#891 - AN ABSOLUTE GEM FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

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For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.
Job 23:14

“He will complete…”

  • Not me, God.

  • Because God will complete it, I don’t have to be anxious about it being incomplete.

“what he appoints for me...”

  • Not what I appoint for myself, but what God does.

  • Because God has something appointed for me, I don’t have to strive to appoint things for myself.

“and many such things are in his mind.”

  • Not a few things, many.

  • Because God has the things He has appointed for me on His mind, I don’t need to constantly have them on my mind.

  • Because there are many on God’s mind, I don’t need to be frustrated by the few in my hand.

#675 - SIMPLIFY

When it comes to simplifying your personal life...

Simplify your wardrobe by having less clothes.
Simplify your home by having fewer things.
Simplify your schedule by having less commitments.
Simplify your finances by having fewer expenses.
Simplify your relationships by having less conflict.
Simplify your phone by having fewer apps.
Simplify your faith by having less doubt. 

When it comes to your professional life...

Simplify your management by having less direct reports.
Simplify your success by having fewer goals. 
Simplify your processes by having less steps.
Simplify your training by having fewer expectations.
Simplify your day by having less distractions.
Simplify your productivity by having fewer objectives.
Simplify your communication by having less messaging. 

Do less. Have fewer. Achieve more.

SIMPLIFY. 

#657 - FLEE

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Pastor, leader, husband...this is for you. This is for me. This is for us.

When certain temptations come your way (you know what it is for you), you shouldn't "hang around." You shouldn't "wait and see." You shouldn't "stay just 10 more minutes." You shouldn't "be nice." You shouldn't "try not to be rude." 

YOU SHOULD FLEE. IMMEDIATELY. 

Get in your car and leave. Ask for a ride home. Leave. Run. Get out of there.

Staying, could cost you everything. 

#654 - A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON GOD'S LOVE

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God loves you.

Just like anything else, when you hear something over and over again, it can tend to not have the same effect on you that it once had.

But the other day, as we were talking about the holiness of God in our prayer meeting, a few thoughts about God's love dawned on me that has given me a much deeper appreciation for the love that God has for me!

God’s LOVE for you isn’t just a by-product of His GRACE, it’s an extension of His HOLINESS. In other words,

GOD'S LOVE FOR YOU ISN'T PITY, IT'S PERFECT. 

God loving you isn’t the NICE thing for Him to do, it is the RIGHTEOUS thing for Him to do.

This is key in our understanding of God’s love for us because it has a direct impact on our ability to respond to His love. Remember, NICE love doesn’t cast out fear, PERFECT love does!

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

#653 - AN UNEXPECTED ASPECT OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

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Tonight as we were in our prayer meeting, it hit me. As I was praying, an element of spiritual maturity dawned on me, and I had never thought about it in this way before.

It wasn't Bible knowledge. It wasn't church attendance. It wasn't evangelism. It wasn't giving. It wasn't serving. 

ONE OF THE GREATEST INDICATORS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS CHILDLIKE FAITH.

This hit me while I was praying because I realized that I do not pray as audaciously as I should because, over the years, in some ways, I have lost my childlike faith in God. 

Why do I believe in Him for salvation, but I do not call out to Him for healing? Why do I trust in Him for forgiveness, but I do not petition Him for revival? Why am I sure that I am justified, yet I am unsure of whether or not He can still perform miracles? Why am I confident that He will return, yet I am hesitant to ask Him to do the supernatural in my midst.

It almost seems as if, over the years, as I've grown in my ability to explain God, I've lost my ability to believe God. What a tragedy!

Here are three ways that I know my faith has shrunk that I hope to reverse and I pray you'll avoid!

MY PRAYERS WOULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS ACCURATE RATHER THAN AUDACIOUS.

One indicator of this might be if you always feel the need to say in your prayers, "If it's your will..."  Only you know whether or not that is a necessary statement in your prayers or if you are using it as a way to guard your ego if the prayer is not answered. Audacious prayers requires childlike faith.

MY PREACHING WOULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS PRACTICAL RATHER THAN PROPHETIC. 

Did God call me to preach just so that people would have a few "to-do's" to try during the week? I don't think so. God called me to preach so that His truth would be proclaimed. He called me to preach so that darkness would be exchanged for light; so that death would be exchanged for life! Prophetic preaching requires childlike faith.

