What is your beast?

In Revelation chapter 13, John writes about a beast. The beast he refers to is the antichrist. The antichrist is a false messiah who will counterfeit himself as Christ. People will follow and worship him because they will be in awe of his power. He will unite the world under his leadership, and he will control the world economy.

The beast has the power to rule over as in all ways except spiritually.

Which got me thinking. What is your beast? What is ruling over your life? Work? Laziness? Video games? Complacency? When it comes down to it, there are many things that could be your beast. It's crazy because your beast will run your life without you even knowing it and that is why we have to be very aware of who is ruling our life.

The beast that John writes about will rule over God's people. He will establish worldwide dominance and demand that everyone worship him. And many people will worship him - everyone except true believers.

Our beasts have to power to rule over us but we have the power to choose who we are going to worship. We can refuse. We can make a decision that nothing on earth will have the power to rule over us the way that Christ Jesus can.

Refusal to worship may result in temporary suffering for God's people, but they will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

Refusing to give into your beast might be tough for you, but when you refuse you will be rewarded with eternal life in the end.

My one thing for you this morning is to stand strong in your relationship with Christ. There will be distractions everyday that try to steer you away from the straight and narrow path but you have to remember that small and narrow is the gate to heaven, and the gate to destruction is wide.

Tame your breasts and fully trust in Christ.

where is your desert?

In ancient times, the desert often represented a place of spiritual refuge and protection from Satan. 

Do you have a desert? Or a place you go or something you do when you need to find spiritual refuge and protection from God?

I believe it's important that we all have a place we go to or something we do when we really need God to protect us. Like a place of peace. 

I know for me, I feel the safest and at the most peace when I actually get off the treadmill of life and have some quiet time in the word and having my Jesus time. When I get in that zone, nothing will distract me. I don't have any thoughts that are outside of what I am reading about and what I feel that God is teaching me. 

Another escape for me is getting some shoots up. I don't know if I will ever grow out of this, but for years, this helped. Whenever I would feel stressed or anxious, I just needed get in the gym and work on my game. That always helped me. Never once, did it not. Even to this day...I don't do it as much, but if I go outside to the driveway and shoot my basketball, I feel better.

In Revelation chapter 12, a woman was trying to escape from Satan...

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she night be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6)

The woman fled to a place where God was going to take care of her. And he did. 

I have two specific things that I do where I know God will take care of me and protect me. What about you?

I encourage you to really think about that as you read this post. We all need protection and a place of refuge in our daily lives. If you never get off the treadmill, you'll never catch your breath. 

invincibility and vulnerability

Is fear of embarrassment or rejection some of the reasons that we don't share our faith? Satan could threaten our lives, but he doesn't even have to do that because fear is enough for us to be scared. Have you thought about it that way before?

I'm fearful to witness more than I do. I am not perfect and I am no super-Christian.

I've been a part of one person's life when they came to Christ and it was like a feeling that I can't put into words. It was one of the very best feelings I have ever felt. I remember being so locked in on sharing what God has done for me that I was not fearful that I didn't know enough or didn't have all the answers for him. It was powerful. To sit here...and really reminisce on that moment and realize that I will see him in heaven someday because of what happened that day he came to Christ. That day...God changed his life forever.

I'd love to tell you more stories like that...but I can't. I've been too fearful to do it more...are you in the same boat as I am?

If you are. I am all for making a commitment to not let that fear rule my life anymore.

Just think about what God has done for your life up to this point. No matter how good or bad things might be right now I guarantee that God has done good things in your life. Why not want others to experience the goodness of God too?

I think about my life...the things God teaches me on a daily basis...the peace I feel, the faith I have. God is what gets me through everything. Without God I don't even want to imagine how empty and hopeless I would feel.

The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on earth. (Revelation 11:10)

The two final witnesses were a picture of both invincibility and vulnerability. They win, they lose, they win again.

Truth remains victorious, even though human channels fall. Their message - and God's - plan march on in spite of death, for even death proves to be a defeated foe.

If Jesus has truly changed our lives, why don't we let others know? Not to witness represents more than just fear; it represents selfishness.

Rather than making a challenge for you all, let's make a commitment. Let us commit to selflessness. Let's put what God has done for us above all fear that we might have. It's time to stop keeping it to ourselves.

many plans

How often do you make plans and then those plans don't end up working out? I know that happens to me all of the time and I am sure that it happens to you to. 

