Tag: Obedience

Posted on

You are Worth More than you Think

You are worth more than you think. There are about eight billion people on the face of this planet. At some point, I believe every one of them has questioned their self-worth. Not knowing the value you contribute to God’s kingdom complicates your life. You spend way too much time chasing things that don’t matter.

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.” ― D.L. Moody.

How many outstanding achievements have you accomplished in your life that, in the long term, don’t matter? Was it a job title, a promotion, an income level, membership in the right club, acceptance by the right people, or some other recognition that drove you? Maybe it was the belief that significance, peace of mind, and meaning were just around the corner. Was it just one more task away?

Who Am I

The Bible is very clear on this issue. God created us in His image.

Genesis 1:27, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

God intentionally created humanity in his image. He instilled in us an inherent worth and value as humans. God crafted each person uniquely to reflect His image. Humanity has the attributes infused into us by God to be like Him.

Psalm 139:13, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

God has an intimate and personal relationship with you. He intimately forms each person, intricately shaping their innermost being. Furthermore, God highlights the sanctity of life and the profound value God places on each person, even before birth.

Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

We should acknowledge that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, reflecting the creativity and wisdom of God. We should have a sense of wonder as we consider the beauty and complexity of God’s design in us. It speaks to the intentionality of our existence.

Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

God has a predetermined plan and calling for every individual, marking them for a particular purpose. This concept reminds us that we are not mere accidents or haphazard creations. God intentionally crafted us with a specific intention in mind. Meanwhile, we possess free will to pursue this intent. It’s crucial not to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Each of us is unique, with our own distinct journey and narrative. I cannot be you, and you cannot be me.

Psalm 100:3, "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."

God’s people should foster a sense of belonging and dependence on God, reminding us of our need for his guidance and provision. Hence, we understand we are part of something bigger than ourselves.

Why Do I Matter?

Colossians 1:16, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."

This verse underscores the sovereignty and authority of Christ over all creation. It reinforces the idea that our purpose is grounded in him. Everything is created for Him, not us, Him. God did not create us to seek recognition for ourselves, but to glorify our Creator.

Job 33:4, "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."

God’s Spirit reminds us that our existence is not independent of God but depends on his ongoing life-giving power.

Ephesians 2:10. "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

We aren’t merely the result of divine creation. Our intricate design serves a distinct purpose, emphasizing the importance of living courageously. These predetermined deeds, prepared by God, are guideposts along our journey. They urge us to lead lives that reflect honor and glorify Him through our actions. Conversely, everything we possess, past and future, originates not from our own endeavors but as gifts bestowed upon us by God, intended to glorify Him.

Revelation 4:11, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

God created our very existence to glorify Christ. He is worthy of our praise.

1 Timothy 4:4, "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."

God created nothing that we should look down upon, including weaknesses and faults. We should use all that we are to glorify Him.His power makes us strong in our weaknesses.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Regardless, God will exalt you for your steadfastness and dedication no matter your path’s length or difficulty. The journey of life was never meant to be without challenges.

1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."
Posted on

One Person Can make a Difference

One Person can make a difference. I know many of us don’t believe it can be us. We believe we have an impact on our families and friends, but that is not a real difference in the world. It seems like one more drop of water in the ocean, one more grain of sand on the beach.

The 1969 essay by Loren Eiseley entitled “The Star Thrower” described a man who didn’t look at the totality of his effort but the importance of making an effort. There is a concluding statement that says, “ Only then I allowed myself to think, He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be others.” What gives me hope is not that I would change the world, but maybe, through my actions, there may be others who can and will.

Matthew 17:20, “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

There are people like Micheal J. Fox who have raised billions for Parkinson’s research. Jane Kristen Marczewski (Nightbirde) used her short-lived fame from AGT to proclaim that we all have a loving God, even in bad times. These are contemporaries who used their circumstances to change the world. They exposed people to needs and provided hope. But most of us don’t have that stage. Our sphere of influence is small; our accomplishments are mundane.

