#522 - THE GREAT DANGER OF CHURCH

Having grown up going to church, volunteering in a church, working for a church, and now having started a church and pastored a church for over 4 years, I have come to discover a great danger. 

Most people go to church, initially, because they are looking for something for themselves: peace, comfort, guidance, forgiveness of sins, community, friendship, belonging, blessing, opportunity to serve, deeper relationship with and connection to God, teaching from the Bible, a place where their kids can learn about God, etc. 

And don't get me wrong, I hope the church that I pastor is a church where people can find and enjoy all of these things and more! I hope that people can discover that a life lived in relationship with God is better than a life lived outside of a relationship with God. 

The great danger of church is that it can so easily become more about you than it is about God.

God and all the religious activities you consume and participate in just become a means to your ends. Instead of God becoming the climax of your religious experience, His blessings are your greatest joy. 

The problem with this is that the purpose of church isn't ultimately for you to be fulfilled, the purpose of church is for God to be praised!

At some point in every person's church attendance and church involvement, a transition must take place. 

God must cease to become a means to our ends and we must begin to see ourselves as a means to His ends - His name being glorified, His name being praised, His name being high and lifted up, His name and His reputation meaning more to us than our name and our reputation.  

Can't you see? If this transition doesn't take place we could spend our entire lives serving God but worshipping ourselves! Attending church for the ultimate purpose of attending to ourselves. 

We exist for God. He does not exist for us.

Before we were, He was.
After we are, He still will be. 

But as insignificant as that may make you feel, what I have come to discover about dying to myself, worshipping God alone, and making myself a means to God's ends is this: it is in living in this way that I am most thoroughly and completely fulfilled. 

Maybe what John Piper has been saying for all these years is true after all,

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

#521 - THE GREAT TRAGEDY OF MAN

“I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

Adam and Eve sin. They do the one thing that they were commanded not to do - eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And then, they realize their nakedness and they hide. 

God then confronts Adam with a simple question, "Where are you?"

It is at this point, where Adam blows it. It is at this point where Adam responds in the most tragic of ways, and man has been responding to sin against God this tragically ever since. 

Instead of Adam saying that he hid because of God's power. Instead of saying that he hid because of God's wrath. Instead of saying that he hid because of God's disappointment...

Adam says that he hid because of his nakedness. 

He hid because of his consequences. He hid because of his shame. He hid because of his embarrassment. 

Maybe an illustration will help to explain how tragic this is.

A father tells his son he can have anything to eat in the kitchen except cookies. The son eats the cookies. He gets sick from eating the cookies. So he hides under his bed. When his father comes looking for him and asks, "Where are you?," the son replies, "I was afraid, because I was sick, so I hid myself."

How ridiculous would that be? How ridiculous would that sound?

Shouldn't the son be afraid primarily because he disobeyed his father? Shouldn't the son be afraid because he letdown his father? Shouldn't the son be afraid because of his father's authority to discipline him?

The great tragedy of man is that we don't truly fear God. 

And because we don't truly fear God, we don't humbly repent. And because we don't humbly repent, we don't freely receive grace. And that...is a tragedy.

#515 - THE ANTIDOTE FOR ENVY

In this age of being able to see, through television and social media, the luxuries and lives that people enjoy everyday, it is very easy to begin to not appreciate and even despise the life that you are privileged to live.

It's so easy to desire the circumstances of another. It's such a temptation to long for the success of a peer. It's seems inevitable that, in light of what everyone else has, envy must be our reality. 

But as I found myself recently thinking of all that I "lacked," the following thought crossed my mind...

When you think about how many people, around the world, who would kill to be you, it should kill your desire to be anyone else. 

The antidote for envy is PERSPECTIVE.

Do you know how many people would give everything to...

Have the bed that you have? Have the home that you have? Have the family that you have? Have the influence that you have? Have the clothing that you have? Have the education that you have? Have the occupation that you have? Have the opportunities that you have? Have the Wi-Fi connection that you have? Have the freedom of religion that you have? Have the access to food and water that you have?

YOU. ARE. BLESSED.