It's with anything in life. We make many plans. It's what we do as humans, we like to have things to do and to look forward to. Our society is so time-oriented it's ridiculous compared to other countries that I have traveled to. 

We are always on the go because we always have plans to do something. 

Many are the plans in a person's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. 

(Proverbs 19:21) 

The Lord's purpose always prevails. 

My one thing for you is to remember that. Next time your plans don't end up working out remember that the Lord's purpose is prevailing. Maybe there is a reason those plans aren't working out. The Lord might be saving you from something or taking you down a different path.

I challenge you to have that mindset at all times. Have that mindset that everything you do is the Lord's purpose for you, not your own purpose for yourself. 

orienteers and advancers

30 million people applied for the small business loans that have been offered by the government and only 1.7 million received those loans...

That is because right now there are two types of people: 

- Orienteers 

- Advancers

(this idea came from my managing director yesterday, I just want to bring it in to light this morning)

When things got crazy about month ago, people reacted in one of two ways. The either look action, or they waited for others do it. 

What did you do? Have you made the most of the opportunity at hand? Or are you sitting here and wishing you would've had a better mindset about things and now you're further behind than most people. 

I bet you can figure out who got the loans...the advancers. They took action as soon as it was offered and it paid off. 

What did you learn from this time? I believe that we are in the future now and this is the new normal?

My challenge for you is to take action when things start to change and to view everything as an awesome and exciting new opportunity. I can promise you, when you do that you will have no regrets. 

I believe this also relates to our faith. We cannot wait on others to dictate what our relationship with Christ looks like. That is something we have to do for ourselves daily. 

My one thing: Be advancers in whatever it is you do! Your marriage, business, career, relationship, etc. Don't wait on others to do things for you. 

be quiet and listen

There are several benefits to keeping quiet. I am sure that each and every one of you have come across some people in your life that are really good at just keeping quiet. No matter what the situation is, they know what they are doing and just do a good job at keeping their mouths shut even if they don't agree with what it being said.

On the other hand, I am sure you can think of a couple people who don't keep their mouths shut. As soon as one thing throws them off they just keep fighting the case. Defensiveness kicks in. People often become defensive when they are guilty and know that they are wrong...they just want to make a point.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. 

(Proverbs 17:27-28)

This proverb highlights several benefits of keeping quiet:

1. it is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say

2. it allows you the opportunity to listen and learn

3. it gives you something in common with those who are wiser

We have to make sure to pause to think and to listen so that when we do speak, we will have something important to say.

My one thing for you today is to just be smart with your words and always listen first. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.

a guaranteed place

Therefore,

"They are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
'Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'
'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"

(Revelation 7:15-17)

A great multitude of people in heaven is going to be comprised of all those who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. No true believer will ever need to worry about which group he or she will be in. God will include and protect each of us, and we are guaranteed a place in his presence.

I encourage you to really let that soak in today. We have all sorts of wants a needs right now but in heaven someday, everything is going to be taken care of. We are guaranteed a place in his presence. I hope that encourages you to put your trust into God who is able to provide that. It's time to stop going after our earthly desires because nothing on earth will be able to take care of us and fulfill us forever like God will do.

My one thing for you today. Focus on what is guaranteed and when you do...it'll be like a snowball affect, and good thing after good thing will happen over and over again.

mountains and rocks

If Christ Jesus returned today and we had to face judgment tonight how would you feel about it?

I believe that there are four ways that people feel about it. I believe a large group of people would be scared. Now these people have given their lives to Christ and they believe but they don't think they have done enough things right. I would've fallen into that group a few years back.

I believe there is another large sized group of people who just don't care. They don't care because they don't believe. They don't care because they think that the way they have lived their lives is good enough and they don't need God and eternal life.

The third group is excited and know that they will be in heaven someday, there are just some things that they want to do on earth before that day comes. I will be transparent with you. This is the group that I am in. I have no doubt that when I die I will go to heaven. I long to hear the words..."well done, good and faithful servant." But there are parts of me that are stuck on things that I want to experience on earth first. I want to get married. I want to have kids. Go on some more trips, etc.

Finally, you have the group of people who can't wait. If they could go to heaven right now, they would leave everything and do it. Nothing is more important to them than being in heaven with our Lord forever.

Which camp do you fall into? For me. I want to fall into that fourth camp. The group that would totally be okay with going to heaven this very second. I want to have that type of faith in Jesus and understanding in knowing that everything we will feel in heaven doesn't even come close to those earthly feelings and things that I still want to be able to do. I want to know and understand that everything we will feel in heaven is not even comparable to the best feelings that we have felt from this life on earth.

