Daily Expectations
By Jason | August 19, 2010
I recently opened a Dove chocolate candy and read the inside of the foil wrapper. The statement read: “Live every day up to your expectations, not others.” My initial thought was “Wow, what profound advice from a piece of chocolate candy”. But as I began to think deeper about it I realized it’s not really that great of advice at all
The writer had one thing right. Don’t live up to the expectation of others. Most people spend their lives trying to live up to the expectations of others. By doing this you will never be happy because someone will always want more, have more, and demand more of you.
Living up to your own expectations doesn’t really set the bar high enough. Sure, it means living your life the way you want, how you want, and when you want. But then your life only goes as far as yourself and “it’s all about you”. Which is also an expectation of others, or as I refer to it as the world.
To make that statement correct it should read, “Live every day up to God’s expectations, not others, and not yourself.” When we put God first in our lives everything else comes second. When we live up to God’s expectations we are happy. When we live up to God’s expectations and standards He is in control, not us, and we are not left empty and wanting, but instead are satisfied and full.
”Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Topics: Food for thought, Ministry | No Comments »
Only One Thing to Do
By Jason | August 18, 2010
As Bible class teachers we spend our summers arming our students for the battles they will face in during the school year. As parents we spend our lives teaching our children how to wear the Armor of God and to be ready to stand up against temptation. Sometimes we succeed; sometimes we fall short.
In Ephesians 6, Paul discusses how we are to put on the Armor of God. After describing the armor there is one more thing he says to do; almost as if he is saying that the armor is not enough and to really be ready for battle you must do one thing: pray. It has become one of my favorite passages in Scripture.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” –Eph. 6:18-20
Our youth group is made up of about 130 students representing 35 different schools! That’s a lot of students and a lot of schools! These students begin going back to school this coming week. We have spent the summer building each other up, reinforcing how to be strong followers of Christ, learning about a deeper relationship with Jesus, and being actively involved in doing something with our faith.
With the school year beginning there is one thing left to do: pray. Tonight we will be traveling to over half of our schools and praying on the doorsteps for all our students, the teachers, the administrators, the students that don’t know Christ to come to know Him, and the school year in general. We want to begin the school year asking for God’s blessing, guidance, and wisdom.
Please join us this week as the school year begins and pray for all our students, teachers, and administrators, from preschool to college. Pray that when they open their mouths at school God will speak through them. Pray that they set examples and are servant leaders. Pray that they may be ambassadors and declare Christ’s love fearlessly.
Topics: Family, Food for thought, Ministry, Parenting, Teens | 1 Comment »
Do I Know You? Do You Know Me?
By Jason | August 17, 2010
Do we really know each other? How much do you know about your church family members? I am reminded of a song by Casting Crowns called “Stained Glass Masquerade”.
Is there anyone that fails? Is there anyone that falls? Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small? Cause when I take a look around everybody seems so strong. I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong. So I tuck it all away. Like everything’s okay. If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too. So with a painted grin, I play the part again. So everyone will see me the way that I see them
CHORUS: Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness, and smiles to hide our pain. But if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who’s been there? Are there any hands to raise? Am I the only one who’s traded in the altar for a stage. The performance is convincing; and we know every line by heart. Only when no one is watching can we really fall apart. But would it set me free, if I dared to let you see the truth behind the person that you imagine me to be? Would your arms be open, or would you walk away? Would the love of Jesus be enough to make you stay?
CHORUS: Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness, and smiles to hide our pain. But if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade
But if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade. Is there anyone that fails? Is there anyone that falls? Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small?
I have been reminded recently that there are people right here in our own church home that are hurting, that are broken, that are in need. And either they do a really good job of hiding it, or more likely my eyes are just not open wide enough. Let’s all open our eyes and hearts and allow the love of Jesus to pour out.
Topics: Family, Food for thought, Ministry | No Comments »
Don’t Let It Impinge
By Jason | August 16, 2010
So….I’ve been wanting to write again. I’ve missed it actually. It’s been way too long. And summer has been too busy….buying a new home, mission trips, camps, vacation, retreats, in-law visit, on top of all the other summer events and activities! But it’s time to start back. This week our preaching minister is out of town so I took on writing the daily devotionals. Hopefully, in doing so I will get back in the habit of writing. I’m going to post them here also. Well, here I go….
I recently read in a book entitled “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan a chapter entitled “Profile of the Lukewarm”. In this chapter, the author describes some of the characteristics of what a “lukewarm” person looks like. As I was reading this chapter, I was challenged by many of these characteristics because some of them sounded much like the way I live my life.
One of the characteristics was, “Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church…as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living.” Makes sense, right? Ask yourself, when was the last time you gave until it hurt. Or when was the last time you gave until you, yourself, actually had to give something up? If you’re like me your response is probably pretty close to never.
Sunday morning as we were sitting in church and had just finished communing together; it was time for the collection trays to be passed out. My 5 year old daughter pulls out a $1 bill. My wife and I asked her where she got the money. Her response was, “from the tooth fairy.” This past week she lost her very first tooth and the tooth fairy visited her that night and left her a little note and $1. My wife looked at me and remarked that we shouldn’t let her give that dollar because it was a special dollar. However, we both realized we had to allow her to give it because how were we supposed to tell her not to give when her heart was leading her to give. She was so excited to give her $1 to the church. Her giving that dollar was hurting us more than it was hurting her.
What a lesson for us! All this past week we had been talking about what she could do with the gift from the tooth fairy; buy some candy, buy a snow cone, or save it to help buy a toy. Never did it come to our minds for her to give the whole thing away. Whether she had considered it or not, she was giving something up. She sacrificed something for herself to give to the church. What a great example for us to see.
We are called to give of our first fruits. To give the best we have to offer. How often do we only bring our leftovers? What can you give up this week that will impinge on your standard of living?
Topics: Food for thought, Ministry | No Comments »
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