Don't allow yourself to be frustrated by the life you wish you could live, but instead, be fascinated by the life you are living. 

When what you want becomes the thief of what you already have, you are left with neither.

#511 - 3 THOUGHTS THAT MAKE PATIENCE POSSIBLE

I know. You're ready. You were ready 6 months ago. For the business to take off. For the idea to gain traction. For the opportunity to arrive. For the significant other to notice you. For "your time" to come.

I know how you feel.

It always seems like everyone else's time has come. It always seems like everyone but you is operating in the fullness of their gifts and abilities. It always seems like people who haven't worked as hard as you are getting the breaks you know you deserve.   

But here you are, still waiting. I wish I could tell you why you find yourself still waiting but, I can't.

What I can do is share with you three thoughts that encourage me when it seems like God is trying to lodge the lesson of patience deep within my being. 

1. GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT.

Whenever God has poured out another measure of blessing, opportunity, or favor in my life, it has always been at the perfect time. It comes right when I need it. It comes right when others can benefit from it. It comes right when God can be most glorified by it. 

If I do not currently have the opportunity, influence, or impact I desire, it is because, right now, it is not in the best interests of myself, those around me, or the Kingdom of God for me to have what I want.

2. MY HEART NEEDS PURIFYING.

Why am I so anxious anyways? Am I not grateful for the opportunities I already have been given? (Ingratitude) Do I think I am more capable than I actually am? (Pride) Do I think time is running out? (Worry) Am I assuming that I know something that God doesn't? (Arrogance)

Nothing more clearly reveals the condition of your heart towards others and towards God than how you respond when you don't get what you think you deserve.

3. IS GOD NOT ENOUGH?

Is His love for me unable to fulfill? Is His grace for me insufficient to satisfy? Is His presence in my life incapable to comfort? Is my view of God's goodness only tied to God's gifts?

If so, this is a problem. If so, I have made an idol of the wrong things. If so, I've got it all backwards. 

The truth is, if Christ alone is not enough for me, nothing ever will be. 

What if God is withholding what He is withholding from you because He wants to strengthen your trust in His sovereignty, purify your heart, and become enough for you? Wouldn't those be great reasons? Shouldn't those be reasons you appreciate? Couldn't those be reasons that give you the willingness to joyfully persevere in patiently and humbly following Him?

#510 - INEFFECTIVE REPENTANCE

You want your repentance to work, right? You want your repentance to be effective in making you right before a Holy God, correct? If so, there is something very important that you need to understand: 

Regret is not repentance.

Regret is primarily sorrow for the pain you've brought upon yourself. Regret is disappointment for how your actions have negatively impacted you. Regret is wishing you would have done something different so you could have experienced a different result. Regret is all about you.

Repentance is something totally different. 

Repentance is sorrow for the pain you've brought upon God. Repentance is disappointment for your sins against God. Repentance is wishing you would have done something different so that God would have been pleased rather than grieved. Repentance is all about God.  

Regret is about your ego. Repentance is about God's glory.
Regret is about your image. Repentance is about God's majesty.
Regret is about your circumstances. Repentance is about God's kingdom.

Regret is all about you. Repentance is all about God.

“Godly sorrow produces repentance and reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death.”

— Matthew Henry

Regret makes you mad. Repentance makes you humble.
Regret draws you inward. Repentance points you upward.
Regret causes frustration. Repentance births faithfulness.

Regret is an expression of the self while repentance is a work of the Spirit. 

Are you regretful or are you repentant?

Leaning into the former will only bring you grief while committing yourself to the latter will surely bring you grace.  

Choose repentance.

Choose being broken over breaking the heart of God.
Choose experiencing sorrow for bringing God sorrow.
Choose feeling pained by the pain you've made God feel. 

Choose repentance.  

GRACE AWAITS.

#503 - MORE THAN FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Good Friday. Today is the day we remember. Today is the day I remember. 

