Talkin the Walk

Daily Expectations

Jason — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:15:21 +0000

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

Only One Thing to Do

Jason — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:01:59 +0000

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.

Do I Know You? Do You Know Me?

Jason — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:02:50 +0000

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?

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.

Don’t Let It Impinge

Jason — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:13:57 +0000

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?

From a Recent Conversation

Jason — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:30:00 +0000

Recently, I had a discussion with some of the older teens in our youth group. It was a good discussion. Cori and I had made the observation that out of this particular group of students none of them struggled with alcohol, drugs, sex, or really any other major teenage challenge. (Not to say they are perfect.) We were curious as to why this particular group hadn’t gotten caught up in the “all too typical” teenage drama. What made them different?So we asked them “why”? Their responses were enlightening. Most of them said that they had been very careful in the people that they hang out with. They said the friends that they spend most of their time with were good influences on them and make “good choices”. All of them said that their parents had influenced them. One young man even said that “it’s not worth coming home and knowing my parents are disappointed, I can find other things to do.” Another teen said “I hate to see that look of my parent’s disappointment when I let them down”.I had always heard statics referring to this. I have read articles about the impact that parents had on students. But I had never really had a good conversation with teens who said that their parents had this great of an impact. I am encouraged!Two thoughts:1. No matter who you are, choose your friends wisely. Choose friends that impact you in a positive way.2. Parents know that you have the greatest impact on your children. What you do, what you say, and the way you act and react; your children are learning from you. If you are honest they are more likely to be honest. If you are friendly they are more likely to be friendly. If you serve they will be more likely to be a servant. If you spend much time with your children, listening, playing, talking, and interacting they will be less likely to do drugs, drink underage, have sex before marriage, and make all sorts of big mistakes in their lives.

Unworthy

Jason — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:29:37 +0000

Jesus tells a story in Luke 10 about a Jewish man who was walking down the road and was beaten, robbed, and left for dead. A priest walks by and ignores him and a Levite crosses to the other side of the road to avoid him. Finally, a Samaritan (who didn’t get along with Jews) came by and actually stopped, took care of the man, got him to an inn, and paid for him to stay until he was healed. The Samaritan, according to the worldly standards, should have been the man that walked right by without acknowledging him; but he wasn’t. Instead he showed grace.Most of us have always been taught that this man is the Good Samaritan and that we should be like this man; and we should. But I want to ask you to consider that before you can be the Good Samaritan you were first the broken, beaten, left for dead, unworthy, powerless man on the side of the road.“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8There is absolutely nothing that we could do to save ourselves. We are powerless and unworthy. The sin of the world had left us for dead. Sin left us powerless and unworthy. God reached out and extended His hand of grace by sending Christ. Although we are unworthy of that grace, we are made worthy through Christ. And it’s because of the grace that we receive through faith that we respond by sharing that grace with others and thus become the Good Samaritan.

Let All Creation Give Praise

Jason — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:15:10 +0000

Something is beginning to happen outside. It’s not hard to notice when you look around the earth is beginning to wake up from its winter nap. Flowers are beginning to open up and bloom. The grass is beginning to sprout and turn green. Trees are beginning to blossom and put on leaves. The birds are returning from their winter homes. And the air is getting warmer and smells of pollen and flowers. Spring is here, and creation is putting on a show of praise to its Creator.The Psalmist says: “Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.” Psalms 148As the earth wakes up and praises the Creator, may we be reminded not to forget to give praise to our Creator, our Father.

