Last week I wrote about the God-sized hole that is in each of us and how we try to fill that hole with everything except God. Many people will close out the year 2010 with pain, anguish and no hope that things will ever get any better for them. They don’t have or even know how to find the peace and the promise of eternal life that Christians have.
Many of you know that music is a great inspiration to me. Lately, I’ve been listening to the new Third Day CD “MOVE” and I’ve been thinking about one song in particular, that song is “Make Your Move”. This song is about someone who does not know Christ. This person is thinking that there must be something to Christianity because of the faith that we possess and this person knows deep down inside that there has got to be more to life than what he is living.
As a lost “soul,” this person realizes that something is missing and is questioning the God-sized hole in his life, but just doesn’t know how to fill it. In this song he is asking the Christian to “make your move”. Approach me, tell me why your life is different than mine, tell me why I can’t seem to get satisfied, why do you have peace in your life and why are you not questioning the meaning of life? The person continues to say “make your move now, before I change my mind!”
As a Christian it is the responsibility of you and I to make our move now! Tomorrow is not guaranteed, the year 2011 is not guaranteed! It is no longer time to be “politically correct” because people that die without accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior will spend eternity in Hell with Satan and his demons. People are searching, people are hurting and you and I have the answer for them. Let’s finish this year by reaching out in love and telling someone about Jesus Christ.
Casting Crowns said it best in their song, If We’ve Ever Needed You. “If we’ve ever needed You Lord, it’s now, Lord, it’s now. We are desperate for Your hand, We’re reaching out, we’re reaching out”
This world is desperate for the Lord’s hand, the lost people in this world are desperate for salvation, they are desperate for the “peace that transcends all understanding” and they are blindly reaching out. As a Christian, you have the answer that so many are desperately seeking. Why not make your move now?
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:16-20 (NIV)
If you are desperately trying to fill your God-sized hole, if you know you are not living your life to the fullest and would like to learn more about receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please read our blog titled New Life in Christ (April 2, 2010).
Third Day song – Make Your Move
Casting Crowns song – If We’ve Ever Needed You
Bible Verse taken from the New International Version
@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc
Monday, December 27, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
An Unlikely Strategy
God is not in the business of doing what we think He should do. Some of the best battles fought and won in the bible are from what would be considered very unlikely strategies from our point of view. This week, we are looking at how God uses unique strategies to defeat our enemies.
We start where we left off last week in Judges 7:15-25 where Gideon was heading back to his army of men to wake them up for the battle against the Midianites. He armed each man with a trumpet, a jar and a torch, and warned the men to watch and follow his lead and to do what he did. So, at the middle watch, or at about 10:00pm, just after the Midianites had changed their guard, Gideon and his men surrounded the Midianite camp and began to blow their trumpets, smash their jars and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” They stood their ground around the Midianite camp with a torch in one hand and a trumpet in the other. As the trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the Midianites to turn on each other with their own swords. The enemy who was left fled and Israelites from different areas pursued them. The Israelites were saved by the hand of their mighty God!
What an unusual strategy God used to save the Israelites! Not only did He use just 300 men, but they were not equipped with swords. What a sight it must have been for these men to stand their ground while the enemy killed themselves with their own swords as Gideon’s army blew their trumpets, smashed their pitchers and waved their torches. I don’t know if Gideon knew what the plan was up front, or if God told him step by step, but it’s no wonder he needed encouragement to fight the enemy! But God knew what would glorify Him the most, and what He used was an unlikely strategy.
This Christmas season, this unlikely strategy God used to save Gideon and the Israelites has brought to mind the strange and unusual plan God chose to save mankind. Who would have thought that God would use a young virgin girl to birth His Son, who came to earth as a helpless baby? Who would have thought that He would be tempted in the ways that all men are tempted, but that He would not sin? And who would have thought that this sinless man would be required to take upon Himself the sins of the world while God turned His back on Him as He carried them? And who would have thought that God’s Son would have to die a horrible death on a cross? I’m sure that wasn’t Mary’s plan for Him. But our ways are not God’s ways. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that this battle didn’t end at the cross, but it was won as Jesus was raised from the dead after three days! No one would have ever thought that God would save the world this way. But this was the way that God chose to save mankind even before the world was created. Now, if you have always thought that this plan to save the world was way too far-fetched to be true, think again. God uses the unusual, unlikely ways to win His battles against evil. And in order for us to win our battles, we must follow God’s lead as Gideon’s army followed his lead – watching and doing just as he did. Are you following Jesus’ lead? Are you awake and ready to battle? Remember, God’s plan may not be the plan you have in mind. We must follow His lead…
To find out more about receiving Jesus as your personal Savior, please read our blog titled, “New Life in Christ” (April 2, 2010).