Today is the day that I remember Christ's very real, very humiliating, very excruciating death on the cross...for me. It was through this single act of self-sacrifice that my sins against a Holy God were atoned for and paid for in full. Through faith in Jesus Christ and the events that occurred on this day and the subsequent events that followed, I can be forgiven of my many offenses against the God of Heaven and Earth and be brought into right relationship with Him. Incredible! I am so thankful!

And though the significance of this day is found in much of what I've just stated, this day also provides meaning that extends beyond substitutionary atonement. On this day, not only did Christ pay the price for our sins, He modeled the pattern for our lives. 

Much more was nailed to the cross than body of Christ and the penalty for our sin. 

Christ's will was nailed to the cross.
Christ's pride was nailed to the cross. 
Christ's desire was nailed to the cross.

Christ's influence was nailed to the cross.
Christ's authority was nailed to the cross.
Christ's significance was nailed to the cross.

Obedience to God is death to self. And never again will this be so clearly displayed than on the cross of Jesus Christ.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8

Paul writes, "Have this mind yourselves..."  

In other words, this act of sacrifice and humility isn't only what we should believe in, but this act of sacrifice and humility is also how we should behave like. 

The life of a follower of Christ is one in which we, like Christ, are to pick up our "crosses" daily and crucify our will, our pride, our desire, our influence, our authority, and our significance in obedience to God. Our purposes exchanged for His.

Because this was the way of Christ. This is the way of Christ's followers. 

And as difficult and as unfulfilling as "dying to self" may seem and, often times, is, let us never forget...

Everything that Christ willingly and sacrificially put to death, God miraculously and victoriously raised it to life. Everything Christ had seemingly lost, humanity ultimately gained. 

Death to self. Life for others. This is our assignment.

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity." John 12:24-25

#489 - THE AMAZING THING ABOUT GRACE

As I was reflecting on God's grace today, one thought made this grace that is already so beautiful to me, even more glorious than it already is. Though this already may be obvious to you, the thought was this: God does not owe me this grace.

This grace that created me. This grace that provides for me. This grace that sustains me. This grace that saved me. This grace that forgives me. This grace that sanctifies me. This grace that gives me a purpose. This grace that gives me gifts, talents, and abilities to carry out my purpose. This grace that promises to reunite me with Him. God does not owe me this grace.

I have not earned it. I have done nothing to deserve it. Absolutely nothing.

Yet He gives it to me anyways.

What I have earned is death. What I have merited is separation from God. What I deserve is punishment for sinning against fellow image-bearers of God and for sinning against God Himself.

But what I'm given...is grace. 

Though there are countless implications for how this amazing grace that I have received should impact how I treat others, the one at the top of my mind is this:

Grace is most authentic when the recipient is least deserving.

#488 - THIS MAKES WORRY IMPOSSIBLE

You can't simultaneously worship and worry. You just can't do it.

You can't be in awe of God's mercy towards you and worry about your money.
You can't be amazed by God's grace towards you and worry about your goals.
You can't be astounded by God's love towards you and worry about your living.

When being perfectly loved and accepted by the Infinite is real, being stressed out and worried about the finite is rather ridiculous. 

When enamored by the epic truth that you are God's creation, you will cease to worry about whether or not you are under God's care.

When enthralled by the sovereign reality that God opened up your eyes to your need for a Savior, you will cease to worry about whether or not He can open up the doors to fulfill your need for a salary. 

When enlightened by the glorious fact that God has forgiven you of your transgressions, you will cease to worry about whether or not He will with you in your transitions.

You can't simultaneously worship and worry.

So worship God today. For what He's done. For who He is. And for where He has brought you. Thank Him. Reflect on His goodness. Praise Him for His faithfulness to His promises. Lend your best words, thoughts, and emotions towards making much of the only One worthy of making much of. Do this.

And watch your worry disappear.  

#470 - WHERE IS GRACE?

At your lowest point.
In your worst condition.
After your biggest mistake.

Grace is there.

When you've humiliated yourself.
When you've disappointed others. 
When you've grieved God.

Grace is there.

Though you won't be able to fix it.
Though you don't have the capacity to handle it.
Though you can't see a solution to resolve it.

Grace is there too.

