Posts Tagged 'devotions'

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Chameleons

Published March 31, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Chameleons are interesting little animals.  As many know, some chameleons are able to change their skin colours to match or blend into their surroundings.  According to Wikipedia (a relevant source for sure), “When a person is described as chameleon, the reference to the animal is generally a commentary on the person’s ability to blend into various social situations, often to mean the person has no true values, or that he quickly abandons them in company if it’s convenient to do so. “Chameleons” are also people who can change their personality and appearance with ease, morphing into a seemingly different person, such as an accomplished actor or model.“

It’s amazing how quickly we as people are compared to God’s creatures (sheep?).  I often view the Christian like a chameleon, and so did Paul as he said in 1st Corinthians, “I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (MSG).

Apply the Word

The application is simple.  We must, as believers in Jesus Christ, change the exterior of ourselves from time to time to become like our surroundings in order to reach people for the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, in the temporary change of our exterior self, we must be devoted and focused that the internal foundation remains unchanged.  The exterior walls make look a little different from time to time, but the foundation has to be strong.  (Side note: If your foundation isn’t strong, don’t even think about changing the exterior yet.  The color of the walls doesn’t matter if you don’t even have walls up yet.)  Always, always, always, keep your bearings in Jesus Christ.

Two Eyes

A chameleons eyes lids are joined, with only a pinhole large enough for the pupil to see through. They can rotate and focus separately to observe two different objects simultaneously.  So it must be so with the Christian.  We must be able to keep our hearts open to “enter into their world and try to experience things from their point of view” but also remain focused on the cross and the salvation from Christ alone.

Do it!

While the world may change it’s true values or foundation as they become Chameleons, we can not. Becoming a chameleon takes time, it takes focus, it takes determination, and it takes hard work.  Not sure how to proceed?  Think about it.  What is God wanting you to do right now that you are not comfortable with or that you are unsure of?  As one of my mentors once told me, “You don’t have to be a pro athlete to coach the game.  You just have to know how the game is played.” The important thing is that adapt to your surroundings to reach people for Christ and remain sound in Jesus.

So many application points, so little time!

-jordan

Monday Devotions

Published January 26, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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A few passages from Proverbs 26 I took to heart this morning in my devotions…

  • Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
  • Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
  • Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Stop and think for a second before you go on.  Are you like anything that is written above?  (Note: Thinking about that could take awhile.  That’s fine.  If you are like anything above, work on tangible ways to fix it and things you will do today to apply spiritual change in your life, then continue reading.)

We must never forget that in the process of progression comes massive opposition, turmoil, and some heartache.  The price we pay for faithfulness may be hard to handle at times, but the reward from GOD is better than anything we could ever imagine.  This morning I am reminded of Moses wandering around the desert with a group of people looking for the promise land.  It had to get old hearing the people constantly complaining and whining about when the promise land was coming.  Hearing constant things like, “Seriously Moses, you said the same thing last year?  What’s the deal?  Some leader you are.  When are we going to “get there”?  You really have no idea what your doing, do you?”

How quick the people were to forget that God is in control.  How quick they were to abandon the leadership God had placed over them.  Just like those people Moses lead, we too do the same thing.  We are quick to forget what God wants us to do.  We are quick to put God’s words in our own mouth and speak for Him.  We are quick to go outside the leadership God has set for us (Aaron and the golden calf?).

I like Moses.  He was a rock.  He was solid on doing God’s will.  He was dead set on the vision God had given him.  He was solid in telling the people that the God they served would come through, just wait, be patient, have faith, the payoff is coming.  The people who clung to him had to be on fire for the Lord because his life always pointed back to the living God.  The people on the other side were a different story.  Moses took a lot of crap from the people but he was faithful to God in the process, that’s what counts.

We have to be faithful in the process, to lead people where they need to go, no matter what happens.  Heartache comes, problems rise to the surface, and troubles knock, it’s expected.  However, we have Christ on our side and if He is on our side, who can be against us?  In this world we will have trouble but we must have the courage, because Jesus has overcome the world.

