Preach It! - Mark 16:15

Mark 16:15 

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel."

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On Tuesday night this week, I attended a board meeting of the "Loudoun Missions Foundation". About a year ago I was asked to be on the board as the foundation treasurer. I have learned a lot this last year as we go through the process of becoming an independent 501c3 charity with a new vision and focus. Our renewed vision is to help Loudoun County share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through world missions. We achieve this mission through providing scholarships for short-term mission trips, giving grants for mission projects, sharing information with the community, and increasing community prayer support for missions.   The Bible verse that we base our vision on is Mark 16:15.

When I read this verse in Mark, I am reminded of my visits over the years to different African American churches.  If you have been to an African American church (or similar "alive" church), you probably have heard people in the congregation shouting out to the minister during his sermon saying "Preach it Pastor, preach it". I just love to attend any Christian church that has this kind of passion for the Gospel.  What an encouragement to the pastor it must be as he hears audible confirmation that what he is teaching is resonating with his congregation.  Conversely, I would imagine sometimes Pastors are discouraged by our apathetic and "measured" responses to hearing Gods word.   

But this verse not only tells us to preach the gospel, it commands us specifically to do this in "all the world".  Yes, we need to share the gospel with everyone we meet in our daily lives, but we are also called to go out into all the world and share this Truth with all nations!  If you have ever been on a Gospel-sharing mission trip, you will know how ripe the world's people are to hearing this saving truth.  I went on a mission trip to a very poor inland Jamaican town several years ago, and the people there were not only very appreciative of our physical help, but they thirsted to hear the word.  I met a young married couple one day and we walked around for about an hour reading scripture and singing hymns and praise songs.  I was supposed to be ministering to them but they became a blessing to me!  I have heard many others who have had the same experience of going on a mission trip thinking that they were going to help and save the world, but they returned more changed and impacted themselves! 

So in the coming weeks, I implore you to encourage your pastors and leaders to keep preaching the word, look for opportunities to share the gospel with those you meet, and especially consider and pray about going on an international missions trip.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

The Universe Speaks of God - Psalms 19:1

Psalms 19:1

"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

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It is very comforting to read the psalms as they often declare the glory and majesty of our amazing God. When Hannah and Faith were little they used to love to look at the stars on a dark clear night. In fact we would go out late in the evening and just lay down in our driveway quietly and wait for our eyes to adjust and see the thousands of stars come popping out into our view.  What fun and what memories!

As I imagine this vast universe, and the complexity and beauty of our planet, I cannot help but wonder how someone could think this all came together by chance. How can they not see the handiwork and craftsmanship of an infinite and intelligent designer?  In fact Romans 1:20 even says that men have no excuse for not seeing God in all the things he has created. 

Stop for a minute today and look around you at all of God's creation, whether it be the stars, the beautiful landscape, your family, or even your pet. Thank God for all the blessings he has given you and lift up and praise his name for his mighty works!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

An Unexpected Cross - Matthew 27:32, 33

Matthew 27:32, 33

"Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull")."

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The other day we got an email from Kay's Aunt Nancy and she mentioned she was listening to the 4tified song "Unexpected Cross" (4tified is a Southern Gospel group that I am in and you can read more about us here: www.4tified.org).  4tified is not one of the top sellers on iTunes but God has worked through our music to reach people.  Nancy shared that this song had helped her though some rough times.  As Nancy says "Life surely throws us some curve balls"!

Well in our passage today from Matthew, Simon of Cyrene sure got a huge breaking ball on that day!  Can you imagine what he must have thought to himself as he was dragged out of the crowd to carry the cross for this beaten man who already looked close to death?  Simon probably just happened upon the crowds in curiosity and now he was carrying the cross for a man who was about to be crucified.  I wonder if Jesus spoke to Simon or did the events of that day have an effect on him.  Later in Acts chapters 11 and 13, Luke mentions that there were some believers from Cyrene.  Maybe there is some connection between Simon and those later believers?

In any case, Simon of Cyrene sure did not anticipate that unexpected cross that day. As the song lyrics say "In our humanness, we sometimes miss the good that God can bring, through each circumstance as we trust the hands of the unseen.  Sometimes were called to carry and unexpected cross....yet there just may be a blessing, in an unexpected cross".  

