The GENEROUS Challenge
We are challenging our church family to a challenge of Generosity from now through Easter. Hopefully, this will kickstart a movement of a generous lifestyle among our people. Hopefully, it’s not just a phase. Here are the four steps to the challenge:
Circling God’s Promises
This past Sunday at LGC, we discussed one of the most common hindrances to an effective prayer life that ails a lot of Christians. And that is not knowing how to pray because we don’t understand God’s promises to us.
I’ll admit it. I’ve spent a lot of my life as a follower of Christ praying general, vague prayers along the lines of: “Lord, bless me. Bless my family. Bless my church, etc.” Not that there’s anything wrong with a prayer requesting God’s blessing. But like many of you, I have realized that often my prayers don’t go beyond that level. I’m not really asking for anything specific.
When Jesus came face to face with Bartimaeus, the blind beggar on the roadside just outside Jericho, He made no assumptions about what it was Bartimaeus wanted. In fact, He posed a question. A question that possibly caught others off-guard. But not Bartimaeus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51; NLT). Why the question? Doesn’t Jesus know His need? Can’t He see it? Can’t He guess? But yet He asks. Without having to think for a moment, the beggar says, “Teacher, I want to see!” And so… Jesus heals him.
I believe Jesus poses the question so that Bartimaeus had to articulate his request specifically.
Many times, we don’t know how to pray because we don’t know what we can ask for. We don’t seem to question God’s power very often. We know He’s powerful. What we question is whether He wants to apply that power to our situation.
This past Sunday, I challenged our church family to write out a specific prayer request on a card we had made and then put it in a prominent spot where they would see it daily for the next 24 days. And each time we see the card during that time-frame, we are to pray specifically for that request. However, that wasn’t it.
The back of the card was blank. I also challenged them to ask God to lead them to a scriptural promise that was confirmed in Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20) so they could have a basis for believing.
For the next 24 days, I am praying for our church’s meeting location. Specifically, I am praying for a specific building where we can meet that will be a more permanent home aligning with our God-given vision for the church. (Our current meeting spot has an expiration date on it. Details to come.) The promise on which I am basing my prayer: “[Jesus] is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; He shuts doors, and no one can open them. I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut” (Revelation 3:7,8; NLT).
What scriptural promise are you circling as you pray your specific prayer?
Becoming Circle Makers
Inspired by the book, The Circle Maker by Pastor Mark Batterson (as discussed in my previous post), our LGC family will begin a four-week study on the subject of prayer during the month of February.
For the four Sunday mornings, Andy will share messages along this theme. And since “hearing the Word” is not enough according to James 1:22, but God wants us to act on what we hear, we are going to have an opportunity to corporately act on what we’ve learned.
On Wednesday nights in February (8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th), we will come together for a one-hour study on the subject based on a DVD curriculum hosted by the book’s author, Pastor Mark Batterson from National Community Church in Washington, D.C. After the study, we will take time to pray circles around our families, our church, our businesses, our dreams, and our futures. We will learn how to pray God’s promises over our situations, and hold on to those promises until we see God’s answer.
Join us on Sundays at 10:30 AM for messages that will inspire you to believe that God’s promises are for you and equip you to stand firm in them as they are your promises to hold onto.
Join us on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM for a small group that will equip you to put into practice what you learn. We need people to sign up for the small group especially if you will be making use of the childcare.
* Childcare will be available for the Wednesday evening hour. We will take up an offering to pay the babysitters.
** The Circle Maker book will be available for sale at LGC starting Sunday, January 22nd for $12 (regularly priced $19.99).
*** The Circle Maker Participant’s Guide is available at Hoerr’s Berean bookstore for $9.99. This is a supplemental guide that will help you in the small group discussions and is recommended, but not required.
The Circle Maker
I am really excited about where I see our church family going in the next month and beyond.
