11 Best Albums to Fall Asleep to (For Kids and Adults)
I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I go to bed, I am jazzed. Or I’ll occasionally wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to…
Encouragement is Rest, Not Optimism – VOTD.05.01.18
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “We played happy music on the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang…
Encouragement and Rest – VOTD.04.30.18
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11
Rest is the tangible expression of Jesus’s intangible presence in our lives. Being a storehouse of His encouragement is the definitive consequence of Jesus in our lives. It is from that storehouse that we share Jesus’ encouragement with the people and situations around us. So that instead of putting on a false cheer, we actually have a peace and encouragement that overcomes the discouragement (un-encouragement) in the world around us.
We’ve been talking for the past few weeks about being an encourager—which the Bible calls us to be. It’s part of walking in the fullness of all that is life in Jesus. It’s an important ingredient in abundant living. And for most of us it takes effort because this fight is not with a conventional enemy; it’s opposing the force of discouragement that hounds us from all directions.
This negative force shows up in our lives in all shapes and forms: Unconstructiveness, discouragement, and disapproval. So it’s a matter of the heart and from there comes our demeanor—our attitudes and the atmosphere around us. And our words—emotions and thoughts lead to words and actions. (more…)
Returning to Our First Love in 2017 pt 11 – VOTD.02.27.17
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance… Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Revelation 2:2,4
Last time we saw that while we might be doing ‘Christian things’ if we are still the center of our vision—if we’re still the definer of our dreams and goals—we are going to waste a lot of time, energy and emotion shackled to fruitless pursuits. We superglue ourselves to futility. We build an insurmountable wall between ourselves and our first love.
That’s because we’re giving Jesus competition in our focus and that’s idolatry. You see, the kind of idol that sidetracks us doesn’t matter; it’s that Jesus isn’t at the bullseye of our vision. Picture an archery target with all its concentric circles and in the center is the bullseye. That target represents all that God is doing.
People who are really not pursuing God at all are shooting off the target completely and we’re not talking about them. We’re looking at people like the Ephesians who Jesus is talking to. Today’s verses show that they’re really doing well, but they’ve got to return to their first love.
So in our analogy, they’re at least hitting the target. Jesus is telling them, that hitting the outer circle will get them some satisfaction, the acclaim of their church-mates, but it’s not where they could be. It’s not where He’s calling them.
You see, the outer circles are what God is doing. But Jesus wants us to get back to the bullseye where we started.
For many of us, our hopes and dreams are in the outer circles. We want to see Jesus’ Kingdom come and we want to be part of it like the Ephesians were. We might want to lead the charge. This is the place where we want to be for a lot of reasons some goodish (look at the needs), some selfish (this where it’s exciting, flashy, and fun). But this is not where we started, in the bullseye. It’s not where we abide in a first-love experience. (more…)
Kindness, Identity and Overcompensating – VOTD.11.29.16
A woman named Martha opened her home to (Jesus). She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Last time we saw how easy it is to fall into a sense of value-less-ness when our relationship with the Lord is not founded on our true identity in Him…the truth of His unconditional love for us, and His plan for our lives. Many sit on the sidelines (or don’t come to the game at all) because they haven’t got that foundation of identity in Jesus cleared up. It’s living out of rejection.
Another way rejection works is for people who have spiritual identity issues to become the star performer…they overcompensate (and you’ve probably seen this). They’re like Martha, trying to become all things to everyone and at the end of the day they’re so exhausted from meeting everyone else’s needs—they’ve been so kind to so many—that there’s nothing left and they become weary while doing good and lose heart (Gal 6:9). (more…)
The Peace Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.21.16
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Mature Christians are at peace with situations beyond their control. This may be one of the more underrated measures of spiritual maturity. Just Google CNN, BBC or some other news outlet. You probably watched or read stories about terrorists, wars, famine and the downward spiral of political leaders and everything in between.
Are we living in hard times? Undoubtedly. Are the acts reported on the news awful? Often they are beyond awful, they are heinous. But mature Christians’ lives and peace are not derailed by latest buzz on the news. They don’t waste time worrying and coming unglued over situations beyond their control. (more…)
VOTD.06.07.16 The Peace Measure: Maturity
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. John 14:27
Come to me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Our next milepost on the journey of Christian maturity: Rest. Peace. Simply put, stress is a character trait of this world and its system. God gives peace, instead.
We’ve all been there. Too much on our plates and feeling overwhelmed. Or we face impossible problems, setbacks, disappointments, discouragements… Add to that, we’re exhausted. Jesus calls this “Weary and heavy-laden”.
How does the world respond to stress? Well, there’s always TV (books, surfing the web and other distractions). Then there’s endurance—putting our shoulder to the tasks and bulldozing through (that’s me). Some get into pumping ourselves up with positive self-talk. Others find something in the fridge. And don’t forget pity-parties and complaining. (more…)