MY LEADERSHIP WOULD BE BEST DESCRIBED AS CALCULATED RATHER THAN COURAGEOUS.

The local church doesn't need another calculated leader. That might be what a business looking to turn a profit needs. But, the body of Christ needs a courageous leader who will boldly follow the leading of the Holy Spirit regardless of the cost. Courageous leadership requires childlike faith. 

Now don't get me wrong. There is nothing inherently wrong with accurate prayers, practical preaching, and calculated leadership. It is when these things come at the expense of childlike faith where I believe one's spiritual maturity must come into question. Enough is enough.

Would you join me in maturing our ability to believe God like a child?

"For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom." Matthew 18:2-4 (MSG)

#610 - MY SHAMEFUL CONFESSION ABOUT THE RESURRECTION

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For far too long, I have appreciated and praised God for Christ's death on the cross, but I have not been in awe of and worshipped Him for His resurrection from the grave.

I have not lived my present life in light of my future resurrection.

I have lived short-sighted. I have lived more for the temporary than for the eternal. I have not been utilizing the single, greatest resource for hope ever given to mankind by God.

But, as I prepared and preached my Easter message, I found myself with a new found appreciation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This appreciation comes not only for how the resurrection of Christ will impact my eternity, but for also how it will impact my life now! I hope you will join me in praising God for his resurrection power! 

Because Christ rose again, I will rise again. And because I will rise again...

IN REGARDS TO MY STORY

  • The best part will be the end.

  • Everyday, I get closer to the best part.

  • "Happily every after" does not only happen in fairytales. 

IN REGARDS TO HARDSHIP

  • Every difficulty is temporary. No hardship is final.

  • Even if sickness or tragedy were to take my life, it will usher me in to my very best days.

  • No relational, financial, emotional, mental, educational, physical, or spiritual challenge I face can threaten me ultimately being resurrected with Christ. 

IN REGARDS TO SUCCESS AND FAILURE

  • No earthly success or failure will define me.

  • Every earthly success will be outdone in the end.

  • Every earthly failure will be undone in the end.

IN REGARDS TO PURPOSE

  • There's more to life than enjoying the "middle chapters."

  • There's deep motivation to spread the gospel so that more people will have hope during their "middle chapters" and experience the "ending" that I am anxiously awaiting.

  • There's urgency because the end is drawing near.

IN REGARDS TO HOPE

  • I have it. Always.

  • I can give it. Anytime.

  • I can access it by simply beholding my resurrected Christ!

"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

#605 - THE GAME I LOVE TO LOSE

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Being the super competitive guy that I am, I absolutely hate to lose. Many who know me might even consider me a "sore loser." But there is one game, I cannot win no matter how hard I try, and it is a game that I've actually come to love to lose. The game is - trying to outgive God.

In the last couple of months, I have been blessed to see God, in some very tangible and practical ways, crush me in this game time and time again! I am convinced.

YOU CAN'T OUTGIVE GOD.

And it's not just financially. You can't outgive God in any area of your life.

Time. Energy. Emotions. Love. Influence. Opportunities. Resources. Encouragement. Affirmation.  

WHEN YOU GIVE, HE TAKES WHAT YOU GAVE AND MULTIPLIES IT BACK INTO YOUR LIFE.  

He takes what you put into His hands and places something more fulfilling, more satisfying, more enjoyable, more valuable, more precious, and more glorifying to Him into your hands.

WHEN IT COMES TO GIFT GIVING, GOD WILL ONE-UP YOU EVERY SINGLE TIME!

You will give resources to others, but the way He will give resources to you will be bigger. You will give opportunities to others, but the way He will give opportunities to you will be better. You will give love to others, but the way He will give love to you will be deeper. You will give of yourself to others, but the way He will give of Himself to you will be grander.

I encourage you, play this game with God. 

Attempt to outgive Him. Attempt to out-love Him. Attempt to out-sacrifice Him.

YOU WILL LOSE, AND YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6:38 (MSG)

#601 - THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS

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Don't allow yourself to be fooled. 
Church isn't and neither is community.

Don't allow yourself to be distracted. 
Blogs aren't and neither are books.

