God Gave Me No Choice
Recently, God and I had a discussion and a heart-to-heart about some areas of reevaluation and renewal. We also have a discussion about several relevant issues relating to ministry which are simply out of my hands. God gave me no choice but to find success in Him. Yes, I could have looked elsewhere, but it would not be the real success only found in His Son, Christ.
By the way, this was a one sided discussion. I did the talking and God did the listening. I poured out my heart, my grief, my decisions and my desire to know the future on Him. I know He heard and I know He is answering; it will not be on my time, but His.
I got tired of beating myself up based on my desire for things that are out of my hands. I got tired of being disappointed in the actions of men and decided it was time to live in the fullness of God. I was tired of beating myself around because of what men wanted and ready to being what God wants!
Here is my prayer:
Holy Father,
I have prayed and desire to know Your plan for my life over and over. At every turn I wish for a simple direction and map to lead myself in the next step of life. Father, you know my struggles and my desires. You know when I hurt and when I buckle under pressure. Your desire for me is stronger than my own. While I try to figure it out, You have already done it. While I desire to see the end, You word tells me to trust, to hope and to pray.
As I recover from the desire to do it all, I leave it into Your hands. My Creator, you have given me no choice. If I want to live for You, I must be found holy to You. If I want to be there with You, I must depend upon You. Your word must guard my path each day and my thoughts each moment. Your Word must settle in my heart as they did in the psalmist David. My faith must be that of Joseph in the pit and in jail when he knew You had a better way. As Daniel prayed despite conflict, give me the strength to hit my knees before Your presence.
God, you know the future, because You hold it in your hands. help me to live in the present, but be ready for each opportunity You are going to provide. Change me and allow me to deal with the difficulties as they appear. Lord, You have given me no choice and I am glad. If I want to accomplish all, You must be there!
Almighty Father, change us!
My request of You, Your servant.
Transparency Week – Wednesday
Where to start on a long Wednesday? Wednesday took forever to end. After battling a sinus infection and body aches I was definitely ready for the day to end. After putting new floors in the house two weeks ago, volunteering at school last week and another day of volunteering this week, my head is about to to explode. For some reason i still smell sawdust even though the wood is far removed from my presence. Apparently saw dust has a tendency to linger in one’s sinuses for a while.
I will warn you ahead of time, I did not write last night because I was disappointed and upset. I needed a break from people and some time spent with family. I am blessed beyond measure with the family I have. Carrie is the greatest support one could have! Her diligence and her focus on the greater picture is amazing. I am truly blessed.
I write today still frustrated by silly things! I know the transparency is at times overwhelming and sometimes negative, but the fact is transparency is transparent. (Nice huh?) Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Unity Thoughts
Oh how I wish all Christians could get along, hold hands and skip down the yellow brick road to heaven! I long for a day when there are no earthly disputes over things I feel are silly and a waste of my time. People are people and that is the way it will always be. The immaturity of some influences others to separate themselves from the united group and begin to draw away followers after them. It is a shame we cannot be like the Redwood Trees of California.
Rooted Together
The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are three hundred feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. The redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots, but they all intertwine. They are locked to each other. When the storms come or the winds blow, the redwoods stand. They are locked to each other, and they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other.
(from Nelson’s Complete Book of Illustrations)
What lesson can the church learn from God’s mighty creation?
- Sticking together bears one another’s burdens.
- Sticking together provides strength to all.
- God’s creation is smarter than what we think.
Short-Sighted Vision = Harmful Futures
Short-sightedness is a detriment to the Christian life. Peter sums it up when he says,
“For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” (2 Peter 1.9; ESV)
Peter knows what it is like to become short-sighted…remember he denied Christ even though he was a glance away from Him (Luke 22.61; ESV). Christians become short-sighted when they are more concerned with the “I” of life instead of the “they.” When the self-interest of a few replace the interest of others, we have failed! Even the apostle Paul wrote of this in Philippians 2.3-4.
Where is your sight?
Pulling the Plug
Today, I am pulling the plug on a powerful opportunity. I have desired this opportunity for a while and it seemed as though everything was falling into place, when something happened causing the status of the goal to change. I know that is a great generality, but believe me, it is better than describing the whole thing.
It saddens me to pull the plug on this, but in the best interest of the whole, I must make my decision. I am saddened but it is something I fell I must do.
Me and Habakkuk
Our Wednesday night Bible study is diving into the book of Habakkuk and looking at his conversation with God. I am finding a pretty good friend in Habakkuk. I have read his work over and over, but I am growing closer to him each day. While I do not know much about the man, I still find his words fascinating and heartfelt. I encourage you to spend time with Habakkuk one day and see the powerful opportunity that awaits.
Habakkuk only takes 20 minutes, but the effects of his conversation with God are everlasting!
Final Thoughts:
Wednesday was rough but Thursday is better! I know God has a plan for everyday of our lives, it is up to us to stick with Him and see the plan work out!
Stick with God…He always wins!
Just my transparent thoughts,
Chris
“What I Love about the Church” by Katherine Gould, Guest Writer
I love that wherever I am…whatever state, country, or continent I am in or on, I can find…family. I know that I am HOME.
There is an instant connection because of who we are in Christ. What an absolutely beautiful gift!