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
We start where we left off last week in Judges 7:15-25 where Gideon was heading back to his army of men to wake them up for the battle against the Midianites. He armed each man with a trumpet, a jar and a torch, and warned the men to watch and follow his lead and to do what he did. So, at the middle watch, or at about 10:00pm, just after the Midianites had changed their guard, Gideon and his men surrounded the Midianite camp and began to blow their trumpets, smash their jars and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” They stood their ground around the Midianite camp with a torch in one hand and a trumpet in the other. As the trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the Midianites to turn on each other with their own swords. The enemy who was left fled and Israelites from different areas pursued them. The Israelites were saved by the hand of their mighty God!
What an unusual strategy God used to save the Israelites! Not only did He use just 300 men, but they were not equipped with swords. What a sight it must have been for these men to stand their ground while the enemy killed themselves with their own swords as Gideon’s army blew their trumpets, smashed their pitchers and waved their torches. I don’t know if Gideon knew what the plan was up front, or if God told him step by step, but it’s no wonder he needed encouragement to fight the enemy! But God knew what would glorify Him the most, and what He used was an unlikely strategy.
This Christmas season, this unlikely strategy God used to save Gideon and the Israelites has brought to mind the strange and unusual plan God chose to save mankind. Who would have thought that God would use a young virgin girl to birth His Son, who came to earth as a helpless baby? Who would have thought that He would be tempted in the ways that all men are tempted, but that He would not sin? And who would have thought that this sinless man would be required to take upon Himself the sins of the world while God turned His back on Him as He carried them? And who would have thought that God’s Son would have to die a horrible death on a cross? I’m sure that wasn’t Mary’s plan for Him. But our ways are not God’s ways. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that this battle didn’t end at the cross, but it was won as Jesus was raised from the dead after three days! No one would have ever thought that God would save the world this way. But this was the way that God chose to save mankind even before the world was created. Now, if you have always thought that this plan to save the world was way too far-fetched to be true, think again. God uses the unusual, unlikely ways to win His battles against evil. And in order for us to win our battles, we must follow God’s lead as Gideon’s army followed his lead – watching and doing just as he did. Are you following Jesus’ lead? Are you awake and ready to battle? Remember, God’s plan may not be the plan you have in mind. We must follow His lead…
To find out more about receiving Jesus as your personal Savior, please read our blog titled, “New Life in Christ” (April 2, 2010).
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
Monday, December 20, 2010
OUR GOD-SIZED HOLE!
Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, they fellowshipped with Him in the garden, they were made perfect because they were in His presence and God was with them. From the moment that Adam and Eve allowed sin to enter into the human race, we humans have been searching, searching, searching for something, anything, that would fill the God-sized hole that is inherent in all humans.
After Adam and Eve blew it for all of us in the garden, God still wanted a relationship with His creation and so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be sacrificed as the sacrificial lamb whose blood would cleanse us of our sins. People still needed a sign, they still needed to fill that God-sized hole and so God foretold in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Immanuel means God with Us! How much more plainer can God get? God has never left us, He has always been with us, but still we search and we search looking for something to fill our God-sized hole.
From the moment that God breathed life into Adam, He has always been with His creation. Many times we may feel like God has abandoned us and is not with us, but if you think about it long and hard enough, you will come to the conclusion that it is really us that has abandoned God. We work so hard to fill that God-sized hole within us that we can’t see the forest for the trees so to speak.
Last week I was watching a Christmas movie and this young teenage girl was transported to a large empty room so that her guardian angel could speak to her. This girl asked the angel if he was God and then she said “I’ve been good, I’ve really, really tried to be good!” As I think back to that I’m amazed at how Satan has turned the world’s thoughts away from God and His plan of salvation and watered it down to just....I’ve been a good person! Instead of turning to God’s Word for answers, people would rather listen to Satan’s “It’s all about me” prideful attitude. But in the end, they still can’t fill the God-sized hole.
