Losing My Life

    Over the next few days, I want to explore a topic that is the source of confusion for many Christians today. This very thing had me confused for years and it isn’t something that I’ve often heard explained well. It is the trinity- the belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three separate parts of one entity. Today I will be talking about the Father.     Something to understand first is that each part of the trinity maintains a different persona and function but are connected and uniquely one. People have used different analogies to describe how this could be. One is the illustration of water having three parts—solid, liquid, and gas—but each is still water. Another example that I really like is that of a mango tree. You have the roots, the shoot, and the fruit of the tree. The roots of the tree are hidden but go deep and hold the rest of the tree up, along with providing the nutrients from the soil so the rest of the tree can function. The roots...

    Do you ever find yourself saying things that you regret in the heat of a moment? Or carelessly speaking and not thinking about what you're actually saying? It is easy to let our tongues get carried away and speak things almost on their own! It's scary to think that we can let our tongues run rampant without realizing we are doing so.     We are told in Matthew 12:24 that from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks. What are you spending your words on? Are you complaining? Gossiping? Worrying? What does this say about the condition of your heart? Is it truly set on Jesus?     The Bible warns many times to keep our tongue tamed. We are supposed to carefully choose our words and make sure that they honor Jesus. If they don't, we are better off staying silent. That sounds harsh, but it is what the word advises us to do. There's not much more to it. All we have to do is take the time to think and pray before we speak to determine if it will bring g...

    Have you ever found yourself in, or even simply witnessed, an argument with a nonbeliever on the credibility of Christianity? And has that argument ever ended in salvation at the time? More than likely, the answer is no. And here's why.     As most of us know, the Bible is mostly counterintuitive. It tells us things like the humble will be exalted and the givers will be rich. Likewise, it also tells us that we cannot understand Christ until we accept Him into our hearts. Matthew 23:12   For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (ESV) Proverbs 11:24-25   Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT)     The Bible tells us that spiritual matters are foolishness to those who do not know God. The fact is, the only reason we know Christ is truth is because the Spirit t...

    When someone has wronged you in some way, have you ever felt justified in holding it against them? Have you thought that it is right to hold a grudge against someone to protect yourself ? Have you had someone hurt you so greatly that you thought that they didn't deserve your forgiveness? How about holding your pain and anger against someone so that they would know how much they wronged you? As for myself, I have done them all.     However, none of those things are Biblically sound reactions when someone wrongs you. It is undoubtably one of the most difficult things in the world to forgive someone who has caused you great pain and suffering. It is easy to feel justified in holding a grudge against our inflictors and judging them for their actions. But the Bible tells us that is wrong. The Lord is the only one who can judge our hearts. Luke 6:27   But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (ESV) Romans 3:23 For all hav...

    In this race of life, Paul tells us that we need to have endurance. The Bible makes clear that life will bring difficulties and we desperately need to stay focused on Jesus to complete our work here on earth. But when you are in that battle on your own, it is a challenge beyond what we were meant to bear. Hebrews 12:1-2   Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)     We need to be in close community with believers who will keep us focused and encouraged in our walk of faith. And we need to be that person to others! It is easy to fall down under the lies and pressures of the world when you feel like you...

    When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, they were washed away. He died so that we could be free. Free from sin, free from shame, free from sickness, free from bondage in any way in our lives. We don't have to wait to live in these truths because it has already been given to us! His death completed the job. Why aren't we living in that freedom?  John 19:30 Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (NIV)     Although Jesus died to give us life, many of us are still living in death. We have accepted darkness in our lives as "just the way it is" instead of casting it out. We have let Satan walk all over us instead of fighting His control over our lives with Jesus. Why are we accepting death and darkness in our lives when redemption, joy, and life are readily available for us?      Let me tell you friends, when we have Jesus, we have absolute authority over darkness and sin's hold on our lives...

