November 24, 2018

Plant Good Seeds

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

– Mark 4:18-19

We want to be like everyone else. We want our church to be able to “compete” for members and money with all the other churches in our area. We get so focused on numbers and “what works” that we lose sight of who we are in Christ.

When the direction of our churches becomes more about being like everyone else, then we’ve lost sight of who we really are in Christ. We are not all called to be the same when it comes to how things are done. Our focus should be on the Word of God. Our trust should be in Him alone.

But we trust ourselves. We trust our leadership. We trust in concrete things like attendance records and bank statements. We fight among ourselves and criticize each other. We forget it’s not about what we want, it’s about what He wants.

Jesus told this parable about seeds that are planted. Some seed are stolen by Satan almost immediately. Some seed never really take root. And some seed grow among thorns and are overtaken by the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for things. Those focused on things of the world will never be fruitful. Jesus is clear about that. So why do we waste time and money trying to manipulate those things to make our churches appear larger and more prosperous than they are? Why do we chase numbers and money instead of chasing Jesus and trusting Him to provide what we need?

Priorities. I wrote about that yesterday. But priorities aren’t just about what we do as individuals. It’s also about what we do as a church. It’s about what we focus on as a church.

I had a pastor once who really stepped on toes when it came to finances. He wasn’t concerned at all about money. As he explained one Sunday, all he really cared about was whether the church was doing what God had called it to do. To him, it was all about basic belief. God provides what we need when we step out in faith to do what He has called us to do.

We get that backwards so many times. I’m not talking about being fiscally irresponsible. But I am talking about having a deep faith that directs our steps, even when the numbers tell us something different.

In our town, there’s a rapidly growing church that focuses on performance and small group involvement. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m not criticizing it at all. But what bothers me are the churches that insist on adopting those same elements, even when it doesn’t fit the “personality” of that particular church. It’s not about following the call of God. It’s about chasing numbers and trying to be like your neighbor instead of being the best you that you can be.

Discord so often happens in churches because people are so intent on getting their own way that they lose sight of what church is all about. We are the body of Christ. It’s about Him. That’s all. It’s about Him.

Don’t let copycat syndrome destroy what’s good about your church and the people who are part of it. Be the church He created you to be and trust that the seeds you plant will land in fertile soil and produce much abundance in the days and years to come.

March 14, 2016

God Can Make A Way

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

-- Isaiah 43:19

Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you don’t know what to do or how life will ever be alright again. It’s in those times when we remember that God can make a way when we can’t see a way.

I told a wonderful young man that at church yesterday. His heart is broken. His wife has attempted suicide three times. The last time she was finally hospitalized but she’s home again. Still depressed. Still refusing to do anything that might help herself. Oh, and did I mention, she isn’t a believer.

I’m not sure how someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, who doesn’t embrace the hope and salvation He offers, can make it. But I do know Jesus touches hearts through His Spirit. I know that He speaks works we cannot hear. And He hears our heart’s anguish cry when we don’t know what to say or ask.

It’s really impossible to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped. He has tried to help his wife. Her mother is in from out of town and has tried to help her daughter. Doctors have tried to help. No one can reach her. Her two teenage sons are devastated. How much stress can one family take?

Quite a bit. I’ve learned that the hard way. But I’ve also learned that God is there when emotional devastation surrounds you. He carries you when you can’t take one more step. He comforts you when the pain seeks to destroy you. God knows what you need when you don’t know how you’ll even get through the next moment.

When I reminded him that God can make a way when we can‘t see a way, he gave me a half smile. He had walked outside on that beautiful Sunday morning and sensed God telling him that exact same thing. Then believe it. Hold on to that. God is sending you a message.

Too often we give up because we can’t see how life could ever be any different than it is right in that moment. Sometimes we are so focused on what we think we want that we don’t realize God has something way better planned for us. He will make a way and it will be the best way. Embrace it. Trust it. As hard as this season is, God’s got this.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Listen For God’s Voice

“Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it.” -- Proverbs 8:10-11

What did you ask God for today? What did you tell Him you wanted Him to do? Surely it was something. It’s what all of us do each day. We ask God to do something for us.

I know. Many of the requests are for others. We want God to protect those we love. We want His healing touch. We want God to provide for us. We want God to solve our problems. We want those around us to be happy and successful. We want that for ourselves too.

But what about what God wants? There’s a radio comedy dialogue that has a man answering the phone and it’s God calling. He proceeds to tell God what he “needs”. His roommate is in the background, yelling out more requests. When the guy hangs up, the roommate asks what God wanted. The man who answered the phone didn’t know. He’d been too busy making requests to hear what God had to say.

It sounds funny but really it isn’t. And we all do it. A friend of mine stopped by recently. She and her husband are in the middle of a major job and location change. They just don’t know where they’re going yet. She laughed a bit about it. The checklist is almost complete. They’re packing and moving, traveling, relinquishing volunteer roles. It’s all scheduled to be done by Oct. 1^st. Then she and her husband can spend some quite time alone with God and really pray and wait to hear what He says.

Quiet the busyness. That’s what it takes to hear God. Stop talking. Stop answering the phone. Turn off the television and computer. Just quiet ourselves and listen for Him to speak. He will. He is not in the wind and rain, in the thunder and hail. God is in the quiet stillness that settles over us.

His peace fills us. We only have to seek His will. His perfect will. Like my friend who doesn’t know where she’s headed, we can turn to God for the answers. And we can rest in confidence that He knows and that His plan for us is perfect.

We were not created for God to spoil us rotten. Oh, He frequently does. But that’s not why we’re here. God created us to serve and honor Him. How can we do that if we never listen to what He has to say? So quiet your mind. Open your heart. And listen for God’s voice. You’ll be amazed and blessed by what He has to say.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Listen For God's Voice

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

-- Isaiah 30:21

God had given His people "the bread of adversity and the water of affliction." They were facing some pretty tough times. But He promised to be with them, to lead and guide them on the difficult journey. We'd much prefer that God simply take away the tough times. Spare us the pain. Not gonna happen. We do live in a fallen world. And we sinners do sometimes need to learn lessons we'd prefer to avoid.

When we hit tough times, we frequently ask advice of anyone and everyone -- except God. We want a quick fix. An easy fix. We don't tend to consult God until we're out of options and have hit rock bottom. Maybe that's why He calmly waits for us to hit bottom. God wants us to know how much we need Him.

I've been through tough times that I don't ever want to face again. I've floundered when I've stepped off that rock. I cling to it with everything I've got. I know, deep inside, that I'll always be okay if I'm doing God's will. That's why hearing His voice is so important to me.

This verse from Isaiah comforts me. It's a promise from God to me that no matter what happens, where I go or what I do, He'll be there with me. He'll tell me what to do. He'll guide me and strengthen me and help me every step of the way. He loves me. I belong to Him. And He's with me always.

Finding Direction

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I life up my soul." -- Psalm 143:8

Sometimes one of the most difficult things to do is to take that step forward. Indecision can quickly paralyze anyone. How do you know which way to go? Who do you turn to?

God. Always. Think about it. He is the only one who always has your best interests right there front and center. Always. Nothing selfish about God. He wants you to succeed and to be happy.

I look up and feel the unfailing love that He wraps around me. I pray, quietly waiting for His answer. He lights my path. That is the direction I should go. The first step is easy. Heis leading the way.