After Us Will Be Others

Eiseley’s “After Us, There Will Be Others” should be our rallying cry. Helping one person a day, week, or month might catalyze world change. Even in our suffering, we can provide hope. There is not even one of us that will not leave a legacy. The question is, what will that legacy be? God has given us everything to stimulate the “Butterfly Effect” for eternity. We can set in motion the dominoes that create change for generations to come. It is our actions that save a life for eternity. It is not the totality of our effort but the importance of making an effort. We don’t know what God has in store.

1 Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

If you spend the rest of your life impacting just one person for Christ, you may save millions. That person may save two, and those two each save three. This ripple effect continues until Christ returns, potentially saving millions. One person can make a difference.

We Each Have a Story

We each have a story. Our lives ebb and tide with the effects of a fallen world. Unfortunately for the teller but exuberating to the listener, great stories start with great tragedy. The definition of a great tragedy is different for different people. As a North American, we do not see tragedy like a South American might. Many people live everyday lives that I find hard to comprehend.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

But all these stories must be lived and told. The overcoming must be passed down from generation to generation so that others might have hope. The overcoming, Christ’s intimate intersection with our lives, must be kept alive. When we see the tragedy as tragedy, we lose sight of God’s great plan for our lives. We come alive when we can see tragedy as the genesis of a great story of salvation and redemption.

James 3:4, “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

Tragedy is tragedy, deep, dark, and depressing. But the outcome, the final scene, does not have to be. It can end as one of the greatest stories ever told, and that story can change the world.

One Person Can Make a Difference

One person can make a difference in the life of another. God planned it that way. Have hope. Seek compassion, love, and grace from the creator of the universe, and he will give you a mighty story that will comfort listeners long after your passing.

Matthew 25:21, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”
Posted on

A Testimony to Anger

This is a testimony to anger and a path to a better life. This post is my personal journey with anger, from being consumed by it to finding love instead. I used to be fiercely angry, aimless, and dangerous. Picture an energized metal ball bouncing unpredictably through the lives of others. That was me—without direction, without control. My anger lost its origin over time; there was a trigger once, but it faded, leaving behind only a lingering sense of rage. It became my identity. I know this because I lived it throughout my teenage years and early adulthood. My anger was pervasive, coloring everything I saw and did. I couldn’t satisfy it; it constantly craved more fuel, whether it was a perceived slight, a sideways glance, or a hint of condescension.

Proverbs 29:11, "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end."

Others tried to offer assistance, but I stubbornly refused to listen. In my mind, the problem wasn’t my anger; it was everyone else’s foolishness. I believed it was their issue to deal with, not mine. Reconciling with the root cause of my anger seemed futile because it had long ceased to exist. My expression of frustration wasn’t always through overt anger; it mostly manifested as sarcasm, skepticism, or a tendency to take the opposite stance.

“To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.” – Isaac Watts.

What Changed

My job required me to interface with construction workers. I was visiting a job site when a Control Foreman took me aside. We walked over to his pickup truck. He opened the passenger side door and then the glove compartment. After which, he pulled out a silver revolver, not to threaten me or try to intimidate me; he just made a statement. He told me I was an adult, and if I couldn’t find a way to control my anger, one of these would be my end. Someone could be desperate enough to do the unthinkable. I was angry, not stupid; I understood. I had to change.

Ecclesiastes 7:9, "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."

The transformation was gradual, spanning over many years. Initially, I didn’t focus on suppressing my anger but rather on controlling how I expressed it. Despite the turmoil within, I managed to hold back the words that would have otherwise poured out in frustration. Yet, this approach felt draining and unsustainable. I knew there had to be a more effective solution.

Turning to the Bible was a decision born out of necessity rather than religious fervor. Though I had been baptized in my youth, my understanding of its teachings was minimal. My intention wasn’t to seek salvation but rather to find a practical solution to my inner turmoil. I committed to reading its cover every year for eight years, drawn to its wealth of wisdom on navigating life (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, for example). Even if Jesus were merely a fictional character, the advice attributed to him was undeniably thought-provoking and insightful.

Matthew 5:22, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."

