Re-Post: The Answer

31 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from October:

GOD’S answer to your prayer may not be YOUR solution to the problem.

I think sometimes we assume that the only way God “answer’s” our prayer is by providing for us the solution to our problem.  And we typically TELL God what that solution is don’t we?  If there is sickness the ANSWER is healing.  If there is need the ANSWER is money.  If there is strife the ANSWER is restoration.  I mean, if we’re honest, that’s usually how we feel.  We approach God with our request, and then we GIVE Him the solution to our request.  At least that’s how I am.

Now, let me preface that with this:  I’m not saying we shouldn’t pray for healing, or provision, or restoration.  We SHOULD!  I think we should, as the Bible says, approach the throne of grace with CONFIDENCE in Jesus.  We should lay our hands on the sick and pray for their healing.  We should pray for and seek out restoration in our relationships.  We should trust in and ask God to provide for all our needs.  But for myself, I want to be careful that I’m not DEMANDING of God what I think should be HIS answer to my prayer.

Psalm 138:3 says As soon as I pray, you answer me; You encourage me by giving me strength.

Man, when I read that, God just spoke to my spirit.  “MY answer may not be in doing what YOU ask, but in building up your STRENGTH to face whatever you’re against.”  King David says “AS SOON as I pray, God answers me”.  And His answer was in giving him strength.

I believe there is one thing God’s ALWAYS willing to do for His children who seek Him through prayer.  GIVE THEM STRENGTH.  He may not bring healing to that illness, but He WILL give you strength to face it.  He may not bring provision the way YOU see it, but He WILL give you strength to trust Him to provide.  He may not bring restoration in the TIMING that you ask, but He WILL give you strength to face the strife in your life.

May I be able to say, as King David did, “As SOON as I pray, you answer me”, because my answer is in HIM not in what He will GIVE!  GOD’S answer to your prayer, may not be YOUR solution to the problem.

Praying for God’s STRENGTH,

Jeff


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Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Prayer

Re-Post: How Long Do I Have To Wait?

30 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from September:

Just because God DELAYS doesn’t mean He’s DONE!

Ever feel like you’ve been waiting FOREVER for God to come through on something?  Like, you’ve BELIEVED for it.  You’ve PRAYED for it!  You’ve TRUSTED Him for it!  But you’re just stuck in a holding pattern.  Like “GOD, are you done?” I know I’VE been there before.  Been there more often than I care to admit, and SO MANY times, it’s not that He’s done…He’s just delaying.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus performs one of his most famous miracles by raising Lazarus from the dead.  Most of us are familiar with this miracle.  Lazarus is sick, Jesus gets there too late, Lazarus dies, BUT Jesus raises him from the dead.  I mean, how would you like to have been there for THAT one?  HOLY COW!! I’m sure I would have said something very similar to what Lazarus’ sister said “Lord, he’s been dead for four days, the smell will be horrible.”  One of Lazarus’ buddy’s was probably thinking “And he stunk even BEFORE he died.  Jesus should probably listen to Martha.”  (HA!  I crack myself up reading Scripture sometime)

So word gets to Jesus that Lazarus is sick, but much to everyone’s surprise HE DOESN’T GO TO HIM!  He DELAYS!  Now, we’re blessed with the REST of the story.  For us it’s no big deal cuz…well, Jesus heals Him.  But Lazarus didn’t know that.  Mary and Martha, his sisters, didn’t know that.  The disciples and onlookers didn’t either.

John 11:5-6 says  5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.

ALTHOUGH he loved them, he DELAYED.  Just because God DELAYS doesn’t mean He’s DONE!

Our circumstances are not a SIGN of whether God loves us or not, they are an opportunity to TRUST in His unfailing love.  Just because God delay’s doesn’t mean He’s DONE! I’m not saying that He’s always going to do what YOU think He should do, I’m just saying, He might be setting you up for a breakthrough.

In need of a miracle of God…just wait!  Praying for healing…just wait!  Trusting for financial provision…just wait!  Looking for an answer…just wait!  Feeling like you’re stuck in a holding pattern…just wait!

Waiting,

Jeff


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Re-Post: Don’t Let It Define You

29 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from August:

It’s not about where you WERE and it’s not about where you’re AT.  It’s all about where you’re GOING to be.