Head Over Heels

Jason — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:10:22 +0000

The other day our youth group went to play Broomball. If you are wondering what that is you’ve got to go play! Basically, it’s a lot like hockey only you don’t have pads and you don’t have ice skates. Instead you run and slide around on the ice with a stick that has a scoop on the end, hitting a small ball, trying to make it into a goal. It’s a pretty intense game!One of our girls, Whitney, was all about playing hard. At one point when she was on the opposing team, she took over the goalie position. Sticks were flying, feet were sliding, and the ball was being passed all around her. She held her ground with great focus and intensity. One of my teammates received the ball directly in front of the goal from a pass. He raised his scoop and hit the ball towards the goal. It traveled hard at Whitney, who at this point did everything she could to try and stop the ball and at the same time lost her footing on the slippery ice. Her legs flew out from under her as she dove forward head over heels in an attempt to block the ball! The ball barely escaped and went right between her legs and into the goal. Whitney at this point having hit the ground really hard, jumps back up and says, “Alright, let’s do this again!” She was intense!How is your faith? Do you have the kind of faith that is “all in”? Are you intense in developing your relationship with Christ? Go wants all of our love. He doesn’t want part of it; He doesn’t want to share it. He wants us to be totally focused and committed to Him. A love for others and ourselves then follows out of our love for Him. Listen to the words of Jesus when He is asked what the greatest commandment is:“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39Are you willing to jump in head over heels for God? Are you head over heels in love with the Savior?

It Was Just a Temporary Tattoo

Jason — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:41:56 +0000

The other day I had the opportunity to visit my daughter’s school for a special “daddy” day. Before we left that morning I noticed she had a temporary tattoo on her arm she had put on the evening before….Allow me to back up for a moment.If you don’t already know our church is hosting a month long campaign leading up to Easter in which we are putting “Empty Tomb” stickers on our cars, at local businesses, passing out cards with the logo on it, wearing t-shirts, and even wearing temporary tattoos of the “empty tomb” logo. We are doing this to reach out and create discussion with people about the fact that Jesus walked out of the tomb and left it empty and that He lives today….So I noticed the tattoo and told her that I should probably take it off before she went to school. She looked at me and said, “No dad, I will just tell everyone what it is about.” To which I asked her what it was about. In her own 5-year-old way she said, “That God came up out of the grave, and is not dead.” I was one proud dad! In a loving way as I repeated what she said back to her I used Jesus in the place of God to help her understand. And we left for school.At school that morning we walked into her classroom and immediately a little boy in her class yelled out, “Look a tattoo!” My first thought was that this was a bad idea because it was going to distract the class all day. But to my amazement it didn’t, in fact she said that she told several of her little friends that day about her tattoo, she even said something to her teacher about it. By allowing her to wear that tattoo to school, my young daughter was able to experience telling others about Jesus.Each of us have the opportunity to share the good news of the empty tomb to the people we encounter in our lives. If my 5-year-old can be as bold as to do it at her school, each of us should be able to tell people we know about Jesus. And it doesn’t take wearing a tattoo or having a sticker on your car. It takes living a life that people notice is different. When you do that, they will ask, because they will want whatever it is that you have that makes you that way.

There’s Always a Way Out

Jason — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:46:39 +0000

Something that we all must understand: every one of us faces temptations. Now depending on how you look at that fact it can be a very scary thing or it can be not that big of a deal. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is full of crazy stories, you know the kind of stories that we only think happen in soap operas and movies. The only difference is that the stories in the Bible always end in truth and God prevailing. One such story is the story of Joseph. Particularly a part of Joseph’s life where he was sold into slavery by his brothers and went to work for a man named Potiphar. Through God, Joseph became well respected by Potiphar and was put in charge of great responsibility. This didn’t go unnoticed and Joseph was even noticed by Potiphar wife who attempted to seduce him. Joseph being a man of honor and integrity refused her, which led to an angry and probably embarrassed, wife of Potiphar who then made up lies against Joseph. These lies put Joseph in prison. While in prison God blessed Joseph and gave him great success. It’s a true story, read it in Genesis 39:1-23.Looking at this story we can see how Joseph was tempted, yet stood up to that temptation. It would have been very simple for him to slip and fall to the temptation, but he trusted God and knew what the right choice was. God blessed him for this choice. Each of us faces temptations daily. Those temptations might not be as great as Joseph’s or they might be worse. But the truth is God provided a way out for Joseph and he chose it. We have a choice also; we can give in to sin or we can flee from it.Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:13 that, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Isn’t it great to know that we don’t have to choose sin? We don’t have to give in to temptation. God gives us a way out; sometimes that means we must turn and run from the situation we are in. But God is with us, and like Joseph, choosing Him means we will be greatly blessed.