During our lives on this earth, we are all going to encounter our share of unexpected crosses.  These crosses can come in all forms such as losing our job, a sudden health diagnosis, the death of a friend or family member, or even a particularly stressful time at work or school.  I believe our challenge is to get beyond our humanness, find the good that God intends for us, trust in him to deliver you, and ultimately find that blessing.  So as you encounter that next cross in your life, trust in your Lord and Savior to deliver you, and seek diligently to find that promised blessing.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

Are You Armed & Deployed? - Ephesians 6:17

Ephesians 6:17

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;"

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Yesterday's service was the wrap-up of the YouthQuest weekend. Again we got to meet more of Hannah's fellow YouthQuest'ers and further understand what a great group of friends she has gained through this experience. The YouthQuest DiscipleNow weekends are such a powerful force for guiding our youth on the "way that they should go". 

Kevin Cole (our church youth director) not only organized the whole weekend, but he delivered his first ever "big service" sermon at our church and what a powerful sermon The Lord gave him.  Kevin's core message was that we are the King's soldiers and as His soldiers we are Enlisted, Briefed, Armed, and Deployed. 

His reference to Ephesians 6 is that we are armed most critically with "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God."  We are indeed armed with His word that is even "sharper than any two-edged sword". God loves and cares for us and has given us weapons for this battle, but are you skilled and trained enough to use them?  Just like in military service, we need to go through boot camp and regular weapons training, and always hone our skill and ability to divine and apply the word of truth. 

I challenge you this week, to dig into His word and equip yourself with his truth. But we are called to not just be "hearers of the word, but doers also". So as you increase your training and become more well armed, make sure you deploy yourself onto the Lord's battlefield regularly. 

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

A Commandment with a Promise - Exodus 20:12

Exodus 20:12

""Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

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This commandment is probably one of the most well known and most well-loved by parents.  :)   But did you know that this is the only one of the ten commandments that comes with a promise?  I wonder why God seemingly highlights this special commandment with a promise?  Interestingly this commandment also acts as a bridge between the first four commandments which teach us how to love and respect God, and the last five commandments which show us how to love and respect our fellow man.  The promise of the 5th commandment is that if we honor our father and mother, we will live a long and prosperous life.  I believe God created the family to not only show us how to love and  respect our earthly and heavenly father, but to also provide a setting so that we can learn to love our fellow man.

There are many other passages in the Bible that exhort us to honor our mother and father such as: Deut 21:18-21, Ezek 22:7, as well as Matt 15:4, Mark 7:10 and finally Eph 6:1-3.  Eph 6 even goes further though and specifically calls out us fathers and tells us "not to provoke our children to wrath", or in the NLT translation ""do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them".  So for this promise to be completely fulfilled and for the Christian family to be whole, we parents also need to treat our children with gentleness and understanding.  

All of us have trials and stresses in this life and your family should be your sanctuary of peace, support, and protection from the outside world.  Take some time this week to hug your kids and/or hug your parents and tell them that you love them.  God created the family and he meant it to be the basis of human society.  Let's do our part to support each other through our families.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

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Ephesians 6:1-4 

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

Do you understand what you are reading? - Acts 8: 30, 31

Acts 8:30, 31

"So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him."

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YouthQuest is here!  YouthQuest is here!  YouthQuest is here!   YouthQuest's mission is "to be a positive extension of the discipleship efforts of the host local church."  This Liberty University team has been coming to our church in Purcelleville for many years and their weekend program DiscipleNow has made a huge impact on all three of our kids. And now Hannah gets to be a part of the team that carries on this impact on our youth.  What a blessing!

This passage in Acts speaks to how we as believers are mandated to approach seekers and new believers and be their "Philip". We need to teach and disciple those that God puts in our paths and lead them to a deeper relationship with their savior.  

I urge you to first study your trade and be a workman approved to share God's good news. And then look for those that need direction and are seeking an explanation for what they are learning or experiencing. All we are called to do is to explain the hope that lies within us and then point them to the truth of Jesus Christ. So go out and do some pointing this week!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

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Click on this link to read more about YouthQuest and learn about how they can have this same impact on your church youth: 

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19799

Have Joy in Trials - Romans 5:3, 4

Romans 5:3, 4

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."