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the nighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid is caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the earth of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" 
(Revelation 6:15-17)

At the sight of God sitting on the throne, all human beings great and small, will be terrified, calling for mountains to fall on them so that they will not have to face judgment.

This isn't meant to frighten believers. For believers, the Lamb is a gentle Savior.

But for those who showed no fear of God and arrogantly flaunted their unbelief will find that they were wrong, and in that day they will have to face God's wrath.

No one who has rejected God can survive the day of his wrath, but those who belong to Christ will receive an award rather than punishment.

If you belong to Christ, you have no need to fear these final days.

I challenge you to ask yourself this question. 'Do I belong to Christ?'

If you really do, we should never fear the day of judgment and we should have no part of us that isn't ready to go to heaven yet. I believe that there is only one acceptable reason to still want to be on earth, and that is to share the love of Christ and to witness to as many as people as possible before that day comes.

My hope for you is that you have peace in your heart about this topic. My prayer is that you understand that you belong to Christ and that you never want to be in as spot where you think you have to hide.

goodwill

How rarely we find goodwill around us today.

Fools mock at making amends for sin,
but goodwill is found among the upright. (Proverbs 14:9)

- Angry drivers yell at angry drivers.

- People flight to be the first in line.

- A co-worker doesn't listen.

- Employees are disgruntled.

(that list could go on and on)

The common bond of God's people should be goodwill.

Goodwill is defined as: friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitudes. 

Those with goodwill think the best of others and assume that others have good motives and intend to do what is right.

Next time someone crosses you, and makes you angry, ask yourself, "How can I show goodwill to this person."

My challenge to you is to really think the best of others.  I guarantee that will make you way happier and you'll have a more positive outlook on life and other people.

lighting and thunder

Revelation chapters 4 & 5 records glimpses into Christ's glory. Sometimes I think we take his glory for granted and we don't understand it.

"From the throne came flashes of lighting, rumblings and peals of thunder." (Revelation 4:5)

I am pretty sure that every time there was a thunderstorm until about 7th grade, I would go downstairs and sleep on my parents floor beside their bed. I was terrified of lighting and thunder. I always thought there was going to be a tornado and lighting and thunder seemed to be the missing ingredients to me.

Still to this day, thunder and lighting make me a little bit jumpy. Especially when it's the middle of the night and all of a sudden there is a really loud one and it leaves you shook for a couple minutes.

To me, lighting and thunder represent power and fear.

I don't understand where it comes from but I know how powerful it is. I also fear it, because I know the damage that those things can either cause or bring.

In Revelation, lighting and thunder are connected with significant events in heaven.

Lighting and thunder are just a glimpse of the power that God has.

I hope this post gives you a glimpse into Christ's glory. Nowadays we need whatever glimpse of Christ's glory that we can.

wake up

5:30 am practices were the worst in college. It was all mental. As soon as practice ended the evening before you had to start mentally preparing for the next morning. I remember making sure that my roommates and I would be asleep by 9:30 because we had to be up at 4:00 the next morning.

We made sure that we were up and got to the gym an hour early. We knew that if we were not mentally and physically prepared for morning practice that they might make us come back that same afternoon to practice again.

No matter how many times we had morning practice, we had to make sure that we were properly prepared. We couldn't become lazy and used to how we were doing things. We had to consistently do this because to be honest with you, we were going to do whatever we had to in order to not have two practices in one day...we had enough of those throughout our careers.

Making sure that you are up and at it is important in all aspects of your life. You can't become lazy. Nothing good ever happens when laziness takes over your life.

Another important thing is that we can't become so content with our faith that we are lured into sleep or laziness. We cannot automatically assume things are perfect. We cannot let our self-satisfaction cause us to die spiritually.

"Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you." (Revelation 3:3)

In Revelation chapter 3, the church of Sardis had fallen asleep. They were urged to go back to what they first heard and believed, to get back to the basics of the faith. It is important to grow in our knowledge of the Lord and to deepen our understanding. But no matter how much we learn we must not abandon the basic truths.

No new truth from God will ever contradict biblical teachings.

Are you watchful and alert? If God has given you a place of responsibility to teach, lead, or serve, use that position to encourage those around you to be spiritually awake and morally prepared.

My challenge for you is to prepare yourself. We don't know when the Lord will come but make sure that you are ready when that time does come.

newfound forgiveness

Feelings are awesome. I am so incredibly thankful and blessed with the ability to feel things. Imagine a life without feelings and emotions, I feel like it would be so dark and meaningless.