Don't allow yourself to be tricked. 
Work isn't and neither is worship.

Don't allow yourself to be deceived.
Prayer isn't and neither is a preacher.

Don't allow yourself to be confused. 
Service isn't and neither is sacrifice.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SCRIPTURES.

There is no substitute for the truth that comes from the Scriptures. There is no substitute for the revelation that comes from the Scriptures. There is no substitute for the Voice that comes from the Scriptures.

It's in the Scriptures where...

God's story is written.
God's love is revealed.
God's gospel is displayed.
God's commands are given.
God's Son is resurrected.
God's return is foretold!

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SCRIPTURES.

Read them. Study them. Enjoy them.

The life that can be found in them is nowhere else to be found. 

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

#596 - THE PRICE OF DISOBEDIENCE

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Though obedience to God comes at a personal cost, I’d rather pay the price of obedience than forfeit the peace of mind that comes from knowing my life is surrendered to Christ.

Obedience costs me my comfort.
Obedience costs me my familiarity.
Obedience costs me my control.

But, disobedience costs me so much more.

Disobedience costs me my peace. 
Disobedience costs me my confidence.
Disobedience costs me my joy.

OBEY.

You can either bow to God in obedience or bow to yourself through disobedience. 

CHOOSE GOD.

You're not worth being bowed down to. 

#594 - WHEN YOUR HEART BETRAYS YOU

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"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9

The wickedness of my heart is one of those most discouraging things about me. How I want it to feel, how I want it to react, how I want it to respond, how I want it to believe, and how I want it to love - rarely is my reality. More times than I'd like...

MY HEART BETRAYS ME.

My heart lies. My heart exaggerates. My heart deceives. 

And because I have experienced the betrayal of my heart time and time again, I am convinced...

MY HEART MUST BE LED.   

When my heart feels jealous, I must lead it away from jealousy by celebrating the success of others. When my heart feels discontent, I must lead it away from discontentment by praising God for His blessings. When my heart feels selfish, I must lead it away from selfishness by extending generosity to someone in need. When my heart feels worried, I must lead it away from worry by meditating on the promises of God's Word.

When my wanders towards control, I must lead it towards delegating authority. When my heart wanders towards lust, I must lead it towards loving my wife. When my heart wanders towards laziness, I must lead it towards disciplining my body. When my heart wanders towards legalism, I must lead it towards embracing God's grace. 

When my heart runs away from commitment, I must lead it towards being faithful one more day. When my heart runs away from empathy, I must lead it towards asking one more question. When my heart runs away from courage, I must lead it towards taking one more bold step.

LEAD YOUR HEART. WHEREVER YOU TAKE IT, IT WILL FOLLOW.

#592 - THE PSALMIST'S SPIRITUAL MATURITY

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But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Psalm 69:13

For all of my prayers. For all of my concerns. For all of my desires.
The Psalmist gives me an appropriate and spiritually mature mindset for all my requests unto God.

ANSWERED PRAYER

He will answer.

ABUNDANT LOVE

Because He is loving.

ACCEPTABLE TIME

When He sees fit.

God's acceptable time is the appropriate time.
TRUST.

#590 - UNDER-APPRECIATED PLEASURE

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The pleasure of a good meal.
The pleasure of a compliment.
The pleasure of a good night's rest.
The pleasure of an unexpected gift.
The pleasure of a new pair of shoes.
The pleasure of an extended vacation.

I can go on and on about the various, more obvious pleasures of this world that I enjoy and look forward to.

But as great as the above pleasures are, I have recently become more and more convinced that there is a pleasure that I have under-appreciated though it has been available to me for as long as I've been a follower of Christ...

THERE IS GREAT PLEASURE IN PRAISE!

Like for real. Not because I'm a pastor. Not because I have to say it. Not because I want people to believe it. But, because it's true.

There is great pleasure in praising the Maker of the heavens and the Earth. There is great happiness in hallowing the name that is above every name. There is great bliss in blessing the One from whom all blessings flow. There is great delight in declaring unto God His matchless wonder and power. There is great ecstasy is exalting the King of King and the Lord of Lords. There is great gladness in glorifying the God of infinite grace and mercy. There is great wonder in worshipping the Lion and the Lamb.