There is only one way to salvation and that is through the tiny baby Jesus that God sent to us over two thousand years ago. The world and Satan have tried to fill our God-sized hole with feel good religions, “it’s all about me” attitudes and one popular thing after another. But there is only one way to salvation, only one way to heaven, only one way to fill the God-sized hole that is in all of us and that is through Jesus Christ. “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:35-36 (NIV)
As you celebrate this Christmas season, please don’t get caught up in Satan’s lie, it's not about us! In fact there is nothing that we can do. We can’t fill our God-sized holes, only God can! This week as you make the final preparations for your Christmas celebration, don’t get so caught up in the lights and glitter and stress that you forget the gift God gave to us, the gift of salvation through His precious Son Jesus Christ!
Dear Father,
Thank you Lord so much for your Son Jesus Christ! Father, I come to You on behalf of all those who are reading this post and especially for those who have not accepted Your Son as their Savior. Satan makes it so enticing for people to let their pride get in the way of their salvation and to think like the teenage girl in the movie that just being good is enough. It’s not about being good, it’s not about us but it is all about Your Son Jesus. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, help us to keep in perspective the gift of salvation that you gave to us and not what the world has made Christmas to be.
To find out more about receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please read our blog titled New Life in Christ (April 2, 2010).
All verses from the New International Version
@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc
After Adam and Eve blew it for all of us in the garden, God still wanted a relationship with His creation and so He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be sacrificed as the sacrificial lamb whose blood would cleanse us of our sins. People still needed a sign, they still needed to fill that God-sized hole and so God foretold in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Immanuel means God with Us! How much more plainer can God get? God has never left us, He has always been with us, but still we search and we search looking for something to fill our God-sized hole.
From the moment that God breathed life into Adam, He has always been with His creation. Many times we may feel like God has abandoned us and is not with us, but if you think about it long and hard enough, you will come to the conclusion that it is really us that has abandoned God. We work so hard to fill that God-sized hole within us that we can’t see the forest for the trees so to speak.
Last week I was watching a Christmas movie and this young teenage girl was transported to a large empty room so that her guardian angel could speak to her. This girl asked the angel if he was God and then she said “I’ve been good, I’ve really, really tried to be good!” As I think back to that I’m amazed at how Satan has turned the world’s thoughts away from God and His plan of salvation and watered it down to just....I’ve been a good person! Instead of turning to God’s Word for answers, people would rather listen to Satan’s “It’s all about me” prideful attitude. But in the end, they still can’t fill the God-sized hole.
There is only one way to salvation and that is through the tiny baby Jesus that God sent to us over two thousand years ago. The world and Satan have tried to fill our God-sized hole with feel good religions, “it’s all about me” attitudes and one popular thing after another. But there is only one way to salvation, only one way to heaven, only one way to fill the God-sized hole that is in all of us and that is through Jesus Christ. “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:35-36 (NIV)
As you celebrate this Christmas season, please don’t get caught up in Satan’s lie, it's not about us! In fact there is nothing that we can do. We can’t fill our God-sized holes, only God can! This week as you make the final preparations for your Christmas celebration, don’t get so caught up in the lights and glitter and stress that you forget the gift God gave to us, the gift of salvation through His precious Son Jesus Christ!
Dear Father,
Thank you Lord so much for your Son Jesus Christ! Father, I come to You on behalf of all those who are reading this post and especially for those who have not accepted Your Son as their Savior. Satan makes it so enticing for people to let their pride get in the way of their salvation and to think like the teenage girl in the movie that just being good is enough. It’s not about being good, it’s not about us but it is all about Your Son Jesus. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, help us to keep in perspective the gift of salvation that you gave to us and not what the world has made Christmas to be.
To find out more about receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please read our blog titled New Life in Christ (April 2, 2010).
All verses from the New International Version
@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc
Thursday, December 16, 2010
An Unlikely Army
Have you ever felt totally outnumbered? It’s as if there is no way you could ever get out of the situation you’re in because you’re in way too far over your head? Sometimes that’s exactly where God wants you.