I want you to think about the feeling you had when you first realized that God has forgiven you for all of you sins. From my experience and from hearing about most other people's, it's a feeling like no other. There simply isn't anything to compare it to.

Do you still have that feeling or do you get complacent? Have you gotten into such a habit of being forgiven that you don't feel the same joy as you did at first?

I believe that's pretty common. It's a day to day think ya know? Sinning. We aren't perfect so we are going to sin. Since Christ Jesus died for ALL of our sins, we continue to be forgiven.

What if we had that feeling of newfound forgiveness every time we asked for forgiveness? Think about how much your faith and your life would change because of having that feeling.

That newfound forgiveness feeling is a feeling that we should be addicted to because nothing compares to it.

I want to make sure I make this point clear. I am not saying it's okay to continue to intentionally sin over and over again because we are forgiven. That's not the point of this message. The point of this message is to not forget that feeling and for you to let that feeling motivate you and strengthen your relationship with Christ.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not respond, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place. (Revelation 2:4-5)

When we lose sight of the seriousness of sin, we begin to lose the thrill of our forgiveness. When we first became believers and began our walk with Christ we may have had enthusiasm without knowledge. Do you now have knowledge without enthusiasm? Both are necessary if we are to keep love for God intense and untarnished.

Our mental picture

How we mentally picture things, can totally change our perspective. Our mental picture is everything. In all areas of life our mentality either makes us or breaks us. This morning I want to focus on our mental picture of Jesus Chris.

What is your mental picture of Jesus Christ?

What forms your impression of him right now - famous paintings, movies, Sunday school?

"I turned around to see the voice that was peaking to me. And when I turned and saw seven golden lamp stands, and among the lamp stands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shinning in all its brilliance." (Revelation 1:12-16)

My encouragement for you right now is to really reshape your mental picture of Jesus Christ. Especially in times like this. Put your faith, trust, and thoughts on Jesus and not the negativity in the world right now.

My challenge for you is to picture things in such a way that changes your perceptive. Have fun with this. Think about Jesus Christ in this way more than you think about COVID-19. I promise you will start to become more mentally and spiritually healthy when you do this.

thousands upon thousands

I like to imagine some of the scenes from the Bible like movie scenes. It's just something that is kind of fun for me. A movie that I often compare scenes to is Gladiator. I really hope you have seen that movie because it is one of my favorites.

This morning, I don't really have anything too motivational for you. I want to keep this cool, and I want you to get your imagination flowing...on a Monday morning, it's a great thing to be able to get that imagination going.

"See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones, to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and all of the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 14-15)

Imagine the Lord walking in with thousands upon thousands of angels! I mean come on now. That is amazing.

I imagine this scene being like the scene in Gladiator when Maximus walks into the colosseum...and when Maximus walks into the colosseum he has about 15 other gladiators with him and it gives me chills.

Now think about the Lord...

The Lord isn't just coming by himself...he is going to have thousands upon ten thousands of angels with him.

I hope that gets my imagination flowing today!

physical health

I've come to the conclusion that my life has been a constant juggling act of priorities.

I don't really remember what my priorities were like when I was really little but I do know that from the time I was in 6th grade until a sophomore in college, my number 1 priority was basketball. Nothing even came close to touching it. I put it before everything else. I had big dreams and I was going to do whatever I could to accomplish them. It's safe to say that my physical health was more important than my spiritual and mental health.

Sophomore year of college comes around, I am sidelined with injuries. Although it was our most successful season as a team, this was a wake up period for me. I know God used this time to make sure that I put my spiritual health above everything else. It was hard and took a lot of discipline but it worked.

I've been out of college for almost a year now. Subtract basketball from my life and add in a business.

I wrestled with how I was going to prioritize things. My spiritual health is always number 1 with my business being a close second. Where was I going to squeeze in my physical health? Could I fit it in there?

I pretty much kicked my physical health to the back burner. I didn't have to be in tip top college basketball player shape any more.

A couple months back, I came to the conclusion that I needed to consistently work out. My physical health was having a negative affect on my spiritual and mental health.

Why am I telling you about juggling priorities and your physical health? Because it's super important.

"Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 2)

John was concerned for Gaius' physical and spiritual well-being. Popular hearsay taught that the separation of spirit and matter and despised the physical side of life. Today, many people fall into this way of thinking.

