Words of Gratefulness

During these last few weeks when our focus has been on Thanksgiving, I've been reminded of all that the Scriptures tell us about being thankful and grateful.

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great king above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land."  Psalm 95:2-5

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  Psalm 100:4-5

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."  Psalm 107:8

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that men might know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom."  Psalm 145:8-12

All of these verses state a very simple truth, that our words of gratefulness to God are based on Who He is and what He has done.

They are all tied together. Who God is is the starting point. Each verse speaks to the character of God...He is great, good, loving, gracious, compassionate and slow to anger. And then, out of Who He is, He acts...He formed the earth and holds it together, He is always faithful, He does wonderful deeds for men, He is good to all and has compassion on all, He performs mighty acts and has a glorious kingdom. Our response is simple...to express words of gratefulness and thanksgiving. Our praise is to be offered to Him, for Who He is and all He has done.

I find it interesting that we are to have our minds filled with all these thoughts of gratefulness and then the natural response is for the words to flow out. Our words of gratefulness to God are from the abundance in our heart.

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."  Luke 6:43-45

Very simply...what fills, spills. What our heart is filled with will spill out in our conversation. The thoughts that we think will come out in our words. If there is no grateful thought then ingratitude is evident in what we say.

My prayer for us at this time of year is that we will fill ourselves up with thankfulness, gratitude and joy so that our speech is noticeably different from those we come in contact with. They need to see the God Who is and the God Who has done so much for us all.

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved."

Thoughts of Gratefulness

I have recently completed a series of messages during the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving with the aim of cultivating an attitude of gratefulness and thankfulness.

For many of us we may find it difficult to have this attitude when all of our life is swirling around us and seems to be out of control. We are troubled, confused, unsure of where everything is headed, feeling that we have been jilted and maybe even bitter.

We seem to have forgotten that this is not new. Even in the beginning of time, shortly after Creation, Adam and Eve had a hard time being grateful. Remember in the Genesis 1 account of Creation, we read over and over that when God had finished His work for that day, He saw that what He had made was good. And yet, in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve are confronted by Satan, he asks them the question, "Is it good?" He plants the seed of ungratefulness in their minds and they begin to question whether God is really good...what has He done for them lately...does He really have their best interest in mind. They forgot that God creates and says "It is good!" and that Satan destroys by saying, "Is it good?"

"Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are simply, painfully ungrateful for what God gave. Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other." - Ann Voskamp - "One Thousand Gifts"

There it is...we fall into the same trap. We forget all that the Scriptures tell us about being grateful.

"But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." - Romans 6:17-18

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" - Hebrews 12:28

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15

We need to be reminded that the basis of our gratefulness is the gracious gift of God.

It is interesting that the words GRACE, THANKS and JOY are connected in the Greek language. All three come from a similar root word.

The gracious gifts of God cause us to be thankful and we are in turn filled with joy.

Maybe you have found this to be true, that a LACK OF GRATITUDE = LACK OF JOY and that a LACK OF JOY = LACK OF GRATITUDE.

So to fight falling into this trap of ungratefulness and a joyless life, there are three things that we should begin to do:

1) Find something to be thankful for - (There is always something there if we look for it)
2) Thank God for it - (He is the One Who gave it)
3) Write it down - (We need to remember it)

Let's begin thinking thoughts of gratefulness.


"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved."

All Things New

I love the fact that God has been and continues to be at work restoring people to a right relationship with Himself.  Since Adam and Eve fell from their perfect condition, He has been at work and He hasn't given up yet!

In the Old Testament we read the accounts of God's chosen people, Israel, who continually disobeyed and turned from their God.  But He always came after them - asking them to repent, seek after Him, follow and love Him.  In the book of Ezekiel He makes this statement not just once, but twice.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26 & 11:19)

And so today, with you and I, He continues His work.  The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5 of all that God is up to.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