It is like no other organism I have ever seen on earth, and the amazing thing is that it is not just physical-it is eternal! We can experience the gift on earth, and yet the Church will continue forever and ever because of what Christ promises.
We all look different, but we were all created in God’s image. We have the same Spirit residing in us as a seal that we belong. I love that we come in different shapes, sizes & colors. We have many different backgrounds and each have our own testimony. We have been given different gifts & abilities. Yet…the differences unite us. He has given each of us talents to serve in His Kingdom and commissioned us to use them as we serve God and each other. Then, He tells us that we each have an important place in the Body.
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body." ~1 Corinthians 12:12
We have a common bond in Christ and He offers us a special community which cannot be broken. We each have a place in His Kingdom! That is such awesome news!!
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." ~1 Corinthians 12:28
Because of Him, we all belong.
I do pray and long for the day that everyone truly feels that they DO belong…that we will value and appreciate the individual gifts God has given each member of the Body, as we continue to love and encourage each other through this journey of life and faith. We are not only called to seek and love the lost, but to take care of the needs of our spiritual family, too. We are asked to love as Christ loves us, serve, forgive, and bear each others burdens. We cannot say we do not need another member of the Body, because He has placed each of us here for a special purpose.
We are rooted in Christ, who IS love…therefore we are to love each other. That is who the Church is…an extension of Christ. We are the Church wherever we go! Each family member plays a vital role in the functioning of Christ’s Church, and should have every opportunity to fulfill God’s mission for His Kingdom.
Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. ~Ephesians 4:15-16
We were made to live in community. To love, to share, to cry, laugh, mourn, rejoice…to celebrate the mountaintops and trek through the valleys…together. The same passage in 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that "when one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." That’s what families do.
When we gather together, I honestly don’t see the differences in our color or language…neither does God, because our Father transcends all of that and calls us His children. I only see my brothers and sisters in Christ…the sons and daughters of a King…my family.
The Church is something I have known and been a part of my entire life. It has always been a safe place I can call home & I cannot imagine my life without the Church. It is something I have been connected to since birth, and those connections continue to be found all around the world.
I love that people I have never met in person have lifted me up in prayer while supporting & encouraging me, because we are part of the same Body and share that special bond in Christ. I love how "strangers" can become instant brothers and sisters who are very dear to my heart.
I love worshiping with my brothers & sisters here in China while knowing that the rest of my family will soon be gathering all over the world to also praise our Father. I love my family. I love the Church!!
Christ loves the Church, has redeemed His Church, calls us His own, gives us a new name & a place to belong. He offers us an eternal family and I look forward to the day when we will all gather together at our eternal home in heaven! Don’t you?!
______________________________________________________________
About Katherine Gould:
Katherine Gould feels blessed to have been involved in some type of youth ministry, campus ministry and/or mission work over the past 13 years. Our Father has led her on quite an adventure of faith, and currently that adventure has taken her to Beijing, China where she has been called to share the Good News with the beautiful people of China.
She is originally from Texas and cannot consume enough guacamole and Tex-Mex food, but has also gotten really good at using chopsticks to eat the amazing, authentic Chinese food! She also loves music, watching football, baseball & NASCAR; and being outdoors.
She is an alumni of both Lubbock Christian University (B.A., Family Studies, 2002) and Abilene Christian University (M.A., Christian Ministry, 2009). You can read more about her China musings at http://chinakat.theobloggers.com and you can find her twittering at http://www.twitter.com/ChinaKat79
______________________________________________________________
Personal Note:
Katherine’s desire to see people obey the gospel is clearly seen in her writings and her words. Her desire is authentic and a glowing example. I appreciate her taking time and writing the article above for the Preacher’s Pen. Thanks!
Just some thoughts,
Chris
Ten Promises for a Blessed Year
A resolution is nothing more that a promise each person makes oneself. Every year resolutions are made before the New Year even begins and many of them fade before the beginning of March. I believe many resolutions fall short because people lose motivation within a few weeks. If you are making spiritual resolutions this year, remember the “Ten Promises for a Blessed Year” below and let them be your motivation!
_____________________________________________________________________
Here are your “Ten Promises for a Blessed Year!”
1. The Promise of a Gift
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4.7; ESV)
2. The Promise of the Son
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2.29-32; ESV)
3. The Promise of the Spirit
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8.26; ESV)
4. The Promise of God
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13.5; ESV)
5. The Promise of a Rainbow
“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9.16; ESV)
6. The Promise of a Crown
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4.8; ESV)
7. The Promise of Better Promises
“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.” (Hebrews 8.6; ESV)
8. The Promise of Cleansing
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1.7; ESV)
9. The Promise of Forgiveness
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you…” (Matthew 6.14; ESV)
10. The Promise of Heaven
“And this is the promise that he made to us–eternal life.” (1 John 2.25; ESV)
_____________________________________________________________________
Just some Sunday thoughts,
Chris
Sunday’s Lessons – December 6th, 2009
Below is a copy of the morning’s lesson on “A View of the Cross through the Eyes of the People.” It is part of the “Five Views of the Cross” series. Be sure to give them all a look!
Here is a copy of the afternoon Bible class series I am teaching on Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Just my morning thoughts,
Chris
Podcast Feeds
Some of What I am Reading
I use Elegant Themes