For most of 2011, God began speaking to me about wanting to take me further in my prayer life than I’ve ever been. He began showing me that the dreams He had given me for my life, my family, and my church were impossible unless He brought them to pass. My dependency upon Him began to grow. And slowly, I was driven to prayer more often. It began to come naturally to me as I saw no other way.
In October, I had the opportunity to hear a pastor named Mark Batterson speak at a session at Catalyst Conference. He pastors National Community Church in Washington, D.C. I had heard him before, and every time I liked him. What he had to say always spoke to me. I was inspired by his messages and his books I’ve read. But this particular session was special.
Mark shared the story of an ancient Jewish sage named Honi who became famous for saving a generation of Jews (one generation before Jesus) from a devastating drought through a prayer that was bold and made him look silly. But it was necessary… and it worked.
While he shared the story and then the application for our prayer lives, I was internally challenged. The Holy Spirit was doing something inside me. He was reminding me how foolish and impossible my dreams are without His intervention. He was reminding me that nothing is impossible with God. He was calling me back to prayer.
I am currently reading the book and letting the Holy Spirit speak to me as I meditate on how it communicates Gods Word to me. I have found it more natural to lead my wife in prayer, my kids in prayer, and to “pray without ceasing.”
I really look forward to this next chapter in my life and ministry. I can’t wait to see where God takes us as we learn to depend on Him and circle His promises in prayer.
Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. — Jesus in Matthew 7:7,8
Don’t Look Back!
Have you ever noticed how when you drive a car, the windshield is relatively massive compared to the rearview mirror? I’m sure you’ve noticed. But have you ever considered the reason?
When you’re driving you’re supposed to be moving FORWARD. You need clear sight. Clear vision to safely arrive where you’re going. So naturally, the windshield needs to be quite large to allow for clear vision. But while you’re driving, you need to occasionally look up to the rearview mirror to evaluate what is going on behind you. But you don’t focus on the rearview mirror. In fact, if you drove down the road with your focus on the rearview mirror, you would definitely crash. You might even hurt or, worse yet, kill someone.
I believe that ministry is the same. My focus as I lead my church needs to be on what lies ahead. I need clear vision so I can safely arrive at my destination. And ultimately, if I am truly leading people, we will arrive safely at that destination together.
However, if I am constantly looking BACK through my ministry rearview mirror, I will not only have no idea where I’m actually going, I may actually hurt people and leave a path of destruction behind me.
This morning, I was praying about the church I pastor. Currently, we are laying out our Mission, Vision, and Values on Sunday mornings this January. And so I was praying and giving God a chance to speak to me. As I did that, He ultimately led me to Philippians 3:13 & 14 in which Paul writes:
No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
Now, obviously Paul didn’t totally ignore his past. He was honest and open about his journey all throughout his letters (including 1 Timothy 1:15). In fact, the verses that preceded the quoted ones above are evidence that Paul didn’t pretend like his past didn’t happen. It happened and he was real about it. But that wasn’t where his focus was.
My focus are on where God is taking us. I am looking ahead and following God’s Spirit into the future. I dare to dream big and believe that God can deliver on dreams that are inspired by Him.
How about you? If you are wandering in life directionless and going nowhere, maybe it’s because you’re not looking forward. Maybe you’re living in the past and therefore, you’re moving backwards. Maybe you have no direction. I challenge you today, follow the words of the Apostle Paul. Don’t look back. Look forward. And move forward in faith.
The Monk and the Merchant
I received a gift in the mail a few weeks ago. And it was from an old friend who has blessed me in many ways over the years. Dave Ramsey.
Yes. I’m talking about that Dave Ramsey. No. I don’t know him personally. But he has really blessed me.
A few months ago, I was at a conference in Atlanta where I received three copies of his new book Entreleadership and three more books from him for FREE. Not only that, but several years ago, his practical wisdom based on Jesus’ truth led my family and me out of debt as a young couple. After our stupidity led us back into debt, his ministry is currently guiding us back out. I think it’s safe to say this relationship has been pretty one-sided and I’ve been on the receiving end. Thanks, Dave.