So today, I dare you to take a stand and ask the enemy, the evil forces, and outsiders who doubt your allegiance to the Lord to bring it.  No matter how bad the persecution is, no matter how much pain we face, no matter how great the opposition is, stand firm in the process of being faithful to Christ alone.  We have made our pledge to the King of kings.  Our redeemer is alive and well.  Joshua tells us that we are not to be terrified, we are not to be discouraged because the LORD our GOD is with us where ever we go.  How amazing!

So if your throwing a fit and looking at minor details, take a step back and re examine yourself.  Do everything without complaining or arguing.  Remember, God’s plan doesn’t always look like we want it to.  Don’t be a fool returning to your own vomit.  Don’t think your wise in your own eyes.  Examine yourself daily.  Does everything point back to Christ in your life?  Is it evident in the way you act, speak, listen?  Are you Christ like?  Are you faithful in the process?  People are listening to what you say.  People are watching how you will react.

Think about it.

-jordan

Go For It

Published January 8, 2009 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Babylon was full of false gods (America?).  The president (if you will) Nebuchadnezzar calls everyone he can outside of the Christian faith (psychics, magicians, enchanter, etc.) to tell him the impossible; what he dreamed the night before and what it means.  The psychics tell the King he is out of his mind.  Their actual words were, “there is not a man on earth who can meet his demands.”.

Maybe they were right about one thing.

No man could tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream and what it meant (we’ll get to that in a second).  The short of the story is that Nebuchadnezzar got so mad, he tells the “spiritual leaders” of Babylon that he’s going to kill them and their families because they fall short of his demands.  Daniel get’s word about this “decree” to kill the “wise” men and wonders how this whole thing got so out of hand.  So Daniel takes a huge a leap of faith and tells Nebuchadnezzars servant to make a time for him to meet with the king and he’ll tell him his dream and what it means.

Without even thinking Daniel goes to work for God.  He doesn’t even stop to think maybe God can’t make this happen.  Daniel knows God is going to do the impossible.  He know’s it.  He takes a step of faith and puts himself out there.  What’s the worst that could happen?  He’s going to die anyway.

Within moments Daniel and his entourage are huddled for a time of prayer asking God to go the distance.  Their faithful to Him.  Their doing His will in a foreign land.  They know He’ll answer their cry.  They understand their worthless without Him.  They ask God to do something massive, something life changing, to show himself over all other false gods in the community.

amazing.

Due to Daniels faith, God comes through in a monumental way and shows him the dream in the middle of the night.  So what does Daniel do?  He gets back on his knees and thanks God for doing what he asked.  He praises the real King of kings even more for revealing himself to Daniel.

AMAZING!

Application?  Go out on a limb and ask God to do the impossible.  Put some faith in the fact that God is in the business of blowing your mind because of your faith in Him.  However, don’t stop there.  Praise God for all that He does.  Not just a “hey thanks God” but a massive outcry of praise and rejoicing.

think about it.

-jordan

Radical Renewal

Published October 7, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2

That’s what I’m stuck on right now. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must stop allowing ourselves to be molded by the influences and pressures of this world.  The more I work with teenagers (and even adults), the more I see people trying to become “radical” in a negative way.

Jesus declared that we should refuse to become radical by the worlds standards and become radical by His standards.  It is through that radical faith that we allow ourselves to let God completely change our inward thinking and outward behavior.  It’s a process of transformation.  It is a “renewing” of the mind.  But how to I transform?  How do I “renew” my mind?

Some possible suggestions.

  • Constantly refocusing on what God wants:  Instead of seeking to satisfy your own desires, we must think of how the Lord would be pleased with the outcome of every situation we face.  That takes a refocus on your actions, a discipline if you will.  Sure this concept may sound simple, but in reality it is a major problem with people.  People are aiming to please themselves in their everyday expression, something foreign to God.  To become radical by Christ’s standards and renew our minds means that I must seek to please him in all situations, not myself and my own desires.
  • Celebrating victories over sin (both individually and together):  To many people I know refuse to celebrate over a victory over sin.  As a matter of fact, they choose to do the opposite and remained almost depressed that God gave them that victory.  We need to celebrate the smaller “battles” over sin so we can one day win the “war” with our bigger sin issues.  Radical followers of Christ will celebrate when Jesus has won or helped them overcome against sin.  When we celebrate our victories over sin, it renews how we think about God.  It allows us to see Him in an awesome way, as someone who fights with us.  Celebration over sin looks different to the world but it is pleasing to the Lord (after all, who are you here to please, the world or the Lord?).
  • Letting the spirit work (don’t fight it):  Letting the Spirit work is the key to renewing your mind.  That means that we shouldn’t fight what God is telling us internally.  When we listen to God internally we start to experience a change externally.  Listen to the Lord.

