Today I was blessed with a little down time. I did my best to offer what I believe God asked me to say to the folks at First United Methodist Church of Dunedin at our two morning services this morning. Then we had a great lunch with friends (both old and new). When we got home there were a few things to do around the house before I was able to do what I really love about Sunday afternoons, rest.
It is during down time that I am able to do some of my most introspective thinking. It is among these quiet times that I am able to slow my brain down long enough to listen for the voice of God. I love those times. You see in my everyday life people want me to provide direction, vision, leadership, and answers. However, in the quiet times I am able to just be. I am able to be in the presence of God, just the two of us. I really enjoy those times. These times completely refresh me for the rest of my life.
I think the most amazing thing about these quiet times is that they are completely necessary. You have to have downtime in your life in order to make the up times possible. Jesus would never stay in the crowds for very long. He would be among the people and teach them, heal them, and love them for a while. Then... he would move away and have the downtime he needed to talk with his Father. To receive his direction and guidance. Jesus spent time alone to remember the vision God had for his life. Without it he would not have been able to offer you and me the offer of his life.
I need these times as well; perhaps even more than Jesus. In John 15 Jesus tells us that when we try and do things on our own we can't. When we count on Christ to do things in his power we can do all things because he strengthens us. Jesus himself said that those who love him will do even greater things than he had done. So I need the times apart where I get refreshed by God's vision for my life. Where I am reminded of my created potential. It is in the times apart where God reminds me of whose I am and what He has called me to be. I love these times because it is in these times I hear the truth.
This morning before worship the guys that run the technical stuff put on the preworship music. The song that was playing was Casting Crowns, "The Voice of Truth." That song is about what I think the greatest benefit of downtime with God. It says in the song that whenever we face things that seem to be bigger than ourselves there is one voice telling us we cannot. We are not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, loved enough, empowered enough. But there is another voice telling us we can. We are loved, strong, courageous, empowered, and needed. This is the voice of truth and the times we here it best are in the downtime in our life.
So make sure you are taking adequate downtime to hear the voice of truth. Give yourself enough quiet time to listen for God's vision, guidance, and direction. It is easy to let it get phased out by the rest of life. Don't let that happen to you. God has some amazing things in store for you as you set time aside to be with him. Stop and listen and allow God to show you.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Judgment!
A simple question for you today.... Do your words speak judgment or grace?
I know it seems like an overly simple question at first. But live with it for a little while. Reflect back on situations, conversations, and interactions you have had with people today, this week, this month! You see some of the things we say seem extremely harmless to us. They are off the cuff remarks that once they have left our lips they are out of our thoughts. Words have power!
The very words we may think nothing about can wound others. The words we use can provoke reaction in the people we engage in conversation. Do you take time to measure what you say? Do you, as Scripture recommends, hold every thought captive before it becomes words? It's one of those easier said than done realities.
So think about it a little while today and see what happens! It's a worthy endeavor and just may lead to a means of grace in your life.
I know it seems like an overly simple question at first. But live with it for a little while. Reflect back on situations, conversations, and interactions you have had with people today, this week, this month! You see some of the things we say seem extremely harmless to us. They are off the cuff remarks that once they have left our lips they are out of our thoughts. Words have power!
The very words we may think nothing about can wound others. The words we use can provoke reaction in the people we engage in conversation. Do you take time to measure what you say? Do you, as Scripture recommends, hold every thought captive before it becomes words? It's one of those easier said than done realities.
So think about it a little while today and see what happens! It's a worthy endeavor and just may lead to a means of grace in your life.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Potential
Potential is a funny thing. By its very nature potential is something elusive and mysterious. I can't tell you how many times in my early years in education I heard, "You have so much potential." I'm not sure that I had any clue what that meant back then. I think I have a better idea not what that was all about. The next few thoughts are my ideas concerning potential as it pertains to you and me as well as the church.
What I have come to understand about potential is very simple, yet very profound. Potential is that inate quality within into which you and I were created to live. The funny thing about potential is that most of the time we cannot see our full potential. The people who know us and love us usually can see the potential within us long before we can. Moms and dads see our potential perhaps better than anyone in the world. They see what we could be and believe in what we should be. They work to build that vision within us so that we can catch glimpses of that elusive potential.