Anyway, I received a package in the mail from Dave. (Our church had led some 15 or 16 families through his Financial Peace University class. I believe this was his way of saying ‘thanks’ in addition to his ongoing investment in young leaders). He sent out a book to which he had written the forward. It is called The Monk and the Merchant by Terry Felber. I’d never heard of the book before. I’d never heard of Terry Felber. I didn’t even realize that there had been a legend on which the book was based. It turns out, I had been missing out.
In the book, a grandfather is imparting wisdom in his 19-year-old grandson who is himself setting out on manhood. The younger character was preparing to make some decisions that would determine the course of his life. What would he do with his life? How would he make his living? At the center of the decision was his question whether to pursue full-time, vocational ministry or go into the market and become a merchant. The grandfather shares his own journey with the boy and passes on several nuggets of wisdom along the way.
Of all the great things I read, my main walkaway points were:
1) Do what you love. That way you’ll never have to work a day in your life.
2) Put God at the center of your pursuit, and you’ll find blessing and favor at every turn.
and 3) Trials should develop your character, not crush your spirit.
I’ll admit, these were all three lessons I had heard before, but I really needed to be reminded of them. Yes, I’m past the decision of choosing what to do with my life. But the reminder that ministry was (and IS) the passion of my heart was vital to me right now.
I feel blessed to be where I am in life. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. But I’m thankful for the subtle reminders that bring me back to an attitude of gratitude with regards to the part I get to play in this world.
I would highly recommend The Monk and the Merchant to anyone, particularly young people who are at that crossroads of deciding what vocation to pursue. It very simply lays the groundwork for making clear-headed decisions and trusting God’s leading through our passions and desires as we stay centered on Him.
My Flying Leap of Faith
I remember the old Indiana Jones movie – I forget which one it was – where Indy stood at the edge of a large canyon that seemed to be bottomless. And on the other side of the canyon awaited the priceless relic for which he had spent the entire film searching. He stood there frantically looking for a way to get across. Not seeing any possibility and knowing that somewhere not too far behind him, his enemies were pursuing him, he remembered a verse from the Bible. (You may remember that the Bible played a very significant role in his pursuit of the Lost Ark of the Covenant.) Anyway, the verse was 2 Corinthians 5:7 where Paul says to the church, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (KJV). With that reminder, he closes his eyes and takes a step into the canyon. A step that could very likely end very badly. Or, on the other hand, it could end very well. (The chances were better, however, that it would end badly.)
With his eyes closed and his foot extended over the canyon, he lowered it, only to have it rest (just in time) on an invisible bridge. A bridge that had not been visible before this step of faith. (I can’t remember if it became visible once he was on it. But that’s beside the point.) The point is that he didn’t see the bridge until he took the step. And even after he stepped, it may have very well continued to be invisible except through the eyes of faith.
Recently, I took a step of faith. Very recently. In fact, it was less than one hour ago. I resigned the job I’ve had for the past five years to pursue what I believe is a God-given dream.
For the past five years, my primary source of income for my family has been through this company. It’s a great company. I’ve been thrilled to be a part of it. It has afforded me a lot of privileges and benefits I would have never been able to enjoy if it had not been for this company. But the time has come for me to say goodbye to it.
Now, you may be asking, So, what are you going to do now? How are you going to feed your family of five kids? How are you going to afford your mortgage? To which I answer, “I don’t know.” “I don’t know.” And “I don’t know.” I have no other plan but to follow the leading of God’s Spirit as I feel He has very clearly directed my wife and me to take this leap.
There was only one other time in my life when I felt so alive in faith. Living dangerously as I felt prompted by God’s Spirit. That was five years ago when I left a great church that paid me well and provided great benefits in order to move to a new city where I knew practically no one so I could help start a church with no promise of income or insurance or housing. I often joke that I could relate to Lloyd and Harry when they said, “We got no food! We got no jobs! Our pets heads are falling off!!!” (Well, two-thirds of that joke was true.) But I digress…
The point is that the Lord directed us into a season of living by faith at that point. Shortly after that leap, He provided me with a terrific job (the one I actually just resigned), free housing for four months, and we never missed a meal – as proven by my waistline.