In Judges 7:1-15, that’s just where Gideon was. He had 32,000 men at his side, and he was going up against the Midian army which was “thick like locusts.” “Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.” (Jdg 7:12b) Imagine only 32,000 men against this army that could not be counted… Now, imagine only 300 men against this huge army. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the Israelites would boast that they saved themselves in their own strength if God allowed them to defeat Midian with 32,000 men. So, God whittled down Gideon’s army. First, He told Gideon that if any man was afraid, he should leave. About two-thirds, or 22,000 men confessed that they were afraid and went home, leaving 10,000 of the most courageous men to take on this army that was too large to count. But again, God knew that Gideon’s army was still too large and would boast in themselves. So, once again God whittled down Gideon’s army by checking out how they drank their water. Did they lap it like a dog, or did they kneel? The kneeler’s went home and the dog lappers stayed. The 300 men who lapped their water like a dog was the army that Gideon would use to defeat this army that was too large to count. It would be the “dog lappers” versus the “camel locusts”! Now that’s enough to scare anybody!
And that’s exactly where Gideon was again – afraid. Only he couldn’t go home like the rest of his army. But God knew Gideon’s fears and He knew Gideon needed encouragement in order to attack Midian. So God sent Gideon and his servant into the outpost of the enemy camp to listen to what they were saying. Gideon got up to a tent just as a man was saying how he had a dream that a big round loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp and forcefully struck and overturned a tent. Now whether his friend was serious or sarcastic, he responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” (Jdg 7:14) This was all Gideon needed to hear. He worshiped God for the encouragement he was given and then he went back to his camp to round up his army.
So let’s bring this home and see how it applies in our lives. Are you still feeling outnumbered and over your head? That’s good! That’s where God can get the most glory, and you’ll be less likely to boast and take the glory for yourself. Has God shown Himself to you or given you a promise but you still need encouragement not to fear? Ask God for encouragement. He’ll send someone your way who has just the right word at just the right time. But make sure you’re on the lookout for His encouragement. If you’re not, you just might miss it and then you’ll forget the import response to God’s encouragement, which is worship of God! He is worthy of your worship and your praise!
These verses are all about an army that was so unlikely to succeed. It didn’t have any business trying to defeat the huge army it was up against. But, my friend, this is where God does His best work in us. What is He asking you to do that seems impossible? You may be an army of 1 or of 3 or even 300 doing God’s will. You’re task may be scary and daunting and you may not see a way out. But that is when God will give you the encouragement you need to follow through. And when you have gone through and have come out on the other side, you will worship God and give Him all the glory, because that is what He deserves from His unlikely army.
*All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
In Judges 7:1-15, that’s just where Gideon was. He had 32,000 men at his side, and he was going up against the Midian army which was “thick like locusts.” “Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.” (Jdg 7:12b) Imagine only 32,000 men against this army that could not be counted… Now, imagine only 300 men against this huge army. God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the Israelites would boast that they saved themselves in their own strength if God allowed them to defeat Midian with 32,000 men. So, God whittled down Gideon’s army. First, He told Gideon that if any man was afraid, he should leave. About two-thirds, or 22,000 men confessed that they were afraid and went home, leaving 10,000 of the most courageous men to take on this army that was too large to count. But again, God knew that Gideon’s army was still too large and would boast in themselves. So, once again God whittled down Gideon’s army by checking out how they drank their water. Did they lap it like a dog, or did they kneel? The kneeler’s went home and the dog lappers stayed. The 300 men who lapped their water like a dog was the army that Gideon would use to defeat this army that was too large to count. It would be the “dog lappers” versus the “camel locusts”! Now that’s enough to scare anybody!
And that’s exactly where Gideon was again – afraid. Only he couldn’t go home like the rest of his army. But God knew Gideon’s fears and He knew Gideon needed encouragement in order to attack Midian. So God sent Gideon and his servant into the outpost of the enemy camp to listen to what they were saying. Gideon got up to a tent just as a man was saying how he had a dream that a big round loaf of barley bread tumbled into the Midianite camp and forcefully struck and overturned a tent. Now whether his friend was serious or sarcastic, he responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” (Jdg 7:14) This was all Gideon needed to hear. He worshiped God for the encouragement he was given and then he went back to his camp to round up his army.
So let’s bring this home and see how it applies in our lives. Are you still feeling outnumbered and over your head? That’s good! That’s where God can get the most glory, and you’ll be less likely to boast and take the glory for yourself. Has God shown Himself to you or given you a promise but you still need encouragement not to fear? Ask God for encouragement. He’ll send someone your way who has just the right word at just the right time. But make sure you’re on the lookout for His encouragement. If you’re not, you just might miss it and then you’ll forget the import response to God’s encouragement, which is worship of God! He is worthy of your worship and your praise!
