#545 - SERVE

in

With your time. With your energy. With your emotions. With your gifts. With your strengths. With your weaknesses. With your uniqueness.

SERVE.

Regardless of whether or not you are appreciated. Regardless of whether or not you are compensated. Regardless of whether or not you are applauded.

SERVE.

Not to make a name for yourself. Not in your own power. Not for your own glory.

SERVE.

In the name of Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit. For the glory of God.

SERVE.

"...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

SERVE.

 

#544 - RUNNING OUT OF GAS

Though God is moving mightily. Though lives are changing dramatically. Though the staff is working together healthily. Though doors are being opened surprisingly. Though favor is being experienced abundantly. Though 99% of the work I am privileged to do, I do joyfully. 

I AM EXHAUSTED. 

I write this not to whine, complain, or gain sympathy, but just to provide an honest assessment of my current physical and emotional state. Involving myself in an extended fast while leading our church community to do the same is taxing not only on the body, but on the spirit as well. 

Contrary to what people may believe, fasting is not easier for me because I am a pastor. Confrontational conversations are not easier for me because I am a pastor. Loss is not easier because I am a pastor. Actually, nothing is really easier because I am a pastor! What is hard for most people, is hard for me too!   

BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL.

I trust Him to give me exactly what I need when I need it. I trust Him to be for me exactly who I need Him to be for me when I need it. I trust Him to be in complete control while simultaneously being completely aware of my needs. 

WHAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO, HE IS WITH ME THROUGH. 

And, that, is all the hope I need. 

#543 - WHEN PRAISE IS MY PRIORITY

in

When my praise, adoration, and worship of God's nature, characteristics, and attributes is my priority...

Sin becomes less attractive.
Worry becomes less present.
Ambition becomes less selfish.
Fear becomes less debilitating.
Desire becomes less consuming.
Petition becomes less necessary.

Because, when praise is my priority...

God becomes more capable.
God becomes more beautiful,
God becomes more powerful.
God becomes more enjoyable.
God becomes more admirable.
God becomes more wonderful.

WHEN PRAISE IS MY PRIORITY, AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING PEACE IS MY REALITY.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim.
In the light of His glory and grace. 

 

#542 - ON GOD'S HOLINESS

in

Because God's Holiness is real...

God's will is final.
God's purity is perfect.
God's sovereignty is total.
God's power is matchless.
God's wrath is devastating.
God's size is inconceivable.
God's knowledge is infinite.
God's love is uncontainable.
God's worthiness is supreme.
God's character is immutable.
God's judgement is thorough.
God's creativity is unmatchable.
God's competition is non-existent.

Because God's Holiness is real... 

GOD'S GRACE IS SCANDALOUS.

#541 - ON BEING "PETTY"

in

The picture. The tweet. The subtweet. The comment. The "like." The non-like. The non-invite. The good time that people are having without you. The "shade."

STOP READING INTO IT SO MUCH.

What if it wasn't done on purpose? What if it wasn't directed towards you. What if it wasn't intended to make you jealous? What if it was posted, liked, and/or commented on without you in mind AT ALL? What if?

WHAT IF, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU?

Why are we so quick to think that when people engage with social media, they always have US on their minds? That's not just presumptuous, that's arrogant!

And even if it is about you (because I know sometimes it is!), I think it's important for all of us to remember:

A PETTY REACTION TO A PETTY ACTION IS PETTY.

#540 - SUNDAY AFTERNOON ENCOURAGEMENT

in

You prepared like it's the last message you'd ever preach. You prayed like it's the last message you'd ever preach. You preached like it's the last message you'd ever preach. 

Now, all you can do is rest. 

Don't overly concern yourself with the impact. Don't insecurely fish for the feedback. Don't mistakenly overestimate or underestimate your effectiveness.

Your work is through. You did all that you could do. Your only job now is to trust God to do all that He can do. 

And He can do marvelous things!

#539 - WHY LISTENING MATTERS

in

Listen. To what people are saying. To how people are responding. To when people are silent. To who people are trusting. To where people are turning. To why people are leaving.

Listen. To doubts. To fears. To hesitations. To questions. To concerns. To hurts. To hangups. 

Listen. To hopes. To dreams. To aspirations. To ambitions. To longings. 

Listen. When it's offensive. When it's critical. When it's condemning. When it's personal. When it's accusatory. 

LISTEN.

Not only are people longing to be heard, but they are longing to be spoken to in light of how they feel. 

#538 - TWO TYPES OF LIFE

in

Joy that is deeper.
Grace that is wider.
Purpose that is grander. 
Love that is better.
Peace that is quieter. 
Forgiveness that is fuller. 
Strength that is stronger. 
Reality that is better. 
Future that is brighter.