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Yesterday I was talking to Hannah about college life and how new and challenging everything can be. At each major stage or significant change in our lives, we can become stressed or anxious about our situation.  As we talked, Hannah said that even though things had not dramatically changed since we last talked, she was getting along pretty well and learning how to better deal with the challenging and stressful situations.  

She then quoted this verse about how God calls us to find joy in these situations and that he indeed grows us through our problems and trials while at the same time drawing us closer as we lean more on him. We discussed how even Kay's illness is allowing us to realize how important our family is and how we need to be there for each other, and that God is there for us always. 

I pray this week that you and your loved ones are not experiencing trials, but that if you are, you love on and care for each other, and more importantly draw nearer to God and lean on him. 

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Run with Endurance - Hebrews 12:1, 2

Hebrews 12:1, 2

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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I though of this verse as Faith was describing the boys soccer practice yesterday.  Faith is a manager for the boys soccer team and soccer tryouts and practice started this week.  So yesterday the boys had to do a 12 minute run and Faith said it was tough for them, especially given the cold and rainy weather.  However there is a lot of excitement with the boys and managers as they have been waiting for the season to start, so spirits are very high right now.  But the key to the season will be not how they start the season, but rather how they endure and finish through to the end.

Also yesterday, Kay and I went to see another Radiation Oncologist to talk about what an appropriate radiation treatment would be.  Well during our consultation, he actually expressed concern for the slim clean margins (in his opinion) on Kay's pathology report.  We had just heard from the surgeon on Monday that the margins were good and now this doctor is expressing concern and recommending further surgery.  So, we are going to consult with yet another surgeon and see where the next turn of this roller coaster takes us.

I truly believe that this passage in Hebrews has not only a spiritual application but a practical life application also.   We need to run with endurance this "race of life" and keep trusting in Jesus to give us guidance and strength through it all.  But of course, we also need to run the "race of faith" and keep pressing on through temptation and sin, always looking to Jesus and the cross so we can finish strong for eternity.  Please continue to pray for us as we face more decision points in Kay's treatment and also please pray for us and others that we all endure and finish strong in the race of faith also.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Things God Hates - Proverbs 6:16-19

Proverbs 6:16-19

"These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren."

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Our God is a loving God but Proverbs shows that He also has the capacity to hate.  Besides Satan and sin in general, here are some things that God truly hates and even detests:

- A prideful spirit 

- A lying tongue

- Those who hurt the innocent

- A corrupt heart that plans ill will against others

- Those who run toward sin

- Someone who falsely testifies against his neighbor

- A person who stirs up trouble among the believing community

So in turn if we are looking to follow God, I think the following would make God quite pleased:

- Projecting a humble spirit

- Displaying integrity and absolute truthfulness

- Protecting the weak and innocent

- Looking for ways to plan good for others

- Fleeing from sin

- Standing as a witness for your neighbor

- Building up and edifying the community of believers

Of course we will sin every day and always be tempted by the things on the first list, but let's pray that through God's strength we will spend much more time carrying out the actions on the second.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

The Lord Heals! - Psalms 41:2, 3

Psalms 41:2, 3

"The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed."

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A friend of ours (Donna Miller) sent us an email last week that she had been praying for God's great and miraculous healing for Kay.  She shared with us that we need to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all thy ways acknowledge God and he will direct your path.  When the road gets tough, continue to lean on God and keep God's perfect word in your heart, mind and soul."  And then she shared a phrase that I think will go into regular use for me  "Please remember without tests, their would be no testimonies!"  What a wonderful truth!  Donna than said that as she prayed for our family that day, God had put on her heart to share with us Psalms 41:2, 3.

Well God came through on all counts in this verse.  He preserved, kept, blessed, delivered, strengthened, sustained and healed us.  Yesterday, we received Kay's pathology report from her last surgery and her margins are all very good!  This means that the doctors believe they have gotten all the cancer and Kay does not need any more surgeries.  Now we march onward toward radiation.  

Praise the Lord for his love and faithfulness and for those he gives us to direct and build us up!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Our Kind King - Matthew 9:36-38

Matthew 9:36-38

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.""

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Jesus was moved and had compassion on the crowds. Notice He did not just have pity on them.  Pity is caring about others but putting none of that caring into action. Jesus was a man of action and he wants us to be men and woman of action also. 

