Are you feeling inadequate?

(2 Corinthians 3:5 NLT) It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

Most see any feeling of inadequacy as a negative but is it really? Could it be that we feel inadequate because we were never meant to go it alone? God has given each of us purpose and to fulfill that purpose we must depend upon and draw your strength from Him who gives it. You see if a child is to grow and learn from his father, then the father will invest time and resources into that child. As the child grows the father gives him more responsibility – to the point of stretching his ability but the father is there each step of the way. In this way the relationship between the two is strengthened and the child learns from the father until one day the child becomes a man and the man becomes a father and the process is passed on to the next generation. There are many similarities between children and parents and believers and Father God. When we are saved we are as babes and as we grow in the Lord we are given responsibilities that point to our purpose. Some call it a dream or a vision but whatever you call it you’ll know it’s from God when it requires more of you than you can give (it will also lines up with scripture – see April 9,10 and May 4th). The Dream will require seeking God and a willingness to depend upon Him greatly and as you do He will give you the ability to do it. In that we learn to be more like Him until one day we are able to help younger Christians seek God in the same way but we never become too old or too experienced that we don’t depend upon God any more. If we are not being stretched then most likely we are not listening to God’s instructions for our lives. This life is a race that is to be ran, a strong start is great but a triumphant finish is what is required!

Paul's thoughts on temptation

(1 Corinthians 5:7 NLT) Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

Yeast causes bread to be puffed up and just like it pride inflates our ego. In first Timothy chapter three, verse five we are warned pride comes before a fall. Further more, a little yeast affects the whole loaf of bread and in the same way one wicked person will impact a whole group of people. Therefore, Paul says do not associate with this type of person but keep yourselves set apart for God’s purpose, which is why you were created! God paid a great price so that nothing can keep you from Him. Don’t throw away what He has done by being puffed up with pride. We need to understand this life was not given to us so that we can satisfy self-indulgences but to bring glory to our Lord and Savior. Know this, God’s grace is sufficient for you and me and though forgiveness is ours for the asking our choices carry the weight of consequences, meaning God will allow us to feel the impact of what we have sown so that we may learn to choose righteousness over evil. You see difficulties here in this life will either destroy us or bring us closer to God. Pride will keep us from God but a heart of purity will bring us closer to our only hope of salvation!

(Romans 12:3 MSG) I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

Don't strike back

(Matthew 5:38-39 NLT) “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Do you ever stop to wonder why it is so easy to react in anger over the slightest wrong? As Christians we are led by the Holy Spirit of God, if we reject His direction the consequence comes in the form of conviction. Conviction easily turns to condemnation and condemnation to resentment. We start to blame others, the tired husband leaves something for his wife to do when but instead of feeling better he is convicted because he was not obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit. He then reacts in anger towards her.

Anger can come for unrecognized pain too. People who hurt us cause the initial sting but we are the ones who allow the stinger to remain by not confronting them, in love. When we pretend it didn’t bother us it may stay hidden for a while but it begins to show up in different ways, being easily angered is one of them. Bring your hurts to Jesus and allow Him to heal your wounds so that you may have your life back.

Jesus I know I have been striking out at people for the smallest things lately, I am broken, please forgive me. Please show me why I’ve been acting this way. My heart is heavy and I’ve been hurt. You tell me that you were beaten and whipped so that I might receive healing, sometimes that is a physical healing but today I need your healing touch to heal me emotionally. Please help me not to hide my feelings from you but quickly lay them before you so that I might be healed. When others attack me it is not because I deserve it but help me to realize they are hurting also. Lord, I don’t want to react in anger any more, help me love my brothers and sisters, as you love me so that you might be glorified through my life.

I have prayed in this manner many times and it is because of Jesus that I can live life whole today instead of broken and crippled with strife, envy, and hatred because past wrongs done to me. Still I have my days, all I can say is Jesus is still working on me and I know one day trials and test will be no more and the race will be ran. Many times we fail and often we are judged by our cover but God looks at the heart, keep it clean before Him and He will light your path.

Make yourself at home Lord

(John 15:9 NLT) "I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.