What Really Changed

The actual testimony to my anger transformation started slowly with a book by Lee Strobel entitled “The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus.” Strobel methodically goes through the historical test used to validate any ancient text. These are the same criteria used on all historical documents to validate the authenticity of their writing. Lee Strobel was an atheistic former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. He challenged a dozen experts with doctorates from schools like Cambridge, Princeton, and Brandeis concerning their evidence concerning the New Testament. He concluded that the New Testament was accurate and historically true. Christ walked the face of the earth. His death and resurrection happened. The miracles were not make-believe.

Now I had a decision to make. What is my response if everything written in the New Testament is historically true and Jesus did what is written to have done? It was one of the watershed moments in my life. I needed to go to church. I needed the input of others to understand my new revelation better.

What is Still Changing

Colossians 1:16, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."

The change that is still going on in my life is that I now understand that God cares for me as an individual, not as part of a collective whole. He created me uniquely and specifically for the purpose He has for me. His will can not be denied or thwarted. I do not have to defend myself; He will do it for me. He has ultimate control. People do not offend me; they offend Him and His creation.

Ephesians 4:26,  “In your anger do not sin"

Even now, the lingering testament to my struggle with anger is my persistent quest for control. This misplaced desire often leads to frustration, igniting the familiar flame of anger within me. I’ve come to recognize that this aspect of my personality is part of how God has designed me. However, I’ve also gained insight into the purpose and meaning behind my anger. It serves as a signal, indicating when I’ve strayed from God’s intended path for my life. In those moments, I take a deep breath, seek forgiveness through prayer, and endeavor to realign myself with His will. Only by surrendering to His purpose can I truly find peace within.

For those of you who struggle with anger, I pray that God gives you the courage to surrender to His will and reap the peace that comes with that surrender. 

Ephesians 1:4-6, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
Posted on

God-Given Gifts

God-given gifts, do we understand the difference between Spiritual gifts and natural gifts? Do we think they are the same? An interesting discussion came up the other day, and it was a subject that seemed so intuitive that I’d never brought it up. What is intuitive to me may not be to someone else—an example. I saw an article in an outdoor magazine (ezine); it showed a tree with a yellow, blue, and red paint stripe. The headline said (paraphrase), “Knowing what this means can save your life.” My initial thought was, if you don’t know what that means, what are you doing in the woods? Then, I recalled that I was not born with that knowledge; someone else gave it to me at some point.

1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.”

God prepares leaders with a specific place and task in mind. Training methods are adapted to the mission, and natural and spiritual gifts are given with a clear purpose. – J. Oswald Sanders

Natural Gifts

I spend many waking hours thinking about and talking to others about living within God’s purpose for our lives. It is the most critical aspect of finding happiness, purpose, and meaning. When I think about the elements of my design and the story God has written about my life, I think of talent, passion, resources, opportunities, and experiences. God provides these building blocks as mileposts on our journey, our God-given natural gifts. But we have a choice on how to use them. We can use them to help others and glorify Christ, or we can use them for worldly success and fame. Only one of those will bring happiness, purpose, and meaning; the other leads to hunger.

1 Corinthians 2:14, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

I’ve mentioned before that the Bushman of the Kalahari Desert has a saying: There are two hungers: the little hunger for food and the great hunger for meaning. We spend most of our lives feeding the little hunger while the great hunger starve. In many cases, we use our God-given natural gifts to chase self-interest to satisfy the great hunger. When we do not achieve a sense of meaning, we try harder. We lead a life of quiet desperation, sometimes cloaked in worldly success. Eventually, the great hunger dies of neglect.

Spiritual Gifts

Your spiritual gifts were not given for your own benefit but for the benefit of others, just as other people were given gifts for your benefit. – Rick Warren

The magic sauce is Spiritual Gifts. Spiritual gifts are divine enablements for ministry given by the Holy Spirit. It is what God brings to you once you come to know Him. The God-given spirit inside you comes alive. It guides you to another level of awareness. You become less self-focused and more other-focused. But what is different about Spiritual gifts than natural gifts?