Jesus is no longer here walking on this earth and he needs many laborers to help him touch and care for as many people as possible.  I pray you look closely for signs of the harvest this week and don't wait for someone else to fill the need. Just do it!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

The Last Adam - I Corinthians 15:45

I Corinthians 15:45

"And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit."

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I am reading "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It is a deep, dry, read but definitely lays out some very well-honed theology. The chapter I am reading now is on "The Body of Christ" and it references this passage in Corinthians. The body of Christ on earth now is the community of believers or the church.  We are in Christ, Christ is in us and Christ is in the church.

The first Adam bore the human race, and the last Adam bears the sins of humanity into resurrection and life.  In other words, the first Adam gave us life on earth and the second Adam (Christ) has given us eternal life in heaven.  The natural body came through the first Adam, the spiritual body was birthed through the second Adam.  And even better yet, the body of the second Adam was a prototype of the spiritual incorruptible body we will receive at the resurrection.

OK, so the devotional was a little heavy today.  To net it out, the bodies we have now are only a shadow of the perfect bodies we will have in Christ at the end.  But until that time, we are already living out our earthly lives in the body of Christ and Christ is living in us.  Take heart that our savior and comforter is with us now and until the end of time!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Study & Practice - II Timothy 3:15

II Timothy 3:15

"and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

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This morning we are in a hotel room in Richmond Virginia getting ready for Jake to participate in the state finals of the free throw competition. I am reminded that the only way to be good at something, and especially to be the best, is to study that thing and practice, practice, practice.  Jake has had many hours of shooting instruction and he and I have shot many thousands of free throws in our driveway at home.  This instruction and practice is the main reason he is in these finals. 

Well God's word is the same way. We need to take instruction, study the craft, and practice, practice, practice. Many parts of scripture exhort us to get in the word, study, meditate on it and "do what it says". This verse in II Timothy says that we should know the scriptures from childhood and that it will make us wise. It is never too soon to start good habits of regularly getting into the word.  

So whether you are 8, 48, or 80, I implore you to get into God's word daily, meditate on how each verse applies to your life, and most importantly get out there and do what it says. 

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

Leadership and Love - Ephesians 5:25

Ephesians 5:25 

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,"

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This has been a good week for Jake. In the early part of the week, Jake won the district free-throw competition and we are headed to Richmond tonight for the state finals. Go Jake!  And then on Wednesday night, we went to his middle school recognition for getting all "A"s again this quarter, and he was also awarded the Leadership award for the 7th grade!  I truly believe that God has given Jake the gift of leadership and He is going to do great things through Jake in the years to come.

Well yesterday we covered the "Excellent Wife", and today Ephesians talks to us about the sacrificial love of a husband.  Husbands, we are called to love our wives like Christ loved the church.  Did you hear that?  Christ loved the church more than we can possibly fathom and carried that love all the way unto death at Calvary.  To be able to love like that we need to humbly lead our wives and children by always thinking about and caring for their needs *before* our needs.  How many of us really do that?  And wives and children, you need to respectfully make room for your husbands and fathers to own up to their responsibility and take that lead. 

But more importantly, in addition to being strong leaders, we also all need to be obedient and faithful followers.  All of us should be following the only one who never has to be asked to step up or take care of us, because He is always there for us and never forsakes us. I pray that you ask God to help you better play your role in the family but that even more critically, you also passionately seek God's will for your life and follow his lead.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

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I have added a link below to Sanctus Real's song Lead Me.  The song always cause me to tear up a little as it is pretty convicting to many of us very busy fathers.

http://youtu.be/yLr6G8Xy5uc

An Excellent Wife - Proverbs 12:4

Proverbs 12:4 NKJV

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband"

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The Good News Bible translates this verse as ... An excellent wife is the "pride and joy" of her husband. Well my wife is definitely my source of earthly joy and especially lately I could not be more proud of her. 

For the last month, Kay has been examined, scanned, prodded, banged, stuck, drugged, and cut open.  Throughout it all, I hear few complaints or wining, and she just picks herself up and goes on to the next procedure.  And she does all this while also continuing to take care of our family and home.  Last week after a particularly painful procedure, I even had to go out of town before she had recovered.  She just carried on without me.

