Archive for January, 2010

And, he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd, he could not see… Luke 19:3

     I haven’t posted anything in a couple of weeks because I didn’t feel like I had much to say and didn’t want to post something that wasn’t heartfelt or led of the spirit. But, today something touched my heart, from a story in the Bible I’ve heard since I was a child. The story in Luke about the tax collector, Zacchaeus, and how he climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus pass by. What touched my heart wasn’t how he climbed up the tree to see Jesus or how Jesus came and ate supper with him. Yet, what caught my attention was verse three where it says he couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd.

     Have you ever felt that way? You are in a crowd of people, whether that crowd be physical people in your life, or a crowd of work, family, stress, or sin. And, while in that crowd, you cannot see Jesus because of your stature. You are like Zacchaeus, just desperate to see Jesus but the crowd is between you setting your eyes on the King.

     At this point, Zacchaeus ran on ahead through the crowd; yes, he did climb a tree to see Jesus. But, take a good look and think about what action he did to get to gaze on Jesus. He pushed through the crowd, left the crowd below and behind in order to see Christ.

     If you want to see Jesus, and I mean SEE Jesus show up and show off in your life, then you are going to have to leave the crowd that is surrounding your life. No matter what the crowd is made up of, just leave it behind. Leave behind the crowd of . . . you fill in the blank; in order to experience the presence of Jesus in your life and see His glory!!

So, Zacchaeus, leave the crowd behind, go dine with Jesus…

My prayer times and the way I see life have changed over the last month or so. I have been in places in my life, where I felt like if I didn’t pray that day, I felt worse or farther from God than the previous day that I had spent in prayer and the Word. My prayer times would be me going to my closet or room, turning down the lights and putting soft music on and sitting there, praying all alone. I usually felt so alone, distracted, and like I was praying to God who was far off in Heaven, looking down at me. At times, I sounded more like a confused robot or something, not like I was talking to my friend who was with me. Now, while I still take those times alone with God and his Word, I have just been going to my kitchen table in complete silence, no music, no lights dimmed.  I pull up an empty chair and use the eyes of my heart to see God in that chair. I talk to him audibly just like it was my best friend sitting there with me, because He is.

The other day I sat down for breakfast (Lucky Charms) with God. Just sat there and ate breakfast with Him. Talked with Him. You may think that’s a little weird, but I mean the story of Jesus is a man who was God’s son, born of a virgin, and died on a cross, satisfying the wrath of God (who we can’t see) for my sins, saving me from sin and a fiery hell. That’s “weird” in itself if you think about it.  I have just been visualizing God walking beside me and sitting with me and He never leaves me. God is not far off and He is not disconnected or unconcerned with your life. I talk to Him all the time. You can never be religious or just want to get your prayer time out of the way if you believe He’s always there.

I was in the break room at work, with like 15 people all going on about their lives, and I was so zoned out staring at this empty chair. My friend looked over at me and said, “What are you thinking about?”  I must have looked like I was in another place. I just thought to myself, “I’m just talking to my friend about how my day is going and asking Him how his has been”.  So, my point is this….God is not far off.  The only thing that makes you feel like you are alone and that He has left you is your own human mind and the point of view it creates in you. So, recreate the reality that He is literally there with you when you eat breakfast, when you are at work, on break, at school, every second. Take the time to look in his eyes and walk with Him, talk with Him, be with Him, every moment. My prayer has changed from “God, come down or God, be with me” to “God, open my eyes to see you’re already here.”  This may take time, and you may have to retrain your mind and eyes to see reality for what it is, but if you do, then you will find freedom and a friend who is there if you will take the time to see Him and be with Him. In that is peace like a river. Involve Him.

A few years ago, I was driving to school, listening to a local Christian radio station. A Christian doctor came on, and he made a statement that made me take a look at my life. He said, “If you have a child that has a hard time focusing on homework, because they always worried about what their friends are doing, then the chances are, your child struggles with low self-esteem.” I immediately knew that feeling, and couldn’t believe that I struggled with looking down upon myself. The feeling of unworthiness was conquering my life. Thankfully, since that time, through many fights, battles won and battles lost, I can say, “I’m in love with God, and God’s in love with me, this is who I am and this is who I’ll be, and that settles it, completely!”

There is a battle we must all fight, and that is fighting the battle of condemnation. There are too many Christians that sit around unable to fulfill their destiny because they can not overcome condemnation. Sometimes, we are just way too hard on ourselves. You must understand the difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction may not always feel good, reminding us of sin in our lives, but it is without a doubt the Holy Spirit drawing us back to Him. Condemnation is when we feel so unworthy, ashamed and defeated. We beat ourselves up because we make some mistakes; holding a grudge against our past, unwilling to forgive ourselves. This battle becomes so intense that we don’t even feel like going to a church, or even acknowledging the existence of Christ. Condemnation convinces us to hate who we have become. Ultimately, condemnation will always push us away from Christ.