1 Corinthians 12:7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Spiritual gifts are the God-given gifts that the Spirit bestows on us so that we can expand God’s Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians, it mentions apostles, second prophets, third teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helping, guidance, and different kinds of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:28, “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”

I think of it this way: more conventionally. Some of us are very good at memorizing and recalling Bible verses; some are very good at heart-to-heart conversations; maybe storytelling is your thing; others are good public speakers or teachers. We should use these gifts to expand the Kingdom within our natural gifts. If your vocation and talent is teaching in a school system, do you use it to teach at church? Is public speaking an aspect of your job? Do you also use it to spread the Gospel on mission trips, locally or internationally? If you are a project manager at work, do you use it to help plan Christian outreach?

Another source of information on Spiritual Gifts is Tim Keller’s explanation, “Decerning and Exercising Spiritual Gifts.”

The Blessing and the Curse

I was given my first management position at 14, detasselling corn. You must have lived on a large midwestern United States farm to know what that is, but it’s irrelevant to the story. It seemed that I eventually managed people in almost every job I have had. Sometimes, I thought it was my curse; I liked being a worker bee. When I left work, I wanted to be given a job and left alone to do it. But that wasn’t God’s plan for me. Once I accepted that it was one of my natural and spiritual gifts, I started seeking to be good at it, which made me like it. It didn’t take long before I led a mission trip and helped to organize volunteers. My natural gift was also one of my Spiritual gifts when I applied it to expanding the Kingdom. We can have more than one.

Romans 12:6, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly.”

I know some teachers want to get away from teaching outside of school; I get that. But if your spiritual gift is teaching, teach others about Christ, find a way. If you are a nurse, a very demanding job, looking after people when not working may not be in your wheelhouse. If compassion is your Spiritual gift, find a way to use it.

In Summary

Your natural and spiritual gifts do not have to be used similarly. Doing something repetitively will make you proficient but may not indicate your actual natural gift. The desire to make more money can lead us to proficiencies in ungifted areas. I know a lot of managers or “leaders” who are not gifted; they have just done the job long enough to get promoted.

We all have God-given attributes bestowed on us at our creation that we can use as we wish. A great secular songwriter is a great songwriter because of God’s natural gift. We must overlay our natural gifts with our Spiritual gifts to glorify God.

Start where you are, do anything you can do, and do everything you can until you find something you must do! That something is probably your spiritual gift. – Jim George

Posted on

Work as an Identity in the New Year

As we move into yet another year, the first question we should contemplate is where work as an identity fits into my New Year’s resolutions.  Keep in mind that the first act in human history is God working.  God was working before creation.  Genesis One describes a God that is continually working.  God is always moving; He is always doing something.  Work is a declaration of God’s identity.  Our identity is grounded in God’s identity, which is that of a working God.  So, what should we resolve to do in the new year regarding work?

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

“To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, power, or popularity, but in God’s infinite love, to that degree can we let go of our need to judge.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit

REST

If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy.

Before we can resolve how much to do, we must understand how much we can rest from doing.  Rest is not the act of doing nothing; it is the rejuvenation of our soul so that we can continue to work; resting in work, not from work; rest is the natural extension of work.  To live in synchronicity with God is to rest.  There is dignity in all work; all work is dignified in the eyes of God.  Rest is not the equivalent of doing nothing.

Genesis 2:2, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

God rested from the work of creating.  Rest can be listening, seeing, thinking, or praying; all can be acts of worship if centered on God.  Resting can be mowing the lawn if that is your way of relaxing.  Resting can be any activity that brings you closer to God.

You can mistake adrenaline for the power of the spirit.  If there is no rest, there is no sustainable productivity.  Set aside a day every week where you let God guide your activities.  Spend time living with God, not just for God.

AMBITION

I am excellent not because of who I compete against but because of who I work for.

Another characteristic we must understand about ourselves is ambition.  How much and what kind of ambition should I have?  Ambition is an attribute of God’s identity.  In Genesis, God said it was very good.  He was impressed with His own creation.  He recognized a job well done.

Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:25, "And God saw that it was good."
Genesis 1: 31, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good"

Do we believe that our work matters because we matter, or is it the other way around; we matter only if our work matters.  Our satisfaction does not come from the work we are assigned, but the fact that we matter is why God gave us work to do.  In everything we do, physical work, thinking, reading, or listening, we are to glorify God in the way we do it.  Work is a resource for us to demonstrate who God is.  We are flawed stewards, not proprietors.  Everything we have is God’s, given to us to manage, not to possess.  Our work is a resource God gives us to manage, not own.  Our ambition should be centered on doing a job well because it is an attribute of who we are in Christ, not because it gets us ahead in the world.

Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Nothing defames God more than a lazy Christian at work.  Your work is a gift from God to expand His kingdom here on Earth.  Not doing your best demonstrates to others a lazy God who does not value work.

BOREDOM

Discipline is the pathway to freedom.

Boredom, under-challenged or misplaced priorities, leads to arrogance and despair.  Burnout is not a function of overwork but a function of how we work; where do we find our identity?  Our identity in Christ is about putting our emotions between the banks of the river.  Because what we are doing amplifies God’s blessings in our life, not our worldly identity, we need to get up from self-introspection, put God’s plan for our life in gear, and think about our concept of identity later.  We can not let the world’s view of success interfere with God’s plan.  Burnout may be a manifestation of being misaligned with God’s plan for your life.  It is not the work itself but the nature of the work.

Ephesians 5:15-16, "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

Trying to satisfy the world’s hunger for success is not sustainable; if what God gave you is not enough, or if God Himself is not enough, then nothing is enough.

Who is your boss?  To whom are you responsible?  Who are you afraid of disappointing?

WE ARE NEVER NOT REPRESENTING JESUS

Accountability, Attitude, and Responsibility belong to us.  We never are not representing Jesus.  We own excellence.  Our attitude is not determined by our work context but by who we serve.  We are the salt of the world, and we are the light of the world;  we are not becoming salt and light; we are.  The way we work is an expression of who we are in Christ.

If we allow our success to go to our head because we identify with the work we do, not who we serve, we will constantly be dealing with exhaustion, depression, and a lack of self-worth.  Everything comes from God for use to glorify Him.

In 2024, resolve to reflect who you are in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.  This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.  "
Posted on

Is the Prosperity Gospel What You Think?

Is the true prosperity gospel what we think? I cringe every time I hear someone imply that God will reward us for doing what is right. God created us, and He sent His son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. That is a gift we can never do enough to earn. Its value is beyond calculation. God is not a vending machine that rewards us for doing good. God expects us to do good. Nowhere in the Bible does God say, “Give your money to me, and I will double it back to you.” The scripture does not pertain to worldly treasure; it addresses the spirit. The Bible clearly states that God will ensure you have the resources you need to do His will, but He never promises that you will be rich by worldly standards.

Jeremiah 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord."

My understanding of God’s prosperity Gospel is that if you live according to His word, you will find peace, joy, and meaning no matter your circumstances. If you live according to worldly standards, you may obtain worldly prosperity but still battle anxiety, fear, discomfort, and emotional pain. God needs people at every level of humanity to share the Gospel with everyone at every level of humanity. He needs the poor to nurture the poor, the middle class to the middle class, sick to the sick, and the rich to the rich. He needs the craftsman to nurture the craftsman, the teacher to the teachers, and Kings to Kings. God will resource your needs according to His will.

HIS DESIGN

Revelation 1:3, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

The Prosperity Gospel is part of God’s grand design. He created everything, and in doing so, He created the right way to live. If we live according to His teachings, the natural outcome is spiritual prosperity. It is not a quid pro quo; it is His natural outcome. We may achieve success by worldly standards, or we may not. What we will achieve is meaning and purpose, and with that comes contentment and peace. We will be resourced according to His plan for our life, not according to the world. You will be without needs as you will not need anything you do not have. As flawed humans, we may want more than we need, but we will not go without.

Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance."

THE WORLDS DESIGN

When you live by worldly standards, not according to His will, you receive the natural results of your effort. Your display case is filled with trophies from a broken world. You will have trophies of broken relationships, fear of acceptance, failure or success, anxiety for the future, and a deep void of meaninglessness. You have all the trappings of prosperity without the joy. I know firsthand of this experience. Titles, positions of authority, power, houses, cars, and exotic vacations do not provide meaning. They are a way of distracting ourselves from our feelings. We convince ourselves we will be satisfied if we have a little more. It never comes. Every hilltop provides a view of the next hill; it is endless. Over time, it wears you down emotionally and sometimes physically. Stress kills.

Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

I mentioned in an earlier post that Skye Jethani, in his book “With: Reimagining the Way We Relate to God.” talks about Christians who “Live from God.” They live to please God so that God will bless them. God has and will continue to bless you because He loves you, not because you found the right formula to please Him. He doesn’t have an exchange calculator that tells Him how many blessings you’ve earned based on your output. If someone tries to convince you that your obedience will earn you something from God, turn away from them. It is a false doctrine—God’s blessings are free and overflowing to all who will receive them.

Matthew 13:16, "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."

FAMILY

We are sons and daughters of the God most high, heirs to His kingdom, a priestly nation. We are blessed.

Matthew 5:2-12, "And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
•	"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
•	"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
•	"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
•	"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
•	"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
•	"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
•	"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
•	"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
•	"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Posted on

Managing Spiritual Change in a Chaotic World

Managing any change in your life can be difficult. Managing Spiritual change is no different. Trying to become the person God made you to be is always a challenge. Change only happens when the pain required to change is less than the pain of staying the same. Many fail in this pain exchange when they say they want to change. We perceive the pain of making the change as more significant than what we are currently experiencing. We want to remove our current pain, but at what cost? Does managing Spiritual change have a return on the investment?

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines the outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” – Warren Wiersbe

1 Peter 5:6-7 "And God will exalt you in due time if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you."

PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN HIM

One of the critical assurances we possess when pursuing God’s vision for our lives is that when we locate the space where we place our trust in God enough to draw closer to Him, we will discover a profound joy that surpasses any previous experience. I understand that this notion may seem unconventional for some because it remains hidden from our immediate sight. The initial step is acknowledging God gives this to us out of His boundless love for us. There are no conditions or exchanges; it’s a selfless love that goes beyond comprehension. It remains steadfast, unaffected by our actions or choices.

Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

God is not human. He does not have the same frailties as we do. God does not act according to the preconceived notions we have. It is not a whim when he says he has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). It is a solid truth you can count on.

Numbers 23:19, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE

When considering the cost/benefit (sorry for the business jargon, it just seems to apply) of changing our lives to pursue God’s plan, we have to look at two scenarios. The first is the worldly scenario, where we weigh the discomfort of our personal life. How does it affect the relationships we have, the financial stability we have, and the sense of accomplishment? This scenario is a short-term perspective. The world is ever-changing. Perspectives change, culture changes, and attitudes change. Trying to sustain happiness in a fallen world is almost impossible. The cost of change today might seem too high. The cost of change tomorrow may seem cheap. The return changes with the wind.

The other approach has an eternal perspective. How does it affect that first conversation we have with God when we meet Him face to face? What happens when we get to Heaven?

Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

I would conjecture that the eternal perspective would win out every time if we believed in Heaven. The question is: Is Heaven real to us? If we believe that salvation will get us in, how bad can that be if we have no works? Do we want a true homecoming?

John 3:16," For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

We realize that our works or efforts cannot save us (Acts 16:31). The fact that we have accepted Christ as our savior gets us to Heaven. What does changing our life to mirror His plan get us?

THE PAYOUT

First, there is the submission issue:

Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This leads us to this sobering passage in Matthew:

Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven."

It comes down to this question: If I have genuinely accepted Christ as my savior and do not have a corresponding change in my behavior, have I truly accepted Christ in my heart?

As you contemplate your next move, consider this:

Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Posted on

Kingdom Impact – The Parable of Talents

Kingdom Impact is a cornerstone of our ministry; we use business sustainability to fund people impacting the Kingdom of God. From my time in third-world countries, I see how significant the Kingdom Impact can be when we invest very little money. We all have access to resources provided by God to sustain us. THe question is, how do we invest those resources? Do we trust God to meet our needs even when we are doing his work?

I hear and contribute to discussions concerning planning for retirement, college, weddings, investing in land, stocks and bonds, Gold, precious gems, and so on. What if we looked at the parable of the talents differently?

THE PARABLE OF TALENTS – Matthew 25:14-30

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them his property. To one, he gave five talents; to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

The Investment

He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his Master’s money.