What do you think?  How else can you “renew” your mind in God’s eyes?

-jordan

Overcoming Opposition

Published September 17, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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People communicate the message repeatedly that some things are impossible.  Sometimes that message is deliberate and sometimes it’s unintentional.  Either way you slice it, when your passionate about something and someone tells you it’s impossible, it hurts.  Not only does it hurt but it’s also often untrue.  In a letter to Timothy, Paul gives a charge to flee from opposition so that we can become successful in Christ.  In other words, he tells him to listen to God’s voice and not what man is saying.  He makes it a point to show a young man that success and impossibilities can become a reality through a relationship with the Christ, even when people oppose.

When opposition comes, we must consider it pure joy.  We must continue to fight the good fight.  Whether young or old.  We need to restore our passion for advancing the gospel and stop giving into opposition.  The enemy is pleased when we “give up” or “give in”.  He enjoys hearing, “that’s impossible” or, “that’s too hard”.  With God on our side, we can be successful at any age, if we continue to do what is right in the sight of the Lord.  Our success as believers will come from the opposition we face. It is God’s desire for us to live as Christ.  That means pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, principles that are unpopular in the day we live in.

Remember, there are no shortcuts in the Christian walk.  Christian life has bumps in it (it is the road less traveled).  We need to be principled people, not endlessly adapting to culture and falling into the patterns of this world.  We must overcome opposition.  We must shake off the naysayers to continue to do what is difficult, to do what God says, so that the message of Christ can be communicated clearly.  This is how we will be successful as Christians, by clinging to the gospel of Jesus Christ, not taking any shortcuts but continuing to fight the good fight.

“The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.” -Bob Piper

-jordan

Sandboxes

Published January 25, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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With all the great similarities that I could pull from American Idol this season, one question keeps coming to my mind.  Do I worship any idols or what idols do I put before God?

When I first came to know the Lord, my life went from pretty sad to freaking sweet.  I had no problem reading my bible everyday, spending massive amounts of time in prayer, or telling people about my new relationship with Christ.  As life progressed and my walk with Christ got stronger I started to think I could do the same things I was doing on my own.  I wandered from my devotion to the king in thinking that I would be alright.  I started to tire from following Him after I tried to do things on my own strength.  I lost focus.

Everyone goes through this.  American’s get board with everything they put their hands on.  They want what their neighbor owns.  If it’s not “new” or “fresh out of the box” it gets boring.  The sweet sandbox that we first revived is now suddenly not big enough and people throw sand.  Who wants to sit in a sandbox if people throw sand (sound like some Christians we know?).  So we look at other sandboxes, we look at other places to wander.

When I turn my back to God and go looking elsewhere, my vision of God trails away.  When I focus on people throwing sand and all the negative sides of Christianity I start to place other “idols” before God.   When I worship other things, God fades from my vision.  I see Christianity as a waste of time.  In my quest to become the next American Idol, the Apprentice, a man with the most toys, or someone who refuses to be humble, God can not be seen becuase I put my priorities above His.  I may be content  in the world but I am not complete in Him.

So what do I do?

If I focus my vision on Him, the sand stops being thrown, there is silence in the sandbox.  If I focus on him, I see a father enjoying a day in the sand with his son.  I see a son enjoying the company of his father.  I must delight myself in what God has given.  I must rejoice that I get the opportunity to read his word and spend hours in conversation with a heavenly father.   Christianity is not a waste of time when your vision is on the Lord.  I must embrace His never ending friendship daily. Only then will I see Him in all of His glory.  Only then will the sandbox look glorious.  He will multiply what little I do have.  He will be my king, my wealth, my pleasure, and my pride.