    Our God created the Heavens and the earth and everything in existence. He told the sun to shine. He designed and created humanity. He created it all from nothing and He alone rules over it all. So why do we get in our heads that anything could be impossible for Him? Why do we think that we could ever have a problem too big for our mighty God to handle? Why indeed. So today I challenge you to see the bigness of God. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (ESV)    Sometimes our problems seem so big and impossible. And they are! For us . But we know that nothing is impossible for our God! Remember that truth and choose to live in it today. Remember that we live through His power and not our own. Remember that He has you right in Hi...

    Living in the world as Christians today, we are saved by the blood of Jesus. Most people know that. What becomes foggy is the old testament and the law and what that means to us today, if anything. This is a pretty heavy topic, but Romans chapter 7 lays out the explanation for us.     So what was the law for? Well, when Adam and Eve sinned, they passed on the nature to sin to the population of the world. They separated themselves from God by disobeying Him and giving into the temptation of Satan. When they did this, God had to find a way to clean up our act, so to speak. So God gave us the law. He wrote down regulations on what we can and cannot do and how to cover up our sins with sacrifices.     Without the law, mankind wouldn't have known right from wrong (verse 7). But with the law, they were convicted of their sins and shown the right way to live. Yet this brought death to them (verses 9-13). Why? The ways of the law were perfect-- mankind is n...

    I have often spent days upset wondering why bad things happen to good people. Why does God allow us go through such trials when we have done right by Him? One day I realized-- man's opinions should neither bother nor influence me. I should be living only by the word of my Father in heaven. If I have done right by Him, then I have done right by all standards that matter. Period. John 5:19  Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (NIV) Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through ourd hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (NIV)     My eyes have been opened to the some of the ways that God operates. There's a difference when you know something is theologically so...

    Do you find yourself always looking for more? More money, a better job, new clothes, a significant other, more friends, etc. Are you always searching for the next big thing? This is very common even as believers, but the Lord has something to say on this matter.     Oftentimes, I find myself on edge waiting for my miracle to come through. Waiting for that new job. Waiting for that paycheck. Waiting for that relationship to be mended. It could be anything! But my point is that I can find myself trapped waiting for a tomorrow that may never come. I don't mean that I won't survive through to see the next day (although who knows?), but rather that the thing I am waiting for may not come through when I think it will-- or ever.     We can waste our lives missing opportunities and planning around our expectation of more in the future. The reality is that sometimes we are chasing shadows; things that will never come to pass. Sometimes we are pursuing our dr...

    I have talked about how deciding to follow Jesus is a sacrifice of our time, resources, relationships and talents among other things. It is not something we can just do on the side of our "real" lives, it IS our life! This fact is even more magnified as a leader in the church.     When you are put into a leadership position by the church or in your community, there is an even greater weight and responsibility that comes with it. Being a leader is not about getting attention and praise and telling everyone what to do. It is a very real commitment beyond just being a disciple.     As a leader, you are put in a position where others are going to follow you. There will always be eyes looking to you for an example and guide. Whereas you may have "gotten away" (gone unnoticed) with your little sinful habits before, now someone is bound to notice! Being a leader brings a great number of people into your downfalls. This is why as leaders it is even more cru...

    Have you ever told someone your deepest, darkest secret? Are there secrets that you haven't told anyone going through your mind right now? What has stopped you from telling them? For me, what stops me from sharing is shame or fear of rejection. We crave love as creations of the God who is love. We desire acceptance and mercy from others as we do from Him. So naturally, we act in a way that we think will bring us those things. I would wager to say that most people have a secret that they haven't told anyone for fear of how others will react. But what does the Bible say on this matter?     The Bible says that we are to be sharing our sinful thoughts and actions with others in order to heal and gain perspective. We are to combat the darkness we struggle with by exposing it to the light. And a lot of the time, we need someone to help us see Jesus again in those areas. James 5:16   Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you ...