I believe a key to overcoming condemnation is to have confidence. Jeremiah 17:7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him!” When the attacks of condemnation are being thrown our way, we need to begin to trust in the Lord and have confidence in Him! His love for us is limitless, and He is the hope for our future. Know who you are, because you know who your God is! We have got to have confidence in ourself and in our God. He loves us, and He is in us, but if we can not have confidence in ourselves or in Him, how can He ever work through us?

In Matthew 11:30, Jesus says to us, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  When I was a kid, I had no idea what this meant.  I thought that the yoke that Jesus spoke about was the yellow part of the egg. I look back and laugh now, because in that context it doesn’t make any sense.

I came to understand what a yoke is.  A yoke is something that farmers used to use to put on oxen and guide them as they pull their loads or plows.  It directs them by the hand of the farmer.  In the time of Jesus, each Rabbi or teacher had a “yoke” of teaching.  Many times when you hear of ceremonial cleansing and such, these are things that were really important to many of the Rabbi of the time.

When you understand the yoke as the teaching of Jesus, it makes this verse so much more understandable.  Jesus doesn’t place a yoke of ceremony or empty rituals on us.  He has placed the yoke of love on us.  This yoke isn’t guided by obligation; it’s not guided by condemnation… it’s guided by love.  Whenever our Christianity turns into something that is full of obligation or condemnation, it’s not about following Jesus anymore; it’s about us and our face, our standing with the people around us.  But, when it’s an outpouring of love for God and for others, that’s when it’s real.

On my Renewal blog, I quite often will post a devotional from one of the books I use on a regular basis.  Thought I would share one with you today taken from “Coffee Break with God”:

“A passenger on a dining car looked over the luncheon menu.  The list included both a chicken salad sandwich and a chicken sandwich.  He decided on the chicken salad sandwich, but absentmindedly wrote chicken sandwich on the order slip.  When the waiter brought the chicken sandwich, the customer angrily protested.

Most waiters would have immediately picked up the order slip and shown the customer the mistake was his.  This waiter didn’t.  Instead, expressing regret at the error, he picked up the chicken sandwich, returned to the kitchen, and a moment later placed a chicken salad sandwich in front of the customer.

While eating his sandwich, the customer picked up the order slip and saw that the mistake was his.  When it came time to pay the check, the man apologized to the waiter and offered to pay for both sandwiches.  The waiter’s response was, ’No, sir.  That’s perfectly all right.  I’m just happy you’ve forgiven me for being right.’

By taking the blame initially and allowing the passenger to discover his own mistake, the waiter accomplished several things:  he allowed the passenger to retain his dignity, reminded him to be more cautious before blaming others, and created a better atmosphere for everyone in the dining car.  Next time someone blames you for their mistake, don’t get defensive, but find a creative way to make things right.”

Hey guys, I am so excited about tonight’s service.  I don’t think there has been a time in my life when I feel such anticipation leading up to service times.  I am not excited about the service itself, but I am excited to see God move in your life in a special way.  I apologize that I was unable to post a preview video last night, but one of our students (Ariel Harris) had a car accident yesterday and was rushed to the Louisville hospital for surgery.  I felt that it was vital that I was there in support of her and her family.  Please keep her in your prayers!  Tonight, I will be speaking on the subject “The Denial”.  I can’t wait to see all of you!  Hillside 7pm tonight, cya there!

Write everyday down. The good and the bad ones; you will only live them once, and you will need and want to reflect on them in years to come. I have been keeping a journal of my religious life for 2 years now, and I go back and read what I wrote from times past  every once in a while. It helps me reflect on where I am and where God has brought me from and what I’ve learned. I recommend taking a journal into prayer and writing down your thoughts and also keep one that tells what you did during that day and things about life. It may not seem like you did anything that day, but sometimes in a story (which is really what your life is) it takes 300 pages for something to happen or what you want to happen to come to pass. Every page before that builds on the theme of the story. Trust me — if you don’t do this, then I recommend starting.  Every day of your life a page turns, and it cannot be rewrote, and it cannot be predicted what will come of what you did during that day. Plan all you want, but the reality of life and of a spirit-led life is that you are blown like the wind and never know where you are going, and no one can tell where you came from. I have been keeping a record of the days of my life in a journal that tells what I did that day for a couple months now, and it is important to see that not only what you get in a prayer closet is godly. Your day is just as important to Him. Write down the little things you do. Write down the times you play with your friends, kids, and family. Write down what you watched with them, what you learned, when you got mad or lost your temper, when you were happy, what you’re thinking about, and the funny things your friends say and do. These are the paragraphs of your story and these are the times that your story will unfold. In 10 years, your story will still be unfolding, and one day after you’re gone, your grandchildren can pick up what you wrote and should be able to read your story and see the person you were. This is what the Psalms are, and this is, in reality, what the Bible is — “A Story”. Write yours down!