This is the result of a life lived in full submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And, for me, this isn't theory. I have experienced this "better" life.

Unfortunately, I have also experienced another type of life:

Joy that is shallow.
Grace that is limited.
Purpose that is temporal.
Love that is fleeting.
Peace that is elusive.
Forgiveness that is earned.
Strength that is exhausting.
Reality that is dim.
Future that is feared.

This is the result of a life lived in submission to the Lordship of Me. This also isn't theory. I have also experienced this "lesser" life.

The moral of the story is this:

In complete submission to Christ there is freedom. In complete submission to Self there is slavery.

Choose this day whom you will serve.

#536 - THE EXPLANATION FOR SO MUCH THAT IS UNEXPLAINABLE IN MY LIFE

I open doors that no man can open. I create opportunities that you could never have created on your own. I make connections that you could never make.

Who am I?

I bestow upon you gifts disproportionate to others. I encourage you with affirmation from unlikely places. I extend to you training others don't have access to.

Who am I?

I put you in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.

Who am I?

I allow you to be well-received, appreciated, and applauded where others like you aren't. 

Who am I?

You can't create me. You can't control me. You can't command me. All you can do is appreciate me when I decide to show up, and I recommend that you do, because, you have no idea when I will grace you with my presence again.

Who am I?

I AM THE FAVOR OF GOD. 

#535 - A PRAYER OF DESPERATION

Heavenly Father,

For reasons unknown to me, You have graced me with yet another opportunity to serve You in a capacity that is way beyond my current skill, experience, and expertise. And though I'm excited, I'm feeling way in over my head. 

I need Your comfort. I need Your peace. I need Your rest.

Help me to trust that the same grace that has brought me to this opportunity will be the same grace that gets me through this opportunity.  Help me to believe that the same God who opened the door will be the same God who walks with me through the door. Help me to expect that the same Holy Spirit who saved me will be the same Holy Spirit who will speak through me. 

You are God. I am just Your vessel. I am responsible for the natural. You are responsible for the supernatural. I am responsible for the preparation. You are responsible for the power. I am responsible for sowing the seed. You are responsible for making it grow.

I submit every thought, plan, and word to You. Not my will, but Your will be done. Not my words, but Your words be said. Not my ways, but Your ways be followed. 

I pray this in Jesus name (the only One who makes a relationship with You possible),

Amen. 

#534 - A SURE SIGN OF IMMATURITY

in

Apologize.

Allow the words, "I'm sorry" to come out of your mouth, quickly, without an excuse or a defense. When you've been made aware of your misstep, own it and take responsibility with a timely admission of guilt. 

The longer you wait, the longer you allow for hurt to linger. The more you attempt to explain it away, the less validation you will extend to the offended. The longer you delay, the more time you allow for bitterness to build. 

Apologize, and pay attention.

If you can't remember the last time you extended an apology, this, very likely, is a sign of immaturity. 

Everyone messes up, sometimes. 

You're not the exception. 

#533 - WHY TODAY MATTERS

in

There will come a day when the opportunity will come.

Your art will be given a platform. Your passion will be given a spotlight. Your dream will be given a chance.

I don't know when that day will be, where it will occur, or who will be there to see it take place. 

All I know, is that when the moment comes, your practice, your preparation, and your planning, will be put on display. For better or for worse, you will be exposed. 

Your work ethic will be exposed. Your dedication to your craft will be exposed. Your potential will be exposed.

And so it is with all this in mind that I encourage you:

Practice TODAY. Prepare TODAY. Plan TODAY. Reimagine it TODAY. Rehearse it TODAY. Refine it TODAY.   

The magnificence, beauty, and awe that you desire people to experience, from your work, someday, is depending on the commitment you put into your work, TODAY. 

#532 - WE LABOR FOR THIS

in

Hope is extended.
Grace is received.
Salvation is experienced.
Burdens are relieved.
Lives are renewed.
Friendships are formed.
God is worshipped.
Christ is exalted.
The Spirit is enjoyed.
Wounds are healed.
Marriages are strengthened.
Communities are served.
The Gospel is spread.
The Kingdom is advanced.
God's will is accomplished!

Pastor, these are the fruits of your labor. Don't grow weary. The difference that is being made is worth the price that is being paid.  

#531 - ON CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

in

Tonight is a very big night in the life and history of theMOVEMENT Church. For the first time in our 4+ year history, following a fairly rigorous, thorough process, we are affirming members into our congregation and committing ourselves to serve and love each other in intentional ways. 

