Vision Collision

"'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11


Did you know that you're on God's mind today? Did you know that you're on His mind every day? The reason is simple. You're on His mind because He has a plan for your life.

This verse calls His "vision" for you His "thoughts." So, what kind of thoughts or visions does God have for us? According to this verse, they are thoughts of peace, and not of evil—a vision of a bright future, full of hope for every one of us. No one is exempt; God has a vision for every person who ever walked on the earth. But all too often we get in the way and come up with our own thoughts, our own visions, our own plans and we completely mess things up.

A "vision collision" is what happens when a person runs smack dab into the vision that God has for their lives. Unfortunately, many of us suffer from limited vision that's either defined by our circumstances, by our family and friends, or even by our past failures. But be encouraged today, because the Bible has tons of examples of what can happen when someone has a "vision collision."

David saw himself as the youngest member of his family, and least likely to succeed. His brothers saw him as a shepherd boy—but God saw him as the giant-killing king of Israel!

Gideon saw himself as a weakling and a coward—but God saw him as a mighty man of valor!

Moses saw himself as the stuttering caretaker of his father-in-law's sheep—but God saw him as an articulate deliverer of His people!

Peter saw himself as an emotionally unstable fisherman—but God saw him as rock, and a fisher of men!

Paul saw himself as the persecutor of the church--but God saw him as its protector!

The shepherds saw a baby in a manger—but God saw the Savior of the world!

So, what does God see when He thinks of you? He sees peace, not evil—and a future full of possibilities. So, isn't it time for you to replace the vision that you had for your life, and head out on the road of faith? Get serious and seek God with all your heart, and ask Him for your very own "vision collision."

What To Do When Your Family Is Not Perfect

"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?'" Genesis 4:9


Christmas is fast approaching and we're all probably getting ready for one—or more—of those traditional, annual holiday family gatherings. If we're honest, sometimes these family gatherings are clearly more of a curse than a blessing.

Have you ever experienced any conflicts or issues with your family that blow up over the holidays? Well, join the club! Apparently, even the first siblings on the earth couldn't get along very well. In this verse, God is asking Cain where his brother was, even though He knew that Cain had murdered Abel. Now, I doubt that any of us have actually murdered another member of our family...although we may have felt like it a time or two.

The holidays can bring out the best in us, but—if we're not careful—they can also bring out the worst in us. Can anyone say "amen" to that? When that happens, it can make the holidays miserable for everyone.

I remember a saying one of our Bible school instructors used to tell us: "To be fore-warned is to be forearmed." So, what can we do to proactively approach our time together with family and do more than just get along but actually enjoy it? Do you know what the secret is? It's learning to abide in the light of God's love.

"He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him." (1 John 2:10)

You see, love is a choice. Let's choose to love our families this holiday season. As we learn to abide in the light of God's love, we're empowered to love our brothers, our sisters, our weird aunts or uncles, and even our in-laws. When we love like this, nothing can cause us to stumble.

"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" (1 Peter 4:8)

It's amazing what a little love will do to help us avoid conflict. Love helps us to cover things that otherwise might bug us, or get us all worked up. When something is covered up, we don't see it. So may this year's Christmas get-together be our best ever as we choose to love our families with the same love that God has for us!


"Father, I thank You for my family. Even though none of us is perfect, I choose to love them in spite of my family's imperfections. I pray that I can be a vessel of Your unconditional love for every member of my family as I abide in Your light. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

You've Got A Gift So Use It!

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering…."
Romans 12:4-7


Yesterday we shared a meal, and showed a little appreciation to some of our volunteers here at our church. We shared this scripture and talked about God's master plan to connect us together through our work for Him. This verse reminds us that although there are many members in the Body of Christ—and even many members here in our local church—we are all unique. Did you know that there is no one on the planet just like you? You are one of a kind, and the really cool news is that God Himself has graced us each with gifts that are different, yet they complement one another.

Did you notice near the end of this passage that it encourages us to "use" the gifts that we've been given? You see, we get to tap into the grace of God every time we choose to use our gifts. Just think about that, you get the opportunity to connect with the grace of God every time put those gifts He has given you into action and serve others. But don't ever forget, those gifts that God has graced us with are not for us, but for others.

But what about the people who never use their gifts? They never serve, they never reach out to others, and they only live for themselves. And, there are a lot of people in this category. Well, the sad news is that they miss out on experiencing all that God has in store for them. He's the One who gives the grace, He's the One who gives the gifts, but we're the ones who are supposed to use them, and if we don't…we lose, and the people around us lose. In First Peter 4:10, we're encouraged to share what God has given us:

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

So, what are you doing today to use the gifts that God has given to you? Don't let your gift sit dormant. I bet you already know what you're gifted to do, so just do it. Put your gift, whatever it may be, into practice; begin to rely on the grace of God working through you to make a positive difference to the people around you. So, by faith, use your gifts to the glory of God, and let Him shine through you today.

