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Do not let your good intensions grow stale

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But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

(2 Corinthians 8:7-9 ESV)

The church in Corinth was a very dynamic yet dysfunctional church. They were experiencing the supernatural workings of God, and excelling in their ability to channel those supernatural workings of God to the benefit of the entire community.

They had:
1. Faith to move mountains
2. Speech like the tongues of men and of angels, gifts of prophecy,
3. Knowledge to understand all mysteries
4. Earnestness to surrender their lives as martyrs for the kingdom

At some time, they had made pledges to support the church in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, they lack enthusiasm and the willingness to fulfill their pledge.

So Paul writes to them celebrating their growth in many areas of their Christian life, but challenges them to take some action in fulfilling their vows.

He uses two examples to drive his point home:
1. The Macedonians – out of their poverty, had given beyond their ability. In giving, the real issue isn’t giving money. It is giving ourselves to the Lord.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ – out of his riches became poor so that we can know salvation. In giving, the real issue isn’t losing what you own. It is enriching other with what you have.

Like I said, at some point, the Corinthian Christians may have intended to give. They may have thought about it and may have been favorable to the idea. Yet all of this was useless unless their good intentions paid out.

Often, intentions, vows, and resolutions are useless without action. Don’t let your good intentions grow stale. Take action and fulfill your vows today.

Where are the modern day Watchmen?

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On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.

Isaiah 62:6-7

I hate to sound judgmental especially when it comes to prayer. After all, it is something we must to pursue privately. Yes! I agree that we are to stand in concerts of prayer or hold public prayer meeting  – the one held in the upper room and like the one, the apostles held when the place they stood shook after they got through praying.

Unfortunately, we are not seeing that passionate pursuit both from those sitting in the pew and those standing in the pulpit. The statistics are quite heart-breaking. Prayer is not high up on our priority list.  Because of our lack of prayer, we are not seeing the hand of God in and around us.

Here are a few things we miss out on:

The opportunity to cultivate an intimate relationship with the Lord – just being with Him

The opportunity to hear Him speak prophetically, or through revelation and insight, or dreams and visions… Etc…

The opportunity to see him at work miraculously or  be used by him to do great things

The opportunity to partner with the Lord in what He wants to do in our world

The opportunity to live in readiness and preparedness and alertness

Watching is state of being or remaining awake. It is also an act or practice of refraining from spiritual slumber for devotion, consecration, and prayer.

The Hebrews divided the night into three watches, the Greeks usually into four (sometimes five), the Romans (followed by the Jews in New Testament times) into 4 watches. Most of us don’t even have one.

The message is clear, watchmen are needed. Watchmen are important. God is looking for watchmen – those who would stand in the gap for the nation, for their city, for their church, and for their families.

We have abandoned our watch post. We have refused to station ourselves on the rampart. Our eyes are heavy and can not watch and pray. May The Lord, call us anew to a life of prayer. A life of tenacious and steadfast alertness.

Thursday Tweets That Teach

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15 Prayers for the Big C Church

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My teenage daughter was at youth camp last week. They had the young and dynamic preacher named Isaiah Saldivar as the speaker every evening. It was really good. At the end of the week when I arrived to pick her up, they were doing a Q&A session and a few people were sharing.

A young man got up and began to share about how frustrating it is for him when it comes to denominational differences. He is from a Nazarene church, but is cool with coming to a camp at an Assembly of God Church.

I applaud him for speaking his mind about the frustrations too many young people face when it comes to this subject.  His willingness to seek God with friends from other denominations is a good step toward creating a friendly attitude to denominational differences.

Having said that, I think too many Christians are mistaking to think that denominational differences are of the devil.

I believe that there are denominational differences today because people naturally choose to align themselves with groups that hold or espouse their theological convictions. I don’t think everything is right about it; but certainly not everything is wrong about it either. We must all learn to embrace our differences. Like Piper says, “it is differences that give us the occasion to show the world what love and unity really is.” So, no matter what denomination you’re with – aim for love above all else and make prayer a priority.