    Do you ever stop to think, I mean really think, about the fact that God knew you before you were born. That He knew your entire life, mistakes and all, and He still created you. That He made you unique among the countless others He created. That He has always had a plan and purpose for your life. And that He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (NIV) Romans 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NLT) Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  ”  (NIV)     Even though God knew every bad decision we would make before we made it, He still wanted us to have a choice. By giving us free will to either accept or reject Him, our mak...

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.     These verses have been everywhere for me today! Sometimes it's clear when Jesus is trying to get a point across… So I thought it only appropriate to briefly look into them today.     We often need reminding that living in the new covenant of Christ means living in His power and not our own. When Jesus was on earth, His spirit was perfect and without the nature to sin like man's spirit. He was born connected to His father, unlike any of us. Jesus was in constant communication with His daddy, always repeating what He learned from Him and acting and speaking accordingly. He lived in perfect communion with and obedience to His Father. He knew what the will of the Father was and He followed it! John 5:19   So Jesu...

    On this special holiday when we celebrate the love between a man and a woman, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the love of Jesus. There is no love without God, who Himself personified is love. All the genuine love we experience is from the Father. Let's remind ourselves what that looks like today. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (NIV)   So what does real love consist of?  It is unconditional Luke 6:27   But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (ESV) It is sacrificial Romans 5:8   But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV) John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (ESV) It is fearless 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (ESV...

    Today I am finishing going over some of the basic areas in our life that we should concentrate on sacrificing to Jesus, as He sacrificed Himself for us. Hebrews 13:16   Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV) Talents     When we are born into this earth, each of us is equipped with our own unique set of skills and talents. Whether we are Christian or not, we all have certain things that come naturally to us and that we excel in.       We each have our own giftings to display the different facets of the Father. When we work together as the body of Christ, we are designed to complete a bigger picture of what Jesus is like. The point is, we were given these certain gifts specifically to bring glory to our Heavenly Father.     I think that we take these talents for granted as believers. We don't realize that they are gifts . We recognize we are good at somethin...

    Today I am continuing to go over some of the basic areas in our life that we should concentrate on sacrificing to Jesus, as He sacrificed Himself for us. Hebrews 13:16   Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV) Relationships       When we think of giving it all up to God, relationships do not often come to mind. Yet, they belong to him too. Every interaction we have on a daily basis is preordained and purposeful. What do you do with those interactions? Do you think of them as irrelevant or do you seek out His purposes when you meet someone?     We should always be asking Jesus what He wants from our relationships. And when I say "relationships" I mean anyone we have an interaction with--acquaintances, classmates, colleagues, friends, family, significant others, neighbors, etc. Jesus should be the center of it all. We should be seeking Him in others always. What can we sa...

    Today I am continuing to go over some of the basic areas in our life that we should concentrate on sacrificing to Jesus, as He sacrificed Himself for us. Hebrews 13:16   Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV) Resources      Today I will meddle in a sensitive place for most people-- their wallets. Money is always a touchy subject for people. In this world, money is our means to any end. It takes money to do just about anything in this world (even run God's Kingdom *cough cough*). Therefore, a common error of many believers is to see (consciously or unconsciously) money as their provider.     Most are extremely attached to their money because of their relationship to it. They put their trust in their money instead of their God to supply all their needs. It is a waste to do so, for money neither cares about you nor sticks around to provide for you; it is fleeting. Jesus knew...

    Deciding to follow Jesus is not a decision we make flippantly. When we commit to Him, we commit to His ways and not our own. We release any of our worldly hopes and dreams and make way for His all-surpassing plans of magnificence for our lives. We surrender it all. (Or at least we are supposed to.)     Following Jesus is a sacrifice of all our selfish preferences. It applies to all areas of our lives and not just some. A lot of Christians are good at sacrificing in some areas over others, and think they've done enough. But Jesus asks for it all. Over the next few days, I plan to go over some of the basic areas in our life that we should concentrate on sacrificing to Jesus, as He sacrificed Himself for us. Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (ESV) Time     No matter what we do, we should always be bringing our focus on Jesus. We should not be engaged in anything that tak...