These verses are all about an army that was so unlikely to succeed. It didn’t have any business trying to defeat the huge army it was up against. But, my friend, this is where God does His best work in us. What is He asking you to do that seems impossible? You may be an army of 1 or of 3 or even 300 doing God’s will. You’re task may be scary and daunting and you may not see a way out. But that is when God will give you the encouragement you need to follow through. And when you have gone through and have come out on the other side, you will worship God and give Him all the glory, because that is what He deserves from His unlikely army.
*All Scripture references are from the New International Version.
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
An Unlikely Test
I love this story of Gideon because we are so like him. In the last few verses of Judges 6 we find Gideon doubting God. First, he tests God by asking Him to reassure himself that God will truly save Israel by Gideon’s hand as God had promised. So he asked God to leave dew on a wool fleece that he had laid on the ground, but leave no dew on the earth around the fleece so that he would know God would do as He has said. When Gideon squeezed out the fleece the next morning, a bowlful of water came out and the ground around the fleece was dry. Though Gideon said he would believe after the first test, it seems he still needed more assurance from God. So even though he knew that he might possibly be angering God, he asked him to do the opposite and make the ground wet but the fleece dry. Again, God did as he asked. Now Gideon never came right out and said he didn’t believe God, but we can see in his question to God that he has some doubts because he asks, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—“ Jdg 6:36 If?...If? Don’t we know that God can do anything, and He will do everything He says He will do?
This reminds me of the story in Mark 9:14-32 where a father brought his son to the disciples to have an evil spirit driven out of him, but the disciples were unable to remove the spirit. So the father tells Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus answered, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” At that, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I think Gideon, like this man, had a case of unbelief. And like this man, Gideon needed to say, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” Are you in a spot like Gideon where God has told you what to do but you keep testing Him? It’s time to step out in faith and believe that God will do what He’s said He will do. It’s also time to stop for a moment and tell God, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”
You know, God knows where each of us are in our walk with Him. He’s not going to condemn us for questioning Him if we truly aren’t sure what He’s asking of us. But when God has given us a word or a promise, shouldn’t we trust Him instead of test Him? God is not a man that He should lie to us. (Num 29:19) He is trustworthy. And if He makes a promise to us, then we know that He will follow through. Let’s trust God that He will do what He says He will do. And when we trust Him, and we see Him follow through, our faith will increase and there will be no room for unbelief and doubts. And there will also be no reason to bring before God any unlikely, unnecessary tests.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the One True God and You are trustworthy. Thank you that I can depend on You. Thank You for Your promises. I know that Your word is true. Help me to see any area that I am holding on to unbelief. Lord, I do belief! Help my unbelief! I know that You will do what You’ve said You will do. Thank You for Your faithfulness.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
*All Scripture references are from the New International Version
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
This reminds me of the story in Mark 9:14-32 where a father brought his son to the disciples to have an evil spirit driven out of him, but the disciples were unable to remove the spirit. So the father tells Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus answered, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” At that, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” I think Gideon, like this man, had a case of unbelief. And like this man, Gideon needed to say, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” Are you in a spot like Gideon where God has told you what to do but you keep testing Him? It’s time to step out in faith and believe that God will do what He’s said He will do. It’s also time to stop for a moment and tell God, “I believe! Help my unbelief!”
You know, God knows where each of us are in our walk with Him. He’s not going to condemn us for questioning Him if we truly aren’t sure what He’s asking of us. But when God has given us a word or a promise, shouldn’t we trust Him instead of test Him? God is not a man that He should lie to us. (Num 29:19) He is trustworthy. And if He makes a promise to us, then we know that He will follow through. Let’s trust God that He will do what He says He will do. And when we trust Him, and we see Him follow through, our faith will increase and there will be no room for unbelief and doubts. And there will also be no reason to bring before God any unlikely, unnecessary tests.
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the One True God and You are trustworthy. Thank you that I can depend on You. Thank You for Your promises. I know that Your word is true. Help me to see any area that I am holding on to unbelief. Lord, I do belief! Help my unbelief! I know that You will do what You’ve said You will do. Thank You for Your faithfulness.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
*All Scripture references are from the New International Version
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
Monday, December 6, 2010
TIS THE SEASON!