Daily prayer for other churches and denominations can change your attitude toward them. Here is a list of prayers you can use to lift others up to The Lord.:

Lord, May you bless the gathering of the Church everywhere today

Lord, may the weary find rest everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may the strong be renewed everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may the doubting find faith everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may the content be awakened everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, May the tempted be helped everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may your people be filled with the Spirit’s power where the church gathers today

Lord, may the sorrowful find comfort everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may your children be encouraged everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, may the lost find salvation everywhere the church gathers today

Lord , may signs and wonders follow those who believe in your name

Lord, forgive sins and cleanse hearts everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, inhabit the praises of your people everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, speak through your word everywhere the church gathers today

Lord, May your church be united in love, mission and purpose

In Jesus Name – Amen!

7 Ways it Improve your Marriage right now

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Take ownership and personal responsibility for all your actions.

The easiest thing to do when your relationship goes sour is to play the blame game. This only leads to more headache. The godly thing to do is just own up to your personal faults and everything will begin to fall in place.

Pray, pray, pray! Jesus is able to make it work

A lot of marriages fail because too much trust is placed on marriage counseling. As good as counseling is – (you should get it at all cost), you will need God to work in it. Also, marriages fail because we expect our counselor to fix our partner. God is the only one who can do stuff like that. The sooner you realize that neither you nor your counselor can fix your spouse, prayer will become your priority. Sometimes we just give up before truly seeking his help. Until we can all realize that he has the power to fix things, even the most difficult things, we may never experience divine breakthroughs in our marriages.

Communicate in a way that makes your spouse feel safe

By default, when we feel attacked all our defense mechanisms kick in. But again, this leads to more trouble. I recently learned that “it is not about right or wrong. It is about communicating with integrity. Because “when you feel understood, you feel cared for.” That’s the thing that makes a great marriage.

Establish a no loser policy

As a general rule, in any decision or after any discussion, both spouses must emerge winners. The experts say you need to set up a “no loser policy.” Both spouses must come up with a decision that they feel really good about. It is not acceptable for anyone to walk away feeling as though they have lost.

Go out of your way to please and serve one another

Every one of us come into relationship with expectations. When those expectations are not met, we begin to demand that they are met. This alone puts lots of strain on the relationship. There will be times when pleasing or serving your spouse will be difficult, but If both of you have a servant’s attitude, there is no way you can go wrong.

Understand you own fears and the baggage you bring to the relationship

Most of us grew up in very dysfunctional families, but it really doesn’t matter if you were raised in a broken home or a highly functional home. When two people come together, they bring different dynamics to the relationship. An awareness of personal flaws can help you adjust well.

Highly Esteem your Spouse

One of the reasons we do not succeed in our relationships is because we fail to place much value and worth on our spouse. We become too familiar with them and soon begin to devalue them because of their flaws. We must resist that temptation and learn to highly esteem them by focusing on positive attributes and not the negative ones.

Credit: Gary Bruegman inspired this post…

Monday Night Meditation

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Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.

(Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭7-15‬ MSG)

Three Key Reasons Teams Succeed

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“That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord! (‭Judges‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ESV)

1. Team Leaders take the lead

The first reason teams succeed is leaders take the lead. They are not passively waiting for permission to lead. They are enthusiastic and ready to lead. They are not unassuming lacking in zeal. They are looking for opportunities to do great things.

2. Team Members offer themselves willingly

The second reason teams succeed is people willingly follow. Teams are not necessarily successful because of leaders. They succeed because people are willing to follow and get the job done.

Unfortunately, people do not always follow even when the leaders take the lead. They are some times critical of leaders. They let jealousy and selfish ambition get in the way of success. That’s why this third key is vital to the overall success of the team

3. God Saves the Day

We must never leave God out of the equation when it comes to achieving success as a team. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.” The Lord gives success in everything we do. What was true for Those addressed in this Psalm is true for us today.