I just wanted to post this short blog to encourage you to keep sowing to the place of prayer:

Galatians 6:8 — ”The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Many times in my life, I have walked through seasons in which I am discouraged in the place of prayer.  Prayer times are mundane, casual, routine and lifeless.  It seems as though my prayers are hitting the ceiling above me and falling to the ground.  Early in my in my walk with Christ, I would have believed it was sin in my life that needed to be rooted out before my prayer could be heard on high.  As time has passed and I have matured, I have realized that personal righteousness does not give me an ear in heaven (not that this revelation is an excuse to sin, or an excuse not to strive for personal purity and holiness because I truly believe the “pure in heart” shall see the Lord), but rather my position in Christ is what allows my prayers to be heard on high.  It becomes increasingly hard to continue to sow to the Spirit when you do not see immediate results.  But, this morning, I was freshly reminded by the whisper of the Holy Spirit, “Keep Sowing, Keep Sowing and in due time you will truly reap a harvest”.  Immediately, my mind was drawn to the scripture above in Galatians.  I am writing this blog to encourage you to “Keep Sowing”.  Many times it is not easy, and many times you will not see the results immediately.  I feel it is essential to remind you, that when you plant a seed, the fruit may not come forth immediately, but, I assure you, it will come forth in due time. 

I plead with you to understand the importance of sowing.  YOU WILL NEVER REAP WHAT YOU HAVE NOT SOWN!!  Harvest times are wonderful seasons in your life, but you will never see these times until you begin to sow for them.  So, today, I challenge you to sow in the secret place, where the applause of men do not exist, where immediate results may not come quickly, but truly where the most important time is spent!  “Keep Sowing, Keep Sowing, and one day, you will truly reap a harvest!”

Matt 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ ”

 Many of us are blessed beyond measure and live beyond comfortable.  The sad reality is that most of us may never understand, comprehend, or realize that many people are not as fortunate as us.  Sometimes, we can be blinded by the comforts we take for granted.  Millions of people will not have a roof over their head, food on their table, or even clothes on their back tonight.  How many times have you passed someone on the side of the road holding up a cardboard sign and not even thought twice about it?

 Jesus came into the world to bring Life to ALL people, not just those that are fortunate.  Jesus then called all those who claim to follow His ways to love the world that He so desperately loves.  He went as far to say that even if you clothe, feed, visit, or provide for one person, then it will be equal to clothing, feeding, visiting, or providing for Him.  Wow, think about the depth of that statement.  He said “if you have done it unto the least of these, then you have done it unto Me”.  If you are looking for Jesus, maybe you need to stop looking in a sanctuary and start looking to the less fortunate, because I truly believe that is where He is! 

 This Saturday, January 16th, Hillside Student Ministries will be taking a trip to Louisville to feed the homeless.  I strongly encourage you to participate in this trip.  It may not be a trip to Six Flags or Gatlinburg, but I am telling you that you won’t regret going.  We are giving you a chance to give “Unto the least of these” – Jesus Christ, Himself!! 

 Join us—registration will happen Thursday night during the Hillside service.  You don’t want to miss this opportunity!!

Psalms 16:7-8, “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night season. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. This scripture gives us so much instruction and even great promise. The first thing it says is “I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel.” I have learned in my life, that in all situations, we must never cease to give God the praise He deserves. In the middle of battles we are facing, or even when failure is staring us in the face, it is when we bless the Lord that we will find peace, comfort, and joy. I believe that in moments of praise, when we are so focused on God and not ourselves, that we can receive counsel and direction for our lives!

Our hearts will instruct us in the night seasons. There is a passion down on the inside of everyone that desires to know and love God. When our lives seem to be so dark and lonely, our hearts are always quick to remind us to whom we belong! Then, we will have the heart to run back to God in the midst of those dark seasons, back into His light.

With instruction, this passage teaches us to set the Lord always before us. I encourage you always begin your day with the Lord. Make first things first. Surrender to him your body, heart, and mind, that your day may be filled and covered with the blessing of the Lord. It doesn’t mean we will not have a bad day, but that we make Him the Lord of our life, seeking his instruction and guidance.

Finally, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. He will never leave us nor forsake us. When we are not looking to him for direction, He stands beside us with love through every step that we take. He loves us so much that He will not let us go! We shall not be moved, simply because nothing can separate us from His love!