This attitude logically leads to one of the two responses: neglect of the body and physical health, or indulgence of the body's sinful desires.

God is concerned for both your body and your soul.

We should neither neglect nor indulge ourselves, but care for our physical needs and discipline your body so that you are at the best for God's service.

We should be disciplined when it comes to our physical health so that we are at our best for God's service. I believe that being physically healthy will bring success to all areas of your life. Plus it will make you feel better, and will lead you to being your best self. Which God wants.

My challenge for you is not to go out and have crazy workouts everyday. It's to add small disciplined things into your lifestyle that will enhance your physical well being. It can be as easy as stretching in the shower or doing a few push ups before bed. You just have to do some small little things that will make you more disciplined and then you'll be amazed at how you feel in all the other work that you do.

Don't underestimate the importance of your physical health. Especially right now. I know it's very different to not be celebrating Easter in church today. Be okay with that. If we all decided to go to church and risk getting sick, do you think we would be at your best to serve God? Absolutely not. 

joy in the unknown

Can anyone tell me what is going to come because of this current pandemic?

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That is what I thought.

There is so much unknown right now. We don't know what is going to happen next. We don't know how long this is going to last. We don't know who is going to survive and who isn't. We just don't know. 

I hope to challenge you to a different narrative today. The new narrative that I am talking about is finding joy in the unknown.

"I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be made complete." (2 John 12)

John wrote some extremely powerful letters, and he still has more to tell us. Just when you thought you knew everything? John has more to share. Or if you are still confused with what John wrote, your questions will be answered someday. 

It's like the day before Christmas...your parents know what is wrapped in every gift under the tree. They let you open just one the night before, but insist that if you wait until the next day, it's going to be worth it. 

We might have somewhat of an understanding with what is going on in the world right now, but I picture God telling us to just be patient. God knows what is going to happen. Every last detail. Just like how our parents know about all the gifts under the tree. Our questions will be answered soon. When the answers are known, then are joy will begin to be made more complete. 

What narrative are you trying to write? The narrative we are telling ourselves right now is forming the direction that our attitude takes. 

How are you handing this?

1. Are you going to talk about how tough it was and how you didn't think you would make it?

2. Are you going to talk about how you thrived during this time? Made the most of it?

3. Are you going to talk about how you took the appropriate measures to get through this?

4. Are you going to talk about how you found the joy in the unknown?

Everything is going to be made complete. Trust God. 

If we knew the answer to every question right now, there wouldn't be a need for God because we would be perfect. So of course you don't know everything!

Embrace what you know and find the joy in what you don't. 

discussions vs. demands

When you want something from God...like a prayer answered...how are you talking to him about it?

Are you having a discussion with him or demanding him?

I believe that we make demands more than we should. Have you ever seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Do you remember who Violet Beauregarde was? The little stuck up girl who demanded to get the things that she wanted. When I think of someone demanding in an improper way, that is who I think of. Let's never have that attitude when we approach God about something.

I do think there is a positive connotation to a demand when we ask God for something. What I mean is when we cry out to God out of desperation. When there is a sick relative, or someone close to you, and we want that person healed. We cry out to God to heal him. Not demand.

Now think about a discussion. Having discussions just makes things easier.

Imagine you're in a position of power. Someone approaches you...they demand you to give them what they want. They're doing everything in their power to make it known how much they need your help. They're so persistent in your demands that you hardly have time to think...you become overwhelmed and don't end up giving in to what that person wants.

I bet that might be how God feels sometimes when we demand him for things rather than having a discussion with him.

Now imagine you're in a position of power again. Someone approaches you...they ask to have a discussion with you about some of the things they are feeling and the things they want. While talking to you, they make it clear that they want whatever you want for them.  You feel affection for them because of their peace, how they approached you, and how they wanted what you wanted for them. You're more willing to listen because they were willing to have a discussion rather than making demands.

Which person are you? Which person do you want to be?

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hards us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15)

That scripture emphasizes God's will, not our will.

When we communicate with God, we have to continue to discuss with him what he wants for us...not what we want.

If we align our prayers to his will, he will listen; and we can be certain the if he listens, he will give us a definite answer.

My challenge, please continue to have discussions with God. He will listen. The more we align our prayers to his will, the more we will receive definite answers.

love faithfully

When we love others, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Our love for others allows God to be seen through us. I mean think about that...Whenever I see people loving others like crazy, there is a noticeable difference them and those who don't love. I am sure you have noticed that too! Love that is shown is from God.

We don't love naturally without God shining through us.