Most team leaders and team members leave God completely out of their work. They believe they alone control their success. However, those with a biblical understanding approach their roles either as team leaders or members knowing God is personally involved with their work and He will save the day.

 

 

Pooped Shepherds

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Pastors, leaders, bloggers, pastor’s wives, missionaries, speakers, servants of God – as you sit back in the comfort of your home, browsing the internet for something to lift you – I pray that this little message, by Marc Cleary, will do just that.

Here is the simple, yet powerful outline. Feed your soul with it and be encouraged.

Be still and know that I am GOD

Be still and know that I AM

Be still and KNOW

Be STILL

BE

Refreshing Times of Reconciliation

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This short epistle (letter) written by Paul to Philemon has one of the most powerful messages on conflict resolution in the bible. This story is not only a powerful demonstration of the gospel to transform lives (“formerly he was useless” but “now he is indeed useful,” v. 11), but also a demonstration of the powerful impact the gospel can have on human relationships as well (receive him “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother,” v. 16).

Apparently during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus, Philemon heard the gospel and was saved. He began serving the cause of Christ in the Colossian community, opening his home for a group of Christians to meet there regularly. At some point, Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, fled to Rome, possibly having stolen money (or property) from Philemon and now a fugitive.

Onesimus somehow came into contact with the apostle Paul and became a Christian. As he grew in Christ, he spent much time and effort helping Paul, who was severely constrained by his imprisonment. Paul thus wrote this letter as an appeal to Philemon to appreciate the transformation that has occurred in Onesimus’ life and to receive him back not merely as a slave but as a “beloved brother” (v. 16).

In verse number twenty of Philemon, the apostle Paul tells Philemon to “refresh his heart.” Here is what I think he meant by that:

  1. There is always a time of refreshing when we follow God’s instruction for conflict resolution… Deuteronomy 23:15. 16
  2. There is always a time of refreshing when love is the ruling factor in every situation… See verse 9
  3. There is always a time of refreshing when we humble ourselves in the process of reconciliation… See verse 10 ( I appeal)
  4. There is always a time of refreshing when we validate one another…  when we recognize the worth of others… See verse 11
  5. There is always a time of refreshing when there is a sense of mutual respect… See verse 14
  6. There is always a time of refreshing when we see each other clearly… See verse 16; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17 (no longer a slave but a brother)
  7. There is always a time of refreshing when we forgive one another for wrong done… See verse 17, 18

After reading the book of Philemon, we come across the names of God and Christ, but not once is the Holy Spirit mentioned. But, I can tell you, by the time you get through these 7 refresh my heart challenge Paul gives to Philemon, you are in for a mighty moving of the Spirit of God. The Spirit will releases his presence in ways you’ve never experienced.

I pray that the Lord will bring refreshing into your conflicts today!

There is nothing too had for him to do. I pray that church boards and committees, best friends and colleagues can find common ground moving forward. Follow the example set forth here by Paul and let the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation burst through your conflict today – in Jesus” Name.

Friday Resource

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THE BOOK

A FATHER’S INSIGHTS FOR MEN ON LIFE’S SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES

We’re living through a profound crisis of masculinity, fostered by a media culture that idolizes youth and demonizes the strong male role. As a result, young men in their twenties and thirties aren’t encouraged to grow up, and their energy and talent are being squandered. The absence of fathers and male mentors leaves many young men spiraling emotionally, spiritually, and financially for years.

Pastor Dave Bruskas Envisions A Better Future—One In Which Young Men Can Flourish And Take Their God-Given Seat At Life’s Table. Twenty years ago, Dave lost his infant son to a congenital heart defect. That devastating loss has fueled his desire to provide effective mentoring to young men ever since.

Dear Son contains the insights Pastor Dave has given hundreds of young men and would have given his son if he had lived through life’s key milestones: first dates and first jobs weddings and births graduations, and much more You won’t want to miss the timeless wisdom from this sonless father for the millions of men who are, at heart, fatherless sons.

Download a Free Chapter

Buy the Book