For those that are married, turn to your spouse and give them a big hug and a kiss right now.  Make sure you love them continually and don't take them for granted.  I know I fall short on this front regularly but through God's grace and provision I will continue to grow into the husband that he designed me to be.  For those that are yet to be married, be very careful with prospective spouses or even with people you just intend to date.  Be diligent to ensure the person truly loves the Lord and will love, protect, and care for you selflessly.  Yes we always have God as our protector and comforter, but life on this earth is too tough to not have a committed life-long earthly partner to help you wade through it.  I pray you have or will have as "Excellent" a wife as I do.   Happy Valentines Day Lovely Wife of Mine!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory! 

Life is Long! - Exodus 15:18

Exodus 15:18

""The Lord shall reign forever and ever.""

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Many people say "life is short", and it is here on earth. But within the community of believers, we ought to start a new expression of "Life is Long!"

Over these days after Kay's last surgery, I have a real peace about where we are with this disease.   I am putting my complete trust in our Lord that he is going to completely eradicate every cancer cell from her body. But even if he does not, the depths of the trials we experience on this earth are no comparison to the heights of incredible joy we will experience for a "long" eternal time in heaven with our lord and savior.

And one of the best parts is that we do not have to wait for our lord to reign forever in heaven, as his reign has already begun now in our hearts and lives.  As you experience trials in your life, remember that life is short and these trials will not last forever, but more importantly remember that life is going to be long with our lord.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Covered in Prayer - Romans 12:12

Romans 12:12 

"... rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;"

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So for the day after Kay's latest surgery, the devotional topic had to be prayer.  Kay and I were both so encouraged and lifted up by all those who were praying for us today.  At one point during the day, I turned to Kay and said, "you know there are probably more that a thousand people praying for you today".  I have heard from so many people that they were praying and that their families, churches, prayer groups, and friends were praying also.  With that much prayer power raining down on Reston Hospital, Satan could not have been within 5 miles of those hospital walls.  He abhors the words of God and his people, and we are so blessed by our family and friends.

Well one of my favorite prayer verses and one I have kept close in my heart lately is James 5:16 "....the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective".  But I like this passage in Romans also because it lays out this long list of things that a Christian does.  In fact in my Bible this section heading is called "Behave Like a Christian".  So if you are not continually and steadfastly praying than you are not behaving like a Christian - there is no compromise here!

I praise God that he created prayer and that it is not only powerful and effective, but it is uplifting and encouraging, as well as a key relationship builder between us and God and between us and others.  Please continue to pray for Kay as she recovers and takes on whatever the next phase of treatment might be.

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

God has a plan for each of us - Exodus 13:17, 18

Exodus 13:17, 18

"When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle."

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As we prepare for Kay's surgery today, I am strengthened by this verse about how God prepares a specific path for us according to what gifts he has given to us and what trials we can handle.  

God did not lead the Israelites directly into the promised land because he knew they could not handle it yet. God knew their strengths and their limits and he knows ours too. And as much as God cared, directed and loved Israel, he cares, guides, and loves us the same. 

Take comfort that God has a plan for you, and if you seek and listen to him, he will guide and protect you on that path. 

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

Are you ever mistaken for Jesus? - 1 John 2:6

1 John 2:6

"Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

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Have you ever been mistaken for Jesus?  Of course I am not saying any of us would be mistaken to *look* like Jesus, but do we live our lives in a way that Jesus would live his in the 21st century?  I am sure everyone has seen the WWJD bracelets, but are we really facing every situation in our lives with that question?

Well scripture calls us to do just that - wherever we go, whatever we say, whatever we look at, and whatever we do should be a reflection of Christ working through us.  That is obviously a difficult task in our own strength, but Jesus has promised to sanctify us throughout our lives if we seek and follow him. 

I think the bridge lyrics in the Warren Barfield song called "Mistaken" say it all. 

Mistaken - Warren Barfield

http://youtu.be/-L0jRJD_u1Y

May He touch with my hands
See through my eyes
May He speak through my lips
Live through my life

Try to spend this week seeking Christ's will in each of your decisions and more importantly reflecting his will to others through your life!