Peace-

Jeff

A Special Thanks to Pastors

"And I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
Jeremiah 3:15 KJV


Did you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month? We were really blessed to spend the first Sunday of this special month at Victory Christian Center in Rancho Mirage, California with two dear friends and pastors, Jeff and Melissa Walker. We love to visit their church when we're in the Palm Springs area, because we so love to hear their hearts and see their love for their people. Being with the Walkers got me thinking about the pastors who have made a significant difference in my life. So, bear with me as I give them a little appreciation.

The first is Pastor Chuck Swindoll who is the senior pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX. Now, Pastor Chuck doesn't know me from Adam, and in fact, we've never met. But, because of his daily national radio program, he served as my first pastor. You see, I didn't get saved in church, so I didn't know the value of attending church and having a pastor. I would listen to Pastor Chuck on the radio in my car as I traveled around Western Michigan. What an outstanding teacher of the Word of God! Man, I can remember like yesterday how God would use him to make the Word alive and relevant to my life in so many ways. I owe a lot to him. You see, because of him, I developed a hunger and desire deep within my heart to someday do the same for others. Thanks, Pastor Chuck—if I don't meet you here on earth, I'll see you someday in heaven and give you a huge hug!

The second is Pastor Dave Williams, who is the senior pastor at Mount Hope Church in our hometown of Lansing, Michigan. When I finally realized my need to have a pastor, I began to attend Mount Hope. Pastor Dave is a gifted communicator in so many ways, and his love for Jesus and the Word is contagious. Another outstanding attribute about Pastor Dave is his love for lost people. Not only is he an incredible communicator, he is a gifted evangelist. I'll never forget the night that he taught on the importance of financial planning, and how you needed the right kind of insurance, and then gave a simple altar call...and tons of people gave their lives to Jesus. It was amazing to watch God use him that way, and it helped me to have a heart to always connect with lost people. Thanks, Pastor Dave—because of you and your love for Jesus and His lost sheep, we're doing the same thing in Kalamazoo.

The third pastor in my life is Pastor Kenneth Hagin, Jr., who, along with his wife, Lynnette, pastor Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, OK. He'll never know the special significance that a message he preached called, "A Place Called There" had in my life. It was 25 years ago and I was in business but felt a call to leave that world and pursue a life of ministry. Well, I can tell you, I must have listened to that message 100 times. He spoke on the importance of finding your current "there" and how God has provision for everything you would need..."there." He talked about how some folks miss all that God has for them because they get so comfortable in their "here" that they won't go "there." Well needless to say, his message helped to give me the faith to get "there" and attend their Bible School and for Pastor Hagin to be my pastor for all these years. Thank you, Pastor Ken and Lynette—for all you have done for me—and so many others who are making a huge difference around the world. We cannot be defeated and we will not quit!

Finally, there is Pastor Jeff Arnett, who is the senior pastor of Thornapple Valley Church in Hastings, Michigan. It's a long story, but when Beth and I moved back to Michigan to start a church, things didn't go the way we had expected, and we found ourselves struggling to figure out what to do with our lives. We were unsure of who we were and what God was calling us to do, and then we visited Jeff's church. I will never forget how God used Jeff to show me what was in my heart. I saw how Jeff loved God and loved His people, and realized that was also inside of me. It was one of those "a picture paints a thousand words" deals. I actually saw what I couldn't explain with words, and from that point on, my life has never been the same. Thank you, Pastor Jeff—for just being who God called you to be and for helping me to see who God called me to be.

So, who are those pastors in your life who have made a difference for you? When was the last time you took the time to drop them a note, give them a call, or just say a prayer for them? These are the men and women who God gave you to show you His heart and His love for you. A little appreciation would go a long way to encourage them.

Thank you Lord for giving us Pastors after Your own heart.

Peace-

Jeff

So, who are you?

"For in Him we live and move and have our being…." Acts 17:28a


I wonder if the most important question any of us can ever ask ourselves is, "Who am I?"

But it also seems like it's one of those questions that's always evolving. When we were younger, that question was easy; we would simply answer, "I'm a boy," or "I'm a girl." That was it, simple and easy to understand, and even easier to be. Then, before you knew it, we were teenagers and all those crazy hormones started kicking in and the struggle to describe who we are began. So...are we kids, or are we adults...or maybe we're just kids in adult bodies? Who are we?

"I'm a(n) _______ (fill in the blank)." I'm an...athlete, a student, a student athlete, a teacher, a student teacher, a graduate, a graduate assistant, a professor, employee, employer, trainee, intern, apprentice, journeyman...a man, woman, boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, fiancé, husband, wife, divorceé, cancer survivor, widow, mom, dad, stepmom, stepdad, stepbrother, stepsister, grandma, grandpa, veteran...a minister, a former such-and-such." Man, my head is spinning; how about yours?

You see, life happens, and it's a moving target, which means that at any time we can find ourselves holding several of these positions at once. And because of that, it's possible to lose focus and our ability to be very good at any one of these roles. So, how do we find stability in our constantly changing worlds? There's only One Way, and it's not found in us, but in Jesus Christ.