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete. ( John 4:12)

John isn't telling us how many people to love, but how much to love the people we already know. Our job is to love faithfully the people God has given us to love, whether there are two or two hundred of them.

If God sees that we are ready to love others, he will bring them to us. No matter how shy we are, we don't need to be afraid of the love commandment.

My challenge for you is to love the people that you know. Sometimes I think we create unrealistic expectations for ourselves when we want to love everyone. Love the people you know! That is faithful love.

One of the things that will never make sense to me is seeing a person love everyone they are around at work or outside of their home and then they go home and don't love those who they are closest too. Are you really loving faithfully if you don't love those are who are closest to you? If you ask me, I believe it's most important to love those who are closest to you.

Love those are closest to you. Love the people you see everyday. Faithfully love.

Our faithful love will lead others to seeing God's love for us.

service and actions

Let's get straight to the challenge today. My challenge for you is to love someone by serving them and through your actions.  Not your words.

There are tons of people who can walk the walk but not talk the talk. How many people can you think off the top of your head who said they were going to do something and they never do it. Or someone who says they really care about you and then they don't.

Staying true to your words through your actions and service is one of the most significant things about someones character. Your actions and service open the door to a tidal wave of respect from peers, friends, family, and co-workers.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18)

Real love is action, not a feeling.

Real love produces selfless, sacrificial giving.

Real love is giving oneself to others.

How can we lay down our lives? By serving others with no thought of receiving anything in return. Sometimes it is easier to say we'll die for others than to truly live for them-this involves putting others' desires first.

Show someone you love them today rather than saying it. I can promise you that it will make you feel like you are doing the right thing, and the person on the receiving end will feel more loved than ever.

limitless love

Every morning when we get up and get out of bed, we have the ability to choose who and how we are going to love. What do you choose? Do you choose to love the people you love all the time, like your family, friends, and co-workers? Or do you choose to love everyone?

I will be the first to admit. It's really hard to choose to love everyone. I've struggled with that my entire life up until the past year or so. I struggle with it because we are humans. It's impossible for every persons path that I cross in day to please to me. Not everyone can make decisions that are going to make my life better.

I believe a huge part of choosing to love others is not setting expectations for them and understanding that people are not perfect. It's never up to someone else to make the decision on whether or not we love them. It's up to us. It's our choice.

Why is this important anyways?

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know here they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. (1 John 2:9-11)

Are you living in the light or the darkness right now?

When we choose to love others, nothing will make us stumble when we live in the light. If we continue to hate on others and choose not to love them, we walk around in the darkness and are blinded.

John's words focus on the attitude that causes us to ignore or despise others, to treat them as irritant, competitors, or enemies. Christian love is not a feeling but a choice. We can choose to be concerned with people's well-being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection towards them. If we choose to love others, God will help us express our love.

My challenge for you is to come up with an answer to this question: Are you living in the light or the darkness based upon how you love? You have the ability to live in the light right now and to be a light for others. There are a lot of people all across the world right now who need light.

Shine brightly today and don't put a limit on who you love.

Guest writer: Rosemary Fisher, my mom

A Quiet Soul

Guest writer: Rosemary Fisher, my mom

            I don’t remember a time in my life when there seemed to be so much uncertainty, fear, and anxiety- on a global level. Of course, each of us have had periods in our lives where we have faced difficult times, but never before, on a global level, has there been a time such as this- where it seems the whole world is relatively at the same place, to a degree. If you’re like me, emotions may be running high. It seems to be a daily task to keep my emotions in check.

            It is certainly no coincidence that God has me currently reading a book called How’s Your Soul? by Pastor Judah Smith. I found one chapter in particular very helpful to me. I’d like to share some of Pastor Judah’s comments that I found beneficial. The title of the chapter, A Quiet Soul, is mostly based on Psalm 131, just a 3 verse chapter in Psalms, written by King David. 

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;

My eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

Too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul… 

(Psalm 131: 1-2a)

It is important to point out that King David was the most influential and affluent person around at that time. “He had more fame, fortune, and responsibility than most of us could imagine…yet he found a way to quiet his soul” (all quotes will be from Pastor Judah). “If King David could develop a calm soul in the middle of the craziness of ruling a kingdom, maybe there is hope for you and me.” It is clear that King David was intentional about quieting his soul. 