This is the time of year that children of all ages love. The Christmas season has always been my favorite time of year! When I was young, I could hardly wait for Christmas day when my brothers and I got to see what Santa left. As I got older, I looked forward to “decking the halls” with shiny red, green and silver and then the Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners at various relatives’ houses! I have many fond memories of all of the Christmases past and I’m sure you do too. Christmas is about all of these things and the family traditions should be kept and looked forward to, but before we get so busy with everything Christmas, maybe we should slow down, take a look around and reflect on what Christmas is really all about.
The glitter, the glitz, the gifts are not what Christmas is about. The world has made it about these things. Christmas is about the gift that God gave to the whole world, the gift to us is His Son, Jesus Christ! We must put Jesus back in Christmas and realize that without Him, we wouldn’t even be here to celebrate the Yule Tide season. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3
This is the time of year that we allow ourselves to get stressed out over the unimportant things. As you get ready for the Christmas rush, ask yourself, just how important is running here and there and exhausting yourself? Look at your Christmas “To Do” list and see what is not so important that you can’t mark it off your list in order to free up your valuable time so that you can do the things that really matter. Do your decorations have to be perfect? So what, if your child (or grandchild) puts all the decorations on one branch...it’s the time you spend together that counts. Instead of going further in debt, can you forgo a present or two and just enjoy a visit and a cup of coffee with the intended recipient? Isn’t it more important to spend time with your family and friends, then running from store to store to pick out gifts that have no meaning...gifts that will probably be exchanged or even thrown in a drawer and forgotten about? Isn’t it more important to take the time to do something for someone in need and isn’t it more prudent to teach your children that gifts are not as important as the person?
This year, I still plan to enjoy the decorations in my house. I plan to enjoy the excitement of the little children as they look forward to their visit from Santa and I plan to enjoy all of the traditions that go along with the holiday celebrations. This year, I have made the decision to have a less stressful Christmas! I have been convicted to put the “worldly” things in their place and consciously give more of my time and attention to the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is celebrating and sharing with others the wonderful gift that God has given us, the gift of Jesus Christ!
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11
All verses from the New International Version
@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc
The glitter, the glitz, the gifts are not what Christmas is about. The world has made it about these things. Christmas is about the gift that God gave to the whole world, the gift to us is His Son, Jesus Christ! We must put Jesus back in Christmas and realize that without Him, we wouldn’t even be here to celebrate the Yule Tide season. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3
This is the time of year that we allow ourselves to get stressed out over the unimportant things. As you get ready for the Christmas rush, ask yourself, just how important is running here and there and exhausting yourself? Look at your Christmas “To Do” list and see what is not so important that you can’t mark it off your list in order to free up your valuable time so that you can do the things that really matter. Do your decorations have to be perfect? So what, if your child (or grandchild) puts all the decorations on one branch...it’s the time you spend together that counts. Instead of going further in debt, can you forgo a present or two and just enjoy a visit and a cup of coffee with the intended recipient? Isn’t it more important to spend time with your family and friends, then running from store to store to pick out gifts that have no meaning...gifts that will probably be exchanged or even thrown in a drawer and forgotten about? Isn’t it more important to take the time to do something for someone in need and isn’t it more prudent to teach your children that gifts are not as important as the person?
This year, I still plan to enjoy the decorations in my house. I plan to enjoy the excitement of the little children as they look forward to their visit from Santa and I plan to enjoy all of the traditions that go along with the holiday celebrations. This year, I have made the decision to have a less stressful Christmas! I have been convicted to put the “worldly” things in their place and consciously give more of my time and attention to the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas is celebrating and sharing with others the wonderful gift that God has given us, the gift of Jesus Christ!
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11
All verses from the New International Version
@copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc
Thursday, December 2, 2010
An Unlikely Leader
How likely are you to be a leader? Are you a natural born leader, a leader only when you have to be, or always a follower? Gideon didn’t start out as a leader, but that’s what God called him to do. He seemed to be a very unlikely leader.