Longing to restore you. 
Desiring to redeem you.
Preparing to renew you.

Grace does not just meet you in your place of need, but if you allow it, it will also carry you through to a place of healing.

Where is grace?

Grace is found in the Person of Jesus Christ who was...

Judged so you wouldn't have to be condemned.
Shamed so you wouldn't have to be ashamed.
Beaten so you wouldn't have to feel defeated.

Christ was disgraced so you could receive grace, but Christ was also resurrected so you could experience renewal!

Receive His work. Rest in His grace.

Peace in the midst of fault and failure awaits. 

#469 - 4 INDICATORS OF INTIMACY WITH CHRIST

If you hang around a group of Christians for an extended period of time, it won't be long until you hear the phrase, "intimate relationship with Jesus Christ." Generally, this means a deep, more than surface level relationship with their Savior. 

Though this is something that many Christians desire and strive for, many times it can be elusive and hard to determine whether or not intimacy with Christ is one's reality. 

In an effort to measure my own walk with Christ, I have come up with the following 4 "Intimacy Indicators" that I hope serve you in deepening your relationship with Him as well.

1. AM I HUNGERING FOR GOD'S WORD?

You cannot have a deep relationship with someone who you do not know. One of the primary ways to know God is to know His Word. Do you find yourself yearning to know God, hear from God, and see God through the reading of the Scriptures?

2. AM I TRUSTING GOD WITH MY SIN?

You cannot have a deep relationship with someone who you hide things from. One of the primary ways to be honest with God is to be honest with Him about the sins that separate you from Him. Do you find yourself committed to bringing your faults and failures before God even though you may feel ashamed?

3. AM I ENJOYING THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S GOSPEL?

You cannot have a deep relationship with someone who you doubt loves you. One of the primary ways you can assure yourself of God's love for you is by proclaiming the truths of the Good News over your life and resting in its' benefits. Do you find yourself dwelling more on the implications of what God has already done for you through Christ or on what you have yet to do for Him?

4. AM I OFFERING GOD MY WORSHIP?

You cannot have a deep relationship with someone who you have a hard time affirming. One of the primary ways you can affirm the greatness and grace of God is by using your words to praise and adore Him. Do you find yourself compelled to invest your emotional energy to thank God for who He is and for what He has done in your life?

Which of these indicators assures you of the quality and depth of your relationship with Christ? Which of these indicators explain why your relationship with Him may not be as deep as you would like it to be?

I encourage you to ask yourself these questions and begin to employ the self-discipline necessary to make these spiritual disciplines a part of your life in a greater measure.

A level of fulfillment and joy awaits that no other relationship on this earth can provide you!  

#462 - HOW TO HANDLE YOUR HATERS

Although social media, the Internet, and technology have made it so that helpful ideas, inspiring art, and genuine love can be spread like never before, it has also made it possible for spiteful hate to be broadcast, distributed, and felt like never before as well.

Because of the technological advances (i.e. social media feeds) that are so readily accessible to us, everyday, the opportunity to experience a "hater" is exponentially greater!

Haters that hate on your religious beliefs. Haters that hate on your political positions. Haters that hate on your lifestyle preferences. Haters that hate on your leadership decisions. Haters that hate on your parenting choices. Haters that hate on your career moves. 

The critics are out in full effect. The "side busters" have seemed to improve upon their ability to "throw shade." The naysayers are just waiting by their computers just watching and waiting to comment on your next "wrong" move. The hate is real. 

But though the hate may be real, how we respond is our responsibility.

We have a choice.

Anger. Resentment. Revenge. Argument. Or...exercise self-control.   

Though you may have the perfect one-liner, zinger response to put your hater in their place, though you may have the tightest "clap back," though you may be completely justified in reciprocating the hate, the major thought I'd like to share with you today is simply this...

If you criticize your "haters" in the same hateful way that they criticize you, you are perpetuating a disunity you should despise.

Hurt people hurt people. And because people are hurt by hurt people, they go on to not only hurt the people that hurt them, but they hurt others as well. This should break your heart. 

An environment of hate is really a product of hurt. 