This reminds me of the famous story of Abraham and his son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah from Genesis 22 in the Bible. God called Abraham to a tremendous leap of faith. This was not Abraham’s first leap. This had become a way of life for him. His first leap came years earlier when, at God’s direction, he left his life in his father’s homeland to go into the unknown. That was unheard of at that time. Young men grew up expecting to carry on their father’s legacy. Not leave it behind and start a new one. But that’s what God had called him to. And during the early years of that leap of faith, Abraham had some days when he believed that everything was going to work out well and other days when he wondered, maybe even doubted. (Ishmael, anyone?) But through it all, from God’s perspective anyway, Abraham’s faith never wavered, but actually grew stronger (Rom. 4:19-21).
Years after Abraham’s journey of faith began, God was still leading him further, deeper into it. Into places he would have NEVER gone without God’s leading. That’s when God asked him to do the unthinkable. Sacrifice his son. His only son. (Does that sound familiar to anyone?) The book of Hebrews in the Bible give us insight into Abraham’s thinking when he unbelievably obeyed God on this matter. It says, “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb. 11:19, NIV). So, believing that God could and would make things right when everything fell apart, he went forward in faith… In faith……………… In faith. (Those words just look so good to me right now. I couldn’t move past them.)
Maybe you know the rest of the story. On the way up the mountain, Isaac asks his father, “Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham answers, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:8, NIV). They get to the top of the mountain. They build the altar for the sacrifice. Abraham binds up his son and lays him on the altar. He raises the knife to kill his son for the sacrifice. God stops him while the knife is in mid-air. Abraham looks up from the altar and sees – what else? A ram caught in a thicket. Yeah. That’ll work!
They proceeded to sacrifice the ram that God had provided in place of Isaac. The story foreshadows the eventual coming of Jesus. There are so many correlations between Isaac and Jesus and ultimately, that lamb, which was a substitutionary sacrifice, and Jesus. I don’t want to get into all of that now. (You can listen to my sermon on this if you’d like. It was on March 27th.) But what I want to say is that Abraham didn’t know how it was going to work out. Just that it was going to.
I am aware of that fact that some people in my life will think I’m delusional. (Did I mention I have five kids and a mortgage?) I am aware of the fact that I could end up looking completely foolish if nothing comes of this. I am aware of the fact that the dream which I am pursuing as I set aside everything that has been normal to me for the past five years is one in which there is ZERO potential (from a human perspective) for any kind of decent income. That dream is my church. I am the pastor. But I haven’t been a very good one because I haven’t been fully committed to it as I’ve been torn between it and my “day job.”
But in order to pursue the dream, I have to let go of that which hinders me. I have to go “all in.” I have to take the leap. And ultimately, I know “the Lord will provide” because He already has. 
God’s Strength or My Weakness?
I came across a quote by Mother Theresa in a book I am reading. The book is Furious Pursuit by Tim King and Frank Martin. I highly recommend it. It’s one of the good books I’ve come across on the power of God’s Love and Grace. But I digress.
The quote began Chapter Five. It read: “[God] will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your own weakness.”
So, I ask myself, and I ask you a very important question. Which do you have more faith in: God’s ability or your inability? God’s strength or your weakness? God’s faithfulness or your faithlessness? God’s love or your shortcomings?
So, which is it?
May Christ increase, and may all of our circumstances and problems decrease. And may He use His Church to accomplish great things in this world for His glory.
Don’t Try. Trust.
I generally practice what I preach (by God’s grace). But like everyone else, sometimes I realize that I am not doing as well with that as I should be.