The sandbox will never seem small or imperfect because my eyes are focused on the one who gave me everything.

-Jordan

The Glass House

Published January 22, 2008 Uncategorized 1 Comment
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God seems to teach me a few things from time to time.  I would like to say that my walk with Christ is perfect as a pastor.  That as a young man I constantly do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  I never fail at anything, I am the best youth pastor in the world!

How far from the truth are those words.  I find myself in the same daily struggle with sin that the next guy does.  However, there is a difference between the common man and the pastor.  One thing that we don’t want to see, as common men and pastors, but in all reality it is very true.  It deals with our “homes” that we make as individuals.  The pastor lives in a glass house and the common man a house of stone.  The glass walls of the pastors home sometimes shatter when the stones are thrown.  t all depends on how thick the glass really is.  His job is questioned by his actions, his life is always on display, his heart hurts while the people watch him stumble.  The common man however, gets a stone thrown and closes his solid door.  He runs inside from the assaults, he is not scared of the attacks he receives.  He’s soft.  While the common man goes into his house, starts a fire, and settles down doing what ever he wants, the pastor looks out of his transparent house and wonders why the man has built a house out of stone.  Why won’t he allow others to see his weakness?  Why does he live in solitude?

What are you getting at Jordan? 

Let me tell you that the daily struggles with sin are daily battles that I fight willingly with the Lord.  The struggle lets me know that God is alive and working in my life.  Some battles are easy and some are hard, all are seen by the watchful eye of the people.  Some aid in the battle, some keep the fight going, all play a part in my daily life.  Its extremely tough at times to fight the battles when others are watching, but it builds a strength that can not be compared to anything else.  The glass house may come down easy but it is always built up again by spiritual hands.  God builds glass houses not stone homes.

As a pastor my desire is for you (the common man or woman) is to tear down your stone home and let God build you one made of glass.  Let Him strengthen the glass in His time as you walk with Him.   Remove the bricks that you have built around you that keep others out.  Let people see your heart, where you struggle, and what makes you a individual in the eyes of the Lord.  Let God lead, guide, and mold you.  Let others watch, allow others help in the struggles, let people know your real, authentic, and daily letting the King strengthen the glass.

Let God build your bulletproof glass house.

-Jordan

Daily with the King

Published January 19, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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A few remarks from my devotions this morning.

  • “Distraction is my enemy, and the world’s function is to distract me. Purity is allowing no distractions. There is a carelessness about the simple life. It allows for steadfastness and concentration.”
  • “To enter the kingdom is the easiest thing of all, but to let the kingdom enter me is the most difficult.”
  • “Some things I do in the Christian life are effortless… others are vastly more important. Those are the abiding things, like faith, hope, and love.”
  • “The rejoicing of Luke 15 is not only over the lost one who has been saved, but also the saved one who has been reclaimed. “

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:62)

If your looking for a good devotional book, I use Daily with the King and would highly recommend it along with your daily bible reading.

Side Note:  Bethany and I went to see National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (which was surprisingly good) last night on our date.  If you don’t date your wife at least once a week, your missing out on some great stuff.  Stop making excuses and take your wife out.  Find someone to watch the kids, house, dog, whatever.  Just go out with her.  If you say you don’t have time then your priorities are seriously jacked up.  Date night is the best night of the week!

-Jordan

Brace yourself like a Man

Published December 21, 2007 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Who cares about Jamie-Lynn Spears. on to more important issues.

“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” -Job 38:3

We see people argue over and fight over so many different issues in life. As a pastor the issues that cause dispute among people are so hard to watch take place. Multiple times people will do things to hurt each other and cause harm to the body of Christ without even knowing it they are doing it. That’s hard for a pastor to watch. When we fight, we all wonder who will get the final say. We wonder who will be right and who will be wrong. We hate being wrong. It’s the American way.

In Job’s case, he repeatedly had people giving there opinions on the sufferings he was facing. His wife and his buddies all had something to say regarding the frustrations he was facing. In the end, Job’s buddies and his wife suddenly disappear from the picture. As they fade to the background, God emerges as Job is left to talk one on one with his creator. God always has the last word doesn’t He? In every argument, discussion or controversy that I come across I must not forget that God has the final say. When I feel powerless and I feel my hands are tied, I must not forget that God’s mouth is not shut and His voice will still project clearly while mine is closed.