The Reward

After a long time, the Master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His Master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.’

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered two talents to me; here, I have made two more.’ His Master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.’

The Reckoning

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

But his Master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

BIBLICALLY WHAT IS KINGDOM IMPACT INVESTMENT?

What if the actual investment was in saving souls, not gaining material wealth? The first man invested in a city-wide rally for Christ, and 100 people came to know Christ. The second man invested in a mission trip to a third-world country where some people accepted Christ. And the last man bought stock or Gold or precious gems where no one came to know Christ. Does the parable make more sense? Does it take on more kingdom impact?

Proverbs 16:8, "Better is a little with righteousness than vast revenues without justice."

THE KINGDOM IMPACT CHALLENGE

God challenges us to balance our need to survive and our need to have an impact. Survival in the United States is almost an oxymoron. We are so far beyond survival. But still, this is the condition we know. This environment is where we spend our entire lives. We can not quickly reorient ourselves to seeing survival as less.

Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

These thoughts come to me directly because of a very dear friend of mine. He is always looking for ways to increase his income in his retirement years, like converting cash to Gold because he thinks it is a better return. He owns land that he wants to convert into a rental property, providing a monthly stream. A start-up company he invested in that has been trying to get traction for years. He is incredibly talented; he has written one Christian book and is working on another. He and a couple of his friends have started a non-profit. But they are just side projects—things he would love to spend more time on if he had more money.

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.” – Hudson Taylor.

The Alternative

I’m not him; I am not giving advice. But what if he took the money he plans to buy Gold with and invested it into a marketing campaign to sell his current Christian book? What if he used it to promote his non-profit? What if he used it to help himself through the writing of his new book? Would God not find a way to keep him doing God’s work? Could the sale of the books surpass any interest income? Would the souls reaped justify the investment?

Philippians 4:19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

I am not picking on him or anyone. We all have this within us. The challenge of caring for ourselves in this world and helping impact the next. It is a struggle; only God can tell us which road to travel.

“The way you store up treasure in Heaven is by investing in getting people there.” – Rick Warren.

Posted on

The Truth about the Silent Lie

The silent lie is the most dangerous lie of all. It allows us to pretend we did nothing wrong while deceiving another. The silent lie is passive; it takes no effort. In many cases, we congratulate ourselves for holding our tongue. There are around fifty-four verses in the Bible that directly address lying.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”

We know when we have intentionally told a lie. It is called the black lie; we hate that term. We prefer to call it a little white lie. A little white lie sounds so much more acceptable. We know our words are not the truth the second they leave our lips. As we speak, we often wish there was another way to shed our guilt by telling the truth and still achieve our desired result. Lying is about achieving selfish results. At night, in the dark solitude of our bed, we pray for forgiveness.

“A lie that is half-truth is the darkest of all lies.” ― Alfred Tennyson

Lying by Omission

What about lying by omission, the silent lie? There are two broad categories of lying by omission. The first is when you say nothing when the other party draws a faulty conclusion in your favor. You watch them as they misinterpret your words, leading them to a conclusion. Maybe you intentionally crafted your words to mislead, feeling that their lack of comprehension is their problem. You spoke the truth in the exactness of your phrasing while knowing it would mislead. Lying by omissions can lead people to remember the true parts they heard while erasing the parts omitted or misrepresented.

Psalm 120:2, “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.”

Politicians have popularized another silent lie; it is deflection. They answer a direct question with an irrelevant fact. The implication is that the “fact” somehow answers the question. A politician is asked if they think their employment policies are effective considering the current 8% unemployment. They respond that there were 800,000 new jobs created in the last quarter. The implication is that they think their policy works without going on record as saying it does. The deflection gives plausible deniability later if needed.

Psalm 12:2, “They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.”

Constant lying can take a toll on the person lying, affecting their mental and emotional well-being. Keeping up with lies can be stressful and may lead to feelings of guilt or anxiety. It can ruin reputations and minimize future potential. There is a whole list of adverse effects of lying, both physical and emotional.

The Biggest Silent Lie

“When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.” ― Yevgeny Yevtushenko.