THERE IS GREAT PLEASURE IN PRAISE!

The pleasures that are experienced in praising God are far greater than any other pleasure that can be found in this world! It's better. It's better. It's better! He's better. He's better. He's better!

And here's one last thought to make the pleasure of our praise unto God that much more satisfying...

GOD IS PLEASED BY THE PRAISE THAT GIVES US PLEASURE!

#587 - YOUR NEXT BREAKTHROUGH WILL REQUIRE THIS

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It is very likely that, as you read this, you desire a breakthrough in a specific area of your life. Whether it is financially, professionally, relationally, emotionally, spiritually, academically, mentally, or physically - there is a next level you want to attain and experience.

Here's the problem - breakthroughs aren't free. 

Breakthroughs are costly. If you want a breakthrough in any of the above areas of your life, you will have to pay a price. You will have to pay the price of discipline, commitment, perseverance, hard work, study, etc. But you probably already knew that.

What you may not have known, is this: your next breakthrough will require that you push through.

You will need to push through pain. You will need to push through discomfort. You will need to push through apathy. You will need to push through fear. You will need to push through doubt. You will need to push through failure. You will need to push through anxiety. You will need to push through opposition. You will need to push through something.

If you haven't had a breakthrough in recent months or years, it is very likely you haven't pushed through in recent months or years.

Instead of pushing through, you've backed down. Instead of pushing through, you've ran away. Instead of pushing through, you've given up. And as a result - no significant change has occurred.

PUSHING THROUGH PRECEDES BREAKING THROUGH.

PUSH.

#572 - THE DRUG YOU'RE UNAWARE YOU'RE ADDICTED TO

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So many great tweets.

Powerful quotes. 
Poignant one liners.
Provocative threads. 
280 characters or less that makes you go wooooow.

So many awesome videos.

Stand-up clips.
Sermon highlights.
Speech snapshots.
1 minute or less that makes you go oooooh. 

So many compelling "stories."

On religion.
On politics.
On social justice.

15 seconds or less that makes you go hmmmmm.

We're commenting. We're liking. We're re-tweeting. We're sharing.

But my concern is this,

ARE WE CHANGING?

Inspiration on social media can be like a drug - temporary high, but no long-term positive impact. Instant euphoria, but no lasting conviction. Momentary bliss, but no paradigm shift. 

Let's not let this be us.

The next time you come across a poignant tweet, video, story, link, blog, article, etc. online, that challenges you...

DON'T JUST SHARE IT AND MOVE ON. LET IT SINK IN AND BE CHANGED.

#571 - PERFECT TIMING

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The helpful hand.
The harsh rebuke.
The desired result.
The financial support.
The loving correction.
The supportive friend.
The encouraging word.
The insightful resource.
The favorable outcome.
The pivotal partnership.
The desired opportunity.
The necessary connection.
The romantic relationship.

Whatever it is you need, God will provide it for you exactly when you need it.

Never late. Rarely early. But always on time.

If you knew everything God knows. If you saw everything God sees. If you understood everything God understands. You would comprehend why you don't currently have the thing you think you currently need.

GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT.

Trust it.

#570 - A MILLENNIAL'S WORSE NIGHTMARE

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I'm overlooked.
I'm undervalued.
I'm unappreciated.

I'm not new.
I'm not flashy.
I'm not cutting edge.

I'm present when everyone else is absent.
I'm working when everyone else is sleeping.
I'm going when everyone else is stopping.

Bigger and better doesn't impress me.
The latest and the greatest doesn't distract me.
My results compared to yours doesn't affect me.

I'm boring.
I'm mundane.
I'm repetitive.

But...

I REQUIRE COURAGE.

I don't just start well.
I finish strong.

I don't just make promises.
I keep them.

I don't just arrive.
I stay.

Through hardship.
Through difficulty.
Through turmoil.

I STAY.

Through criticism.
Through failure.
Through setback.

I STICK.

When the luster has left.
When the shine has subsided.
When the glisten is gone.

I PERESEVERE.

When all that is left is work.
When all that is required is sweat.
When all that counts is being able to be counted on.

I THRIVE.

Who am I?

I AM FAITHFULNESS.

And you will never know
success and fulfillment
until you know me.