We have been working on and working through this process for about a year, and I have learned a lot. And, in a day and age when church membership and membership “covenants” may seem like an antiquated thing, I think it is wise for me to attempt to articulate what I have learned about what church membership is and what it isn’t.

WHAT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ISN’T

  • It isn’t prescribed, nor is it very well described in the New Testament.

  • It isn’t a command of Christ.

  • It isn’t intended to create a “higher class” of Christian. 

  • It isn’t for everybody.

WHAT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IS

  • It is implied throughout the New Testament.

  • It is necessary to follow the commands of Christ. 

  • It is intended to create a higher degree of responsibility between the pastors and the congregation. 

  • It is for everybody with a desire for accountability towards holiness and a willingness to submit to pastoral leadership.

I know myself and our church has a lot to learn as it relates to facilitating and carrying out a membership process, but I am confident that God is honored by efforts! Like everything else we do, we will humbly carry out what we believe God is calling us to do, how He is leading us to do it, until He notifies us differently! Stay tuned!

#530 - I MUST WRESTLE WITH THESE THINGS

Because you don't affirm me, you don't love me. Because you disagree with me strongly, you can't care for me deeply. Because you're not condoning how I'm behaving, you're not committed to who I'm becoming.

Are these statements true?

My convictions are who I am. If you don't love my convictions, you don't love me. They're inseparable. To reject what I believe is to reject me. 

Really?

If you don't accept my choices, you don't accept me. And to not accept me is to exclude me. And to exclude me is to not dignify me. That is inhumane. 

Is it?

These are statements, feelings, and positions that many people have. For real. I need to think critically about them. Not to, is to be insensitive and invalidating.

#529 - THE GIFT WE MUST NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED

in

We must not lose the wonder of it all. The amazement. The significance. 

To be invited into someone's life, to give our opinion, counsel, advice, guidance, wisdom, correction, encouragement, or insight - it is an HONOR. 

To be trusted. To be sought out. To be heard. This is SERIOUS BUSINESS!

There are plenty of people who have more experience, education, and expertise than we do, yet, people still come to us. This is a PRIVILEGE. And we must remember, we are not owed this privilege, we are gifted this privileged. 

We must cherish the gift. Steward the gift. Maximize the gift. 

Being a voice in someone's life is not our right. It's our responsibility. 

 

#528 - ALL OR NOTHING

in

All their sin.
All their shame.
All their regrets.

All of their past.
All of their history.
All of their story. 

All the deep hurts.
All the bad habits.
All the embarrassing hangups.

All of their wickedness.
All of their pride.
All of their rebellion.

All of what is disgusting.
All of what is deplorable.
All of what is disappointing. 

ALL OF IT.

As church leaders we must be willing to receive all that people show up to our doors with. We must be willing to walk with people through all of their messes. We must be willing to apply God's grace to all of their shortcomings.

Why?

Because Jesus paid for it ALL.

#527 - WHAT YOUR JOB ISN'T

in

There are very few things that are as frustrating as doing a job or attempting to do a job that was never yours to do in the first place. With that in mind. Let me provide both you and I with this very simple reminder:

You can't change the hardened heart. You can't force the truth to be received. You can't cause the advice to be followed. You can't speed up the process of change. You can't control the outcome.

That's not your job.

Your job is to speak the truth in love.

God's job is to transform. God's job is convict. God's job is to reveal. God's job is to enlighten. God's job is to save. 

Our job is the natural. God's job is the supernatural.

Don't mix up the two. Nothing good ever comes from it.  

#526 - THE POWER OF A PROMPTING

in

This morning, just moments after I had put the finishing touches on my message and finished getting dressed to go to church, I felt a prompting. An inclination. A sense that I should text a particular person - that had been to a church service of ours once before and engaged with us outside of the church on one occasion as well - and invite them to church.

So I did.

That person actually ended up showing up. Not only did they show up, but they communicated to me that this Sunday, in particular, was the anniversary of a very traumatic event in their life. (Of this, I had no idea.) They went on to say that this was a day that they needed to be in church, and it was my text that got them out of bed to attend. Lastly, they also let me know that the message I gave provided an encouragement that they needed.

One prompting. One text. One person blessed.

I'm so thankful that, this time, I had ears to hear. I'm so thankful that, this time, I didn't ignore. I'm so thankful that, this time, I didn't neglect.

On many occasions I have been too caught up in myself to be bothered by promptings and too lazy to act on them. But what I've come to discover is this...  

A prompting is only as powerful as the action that follows it.

Please don't ignore the next prompting you receive. The prompting to text. The prompting to email. The prompting to call. The prompting to write. The prompting to reach out. Act on it.

Someone's blessing, very likely, is on the other side of your willingness to respond.