As a believer, husband, father, and pastor I know it is difficult at times to see the potential in us. The beautiful thing about our faith is that we have the promise of not having to see this potential through our own eyes. Just as a parent sees the potential in their children, so God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is and ever will be sees the potential in you and me. God sees the potential in each of us because God created us. God redeemed us so that we can live for God is a powerful transformative relationship. This potential is very difficult for us to see and even understand. This is the reason that Jesus said God would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides, directs, and empowers us toward our full potential. We do not have to see or even understand our created potential. God knows our potential and the Holy Spirit takes us there. So what is our role? Our only role is to abide in Jesus and remain faithful to our relationship with Him.
So here is the point of my writing. I believe that just as this pertains to individual believers this also pertains to the church. Each church has redemptive potential. Every church has a potential to redeem the individuals in its care and the communities in which they serve. So if this is true... it is the responsibility of the church the work as faithfully as possible to reach this full redemptive potential. As each church is diligent to seek its purpose within the context they serve they will work toward reaching their full redemptive potential. Of course, the leadership of each church needs to seek to be faithful to listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit and then faithfully follow.
Potential is a funny thing. Some would say we can never reach our full potential in Jesus Christ in this world. I would say that is right; if we try and accomplish this in our own power. However, if we strive to abide in our relationship with Jesus Christ and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all that we do it can happen. God designed us to reach our full potential in Jesus Christ. God also designed the perfect system to accomplish this. We need to believe that God would not create a potential that we could not live into. This applies to individuals as well as the church. So believe, stand firm in your faith, and believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit you can live into your full potential in Jesus Christ. May this be our one holy passion.
What I have come to understand about potential is very simple, yet very profound. Potential is that inate quality within into which you and I were created to live. The funny thing about potential is that most of the time we cannot see our full potential. The people who know us and love us usually can see the potential within us long before we can. Moms and dads see our potential perhaps better than anyone in the world. They see what we could be and believe in what we should be. They work to build that vision within us so that we can catch glimpses of that elusive potential.
As a believer, husband, father, and pastor I know it is difficult at times to see the potential in us. The beautiful thing about our faith is that we have the promise of not having to see this potential through our own eyes. Just as a parent sees the potential in their children, so God the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of all that is and ever will be sees the potential in you and me. God sees the potential in each of us because God created us. God redeemed us so that we can live for God is a powerful transformative relationship. This potential is very difficult for us to see and even understand. This is the reason that Jesus said God would send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides, directs, and empowers us toward our full potential. We do not have to see or even understand our created potential. God knows our potential and the Holy Spirit takes us there. So what is our role? Our only role is to abide in Jesus and remain faithful to our relationship with Him.
So here is the point of my writing. I believe that just as this pertains to individual believers this also pertains to the church. Each church has redemptive potential. Every church has a potential to redeem the individuals in its care and the communities in which they serve. So if this is true... it is the responsibility of the church the work as faithfully as possible to reach this full redemptive potential. As each church is diligent to seek its purpose within the context they serve they will work toward reaching their full redemptive potential. Of course, the leadership of each church needs to seek to be faithful to listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit and then faithfully follow.
Potential is a funny thing. Some would say we can never reach our full potential in Jesus Christ in this world. I would say that is right; if we try and accomplish this in our own power. However, if we strive to abide in our relationship with Jesus Christ and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in all that we do it can happen. God designed us to reach our full potential in Jesus Christ. God also designed the perfect system to accomplish this. We need to believe that God would not create a potential that we could not live into. This applies to individuals as well as the church. So believe, stand firm in your faith, and believe that through the power of the Holy Spirit you can live into your full potential in Jesus Christ. May this be our one holy passion.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Starting Over
Ok, so I started a blog again and haven't used it for a while. Well, let's think about what has been going on lately. A move for the family, new church, new friends, new challenges. We have been a little busy. So, I am now getting adjusted and looking at updating the blog on a very regular basis. So come back no later than Monday morning and there will be more frequent updates and thoughts about what God has in store for us. Monday will be my thoughts about reaching the churches full redemptive potential in Jesus Christ. Should be interesting.
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