So decide today to be the one to stop the cycle in your sphere of influence. 

Lest, you become exactly like the very person that is hating on you and add fuel to a fire you never wished existed in the first place. 

#460 - THE ONE THING YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED AT, BUT YOU WILL BE GREATLY BLESSED BY TRYING

For years, I have tried. Month after month, I give it my best effort but it never seems to work. Each day, I try a new approach but the approach doesn't make a difference. 

I've given my money. I've sacrificed my time. I've invested my emotions. I've offered my gifts, talents, and abilities. I've even "let go" of many of the dreams of my childhood. Yet, none of these things seem to accomplish the task. 

What is this task I am speaking of? Out-giving God.

IT. IS. IMPOSSIBLE.

Just when I think I've given everything I can relationally, God brings a new, fresh, life-giving relationship into my life! At the moment I'm convinced that I have no more emotional energy to expend, God blesses me with an experience that fills my "emotional cup" to overflowing! On those days when I am sure that my ability to effectively communicate has come to an end, God multiplies the impact of my words in ways I had never imagined He would! When I foolishly believe that I've sacrificed financially more than I should, God brings provision into my home in the most obscure ways! On the many occasions when I know that coming up with another creative idea is just not possible, God blesses me with another one! Even as a runner, as corny as it may sound, when my feet are telling me that they cannot take another step, God gives me the strength to run another mile!

And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”  - Luke 18:28-30

Many times more. This is the God I serve!

If you give God your faith, He will show you His faithfulness...many times more. If you give God your finances, He will prove to you His ability to finance...many times more. If you give God your future, He will give you His presence in your present...many times more.

You cannot out-give God.

If you give God your time, He will multiply the effort that you put into that time...many times more. If you give God your abilities, He will take those abilities and give you opportunities you could never attain yourself...many times more. If you give God your hopes, He will give you reasons to have hope in Him...many times more.

You cannot out-give God.

His gifts are longer-lasting, more fulfilling, higher quality, better timed. 

You cannot out-give God.

But I dare you to try!

#459 - THE FEW VS. THE MANY

There will always be the few. Who criticize. Who despise. Those who are literally watching and waiting to see you fail. Secretly, they scroll your social media accounts hoping that they can pick up on some sort of clue that things aren't going as well for you as you'd like them to! 

There will always be the few. Who judge. Who gossip. Those who would rather see you fail than see themselves succeed. Unfortunately, they place more of their emotional energy on critiquing you than creating for themselves.   

But my encouragement to you today is simply this:

Don't let the hate you receive from "the few," steal your joy from the love you receive from "the many."

Focus your attention on the many. Who love. Who appreciate. Those who want to see you succeed! Openly, they scroll your social media accounts liking and loving the things that you post because seeing you happy makes them happy!

Focus your attention on the many. Who receive. Who affirm. Those who understand that you being great takes nothing away from them being great! Joyfully, they encourage you knowing that your success feeds into their success. 

Leader, you have a choice. To be distracted by "the few" or to be motivated by "the many."

I encourage you to be motivated by "the many." Because the reality is, if you become too distracted by "the few," "the many" will soon become the "the neglected."

#421 - THE MOST VALUABLE, FREE GIFT YOU WILL EVER GIVE

In a world filled with so much cynicism, criticism, and discouragement, affirmation is a precious gift, and during the Christmas season, I encourage you to give it.

Most everyone I know, myself included, has doubts, fears, and hesitations about where their life is headed and who they are becoming. Like a delicate vase, our self-esteems are so fragile and can be broken by the words of others in an instant. And they have been. 

Most of us have had words spoken over our lives that have absolutely crushed us. Parents, friends, relatives, bosses, co-workers, teachers, and complete strangers are all capable of uttering words that are hard to recover from. Words that leave a scar on our lives that cannot be removed. Words that give us nightmares. Words that cause us to lose all desire to try something new. Words that leave us wounded.

But in the same way that criticism can destroy a life, affirmation can restore it!

