others. Isn’t that what working for a business is all about? You receive wages for your efforts. Perhaps you will receive promotions or other recognition. Sometimes the great greatest benefit is getting to keep a job (being employed is quite a benefit). You are benefiting from your labor. But you are helping the company make a positive impact on the community.
Also, you are “bringing home the bacon” for your family. Income from one or both adults goes into the family distribution of love: some money goes toward paying for the home, other resources for food, electricity, toys, vacations, and savings for the future (for days of trouble). All acts of love. Why else would you do it?
Flowers, cards, expressing words of love are all helpful in showing someone you love them. But so is paying your water bill, making your bed, and cooking dinner. Express your love today. Feel free to leave other comments and thoughts on how to share love the other 364 days a year.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
What can afflictions teach us?
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
In an upcoming series at Pleasant View we are going to be examining how God uses grief, suffering, loss, and disappointments in our lives. In verse 71, the psalmist says that it was a good that affliction came his way. This is because before his affliction (verse 67), he went astray.
Big and smaller “hiccups” in life cause us to pause…assess…redirect. How has this been an accurate description for your life? What afflictions have come your way? What have been some of the changes it caused: perspectives, priorities, or attitudes?
How does this change your attitude about afflictions, loss, or disappointments?
In an upcoming series at Pleasant View we are going to be examining how God uses grief, suffering, loss, and disappointments in our lives. In verse 71, the psalmist says that it was a good that affliction came his way. This is because before his affliction (verse 67), he went astray.
Big and smaller “hiccups” in life cause us to pause…assess…redirect. How has this been an accurate description for your life? What afflictions have come your way? What have been some of the changes it caused: perspectives, priorities, or attitudes?
How does this change your attitude about afflictions, loss, or disappointments?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Can we run out of love for others?
How do we keep loving people? Does our love tank ever run dry? Do we ever get spread too thin with the amount of people we can love? By our own strength the answer is “yes.” but with God, the supply of love never runs dry or gets spread to thin. His love is deep and wide. Check out this verse about what God pours into our hearts:
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
We cannot pour out love to others to surpass the rate at which God supplies love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. How big and expansive is God’s love?
Ephesians 3:17 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
God’s love fills us to fullness of God. Our joy is to let it overflow liberally to others. We will never run out no matter how much we give away.
How has this concept been a real experience in your life?
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
We cannot pour out love to others to surpass the rate at which God supplies love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. How big and expansive is God’s love?
Ephesians 3:17 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
God’s love fills us to fullness of God. Our joy is to let it overflow liberally to others. We will never run out no matter how much we give away.
How has this concept been a real experience in your life?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
More on sharing Jesus
A helpful tip for sharing your faith is to have a good set of questions to start spiritual conversations with folks. As they answer (and you listen), the conversation may lead to informed ways of sharing the gospel based on their receptivity. Allow conversations to develop naturally and allow him/her to ask you questions. Here are the best questions I would add to my memory bank:
What do you think God is like? What makes you think this?
What does it take to be straightened our with God?
How do you get through the hard times?
Has church been helpful to you in your life? How so or why not?
What do you think is most important to God? What is He really tuned into?
What would you say was Jesus' major message to the world?
Also, leaving statements open ended may often invite people to ask for more information if they are truly seeking spiritual insight and help. Some interesting statements that crack the door open to conversation are the following:
I used to dred going to church, but all that changed about _____ years ago. (pause)
Reading my Bible starts my day on the right foot. I don't how I ever managed without it...(pause)
Things in our marriage and family have really improved since we got back involved in church...(pause)
These statements leave people thinking and sometimes ready to ask you a question. Evangelistic conversations should leave the other person wanting to receive salvation himself or at least wanting to know more.
What do you think God is like? What makes you think this?
What does it take to be straightened our with God?
How do you get through the hard times?
Has church been helpful to you in your life? How so or why not?
What do you think is most important to God? What is He really tuned into?
What would you say was Jesus' major message to the world?
Also, leaving statements open ended may often invite people to ask for more information if they are truly seeking spiritual insight and help. Some interesting statements that crack the door open to conversation are the following:
I used to dred going to church, but all that changed about _____ years ago. (pause)
Reading my Bible starts my day on the right foot. I don't how I ever managed without it...(pause)
Things in our marriage and family have really improved since we got back involved in church...(pause)
These statements leave people thinking and sometimes ready to ask you a question. Evangelistic conversations should leave the other person wanting to receive salvation himself or at least wanting to know more.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jack LaLanne Passing Away
Great article on Jack LaLanne. A great inspiration to all us exercise and health nuts. He blazed a trail. Read it here.
Sharing Jesus
In sharing Jesus with others, canned presentations can be helpful for the person sharing the faith, but a more tailored approach that considers the recipient of the message will be most helpful. There is a need to be more artful in our approach by really listening people before “presenting” a Jesus package.
If we truly love people, then we will listen to their needs and questions. By listening to people in conversations, what “life questions” and “life concerns” have you heard brought up by those who may not know Jesus as their Savior? Some I have heard are as follows:
“I want to make a difference, but I don’t know how.”
“Things really seem unfair.”
“I have been hurt or disappointed by people and church.”
“What is life all about really?”
“Marriage is tough and raising kids these days is scary.”
“I work hard so I can play hard. TGIF!”
If these are some of the big concerns and questions people have, then what is the Good News (gospel) in response to these concerns and questions?
Honest answers and genuine dialogue about what concerns and questions people are wresting with will lead to a better attempt at communication the good news of Jesus. Jesus had (and still has) a way of connecting with people through their real needs. And then He expresses God’s compassion, healing, and forgiveness.
Two great books to consider reading or learning more on listening and communication:
Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult by Nick Pollard
The Art of Personal Evangelism by Will McRaney
If we truly love people, then we will listen to their needs and questions. By listening to people in conversations, what “life questions” and “life concerns” have you heard brought up by those who may not know Jesus as their Savior? Some I have heard are as follows:
“I want to make a difference, but I don’t know how.”
“Things really seem unfair.”
“I have been hurt or disappointed by people and church.”
“What is life all about really?”
“Marriage is tough and raising kids these days is scary.”
“I work hard so I can play hard. TGIF!”
If these are some of the big concerns and questions people have, then what is the Good News (gospel) in response to these concerns and questions?
Honest answers and genuine dialogue about what concerns and questions people are wresting with will lead to a better attempt at communication the good news of Jesus. Jesus had (and still has) a way of connecting with people through their real needs. And then He expresses God’s compassion, healing, and forgiveness.
Two great books to consider reading or learning more on listening and communication:
Evangelism Made Slightly Less Difficult by Nick Pollard
The Art of Personal Evangelism by Will McRaney
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