The desire that God has for us is that we might live in harmony with Him.  We are all dead because of sin.  Our deadness is demonstrated by the life we live which is centered around ourselves.  But God, in His love for us, sent His Only Son to die for us, in our place, to set us free from our sin and give us life.  The new life that we now live is to be demonstrated by being centered on God rather than ourselves.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The work that God is doing in us is a new work.  We are a new creation...the old has gone...newness has come to take its place.  Yet for many of us, myself included, we sometimes continue to live "as we were".  Nothing has changed or is changing.  We are comfortable with where we are.  We are satisfied with simply being "set free from the penalty of our sin".  But God wants to "re-create" us...to give us a new heart and spirit, to replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh.  He is desiring to move us along a path to restored relationship with Him so that we live in harmony with Him and are involved in the work that He has for us.  The truth is, He wants us to be different than before.  Each and every day moving in His direction...repenting of our sin, seeking after Him, following Him, obeying Him, loving Him.

And so, in this new year, will we be content and comfortable to stay where we are in our relationship with God?  Or will we desire to see His work in us move forward?  Will we continue to live for ourselves OR will we live for the One Who has saved us?


"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights rese

God Is With Us - Lessons From Joseph

 

 In recent days I have been reflecting on a wonderful phrase that we often hear at Christmas - "...and they will call him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23).

The truth is that, for those of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God is with us each and every day.  How often we need to be reminded of that!

I thought about the Biblical account of a man named Joseph...not the one from the New Testament, but rather the one from the Old Testament.  You remember him.  You can read all about him in Genesis 37 - 50.  He was:

• The son who is loved most
• The brother who is sold
• The servant who is set-up and accused
• The prisoner who is forgotten
• The dreamer who is restored
• The leader who is resourceful
• The ruler who is secretive
• The dead one who is now alive
• The man who is forgiving

His was one crazy life...full of ups and downs, twists and turns, explainable and unexplainable actions...yet, through it all, one constant remained - God was with Joseph!

It is stated for us throughout his account:

"The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered..." (Genesis 39:2)

"When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes..." (Genesis 39:3-4)

"...the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything that Potiphar had..." (Genesis 39:5)

"But while Joseph was there in prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor..." (Genesis 39:20-21)

"...the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23)

Even Pharaoh noticed it and said,

"Can we find anyone like this man (Joseph), one in whom is the Spirit of God?" (Genesis 41:38)

Joseph must have wondered what was going on in his crazy life, but he responded with an interesting attitude...it was an attitude of total trust and obedience.  He must have believed and seen that God was with him.  We never read of him complaining, whining, or crying about his circumstances.  There is never a question that he utters towards God.  Rather, there is a confidence in his God and the belief that God is working everything out for His purpose.

Listen to what he says to his brothers when he finally reveals himself to them:

"...do not be distressed and...angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." (Genesis 45:5)

"But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant in earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:7)

"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." (Genesis 45:8)

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

Referring to how Joseph could do this, I heard Andy Stanley ask the question, "How does someone live when they realize that God is with them?"  I think the answer is, just how Joseph lived!

You see, as someone else has said, "This is not a story of the success of Joseph; rather it is a story of God's faithfulness to His promises."

Your life and my life is very similar to Joseph's...it is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and those explainable and unexplainable actions.  So, how will you live when you realize that God is with you?  How will I?

Sitting in the seat of this wild ride that we have been on for the last 2 years, I have had to ask...how will I live when I realize that God is with me?  I have had to choose to be obedient and have total trust in my God who has said:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

You can choose this as well - because you see - this is not a story of the success of __________ (insert your name here); rather it is a story of God's faithfulness to His promises!

Your life and all that is occurring in it is telling a story about God and how He is faithful to all that He has promised to those of us that are following Him.  So live well!

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved."

Reminders

A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege of gathering to worship with many friends at a previous church ministry. We always enjoy returning "home" to see familiar faces and catch up on what is going on in the lives of others. As the service closed, a particular song was sung...a well known, well traveled classic..."Be Still My Soul".

Sometimes, the road that God allows us to go down is challenging...that would describe our road lately. But the truth remains that God is still at work and He is with us each step of the journey. As I listened (because I could not get anything to come from my mouth without tears), I thought on the powerful concepts contained in the words of this song. Concepts like "the Lord is on my side"; "patiently wait in difficult times"; "leave to God to order and provide"; "He will remain faithful"; "He guides in the future as He has in the past"; "don't let anything shake your confidence in Him"; "on the dark path we understand better His love and His heart"; "someday a better time and place is coming"; "praise needs to begin now and be directed to Him". Great concepts that I needed to be reminded of and hold tightly to.