This past Sunday, Keegan Bradely, who until Sunday was a relatively unknown golfer, took the golf world by storm when he won the 2011 PGA Championship golf tournament.  And the story really isn’t THAT he won, but more about HOW he won it.  With only three holes left to play, Bradley was 5 shots behind.  It was a seemingly INSURMOUNTABLE obstacle to overcome, not just because it was 5 shot deficit, but because he had just TRIPLE BOGEYED (if you’re not a golfer, that’s BAD) the 15th hole and appeared to be in a total golf meltdown.  But that’s where EVERYTHING changed.

Bradley regained his composure, birdied the next two holes (one of them a 35 foot putt on hole 17) while his opponent with the 5 shot lead had a meltdown of his own.  This led to a two person tie at the end of the tournament, which Bradley went on to win a 3 hole playoff, securing his first ever Major tournament win.

Following the victory Bradley was asked about his 15th hole fiasco and what kept his mind in the game.  I LOVED his response.  He said “I just kept telling myself, ‘Don’t let that hole define this whole tournament!’”

That’s when I realized, the same statement should be said by all of us when it comes to our LIFE.

  • Don’t let that last failure define your whole leadership.
  • Don’t let that last mistake define your whole relationship.
  • Don’t let that last sin define your whole spiritual journey.
  • Don’t let that last hurt define your whole attitude.
  • Don’t let that last rejection define your whole pursuit.
  • Don’t let that last disapointment define your dream.

Whether in leadership, relationship, or our spiritual lives, if we’re not careful we can end up never leaving the 15th hole.  It’s not about where you WERE and it’s not about where you’re AT.  It’s all about where you’re going to BE!

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14  …I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Don’t let it define you, MOVE ON!

Moving on,

Jeff


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Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Leadership, Vision

Re-Post: Simple Works: Things I Learned On Vacation Pt.1

28 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from July:

“Churches could learn a lot from this!”  That’s what my wife said to me while standing in line at In & Out Burger in Las Vegas last week while we were on vacation.  Now I gotta admit, I usually have my church / leadership radar always on and am usually the one making church related comments when I’m supposed to be “unplugged” from church.  But this time she did.
It was getting close to midnight, we had rented a car and taken the whole day to drive down to the Grand Canyon.  We just pulled back into town and were craving what we HEARD was some of the best burgers on the planet.  We were tired and hungry when she said “Churches could learn a lot from this!”  I said “What?”  Her reply was “Simple works!”  I still wasn’t catching on so I asked “What do you mean?”  That’s when she pointed out the menu sign.
Now, I happened to be staring at it wondering how my cheeseburger would taste, and totally spaced the “simpleness” of the menu.  She said “They offer 4 things.  Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Fries and a drink.  Simple works!”  Much to my surprise she then continued “If someone wants a chicken sandwhich, chicken nuggets, a salad, yogurt parfait, or whatever…’I'm sorry we have hamburgers, cheeseburgers and french fries.’”  AND IT WORKS!  In & Out is one of the most popular burger joints in America.
(Interesting enough I found out while we were there that they have an “insiders” menu.  It’s called the “not so secret menu”.  If you are an In & Out aficionado you know they offer a few other things.  Such as Animal Fries, which looked DELICIOUS.  Also double or triple meat burgers.  But STILL, hamburger, cheeseburger, fries and drinks.  THAT’S IT)
We have a similar philosophy at Element Church.  We are NOT going to do all things for all people.  We are going to choose to do a few things with excellence instead of many things very average.  In fact, when a church, restaurant, business or organization tries to do all things for all people they usually end up doing nothing very well.
At Element Church we do four things.  Worship experience, student ministries, community (groups), and outreach.  We say YES to those things and NO to everything else.  Let me make clear, this is not THE way to do ministry, but it is THE way we do it.  We don’t have the ONLY way to do church, but this is the ONLY way we do it.
Keepin’ it simple,
Jeff

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Re-Post: Sunday Ruminations (6-5-11)

27 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from June.    This was an absolute HIGHLIGHT of my year.  To have my hero, my dad, stand in the pulpit at the church I lead and deliver a LIFE CHANGING MESSAGE for my church family was amazing.  Never thought I’d lead a church like Element and be able to have my dad deliver a message for me.  LOVED it!

Hello Summer attendance, we were expecting you soon.  HOLY EMPTY PEWS Batman!  HA!  It was a down Sunday in attendance today but it was a GREAT day to worship God at Element Church.  God moved and people were changed.  Here are my ruminations on the day.

—  Had the AMAZING privilege of having my dad bring the message today.  I said it today, meant it (and I think he proved it), that my dad is one of the best preachers on the planet.  He’s been my pastor since the day I was born and wouldn’t want ANYONE else to call “dad” OR “pastor”.