...and don't forget to love God with all your heart, love others as He does, and use every minute for His will and to His glory!

The Lord is my Rock! - Psalms 18:2

Psalms 18:2 NKJV

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

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My Rock, My Fortress, My Deliverer, My God, My Strength, My Shield, My Salvation, My Stronghold!  Wow that is a lot of names for the Lord in one verse of the Bible!  I bet you could think of a bunch more couldn't you?  How about: My Healer, My Comforter, My Savior, My Lord, My Provider, My Banner, My Peace, My Sanctifier, My Shepherd, My Master, My Path, My Strong Tower, My Lamb, My Abba, My Creator, My Helper.  Did I miss one of your favorites!

This week the Lord has definitely been My Strength and My Deliverer.  The week was jam-packed with heading to a team kickoff meeting on Sunday, MCing the kickoff on Monday morning, giving a presentation on Monday afternoon, leading a break-out discussion group on Tuesday, presenting to the CEOs and other VPs on Wednesday, and then finally coming down with the flu on Thursday and Friday.  For a natural introvert, I had to rely on His strength throughout the week through prayer and study.

Now I am praying for help, comfort, and healing so that I can overcome this flu and get back on my feet!  Just remembering all the names of God at different times in your lives can bring great comfort and confidence.  Whenever you are feeling down and needing strength or guidance, try just writing out all the names of God to remind you of what all he is for you.   Also please pray for my healing, will you?  I love you all.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Are you a Servant Leader? - John 13:5, 1 2-15

John 13:5, 12-15 

"Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."

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What is Servant Leadership?  The story of the foot washing in the book of John is probably one of the most dramatic stories of Jesus' life on earth.  In the society of Jesus' day, foot washing was a job reserved only for the lowest of the slaves and servants.  For Jesus, the Lord of all the earth, to stoop down and insist on washing all the disciples feet (even the man who was to betray him unto the cross), must have been extremely unsettling for the disciples.  But as Jesus usually did, he explained exactly why he was doing this.  He was providing a very vivid example of how they were to treat each other and the other believers that they were going to shepherd after his crucifixion.

Yesterday at our company sales kickoff event in DC, we had a keynote speaker Brian Billick (former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens who won a Super Bowl in 2001) talk to us about what it takes to be a great leader.  One of his main points was that as effective leaders, we need to understand what our people do, be willing to get our hands dirty in the trenches with them, and truly serve our team members wherever needed.  In each football practice, he made a point of walking around and talking individually and touching each player.  He also often actually held the play cards to signal which plays to run so that all players were watching and noticing him.  He was not one to stand back on the sidelines or up in the booth to observe them from afar.

For us, our team could be our company employees, our fellow soccer managers, our family, our group of close friends, a traveling discipleship team, or even a Bible study group, prayer group, or home group.  In each of our teams, we need to treat everyone with respect, and genuinely look out for and take care of them.  Indeed, you need to be a leader that is a humble servant first and everything else will follow.

In the next week, think about who your team is.  Identify a specific action you can take to serve a person on that team and truly show them that you care about them.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Prayer is Powerful - Proverbs 15:29

Proverbs 15:29 NKJV

"The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous."

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God hears our prayers!  Do you believe that to the core?  If we passionately believed this, how would this change our lives?  Proverbs 15 is all about the contrasts between the wicked and the righteous and between good and evil.  It clearly draws for us a picture of the promises we have in Christ as well as the responsibilities.  Verse 15 promises us that as believers covered by Christ's righteousness, God is near us and he hears us. 

Today I met the new vice president of our Manila office.  We were talking about his business challenges and how I could help him.  The conversation then turned to family and eventually it came out that my wife was sick.  He asked her name, I told him, he put his hand on my shoulder and compassionately said he would pray for her.  Well boy did the conversation open up from there!  He shared that he was a protestant Christian (which is rare as Catholicism is big in the Philippines), and that his grandfather had started the Methodist church in the Philippines after WWII.  He now attends a contemporary non-denominational church but we also shared our love for singing the traditional hymns.

It is amazing the relationships that can form when you open yourself up a little and become vulnerable.  A fellow believer will consider it a privilege to share your burdens and intercede with Christ on your behalf.  I encourage you to find opportunities to user the incredible power of prayer for others, but also to seek opportunities to allows fellow believers to pray for you.