I often talk about “trusting in God.” In fact, I talk about it a lot. If someone is going through a hard time. My advice: “Don’t try. Trust.” And I mean it. Every word of it. (All three words anyway.) But when it comes to me practicing what I preach… well… let’s just say I’m learning, too.
When a problem arises, my usual response is to try to immediately fix it. So, I start thinking about what action steps I need to take to get through the problem. I tend to be a very deliberate person, so I don’t usually act on impulse. I generally gather all the information, think, get advice from people I respect and trust, and put together a plan of attack.
At first glance, you may think, That sounds pretty good. What’s the problem? But what I’m learning is that there is a problem with my response to adversity.
My first thought has always been, Okay. Something’s wrong. How do I fix it? What I feel that God has been teaching me over the past couple years is to reorder my thinking so that when adversity rears its ugly head, my thoughts are not focused on what I need to do, but on what God wants to do through the situation. Instead, my thoughts should be: Lord, I know that You love me, and I know that everything is under Your control. You cause all things to work together for my good. I trust in you. Lead me in this situation. That’s it.
Recently, Jessica, who is our children’s pastor, posted a very simple status update on her Facebook page. It simply read “Psalm 91.” I was curious what was in Psalm 91, so, I opened my Bible and read it.
I can’t express how much those words ministered to me as I read them that day.
My eyes watered. My throat swelled. My heart raced. And in that moment, a sense of peace and calm came over me.
Psalm 91 (NLT): 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. 4 He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, 6 nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 But you will see it with your eyes; you will see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. 11 For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 16 I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation.”
For the past week, I have meditated on these words and received them as God’s promises of love and affection for me and my family. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had moments of weakness. Moments where I needed to be reminded of these truths. I’ve had my share. But when my natural response would be to TRY something. To DO something. He is teaching me to TRUST.
I once heard Pastor Joseph Prince preach on a subject similar to this. He said that when he was young and worked as a lifeguard, he was trained to let a drowning victim give up before he was to attempt to save them. The reasoning was that, as long as the victim was trying, he was dangerous. He would more likely drown his rescuer than be rescued as long as he was flailing about. So, the lifeguard was trained to get close and wait for the drowning victim to QUIT TRYING before he could offer help.
I wonder how many times God has stood nearby, waiting for me to quit trying, so He could swoop in and save me.
UNcommon
I recently asked a question on my Twitter page to which I received some very good responses. That question: What is one thing that is very common, but when one other element/ingredient/thing is added to it, it becomes amazing?
The responses were great.
Mud is very common. But when it is massaged into a ball, a certain amount of powder is added to it, and a little more skillful massaging, it becomes a beautiful, decorative piece called Dorodango. (Don’t worry. I’d never heard of it either. But if you go to the link, you’ll see what I’m talking about.)
Clams are very common. Sand is very common. But when these two common things work together, a pearl is sometimes the result.
Perhaps my favorite response came from my friend, Amy, who said, “A blanket is very common. But add sleeves, and you have a Snuggie.” A truly amazing innovation!
I recently read 2 Corinthians 4 where Paul talks about how a great treasure was placed within flawed vessels to create a beautiful result. That result: the beautiful (and yet paradoxical) truth that God dwells in flawed people. How amazing is that!?!
In that chapter, Paul said, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (verses 6 & 7).
If you are a follower of Christ, meaning that you have acknowledged your hopelessness and sinfulness apart from Him and have put your faith in HIS provision for your salvation, then you have been made UNcommon. You were a very common man or woman. Made common by your flaws. By your brokenness. By your inability to do much of lasting worth on your own. And you were given a very UNcommon gift. The gift of Jesus Christ as your Savior and the Spirit of God to live within you. This makes you very UNcommon.
You are not common. You are UNcommon.
You are not ordinary. You are EXTRAordinary.
(And not because you’re so special, but because of the special One who lives within you.)
I wonder why we don’t see more UNcommon results in our lives and in our churches. Are you (like me) tired of the common and ordinary? Are you ready to see UNcommon results and EXTRAordinary living?