—  My dad NAILED it today!  God spoke powerfully through him and when he gave the response at the end of the service, numbers of people stood responding that they were surrendering some things to God.  LOVED seeing that!

—  My dad preached primarily from Mark 14 today.  The big question was “What do you do when God doesn’t do what you expected?”  POWERFUL word.  Here are some excerpts:

  • My dad shared a very funny but thought provoking story about the time he was on The Price Is Right in 1986.  It was a GREAT set up to what God had to say through His word.
  • We looked at the life of Peter from the Lord’s Supper through his denial.  It was a perfect look at what he did when God didn’t do what he expected.
  • He failed:  Peter’s failure to pray in the garden started a LONG time before that.  Jesus had been warning him for weeks of what was to come.  He failed to listen, he failed to act, he failed to obey.
  • When we hear God, often times it’s not that we don’t WANT to do what He says, we just don’t want to do it RIGHT NOW!  (That’s good!)
  • He fought:  When he saw Jesus wasn’t gonna do anything (at his arrest) he decided to take matters into his own hands.
  • When you try to take matters into your own hands, it NEVER gets better and ONLY gets worse.
  • He faltered:  When we don’t listen to God’s promptings, and take matters into our own hands, it’s not that we stop following Jesus…we just start to follow him at a distance.  (SO good!)  “Meanwhile, Peter followed Him at a distance” (after He was arrested)
  • He fell:  When Peter denied Christ, he did the VERY thing he SWORE he would never do.
  • My dad quoted the great verse “WITH God all things are possible” and then made one of the GREATEST statements of the day.  He said “Listen to me, we also need to know that WITHOUT God, ANYTHING is possible”  (Even doing the very thing we SWORE we’d never do.  MAN that’ll preach. We are capable of doing ANYTHING apart from God, and that is NOT a good thing)
  • He faced:  Without this, Peter’s story would be as tragic as that of Judas.  Yes he eventually fell, but he repented and was restored.
  • The payoff moment in the sermon came at the conclusion as my dad wrapped up his story of being on the Price Is Right and how God used that to cleanse something in his own heart!  POWERFUL!

—  Thanks dad for taking time away from your church to share with ours.  It was an HONOR to have you here!  I love you!

—  Couple things coming up.  Our new series called “Devil: What he doesn’t want you to know about eternity” starts this Sunday.  I am SO EXCITED for this series.  We’re gonna expose the LIES of the enemy and actually look at what the BIBLE has to say.  We are going to come face to face with the reality of our eternity!  Invite someone to come with you!  It is going to be a straight look at the Biblical truth.

—  Baptisms are in 2 weeks.  If you’d like to get baptized, fill out a registration form at the e:connect table.

—  That’s gonna be all today.  EXCITED to get going on this new series.  I’ve been out of the pulpit for two weeks so be ready to RECEIVE THE HEAT!

— Love you all at Element!  Thanks for letting me lead!

Till the end,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, Sunday Rumination

Re-Post: Discipleship is NOT Dependency

26 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from May:

At least not in the way I’m gonna describe it.  One of my frustrations in the church is labels and definitions.  You can read my thoughts on how “I hate labels” HERE.  We use words in the church that EVERYONE has a different opinion ON and definition OF.  Words like: Contemporary, traditional, modern, missional, attractional, and the list goes on.  Discipleship is another one of those words that causes INTENSE frustration with me sometimes.

“What do you guys do for discipleship?” is a question oft asked in the church.  I think sometimes what people mean when they ask that is, “What program do you do for discipleship?”  Now, I’m all for programs if they work.  I’m all for curriculum if it’s good.  I’m all for classes if they’re done right.  But sometimes I want to ask back, “What did Jesus do for discipleship?  Did he have a ‘program’?  A ‘class’?  A ‘curriculum’?”  I’m getting off track from where I intended to go so let’s get back.

Are we supposed to do discipleship?  ABSOLUTELY!  Are we supposed to “make” disciples?  YOU BET!  In fact, we are COMMANDED to:  Matthew 28:19 says Therefore,  go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 

Here is one of my frustrations with discipleship though, and I’m frustrated because I don’t think it’s what Jesus intended.  Many times in church we find people who are “good” at discipleship so we set them up to lead a small group or class, AND WE SHOULD!  But I’m afraid that in our quest to be ABOUT discipleship, we might be creating a BUNCH of dependents.  People that are dependent upon these “good” disciplers.  We end up putting all the “good” disciplers over all our small groups and then perpetually meet in our group.