Affirmation of gifts, talents, and abilities, Affirmation of progress made. Affirmation of victories achieved. Affirmation of success experienced. Affirmation of character traits displayed. Affirmation of goals accomplished. Affirmation of potential recognized. There is so much we can affirm in others! 

AND TO GIVE IT COMES AT NO FINANCIAL COST TO YOU!

All you need to do is invest your awareness - Who do you need to affirm? Your thought - What do you need to affirm in that person? And your energy - When will you do the affirming?

Please, I encourage you to give the gift of affirmation this Christmas season. This may seem extreme to you, but my belief is this: someone's personal joy and belief in themselves may be depending on it.

#419 - GOD IS FAITHFUL

God is faithful. Though we doubt, He's faithful. Though we question, He's faithful. Though we lose hope, He's faithful. 

God is faithful. His hand is mighty. His arm is strong. His will is sovereign. His love is relentless. His timing is perfect. His Word is true.  

God is faithful. To the saint. To the sinner. To the rich. To the poor. To the Black. To the White. To the male. To the female. To the seen. To the unseen.

God is faithful. To encourage. To equip. To empower. To reach. To renew. To release. To discover. To develop. To deploy. 

God is faithful. He will do what He said He would do. He will provide what He said He would provide. He will build what He said He would build. 

God is faithful. Every promise He has made will be fulfilled. Every purpose He has decreed will come to pass. Every plan He has devised will be completed.

God is faithful. His faithfulness cannot be stopped. His faithfulness cannot be prevented. His faithfulness cannot be derailed.

God is faithful. In every season. In every year. In every generation. God is faithful.  

Our primary responsibility is this...

HAVE FAITH IN HIS FAITHFULNESS! 

#409 - HOW TO TURN YOUR BURDENS INTO BLESSINGS

Last week during my Thanksgiving break, though it was beneficial and necessary for me to reflect upon my blessings, as I was doing so, it occurred to me how easy it was to do. In light of how much I have in comparison with so many other people around the world, how could I respond with anything less than gratitude and appreciation! 

But then it dawned on me, "Could I be as thankful for my burdens as I am for my blessings?" King Solomon said it best...

"On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days So that we won’t take anything for granted." Ecclesiastes 7:15 (The Message)

In attempt to express my gratitude for the circumstances in my life that are more difficult than they are joyful, here is a short list of my current "unfortunate realities" that I am thankful for: 

1. WHAT I CAN'T AFFORD

I am thankful that I can't afford to pay off all of my debt. It forces me to learn the tough lesson of being a "slave to the lender." It requires me to develop a plan for getting out of debt slowly which is the method by which most people have to do so. If I was given a large sum of money to pay off all of my debt at once, I would be robbed of the opportunity to develop the disciplines of budgeting and delayed gratification. I am so thankful for what I can't afford!

2. HOW I HAVEN'T SUCCEEDED

I am thankful that our church hasn't reached all the growth projections that I had dreamed of and desired when we first launched over two years ago. There is a purifying of motivations that is taking place as a result of failed numerical goals. There is a re-evaluating of my heart that is happening because of unmet expectations. There is a humility that is developing as a result of not being able to achieve what I thought I was capable of achieving. If the church had experienced all the growth I was expecting, I would be more focused on the size of our church than the hearts of our people, I would have missed out on the intimacy of a smaller community of faith, and I would be more arrogant than I already am! I am so thankful for how I haven't succeeded!

3. WHO I DON'T KNOW

I am thankful that I don't have the connections to influential people that some people have. This requires me to trust in God more than I trust in man. This enables me to invest my time with many people as opposed to having my time monopolized by one person who I feel I need to impress or keep satisfied. This frees me to not live and lead in such a way that caters to one type of person and alienates others. If I had connections to famous, influential people I would probably find my identity more in who I'm known by than in who I'm privileged to serve. I am so thankful for who I don't know!   

I encourage you to take some time to express your gratitude for your burdens. What you'll find is that when you do, your burdens become your blessings!