Read (and maybe sing) these words for yourself right here:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. 

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
 
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
 
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
 
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Public Domain

Making Much of Him

These days I am enjoying some quality quiet time in my car during my lengthy travels back and forth to work.  It has given me the opportunity to listen to some great talks, podcasts and music.  The other evening as I made my way home I was particularly struck by a very familiar song from one of my favorite artists.  With my mind focused on this time of the year I sang along with Steven Curtis Chapman's "Much About You" and the words seemed to shine in a little different light.

As many of you may know, right about now my wife loves to have each member of our family set some goals for the new year (typical A-type)!  I always tend to hold back some, not because I don't want to accomplish anything in the coming year and not out of fear that I might possibly fail in completing my stated goals.  No, I think its simply because I am not an A-type!  I do want to have purpose in the upcoming year.  I do want to see all that God has for me.  I do want to accomplish some amazing things...but why?

I think for this coming year, more than other years in the past, I want to make much of God.  I want Him to be seen in my life (John 3:30).  I want to give Him more credit for what He is doing (Luke 5:26).  I want to be busy at the work He has given me to do, but not with the goal of bringing the attention my way, but rather His way.

So, as you read through the words of this song below, may your mind and heart be captivated as mine were and together, may we offer our lives to be taken and used to "make much of Him" in 2013.

Much Of You
"How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
Cause I'm just a whisper
And You are the thunder and

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You
For all eternity

I want to make much of You Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You
I want to make much of You
Much of You Jesus"

Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
© 2004 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Primary Wave Brian (Chapman Sp Acct) (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.)

Book Review: The Church Being Radical Together

I have enjoyed reading the straight-forward and "to the point" writings of David Platt. In fact, in light of moving to a new ministry, I have just re-read, "Radical Together". In this follow-up to his book "Radical", that was directed at individuals, he takes aim at the place where these individuals gather, the local church.

He seeks to answer this one question, "How can we in the church best unleash the people of God in the Spirit of God with the Word of God for the glory of God in the world?" He acknowledges that the local church can "actually prevent God's people from accomplishing God's purpose." From there he looks at six big ideas that are essential for us, as a local church, if we are to really accomplish what God intends for us to do.

The six ideas are these:
1. The worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church.
2. The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work.
3. The Word does the work.
4. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people.
5. We are living - and longing - for the end of the world.
6. We are selfless followers of a self-centered God.

Through personal stories from his own life and his church, he sheds light on all that would distract us from being the people of God in this world. He reminds us of very familiar sections of the Scriptures that clearly call us to a seemingly radical lifestyle in our present-day American culture. Therein is a challenge to much of what you and I have been doing in our churches. This book is one that should be read and reflected on often by those in church leadership positions. I believe that God intended us to impact this world for Him and that demands that we be "Radical Together".

Note - for full disclosure - I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review as a part of their Blogging for Books program.

Book Review: Finding The Real You

I have been a fan of Mark Batterson since I picked up his first book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I enjoy his straightforward style of writing that makes it seem like he is sitting across from you at a table having a one-on-one conversation. Based on his other books, I was excited to open up Soulprint and see where the conversation would lead…and I was not disappointed.

In Soulprint, he begins and ends with this thought, “There has never been and never will be anyone else like you. But that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you”.  Through each chapter the reader is taken on a journey of self-discovery. You will be encouraged to find your “soulprint” by looking at your life through the eyes of God. Using the example of the life of David in the Old Testament, Mark points out how God directed David to fulfill his destiny and, in the process, shows us how we can learn those same lessons. Each chapter is full of insightful thoughts on David’s life, as well as challenging and sometimes uncomfortable comments on how we live our lives today.

Soulprint is an excellent, easy read that will challenge you to examine your life in a bigger, God-sized view. I would consider this a must-read for everyone that is looking to have their life make an impact for God in their sphere of influence. Through your own self-discovery, you will see how uniquely God has made you, so that you can live your life to the fullest and honor and worship the God Who made you!

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.