As much as you long to have relationship with God, He desires it even more with you. Because of our own knowledge of how we daily fall short of perfection we, not God, hold back from relationship. I don’t understand how but God sees through our failures into the very heart of who we want to be, who he has made us to be. Think about it, what is your idea of a prefect friend – someone who loves you unconditionally, who sees not only who you are now but who you could be and causes you to be a better person when they are around. God is that and so much more! Somehow our view of God gets so twisted that we cannot enjoy being in His presence for very long. I’m guilty of it and I often have to confess before God that I have allowed fear to take control. My heart longs for Him but everything I’ve ever experienced tells me it’s not possible. How could the almighty God love me in spite of the things I’ve done? Though I need Him at times I push away, I think many times for fear that I’ll be rejected. It’s through study, prayer, and worship that His small still voice whispers the truth to my heart and though the storm of my thoughts and emotions surround me His whisper breaks through telling me that He loves me and cares for me regardless of what I have done or haven’t done. Matter of fact there is absolutely nothing that can separate me from the Father’s love. It is then I ask the Lord if I might have a glimpse of what He sees. He then encourages me by telling me who I am in Him. You ask why do I keep coming back to study His Word? Because of His great love and my desperate need for Him, therefore I will remain in His love for me.

Lord, thank you for loving us more than we can comprehend. Let your people see just how much they are loved today and encourage their hearts. Often we allow failure to turn our faces from you but it is when we fall that we need you the most. Teach us not to turn away from you. Whatever stands in the way of us having a clear view of who you are, would you take it from us this hour? You said that nothing can separate us from your love and by faith we accept that and cling to it, for we are desperate for your kindness and Lord help us not forget what you have done for us so that we may freely give your love to others. May you be blessed Lord as we imitate your kindness and give away that which you have given us! In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

The oil flows down

(Psalms 133:1-3 NLT) A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting.

The oil represents approval and blessings, do we live to please God or people? David recognized God’s blessings because he knew and understood God’s precepts and promises. We can gain approval from our piers and those under our authority but it means nothing until we have the approval of those over us. That is what is meant by “the oil or blessing flows down.” A wise person will subject him or herself to wise godly counsel. Do you want to do something great for God? Then look for a mentor who is currently doing something for God but remember God is the one you please not man. God will use mature Christians to train the young and inexperienced so that they might also be mature in Christ Jesus but as we learn from godly mentors always keep in mind God’s supreme authority and honor Him and the oil that flows on your life will be from God!

Accept your limits

(Deuteronomy 2:2-3 MKJV) “And Jehovah spoke to me, saying, You have gone around this mountain long enough. Turn northward.”

This might be an unpopular subject but I believe today’s message is in line with the Word of God and very relevant for today. We are given limitations for our own good and for the good of others, let me explain. Though we have been given purpose and a dream that will stretch us we are not able to do everything. You may have heard it said before but it is true, “Pick one thing and do it well.” If that one thing is teaching or the ministry of helps or being an evangelist or pastor then give it all you have and stay on track. Don’t let other things distract you from that purpose. Too often the “good” can and does get in the way of God’s “best” for our lives. It has been said that in any volunteer organization eighty percent of the work gets done by only twenty percent of the people and from my experience I have seen no reason to doubt that but often those who are willing to do the work get loaded down by team leaders and in the case of church spiritual leaders i.e. pastors. Please if you are a pastor don’t be offended. A good pastor is instrumental in guiding us in understanding God has purpose for our lives but did you know it is not the pastor’s job to tell us what our dream is? Sometimes the lines get confused and yes there is much to be done but instead of putting more on the twenty percent the leaders are to bring more of the eighty percent on board. Let me say it again God does not intend for you to do everything, even if you could do you think that would be best? I say no! What would you become if you were able to do everything? In a very small way I have experienced this as I volunteered in the training and leading of a team of volunteers I found myself being depended upon beyond what was healthy. My constituents, even though they had been trained and tested were not comfortable making decisions on their own. So what did I do? As God allowed me to recognize what was happening He also opened a door for me to give them full responsibility while I went to another church to train a new team. I gave my team support and my cell phone number but you know what when I returned they didn’t need me as much and I believe God did something in their hearts because they no longer were just helping because it was good or fun but because they had ownership in the ministry! Was it difficult? You bet! When I am weak I find it easier to do things myself than teach someone else to do it but that is not what God’s best. In doing this I had to understand where my value came from – it wasn’t in the service I provided but that I am a beloved child of God, in Christ alone does my life mean anything!