#407 - COUNSELING - SESSION #2

After two sessions, I am absolutely sold on the ability of "My Counselor" to add tremendous value to my life. He listens well. He shares from his own experiences openly. He passes on insights from authors I have never heard of. He connects his thoughts to the Scriptures. He admits and is aware of his own brokenness. And he does all this while using cuss words every now and then to provide emphasis when necessary! I love it!

And just like the first session, in our time together yesterday, he encouraged me with several thoughts that will probably take me a while to fully understand and implement into my life! In an effort to have these lessons more firmly impressed upon my heart, I have attached a prayer to each one expressing how I hope God uses these lessons in my life.  

LESSON #1 - "Beg God to make you invisibly visible."

Dear Heavenly Father, as I point people to you, may people see through me to see you. May they not get overly enamored with how I point to you, but instead, be impressed and amazed by YOU! Your goodness. Your mercy. Your love. Your beauty. May who I am and what I do fade to the background as your glory and majesty comes to the forefront. Lord, I know I cannot abdicate my responsibility to point to you, but may all of my pointing lead people to see that, above all else, the point is You.

LESSON #2 - "Rejoice in being nothing."

Dear Heavenly Father, I must first admit there is a deep desire in me to become something. I want to be known. I want to be recognized. I want to have influence. I want to be successful. And though in and of themselves these desires may not be entirely bad, they bring along with them so much baggage. It is with that in mind that, right here and right now, I want to settle in my heart that if you never gave me another ounce of influence or if you took what influence I had away, I would still have a million reasons to praise and worship you!

If no one knew my name, I would rejoice in knowing that I know Your name. If no one heard me speak, I would rejoice in knowing that I have heard You speak. If no one read a word I wrote, I would rejoice in knowing that I have read the words that You wrote. If no one attended my church, I would rejoice in knowing that I am a part of Your church. Lord, give me the ability to rejoice in being nothing because, in You, I have EVERYTHING.

LESSON #3 - "Not new things, but in a new way."

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me with specific gifts to use, innate desires to pursue, and a unique purpose to fulfill. You placed these things within me at birth and over the last 33 years of my life I have become more and more aware of what these things are. Thank you for the "things" you have placed within me! As I approach the halfway point of my life, my desire is not that you would give me "new things," but that I would embrace, approach, and pursue these things in a "new way." 

Help me to steward the gifts you have given me to use with a greater level of humility - realizing that their power comes from you. Help me to steward the desires you have given me to pursue with a greater level of caution - realizing that desire improperly managed can lead to destruction. Help me to steward the purpose you have given me to fulfill with a greater level of faith - realizing that without faith it is impossible to please you! Lord, may I always remember that it is not who you have uniquely created me to be that needs to change, but it is how I approach who you've created me to be that needs to be ever evolving. 

#406 - THE LIE YOU MUST STOP TELLING YOURSELF

You are not what you say, think, or hope you do. You are what you actually do.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but for the sake of your full potential, it's exactly what you need to hear.

You have been fooling yourself for far too long. You have been making statements about yourself that just aren't true. You have been identifying yourself as someone who you are not. And today, you need to allow the truth to set you free! 

Think about the last 60 days of your life.

If you have not led anyone to do something that they would not have done on their own, you are not a leader. If you have not loved your spouse with practical actions of love and kindness, you are not a loving spouse. If you have not sacrificed as a parent your time, energy, or money, you are not a sacrificial parent. You are what you actually do.

If you have not been generous with your resources, you are not generous. If you have not been kind to your neighbors in word or in deed, you are not kind. If you have not been honest about your life, your fears, and your shortcomings, you are not honest. You are what you actually do.   

If you have not played a sport, you are not an athlete. If you have not written, you are not a writer. If you have not played an instrument, you are not an musician. If you have not created anything, you are not a creative! You are what you actually do.

I do not write these words to condemn you. I write these words to wake you up! 

One of the major sources of disappointment and frustration in your life probably has something to do with the fact that who you think you are and who you actually are is not the same!

With that in mind, the most helpful thing you can do to become the person you desire to be, is first admit that you haven't been who you intend to be. Be HONEST with yourself. 

Then, ACT.