Job feared the Lord. His fear was healthy and his relationship to his master was already producing a spiritual A game. Even though God and him had a remarkable relationship, he still got the raw end of the deal and suffered greatly. Job spoke boldly to God numerous times while experiencing pain and frustration. While speaking to his creator and questioning his sufferings, Job kept the relationship to God full of honor and respect. When God took the throne, Job had nothing to say in his own defense. Job stood in front of the Lord, silent.

It is not an easy task to contest with the Living God. God and I wrestle a lot and I know that I am nowhere near the sufferings of Job, but I feel as if I experience the same discouragement he did from time to time. Job, along with his friends, longed to hear the voice of God and so do I. While experiencing discouragement I long for God to talk to me, to give clarity to my life. Am I prepared to hear what God had to say?

This life, this body I live in, it is not my own. I must constantly remember that. I live with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of me. The living God dwells in my flesh. Because of that I must remember that God’s word will echo through every hard situation I face. God’s love will prevail through trials and tribulations. God’s hand will move through situations that are beyond my control. Who am I to worry about tomorrow? God speaks boldly to his disciples and to me when he tells them, “Brace yourself like a man! Your about to hear from me and I want an answer!” God says to his children that, “This might hurt a little, maybe a lot, but it’s okay because you are my child and I know the plans I have for you. ” John says it right…

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” – John 16:33

What answer will you give to God when you experience sufferings? Will you brace yourself like a man and give God an answer that will bring glory to His name? How will you answer the creator when your questions are answered, when the wrestling match is over? Are you prepared to hear what God has to say to you? Are you prepared to let God do what He has planned for your life no matter how bad it hurts?

Brace yourself like a man.

-Jordan

Living Free

Published December 13, 2007 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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“Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you’re on. Don’t throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats.”  Psalm 27:11 (MSG)

Sometimes I have no idea how I landed in the desk I am sitting in right now.  I constantly question how God could use a sinner like me to relay his message of hope, truth, and love.  When I was a teenager the highway I traveled on was literally the “highway to Hell”.  No street lights, no cars passing by, just a worn out, beat up kid wondering down a dark four-lane without a hint of hope or a car to ride in.  I remember that kid.  I revisit him sometimes when I’m down.  I ask him questions.  What were you thinking?  Did you know that the decisions you made on that road would affect me still to this day?  He has no response, he can’t respond becuase he died along time ago.

The non-Christ follower thinks his path is a well lit avenue.  Almost as like a delusion that he has created in his mind.  A pipe dream that makes up for his blind handicap.  When I came to know Christ I acknowledged the fact I had a handicap.  God placed his hand in mine as we walked down a new freeway that only He knew.  When I came to know Christ he didn’t remove my blindness right away.  He let me live with it for awhile as to say, “You’re not ready yet to see where I am going to take you, just hold my hand and follow me, that will be enough for now.”  God walks with me slowly.  It takes me awhile to get things and He understands that.     He is patient as we travel together.

I remember when I started to see God’s vision for my life, when my blind handicap was removed for the first time.  I could see down the road a little but I could never see the entire road.  As a matter of fact, the more I traveled, the more I started to see construction sites up ahead.  I would get upset with God because He was working on part of the spiritual freeway.  I would get upset that I had to slow down.  I was moving so fast!  I was doing so good!  Why would God put a 45 mph sign up in a 70 mph freeway!  I might not have understood why God was working on the road but I remembered as I slowed down that God doesn’t have to tell me a thing.   His plan is perfect.  I had to go back to what He said to me when I was blind.  “You’re not ready yet to see where I am going to take you, just hold my hand and follow me, that will be enough for now.”

On the spiritual turnpike, I look behind me and I see where God has taken me.  He is a companion on my journey,  a guide with accurate directions, someone who is always there.  I can see God in the rear view mirror, out my windshild, and even out the windows of my faith build automobile.

This is too much, too wonderful.  I can’t take it all in!

-Jordan

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