The biggest silent lie is when a Christian sees a person on the path of destruction and keeps quiet. Somehow, it is not their problem that the other person is destroying their future. Saying nothing does not betray Christ; it just avoids telling the truth. The silent lie is not telling the truth when the truth matters. Deliver the truth with compassion and love, but deliver it you must. Not speaking up is lying by omission, the silent lie. Watering down the truth to save face or avoid ridicule is a silent lie.

Proverbs 26:28, “A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”

We speak the truth if we genuinely care about those we say we love. We do not allow the lost to believe a faultshood.

Proverbs 14:5, “A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.”

There are many studies about the number of times a person lies daily. The majority conclusion is that everyone lies at least once or twice a day. That is right, everyone. We live in a broken world. The sixty-four-thousand-dollar question has two components. Do you lie to yourself by omission, refusing to allow yourself to believe the truth about yourself, and, by extension, lie to God about who you are? Does the silent lie hide aspects of your life that need open and honest communication with Christ? Trust is often the first casualty of lying. God already knows; you might as well come clean.

Psalm 101:7, “He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.”
Posted on

Surviving the Act of Caring

Surviving the act of caring is exhausting. The Bible teaches us to care for those around us, but at what cost? Most of us tabulate the cost in time or money; what must I give of myself to advance the well-being of another? My experience is that the long-term cost is emotional. It is living with the knowledge that the world is not a fair place. It is coping with the knowledge that we are only making a small dent in an enormous injustice.

Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Surviving the act of caring requires us to rationalize suffering. I struggle with staying awake at night and replaying my conversations with people in need. I try to understand the genesis of their environment. Where did this dystopia start? Why does it still exist? How can we, as caring, feeling people, allow this to continue? I engage with individuals living in the 21st century who lack access to basic utilities like running water in their homes. In their environment, criminal groups operate with impunity, free from the constraints of law enforcement, leaving the population vulnerable to government abuses and the influence of power-hungry individuals.

I am Only One

“I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”. ― Edward Everett Hale

I am but one person. I ponder these questions in the dark of the night when my mind will not rest. Am I doing enough? Is what I’m doing even significant?

We learn from the Bible that we are to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. There is no magic number of who we weep or rejoice with. God does not set a specific quota for us to fulfill; our sole responsibility is obedience, which comes with a cost. It also has a reward.

Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."

The reward is knowing we have done what God has placed before us. We have set aside our comfort to embrace those less fortunate. God requires that believers reflect His glory toward others. Christ suffered and died for us; what are we willing to do for others? The time I spend with these people is a great joy; it gives me hope for the future of humanity. In their present situation, they praise God for all they have. Most of my neighbors don’t see God in anything they claim as theirs. Who is worse off, the impoverished who rely on God or the wealthy with pride in their accomplishments?

Matthew 13:49, "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous."

I am not God.

I lose sleep because I am not God, I can’t speak righteousness into existence. Because I am not God, I can not command the earth to provide for its poor. I must trust that all that is and will be is the providence of the creator of the universe. My place is to be obedient to His call. And in that obedience, I will be protected.

Psalm 91:11, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

I am debating a “Gap Year.” The emotional drain of knowing is exhausting. I have ghosts of people in desperate situations swirling in my head day and night. With limited resources and unlimited opportunities, I question my impact. I am Sisyphus pushing that rock up a hill only to have it roll back again.

I am not Alone

As I reflect on Esther, who was orphaned, forced into exile in a distant land, and compelled to enter a pagan king’s harem, I’m reminded of the life-or-death choice she had to make in order to aid her people. Mordecai’s words resonate: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Perhaps, you and I were also destined for a purpose during this very moment. It’s possible that we’ve been placed here and now to fulfill precisely what God has commanded. Mordecai added:

Esther 4:14, "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place."

And if we don’t, God will raise another in our place. How do you survive the act of caring? Obedience and perspective. We do what we do because God has allowed us into His plan for another. It is a gift, not an obligation. We must understand that everything is under God’s purview. God leaves nothing to chance. Every action has meaning.

Ephesians 1:11, "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will."

Surviving the act of caring, we must have a great counselor, therapist, and guide. The good news is we do.

Purpose Driven Life Proudly powered by WordPress