If you say you're a leader, lead someone. If you say you're a writer, write something. If you say you're runner, run somewhere. You are what you actually do.

Don't overcomplicate it. Don't fight back. Don't hesitate. 

I understand that there's a philosophy out there that says, being precedes doing. I agree with it. But I also believe that this philosophy is equally true...

To become someone you have to DO something.

Stop lying and start doing. The world needs who you are going to become as a result of what you do.  

#394 - WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF TRANSITIONING FROM ONE SEASON TO ANOTHER

Today I moved to my third home in Oakland since first moving here in January of 2013. Though I am excited about being in a bigger home with great views of both Oakland and San Francisco, I also find myself somewhat saddened at the fact that I am moving from a home where some great memories were made.

Over the last year and a half, my home provided the space for family parties, staff meetings, community groups, significant conversations and, best of all, watching both the San Francisco Giants and the Golden State Warriors win their latest championships! 

But as good as the moments and memories in my last home were, I must not forget...

To fully embrace the new seasons ahead, I must be willing to leave the old seasons behind. 

In no way do I have to forget the fond memories of a prior season, but I must not allow myself to get stuck in an old season.  I must not allow myself to believe that my best memories are behind me.

Instead, I must thank God for the past season and all of its' blessings and be expectant of what great things he has in store!

God forbid I miss out on the blessings in my future because I was unwilling to move on from the memories from my past. 

But enough about me.  

Though you may not be physically moving from one home to another, do you need to have a "moving day" of your own? 

What is it from your past that you need to move on from so you can be better positioned to receive all that God has for your future?

What is it from your past that you need to no longer dwell upon so that you can have the emotional energy to pour into the opportunities that are presently before you?  

What is it from your past that you need to thank God for and just. move. on?

Identify it. Pack your bags. And move.  

A more fulfilling destination awaits. 

#374 - A MORE WORTHY PURSUIT THAN SUCCESS

Ever since I can remember, there has been one word that has driven me. Many desires have shifted and waned throughout the years, but my goal to achieve this has not. When nothing else could motivate me, this word did.

SUCCESS. 

Financial success. Relational success. Educational success. Occupational success. Social success. Spiritual success. Marital success. Physical success. I want to be successful in every area of my life. 

Now though there might not be anything inherently wrong with desiring success in each of these areas of my life, what I have found to be a problem is defining what success actually is for each of these areas of my life!

The definition of success, for all of these areas, seems to be an ever-changing, ever-increasing, unattainable, elusive target.

There's always more money I can earn, save, and invest. There's always more and deeper friendships I can develop. There's always more degrees I can earn. There's always more accolades I can earn on the job. There's always more influence I can gain. There's always more of an understanding that I can have of my faith. There's always more of a sacrifice that I could be making in my marriage. There's always more weight that I can lose and more muscle that I can gain!

And when I look at it this way, it's easy to get discouraged because it seems like "success" then becomes impossible to achieve.

I so badly want to cross the "finish line" in each of these areas of my life, but I have no idea where the finish line is! I so desperately I want to "ascend to the peak" of each of these areas of my life, but from where I'm standing there is no peak in sight! I so anxiously want to "complete the assignment" that I have been given for each of these areas of my life, but I don't ever remember receiving any actual instructions!

So what have I done to deal with my strong desire for something I have, for so long, struggled to define?

I QUIT.

I quit pursuing success. I quit desiring success. I quit envisioning success. 

Instead, I have chosen another word to drive me. I've chosen another word to motivate me to my full potential. I've chosen another word by which I will measure the quality of my life.

OBEDIENCE. 

Day by day. Hour by hour. Moment by moment obedience to God's will for my life. This  is my desire. 

As it relates to every area of my life, the key question is, "Am I being obedient?" 

Am I doing what God is requiring me to do?  Am I saying what God is leading me to say? Am I going where God is commanding me to go?

Am I being obedient to God's will? Am I being submitted to God's Word? Am I being cooperative with God's way? 

These are the questions that matter to me now.  

I'm resolved.

I'm going to concern myself with my obedience, and let God concern Himself with my "success."