[33] Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. [34] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. [35] He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Judges 6:33-35
You can see from these Scriptures that the enemies of God’s people were joining together getting ready to attack. This tells you that the enemy is preparing to invade your territory. Do you ever feel like the enemy has been joining forces, breathing down your neck and getting ready to hit you with full force? How are you assembling forces against evil? How can you combat an enemy that is so strong? Are you asking your family and friends to pray for you? You can win against the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We can see in verse 34 that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. In the natural, Gideon didn’t have the ability to lead others. Remember, he hid when threshing wheat so the enemy wouldn’t find him. He hid from the townsmen by destroying their idol at night. He hid behind his father when the townsmen came to his house to kill him. By natural standards, Gideon was not a leader. But when God called him to lead, He gave him the ability to lead through the power of the Holy Spirit. Once the Spirit was on him, he blew a trumpet to gather the Abiezrites, his fellow clan, to fight with him. He started gathering an army from his own family first, and then from the surrounding areas. So, how are you leading your family? And how has God called you to lead your friends, neighbors or co-workers? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit and His power in you. And you can rest in the fact that God won’t ask you to do anything He doesn’t equip you to do.
So the big question is, “Why did God pick Gideon to lead others?” He was fearful, young and not at all confident in his abilities. And that’s exactly why God picked him. For Gideon to lead others would give God more glory than if someone were to lead who had natural leadership abilities. This way, people knew it was God who was at work because they knew that Gideon couldn’t lead like that. Perhaps you feel like an unlikely leader. Maybe God has called you to do something that seems impossible. God chose you because it would give Him the most glory. God may be calling you to lead, but He doesn’t expect you to do it on your own. He expects that you will lead others through the power of the Holy Spirit and while you are following Him. Good leaders are also good followers. No, let me restate that…Good leaders are God followers. If you’re not following God, then it’s like the blind leading the blind. Jesus said in Luke 6:39-40, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Our teacher and leader should be Jesus Christ. If it’s not then you’re leading people in the wrong direction and you’ll wind up in a pit sooner or later, and most likely with a few casualties. I found this quote from an unknown source. It said, “A leader has been defined as one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Leader’s must have a vision and a plan. (Pr 29:18 KJV – “Where there is no vision, the people perish….”) Know where God is leading you, go where God is leading you, and show others where God is leading you. Then you will find that though you might be an unlikely leader, others will be following you to the glory of God!
*All Scripture References are from the New International Version except where noted.
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
[33] Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. [34] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. [35] He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Judges 6:33-35
You can see from these Scriptures that the enemies of God’s people were joining together getting ready to attack. This tells you that the enemy is preparing to invade your territory. Do you ever feel like the enemy has been joining forces, breathing down your neck and getting ready to hit you with full force? How are you assembling forces against evil? How can you combat an enemy that is so strong? Are you asking your family and friends to pray for you? You can win against the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We can see in verse 34 that the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. In the natural, Gideon didn’t have the ability to lead others. Remember, he hid when threshing wheat so the enemy wouldn’t find him. He hid from the townsmen by destroying their idol at night. He hid behind his father when the townsmen came to his house to kill him. By natural standards, Gideon was not a leader. But when God called him to lead, He gave him the ability to lead through the power of the Holy Spirit. Once the Spirit was on him, he blew a trumpet to gather the Abiezrites, his fellow clan, to fight with him. He started gathering an army from his own family first, and then from the surrounding areas. So, how are you leading your family? And how has God called you to lead your friends, neighbors or co-workers? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit and His power in you. And you can rest in the fact that God won’t ask you to do anything He doesn’t equip you to do.
So the big question is, “Why did God pick Gideon to lead others?” He was fearful, young and not at all confident in his abilities. And that’s exactly why God picked him. For Gideon to lead others would give God more glory than if someone were to lead who had natural leadership abilities. This way, people knew it was God who was at work because they knew that Gideon couldn’t lead like that. Perhaps you feel like an unlikely leader. Maybe God has called you to do something that seems impossible. God chose you because it would give Him the most glory. God may be calling you to lead, but He doesn’t expect you to do it on your own. He expects that you will lead others through the power of the Holy Spirit and while you are following Him. Good leaders are also good followers. No, let me restate that…Good leaders are God followers. If you’re not following God, then it’s like the blind leading the blind. Jesus said in Luke 6:39-40, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Our teacher and leader should be Jesus Christ. If it’s not then you’re leading people in the wrong direction and you’ll wind up in a pit sooner or later, and most likely with a few casualties. I found this quote from an unknown source. It said, “A leader has been defined as one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Leader’s must have a vision and a plan. (Pr 29:18 KJV – “Where there is no vision, the people perish….”) Know where God is leading you, go where God is leading you, and show others where God is leading you. Then you will find that though you might be an unlikely leader, others will be following you to the glory of God!
*All Scripture References are from the New International Version except where noted.
@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.
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