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

You're Rich! - Matthew 19:23

Matthew 19:23

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."

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Do you think you are rich?  If you say no, compared to what?  How do you think our lives stack up against most people in Africa, India, South America? How do you think our lives stack up against 99% of the people Jesus was talking to in his day? Guess what? You are rich compared to most.

This passage is about the man that Jesus told to sell all he had and follow Him. But the man could not because he had much. I think this passage is about anything that can become a stumbling block before God. That stumbling block could be money, but it also could be pride, influence, or intelligence.  Be always careful that you don't rely only on your own abilities, but lean on the infinite power and wisdom of God and give him all the credit. 

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Marriage is Forever (Matthew 19:5, 6)

Matthew 19:5, 6

"'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh' ? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.""

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It is pretty clear that God's plan is that marriage is forever.  Jesus explains that in Moses' time God allowed divorce only because of the hardness of their hearts.  In today's US culture, it is somewhat of a rarity to be married for life and it often is not even a prerequisite for having kids and living together for years.

Jesus describes the husband and wife as becoming "one flesh".  They are put together by God and should not be separated by men.  A long marriage is an amazing gift from God and it is very true that the marriage bonds continue to grow year after year.  You should desire for and cherish marriage, but don't enter it lightly.  And when you are married, push through the tough times as the prize is worth the struggle.

...and as always...don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5)

Matthew 17:5

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!""

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Listen to Him!  God is telling us to listen to Jesus! Oh if we would just listen, repent, turn, and follow the model of how he wants us to live our lives.  

We have all seen the acronym WWJD, right?  I challenge you to really listen to Jesus this week and speak every word and make every move as you believe Jesus would.

Here's an old song from the group Acapella that is based on this verse and it is called none other then "Listen To Him".  I pray this song will stick in your head this week and you will be reminded of this command.

http://youtu.be/l6v07soko_0

And I just had to include this other great Acapella song called "Who is gonna tell the child about Jesus?"  These guys are incredible singers.  Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/da4VUh2fdNE

...and as always...don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Get Behind Me Satan! (Matthew 16:23)

Matthew 16:23

"But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.""

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Is God calling and equating Peter with Satan?  Peter was one of his closest disciples and was the "rock" that Jesus build the Christian church upon. 

This admonition from Jesus is a good example of not just the peaceful loving teacher, but also the fierce and dangerous leader. I believe God calls us all to be a little fierce sometimes when we see wrong being done and God's plan being thwarted. 

Jesus was not going to allow Peter's worldy thinking to get in the way of his father's master plan. We should be so bold ourselves to keep our eyes fixed on his plan and run toward it with a passion. 

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Flee From Evil (Proverbs 4:14-16)

Proverbs 4:14-16

Don't do as the wicked do, and don't follow the path of evildoers. Don't even think about it; don't go that way. Turn away and keep moving. For evil people can't sleep until they've done their evil deed for the day. They can't rest until they've caused someone to stumble.

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Don't do evil, don't follow evil, don't even think about evil.  Not only does God tell us not to sin, but he is warning us here that we should not even let those thoughts come into our heads.  And if we see people making bad decisions around us, we should turn and flee the opposite way.

Proverbs also tells us that the evil person actually wants to drag us into the evil work too.  This evildoer cannot rest until they cause someone else to make a mistake.  If a friend causes you to turn from what you believe then that is not a friend at all.

Be careful as you carry out your days.  Watch who you spend time with and if you observe evil or sin, turn and get out of their fast!

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!

Does God bring us Adversity? (Genesis 50:20 )

Genesis 50:20

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."

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Do you wonder if God has brought about the trials that you are currently wading through?  Does he purposely put us through difficult times?

This story in Genesis is about how Joseph's brothers threatened to kill him and then sold him into slavery.  Joseph had to endure many hardships in Egypt before he found out why God had put him in that place (to save his family from famine).

The bible includes many examples where God has put people in a place for his larger purpose.  But even if your circumstance is not for some grand plan like Joseph, God will use difficult trials to bring us nearer to him and to grow us to spiritual maturity.  Try to have perspective in your trials, seek his will for your life, and trust in him to deliver you!

...and don't forget to love God, love others, and use every minute for His glory!