Friday, January 28, 2011

Be Still


"...meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still." Psalm 4:4

How are you doing? Really, how are you? I know that when people ask us that question we usually give a short and pretty shallow answer like, “Oh I’m good, how are you?” Lately I’ve caught myself answering too many times with, “busy.” That is so wrong on so many levels! I can’t stand the idea of describing my life like that. But, doesn’t it seem like our lives are often filled with too much activity, and at times, too much noise? Because if the truth be known, the ultimate danger zone is when we’ve got too much going on, mixed with too much noise, leaving no room for God.

The Bible teaches us that there are many voices in the world and none without significance. We have a lot of voices saying a lot of different things; but the most important voice to hear is God’s. So, we need to make sure that we do whatever it takes to slow down and listen. That’s why I love this verse, because it paints a great picture of the importance of finding those moments where we can quiet down and hear from God.

Psalm 46:10 says something similar, “Be still, and know that I am God….” Did you know that God is always speaking to us? The problem is that we’re either too busy, or we have too much noise going on to be able to hear from Him. So, here is what I propose we do, let’s carve out a little time just to get quiet – I mean really quiet – don’t talk, don’t listen to music, cut out all background noise and just get with God, and listen. Grab your Bible and read it, pray a little, worship a little – but most of all, stay still and see what God says to your heart. I’d love to hear what God tells you, so please send me a note.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Say Good Things


“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 KJV

I have to tell you, I love this verse. It’s one of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. It holds two wonderful keys for how we should talk to people, and about people. The first is that our words should be edifying. To edify, literally means “to build up”, which tells us that our words can either build people up or tear them down. The second key is that God has given our words the ability to minister His grace into the lives of others. Too many of us are loose with our words and we say things that neither build up nor minister grace. Sometimes they are quite the opposite.

We have tradition at our church where we throw a little bagel party when someone transitions from our staff. We had one of those parties yesterday morning for three of our staff members who, for different reasons felt their time on staff had come to an end. I think the shortest tenure was 3 years, so these are folks we’ve gotten to know pretty well. We’ve faced some challenges together, we’ve seen some victories, and we’ve even shared a few disappointments. They are more than just our co-workers—they are our friends.

So, we go around the room and we let those who are leaving know how special they are to us and to the Lord. We share a lot of laughs, but usually a lot more tears. It’s always such a huge blessing to them and to us, because it’s real, it’s heartfelt and it’s totally a God thing. We always leave thinking that we should do this more often. Not the part of having folks leave, but the part of being encouraging to one another, while we’re still working together.

You know, there is nothing like the present. Let’s do something wild today! Why don’t you tell that person you see at the drive up window every morning that you love how they smile and how much you appreciate them coming to work super early just to have that coffee ready for you when you swing by on the way to work. Tell your receptionist that you appreciate the way they answer the phones and treat your customers with such respect. How about taking some time today to tell your co-workers two or three things that really cause them stand out to you. It’s not too late. You’ll be amazed by the power that a positive encouraging word will bring. Your words can build up and they can minister grace, so go for it, let ‘em fly!

With my love-

Jeff

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Doubly Blessed With Life


"Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double: Everlasting joy shall be theirs." Isaiah 61:7


First of all, we would like to wish all of our friends a very Happy New Year; may this be your very best year ever!

I wanted to write a special devo today to all of you ex-party-ers out there. If you were anything like me before meeting Jesus, then you know what New Year's Eve meant to us. It was party till you puked and then party some more until you got in some sort of trouble. Well, I've got some good news for you; this verse is for us.

Because we've made Jesus Lord of our lives, we no longer have to have wake up New Year's Day, lying there in bed or on the couch—as the foggy confusion of the night before begins to clear up, realizing that once again we've blown it and have acted like idiots. It's that moment when the temporary joy of the night before is replaced by an overwhelming sense of shame of your behavior, and instead of starting out the new year with confidence and excitement—you just feel miserable about yourself. Then, of course, you check your wallet and realize that once again you must have emptied it buying rounds of drinks for all of your new "so-called" friends. So you begin the year by feeling crummy, ashamed, hung over, and broke…wow, what fun, huh? You getting the picture, or am I just talking to myself?

But then Jesus came into our lives…the One who forgives us and changes us from the inside out. I am so thankful that the old life is long gone and not just gone, but replaced by the real life, a life of double. Remember, He's the one who said in John 10:10, "…I have come that you might have life and it MORE abundantly." That sounds like double dipping into life to me. Here in Isaiah He promises us that our shame is replaced with double honor, that our confusion is replaced with double peace, that our lack is replaced by double possessions, and that our sadness is replaced with double joy.

Now that's something we can celebrate every day, and not just once a year. So, thank You, Jesus, for loving us enough to lay down Your life so that we could experience the life of double!


"Father, we thank You for helping us to see the kind of life You have for us. The life of double—double honor, double peace, double possessions, and double joy. I choose to speak this over my life, my family, my work, my church, my friends, over every area of my life. I call 2011 my year of double! In Jesus' Name. Amen."