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock." (Matthew 7:24)

He is the Rock described here in this verse, and if we're wise, we'll build our lives on Him and His Word. He is the only One who can bring a solid and steady foundation to our lives if we choose to place our identity solely upon Him. Now, I'm not saying that we just add the word "Christian" as a prefix to the above titles—that just seems so cheesy and phony. No, what I'm saying is that our identities should never, and I mean never be in what we do or in a role we play. The foundation of our identities should simply be that we're followers of Jesus Christ. You see, we've surrendered our lives to Him, which means that we can't reflect His light if we're always shining the light on ourselves. We can't be a reflection of Him, if we're always looking at ourselves in the mirror. It's sort of like what John the Baptist said about Jesus: "He must increase and I must decrease." (John 3:30)

So who are you? You are a child of God, the apple of His eye; and on top of that, you were fearfully and wonderfully made. So, let's choose to live today from the foundation of the unchanging position we hold every day: a follower of Jesus Christ, a child of God, a sold-out believer in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords...the Author and the Finisher of our Faith.

Peace-

Jeff

Thank God For Teachers

"Train up a child on the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


One morning last month I had the privilege of bringing a word of encouragement to the whole staff of the Kalamazoo Christian School Association during one of their preparation days for the new school year. Well, ever since then, I've been thinking about the value teachers play in our lives. They play such an important role in shaping our lives, and their efforts can last a lifetime.

Personally, I'll be forever grateful to Dale Hanson who was my senior high graphics arts teacher. He saw something in me, and I'm not even sure what it was. But God used him to help me believe in myself when I was lost and out of focus. The sad thing is, I never did thank him. Do you have similar story? I bet all of us can remember a teacher who took the time to make us feel special, or helped to point us in the right direction.

So I just want to give a shout out to all you teachers out there. Whether you're teaching in a public, private, parochial or Christian school—or even in the home—your work is valuable; it's important, and even though at times it may not look like it, you are making a difference.

I would like to particularly thank the teachers at Kalamazoo Christian School who have helped our kids in so many ways. They describe Christian education as a stool that has three legs: church, home and school. We couldn't agree more. Beth and I are forever grateful for the solid Christian worldview that our kids received there, and hold onto today. As pastors, we did our best to model our values and our faith at home and at the church. But having the kids attend a school that reinforced our faith in Jesus Christ was huge for them and us. Even though it cost a bundle to send them to a private school, it was worth every dime.

But here's the other benefit from that experience. Attending a Christian school helped our kids decide to attend a Christian college. Our daughter, Meghan, graduated last May from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids. Our daughter, Annie, and son, Luke, both attend Spring Arbor University near Jackson. Both are excellent schools, both helping students maintain a Christian worldview as they continue their educations. I don't have to tell you that life at a secular college is quite a bit different than at a Christian college. The other night we went down to Spring Arbor to watch Annie play volleyball and after the game, both Annie and Luke were going to go to a worship service at 10:00pm with Ron Kopicko, the school chaplain. Given the choice of seeing your kids head to a worship night rather than out to the club would make any parent appreciate the place.

So, here's to you, teachers, wherever you are. We appreciate your hearts to help our kids and for making such a positive difference in this world!

In Him-

Jeff

Get Over Yourself

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3

Have you ever had your feelings hurt, been offended because you weren't treated fairly, or blew your stack because things didn’t go the way you thought they should? Well, just get over yourself. I hate to break the news to you, but the world does not spin around you and there are something close to 7 billion others of us living here on “Planet You.” Now don’t stop reading, because from time to time, we all find ourselves on the same boat; you know the one, the “SS ME.”

But this verse gives all of us some hope. It tells us that we can actually tap into the grace of God and begin to see ourselves differently. God is reminding us that we shouldn’t see ourselves more highly than we should, but to think of ourselves “soberly”; no better or worse than anyone else.

I want to share with you three simple truths that will help you do this:

(1) Get Low and Stay Low

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Get the picture? We’re not to do anything out of ambition, conceit, or pride, and notice it doesn’t say to look at others as equal, but better than us. Wow, honestly when was the last time we did this, and placed others before ourselves?

(2) Be Others Focused

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Later on in this same chapter, the Apostle Paul tells the church at Philippi that of all the leaders he’d been training, that only one guy, Timothy, would naturally care for their state, because all sought their own.

So maybe we should take a little time and help those around with things that are important to them first, before we look at our own interests.

(3) Be Servant of All

Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

Jesus’ disciples had been arguing about where there would fit on the ministry flow chart. They were fighting among themselves on who would be the greatest! Can you imagine how dumb that conversation must have sounded? But Jesus reminded them, as He is reminding us today that if we want to be great, then we must choose to become servant of all. And by the way, the last time I did a word search on the definition of all, it came back meaning all. In other words, we don’t get a chance to pick and choose who we serve, we should just serve everyone.

What do you think? Willing to try it for a day? What if all of us decided to purposely serve EVERYONE we come in contact today. How much would our world change? We’d love to hear how it went, let us know.

Peace-

Jeff