By the way, if we keep doing that, don’t we just have a bunch of small groups and not really discipleship?  The goal of discipleship is not to have a bunch of groups, with people dependent upon a “good” discipler.  The goal of discipleship is to teach, train and equip “disciples” to go out and make MORE “disciples”.  Is it not?  In fact, if our church is NOT making disciples who make MORE disciples, our church is NOT about discipleship.

If these “good” disciplers aren’t sending people OUT of their group to also be “good” disciplers they aren’t really good “disciplers”.  They’re just creating a bunch of people to be dependent upon THEM, and I don’t think that’s what Jesus ever intended.  Imagine the apostles NOT teaching, training and releasing people they were discipling, to make more disciples.  We’d have a pretty small church today.  Eleven small groups to be exact.  Twelve if you count the addition of Matthias who was added AFTER the Great Commandment was given.

Discipleship is NOT about getting people into a huddle but never into the game.  Discipleship is about unleashing a holy army into a battle for HIS name!  I hope we don’t create a bunch of dependents, I hope we create a TON of disciples!

Till the end,

Jeff


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Categories : Community, Discipleship, Element Church, Leadership

Re-Post: Do Angels Go Camping?

25 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from April:

I’ve made it a habit to pray for my kids each day before they leave for school, or before I leave for the office, whichever comes first.  I started doing that a few years ago and see it as a VITAL role of me as a parent…to pray over my children.  I want them to KNOW that I pray for them, and for them to HEAR me pray over them.  I LOVE the fact that it has become such an important part of our morning that I don’t even ask if I can pray for them anymore.  They find me before they take off across the street to school and say “Dad, will you pray for me before I go to school?”  I LOVE that!

Well, a few weeks ago I gathered all three of the oldest kids in the kitchen to pray for them before they left.  I typically pray the same prayer every day, and did that day as well:  “Lord, I pray you would ENCAMP your angels around Jonah, Mariah and Makalah.  I pray you would protect their hearts, souls, minds and bodies.  Help them to be leaders for you!  I pray they would have an awesome day and to do their best.  In Jesus name, Amen.”

As soon as I said Amen, Mariah looked at me and said “Angels go camping?”  At first I wasn’t sure what she said, so I was like, “Huh?”  Mariah asked again “Do angels go camping?”  I replied “Why would you ask that?”  “Dad, you prayed for angels to be camping around us.”  I about lost it!  In the middle of my laughing I explained to Mariah that I didn’t pray for angels to be camping, but that God would ENCAMP them around her.  “What does ENCAMP mean?”  I then explained that it means we’re asking God to put angels ALL AROUND us to protect us throughout the day.  Like kids often do she said “OH” and bounded off to the playground at school.

I didn’t think anything of it until last week at family devotions.  We had finished reading the Bible and everyone had shared their prayer requests they would be praying for.  We went around the table praying and came to Mariah.  I don’t even remember who or what she was praying for, but she prayed one of the most mature prayers I’ve ever heard her speak.  And in the middle of her prayer, in the proper use, she prayed “And God, I pray you would encamp your angels around them to protect them.”  WHAT?  Did she just pray that?  ABSOLUTELY she did.  Wanna know why?  Because she heard her DAD pray it!

Hearing her pray that prayer only FURTHERED my firm belief in what Donna Reed said during our panel discussion on Sunday:  “Much more is CAUGHT from us to our kids, than it is TAUGHT!”

Parents?  What are your kids catching from you?  Are they hearing your prayers?  Seeing you read your Bible?  With you when you serve?  Do you let them put the tithe check in the offering and then have the JOY of explaining to them why you give that much money to God?  Don’t be fooled.  Your kids are watching, listening AND learning from what you do!

Do angels go camping?  Not that I know of?  But with that one question, my daughter learned a VALUABLE lesson in prayer and spiritual warfare.

Hoping they catch it,

Jeff


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Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Family, Personal, Prayer

Re-Post: Why Do You Praise Him?

24 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011. Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most. Enjoy this one from March:

Maybe a better question is “Why do I praise Him?”  I was having my quiet time with God the other day, read one verse, and stopped for several minutes in contemplation.  God spoke to me…no…He CHALLENGED me in those moments on my own motivations for praise.