David is saying in verse 1 “I know there is a God and I am not him.” It is important to remember that, if we made a decision to allow God to rule our heart and lives, that HE is in control. “Ultimately, we aren’t in charge of our fate. We can’t control everything. Only God can! The principle here is this: if you want to have a calm, quiet soul, you have to recognize that you are not in control. That realization is fundamental to being healthy and peaceful on the inside. I am not in control. I am not in charge. Ultimately, I am not dictating my days. God, you have numbered my days. You have ordered my ways. I make my plans, but you direct my steps. Lord, I trust that you have my best interests in mind.”

“Quietness and rest are found not in control, but in surrender.” Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. – Isaiah 30:15

In verse 1, King David went on to say, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” “Essentially, he is saying, “There’s a lot I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know all the facts. I don’t understand everything. And I’m okay with that.” This is key, because it is coming from a king! And for me personally, this is where this chapter got really good. Pastor Smith talked about having a “God category” in your life. This is a “category where you put things that you don’t understand, that you don’t know, that you don’t trouble yourself with. What do you do with things that are too great and too marvelous for you and your finite, limited paradigm and perspective?” “David was making a profound statement about how to have a calm and quiet soul. He was saying, “I can’t know it all; and furthermore, I can’t handle it all.””

“That realization has never been more needed than in this age of instant information.  For example, I’m not so sure that we were designed to have these cellular devices with relentless simultaneous updates on every local, national, and global crisis.” 

Realistically though, isn’t this our life right now? We’re getting updates and notifications constantly- through news, radio, social media, friends, co-workers. “I don’t know if our souls have the capacity to comprehend and process all of the world’s tragedies. I know God does, but I don’t think we do. We are stewards of our own souls, by the grace of God, and we can set limits on what we listen to. Just because we can know something doesn’t mean we should know it or that we should fret and fixate on it.” “I don’t need to occupy my mind, will and emotions with issues that God hasn’t asked me to fix. Drawing lines and setting limits isn’t irresponsibility. It isn’t selfishness. It’s wisdom. It’s okay if we don’t know all the news and all the details. God is really good at being God. He knows everything, he is in control, and his grace is enough.”

Of course, when Pastor Smith wrote book this in 2016, he was not referring to COVID-19. But since that is where we are currently at, as I read this chapter, I found great peace in applying his points to my information intake and processing. At times, I have found myself with information overload, wanting more and more information, but then feeling quite overwhelmed with it as I acquired it. I liked his concept of the God category. Right now, there’s a lot of things I’m putting in the God category. And it was validating just to hear, ‘that’s ok.’ These days, I’m working on [Psalm 131] verse 2, But I have calmed and quieted my soul… 

How about you? How’s your soul right now? I know Luke always gives a challenge. My challenge to you is to take a moment right now and pray over these things while they are fresh in your head. Are there things you have tried to take control over that simply need surrendered to Jesus? Is there a burden you’re struggling to understand that just needs put in your God category? As I have been trying to calm and quiet my soul, it has helped me to focus on scripture. I have this verse sitting on my desk:

Now He is FAR ABOVE any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. Eph 1:21

Blessings to you all,

light shines through

When light shines, everything is exposed. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Light represents what is good, pure, true, holy, and reliable.

In the darkness, everything looks the same. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Darkness represents what is sinful and evil.

This is the message we have heard from him to declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  (1 John 1:5-7)

'God is light' means the God is perfectly holy and true and that he alone can guide us out of the darkness of sin.  I believe that something we have to understand is that we can't create light to guide ourselves out of sin. Too often we try to do this on our own. The only we that we can be guided out of sin is through God's light. And because of God's light we can be a light to others.

Light is also related to the truth in that light exposes whatever exists, whether good or bad. As I look outside on this sunny Sunday, everything outside is exposed. I can see all the details of the corn field; the spots and the blemishes of the pool deck; the semi-green grass; and all of the nips and crannies.

In the dark, good and evil look alike; in the light, they can be clearly distinguished.

As I look at the dead tree out in the field, I can tell that it's dead right now. If I were to see its shadow in the moonlight tonight, I wouldn't be able to tell whether it was dead or alive.

Just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, sin cannot exist in the presence of the Holy God.

We must eliminate that sin from our lives. If we want to have a relationship with God, we must put aside our sinful ways of living. To claim that we belong to him then go out and live for ourselves is hypocrisy. Christ, the light, will expose and judge or deceit.

My encouragement for you is to put aside those dark and sinful acts. When we commit to a relationship with God, his light exposes every part of us. We are completely unable to hide things from God.

time tables

What is your view on time right now? Does having to stay at home make you feel like the past month has lasted a year?