That puts an entirely different perspective on life. If you are of that twenty percent, then God’s message to you is – stop striving, I love you for who you are not for what you do. I have called you to lead others in the area that I have gifted you. The question is not how much can you do but are you discipling others. If you are part of this group then there is a passion inside of you that others need to know. If anyone could have done everything on their own it would have been Jesus but instead we see him investing into his disciples right up until it is time for him to leave. Yes, we have been given limitations not only for our good but the good of others and we should embrace these boundaries for that is God’s plan.

If you would like to know more about what accepting your limits looks like I wrote a handbook for my constituents to use in my absence and I will email it to you just email me at prosound@cinci.rr.com and mention the Production Team Leader Handbook. It does not talk as much about technical skills as it does leadership and empowering others. It took a year to complete and as I look back I realize it was from God’s heart because I still have trouble getting it sometimes. No matter what I do in this life I will never forget that experience but still I look forward with anticipation of what is yet to come because I know I belong to Him and His heart is passionate for me and as I travel from one promise to the next I have learned not to hang on too tightly for all my hope and value is in Him!

The importance of worship - Part II

(Psalms 95:6 KJV) O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

A very important point is made today, “There’s a danger in any doctrine that focuses only on what we want from God and neglects the thing we were created and redeemed to do – worship Him (see Rev. 4:11).”

I have to admit being a father isn’t something I always want to do, sometimes it is difficult but I find great purpose in it and from it I receive some of the best rewards. More to the point being a father helps me understand better the heart of my Heavenly Father. Many times when I wonder if my attitude is pleasing to God I look at my children and imagine them having the same attitude and if it would be pleasing to me. Not that they worship me (and they shouldn’t), as they go through their teenage years I’m happy if the are respectful (occasionally they are reminded) but if their relationship existed solely for getting things from me how would that make me feel? If your heart is open to learning the lessons God has you go through there are many things that will be revealed. Worship tells God I love Him simply because of who He is and who He has made me to be in Him, without any conditions! The worship is for Him alone but when I do it my heart is replenished with His love and kindness. Worship causes my heart to be fertile ground so that His Word may bring forth bountiful crops. Loving God causes me to love others, in worship God reminds me of who He has made me to be and encourages me to be more than I currently am. Worship is not only the icing on the cake but the cake too! Meaning it’s not something we do on the weekend but it is to be intertwined in every moment of our lives! A thankful heart is pleasing to God and a life of thankfulness brings forth much joy and many blessings! Has it been a while since you smiled? Start worshipping God! Many times Israel was told to worship God even though that was the last thing they felt like doing.

(Leviticus 25:10 MKJV) And you shall make the fiftieth year holy, one year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you, and you shall return each man to his possession, and you shall return each man to his family.

(Deuteronomy 12:7 MKJV) And there you shall eat before Jehovah your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households in which Jehovah your God has blessed you.

(Psalms 2:11 MKJV) Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Worshipping God also reminds us of who He is – Lord of all! Though He is closer than a brother or sister we must never forget He is the sovereign Holy God and Lord of creation! For no one is like Him, worthy of all praise and one day every knee shall bow to His authority! We have the opportunity today to serve Him because we want to. When I think about it my heart can’t contain the joy rising up from within! He has chosen me to serve Him, I can’t fathom how much He loves me! Lord for you are the Lord God over all the earth and one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord.

Thank you for calling me out and preparing me for something wonderful! You have given me more than I dare ask and I worship you. You are my King and my Salvation! For nothing can compare to your greatness! Your works are full of wonder and your creation reflects your greatness. Lord, now open our eyes that we may see your fingerprints on all that was created and fill our hearts with worship so that we may know you! No way could we ever find something or someone to take your place, for you are mighty and glorious beyond compare! Thank you Father for loving me, in your Son’s name I pray, amen.