I was reading in Isaiah, came to chapter 25, and I read this in Isaiah 25:1  Lord, I will honor and praise Your name, FOR you are my God.  You do such wonderful things!  You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. (emphasis added)

Now don’t get me wrong, but isn’t this verse in the wrong order?  “What?”, you ask.  “Are you saying God made a mistake in Scripture?”  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  I’m just saying that, if an American Christian like me were “writing” this, we wouldn’t put it in that order.

Here is how I would have written it, and then how God challenged me in it:  Lord, I will praise you for you do such wonderful things.  And SINCE you do such wonderful things I will honor and praise Your name. 

OUCH huh?  So often, MY praise is determined by HIS action.  IF He comes through for me.  IF He provides this for me.  IF He does what I want.  IF He answers that prayer. IF He does wonderful things…THEN I will praise Him.

Isaiah here says “NO!  I don’t praise you for what you DO, I praise you for WHO YOU ARE!  I praise you for YOU ARE MY GOD!”  What an AMAZING truth in that one verse.  That’s good enough isn’t it?  It should be.  God DESERVES our praise BECAUSE He is God, NOT because He does wonderful things.  Does He do wonderful things?  YES!  Does He deserve my praise regardless?  ABSOLUTELY.

So, why do you praise Him?

Praising Him,

Jeff


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Re-Post: No one else…(A note to lead planters)

23 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011.  Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most.  Enjoy this one from February:

Been thinking about something lately that I thought I’d take time to blog about.  It really is directed specifically to pastors who have planted a church and are still leading that church.  Not that this couldn’t or doesn’t apply to anyone else.  You could make parallels to start up business owners, para-church ministries, ministries inside the church and pastors who lead but didn’t start the church…but I want to specifically talk to the lead planter.  (Don’t even know if any other lead planters read my blog, but if anything, it’s good journaling for me)

In May of 2008, Pastor Adam and I attended the Whiteboard Sessions, a conference hosted by Ben Arment.  It was the first conference I went to as the pastor of Element Church, and I left FULL of practical information and help.  At Whiteboard there were 8 speakers, each given 30 minutes to share their one idea with church leaders.  It was one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended.  One phrase though stuck out to me and I’ve been reminded of it lately.  Ed Stetzer was the last leader to speak, and he said this:  “Most of you will not experience ministries like you’ve seen here today, but if you do…it will probably hurt more than you thought, and you’ll struggle more than you ever imagined.” I think I said “WOW!” out LOUD from the 2nd row where we were sitting.

Now, I sure don’t lead a ministry like any of the ones we saw represented on that platform that day, but the Lord has definitely blessed us at Element, and we’ve been able to see things happen in 3 1/2 yrs that I wasn’t sure would happen over the life of our ministry.  Then I read Paul’s defense of his Apostolic Authority in  2 Corinthians 11.  Now remember, the church at Corinth was “planted” during Paul’s second missionary journey.  He was the one who started that church, and in a very real sense, while he wasn’t there in person, was still the “pastor” of those people.  He was comparing himself to other “false” apostles and he said some very emotional things in 2 Corinthians 11:22-29.  You can read it HERE.  (Go ahead, read it)

Pastor…specifically, lead planter:  As I read those words, I was reminded of some things about the position we are in.  I hope this is encouragement to someone, ’cause I know what it’s like to be in your position.  (I realize that Christ goes beyond ANYTHING I’m about to say next.  I’m referring to other people within humanity.  Just thought I’d point that out)

1.  No one else CAN or WILL sacrifice as much as you do for the church.  Paul says in v. 23 “I know I sound like a mad man, but I have served him (Christ) FAR MORE!”  There will come a day where you feel “MAN, it seems like I’m sacrificing so much more than anyone else.”  YOU SHOULD!  No one else was there when God gave you the vision.  No one else was there when the thought of planting the church was birthed in your heart.  No one else!  It’s like parents having a child.  You’ll do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for your children.  Why?  No one else was there when they were conceived.  No one else went through the pain of delivery.  No one else put together a plan of how to care for that child.  No one else…

2.  No one else CAN or WILL be wounded as much as you are for the church. When people take shots at the church, it’s YOU that receives the wound.  When people criticize the ministry, it’s YOU that bears the scar.  When someone attacks the vision, it’s YOU that wonders if you made a mistake.  When someone says “I love the church…BUT…” It’s you that remembers everything they say next.  Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and yes even physically, NO ONE ELSE will be more wounded than you for the church.  That’s why the first thing I tell ANYONE considering ministry “DON’T DO IT, unless you’re called by God.”  Paul says “I worked harder…was put in prison…beaten times without number…stoned…shipwrecked…spent whole nights adrift at sea…faced danger…endured sleepless nights…been hungry and thirsty…cold and naked…MORE than ANYONE else.” No one else…