I hope this short post changes your perspective on timing.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)

The Lord isn't slow is anything that he does. He is patient. This madness will end. It hasn't not ended yet because God is slow. 

He is patient. He is patient. He is patient. 

When you begin to understand this, your perspective on life will change. 

It seems like most of the time when I pray to God about certain things it takes forever for the prayer to get answered. Better yet, sometimes they're never answered. That's because of God's patience.

With the Lord a day is like thousand years. That scripture speaks for itself. 

Remember this: God is now slow; he just is not on our timetable. 

certainty of judgment

Will God really punish the unbelievers? Will the ungodly and unrighteous really burn in hell?

We hear all the time...if God is really a loving God than everybody will go to heaven someday right? That's what we would like to think, but it's just not true. So it's time to stop thinking in that foolish way. Especially if you're the person who know that they should believe and be all in for Christ, yet continues to sin over and over and over again and just takes advantage of God's grace on purpose.

We have to understand that God doesn't mess around. It's not like he is going to just cancel the day of judgment because he loves us all so much .

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient work when he brought the food on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. (2 Peter 2:4-6)

God didn't even spare the angels who sinned. Think you'll get spared?

God will punish all evildoers. These words served as a warning to wanderers who stray away from the truth. Some people would have us believe that God will save all people because he is so loving. But it is foolish to think that God will cancel the last judgment.

Don't ever minimize the certainty of God's judgment on those who rebel against him.

I want you to know that I am not trying to scare you and say that if you sinned once you are going to be chained to darkness. What I do what you to know is to not take the day of judgment lightly. We don't know when that day is going to come so we have to make sure that we are asking for forgiveness and that we are ready for when that day comes...because I promise you that it is coming and you are going to want to make sure that you are ready.

nostalgia

Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period of time or a place with happy personal associations. 

This is something that has really been big in the past year or so. There is just something about thinking about happy memories and going back to times where things seemed so perfect that make you feel so good.

Even as you read this, I challenge to you really refresh your mind to some nostalgic times.

I know for me, so many memories are coming to mind. I'm picturing the places I've been and times with my family. It warms my heart...it makes me feel good.

In times like this it's important to refresh your memory. Having to stay at home and be safe might not be the most fun thing in the world. But it's what we have to do right now. If you are feeling down...and like you are a little trapped I challenge to refresh your memory. Think about traveling, think about memories that you have with your friends and family. Look at some pictures, call your friends and talk about those things. Embrace the nostalgia through refreshing your memory.

"I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of the body." (2 Peter 1:13)

Just like how we should embrace nostalgic times, we are called to refresh our memory as believers.

Believers must not neglect the basics of their faith. We need constant reminders of all the fundamentals of our faith and of how we came to believe in the first place.

Sometimes we forget the basics and make our faith in Jesus a little more difficult than it should be. That's because we try to make things too complicated. We can't do that. We must remember what led us to believe in the first place.

We cannot allow ourselves to be bored or impatient with messages on the basics of the Christian life.

Kobe Bryant once said this: "I was the greatest because I was obsessed with the basics." 

anxiety

Anxiety...it eats ya up and spits ya right back up. Anxiety to me is just one of the words that you never like to see because you know that so many people struggle with it on a daily basis. I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs on this topic but I want to keep it short, simple, and to the point. 

Anxiety is a real thing. It's not a hoax or a myth. Everyone has experienced some sort of anxiety at some point in their lives. Everyone knows how it feels and it's not fun.

What do you do when you have anxiety? How do you get rid of it?

I feel like most people keep it bottled up inside. I know that I do. Whenever I feel anxious I feel like it's so far deep down in me that I just have to keep it there. For some reason, there is a belief that if you talk about it more, you will just become more anxious. So we just try to hide it? 

What's the good in hiding about something? 

When I used to play hide-in-go seek when I was a kid, I remember there were times where I would find such a good hiding spot that nobody would ever find me. It the moment I thought it was cool, but then as the the game went on, I just found myself still hiding. I was lonely. Sometimes I would hide for so long and my friends just gave up on the game and when I would finally just give up, I would see that they were on to the next game and I was missing out! 

When we suffer from anxiety, we have to give it to God.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Hiding things from God, carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however to recognize that God cares, to admit your needs, and to let others in God's family help you out. 

The thing that we have to understand is that when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight of our struggles. 

If you remember anything from this post, I hope that it's this: Letting God have your anxieties calls for action, not passivity.