3.  No one else CAN or WILL feel more pressure about the church than you do. Paul says “Besides all this I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.”  You know what that daily burden feels like don’t you?  Waking up at night.  Not being able to sleep.  The constant weight and pressure of the enormity of responsibility that you want to handle with the UTMOST integrity.  That weight…that pressure…that daily burden of concern NEVER goes away.  EVER!  No one else…

4.  No one else CAN or WILL care more deeply for the people than you do. Paul continues with “Who is weak without my feeling that weakness?  Who is led astray and I do not burn with anger?”  No one else hurts more than you when someone falls into sin.  No one else worries more than you about the marriage that’s about to fall apart.  No one else is angered more than you when the volunteer leader has that affair.  It’s you that takes responsibility for every moral failure in the church.  No one else…

Now, if I stopped there you might want to quit right now.  Or maybe you might find encouragement in knowing you are not alone.  At the very least, Paul experienced some of the same struggles you do.  Maybe you know now that other pastors out there walk through the same hurts, struggles and pain that you have.  BUT, it doesn’t stop there.

5.  No one else CAN or WILL celebrate as much as you celebrate.  Love like you love.  Rejoice like you rejoice.  Be satisfied like you’re satisfied.  Smile like you smile.  Receive like you receive. And the list goes on and on and on.

Pastor, I can honestly say that (outside of parenting) leading a church has been THE MOST DIFFICULT thing I’ve EVER done in my life…but it’s also been THE MOST REWARDING.  Does a pastor hurt?  Absolutely!  Does he get wounded?  Often!  Does he sacrifice?  Greatly!  Does he care?  Maybe more than anyone else knows or will ever know!  Would he do it all over again?  For a MILLION years!

Pastors…no one else!  I hope that encourages you today!

Till the end,

Jeff


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Re:Post — Care Bear Hugs

22 12 2011

Through January 1st of 2012 I’d like to “Re:Post” one blog a day from each month of 2011.  Maybe it’s a highly viewed blog, a favorite of mine or one that impacted me the most.  Enjoy this one from January:

I came home from work the other day and Makalah (our 6 year old) said “I haven’t given you a Care Bear hug yet today.  Can I give you one?”  (Care Bear is my nickname for Makalah) And immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to me and got me thinking on a spiritual issue.

You see, several months ago I asked Makalah for a hug, and she proceeded to give me the biggest, warmest hug she could muster.  I LOVED it.  All I did was comment on it one time.  I said “Kalah, you give the BEST Care Bear hugs ever!  I love them.”  And from that ONE comment, it became her goal to offer me Care Bear hugs as much as possible.  She began offering them more often.  Then she began to offer them daily.  As her dad, through one comment, one commendation, one word of encouragement, I gave her the DESIRE to do something for me and EMPOWERED her to do it again.  Now I don’t have to ask for a hug, she OFFERS one ’cause I told her how much it pleased me and how good she was at it.

I wonder if our response to our Heavenly Father should be the same?  Philippians 2:12-13 says “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him.”

I think so often we tend to view our relationship to God as trying to avoid the things He doesn’t want us to do, when in actuality He’s trying to REINFORCE the things He DOES want us to do.  We’d be more comfortable if that verse said “Giving us the desire and the power to avoid what displeases Him”.  But that’s not how God works.  As a child of God, He is working IN me, GIVING me the desire AND the power to do what pleases Him.  “Jeff, I LOVE it when you do that.”  “Jeff, it PLEASES me when you pursue that.”  “Jeff, I DELIGHT in you when you say that.”  God is more into the business of giving us desires and empowering us to do them, than He is condemning our mistakes and holding us over them.

I wonder how much effort I waste trying to avoid MY list of the things I’m NOT supposed to do, instead of focusing my efforts on the things I know HE wants me to do?  Things that PLEASE the Father.  Which by the way, if we’d focus SOLELY on the things that PLEASE the Father, we’d naturally avoid the things that don’t!  We just need to LISTEN to what the Father is saying.

Makalah started focusing on that thing that pleased me, and she was empowered to do it again and again.  Maybe I should do the same.  Where has God spoken into your life saying “I LOVE it when you do that!”?  Then DO it!  What is your “Care Bear hug”?

Hugging my Father,

Jeff


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Categories : Discipleship, Element Church, Family

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