You Lucky Dog!

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:3-5

People play the lottery everyday hoping to win it big. Maybe you have even thought about if you could just get this much money we would be set….for life! I know I have. But there have been many different TV shows that look at the lives of people who win the big one, and find that it did not really solve their problems, it just changed them. They thought that money could fix their life or make them happy, they realized it can’t.

When Jesus said what he did in Matthew 5:3-5, you think to yourself that does not make since, it did not make to much since in Jesus’ day either. The word “blessed” basically means lucky or that you have it pretty good. So how can this be?

The poor in spirit. You would probably think that you should not be poor in spirit but when you think you rich in spirit you might stop looking. But even after you have grown in the Lord you realize he has so much to offer and keep seeking after Him, and stay humble.

Those who morn. Jesus could be talking about morning the loss of a loved one; this is the same word used to describe Jacob morning for Joseph when he thought he was dead. Or it could also be us recognizing our failures and our inability to please God on a consistent basis.

The Meek. This is the word used for a tamed animal, someone or something that is calm. We see a lot that people like to see and hear preachers that are loud and boisterous. People often mistake meekness as weakness.

Jesus spent a lot of time teaching something that most consider to be a upside down view of the world. He said “whoever wants to lead should be a servant,” I see a lot of this in the church today many leaders/preacher expect others to do the grunt work and can’t figure out why no one in their church is volunteering to do anything. Because they don’t see their leaders/pastors doing any of the grunt work. If you are a leader, pastor, teacher show those around you that you care and have just as much if not more invested in their work.

We can’t be afraid to get dirty.

Are you up for it?

This past week I had the opportunity to help out with our children's ministry and the lesson was on perseverance. When my wife and I were preparing for it I was trying to think of a good way to really explain it to them. I had tried to talk it over with my 5 year old son but he just was not getting it.
One of the main points in the lesson simply said "not giving up on something when things get hard." My part in the lesson was to tell a bible story about perseverance. And I have been doing a lot with the book of Job lately, so that's the story I told.

Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.v4 He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Think about that story, if you have not read it you need to. There is no greater story of someone persevering over great obstacles. He lost everything, not because of anything he did but because he was a holy and upright man. But because he still stuck it out and served God, God rewarded him and blessed him.

Are you able to do that? Go through something really crazy, that you don't think you deserve to go through and still serve an awesome loving God.

Are you able to do that?

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.Luke 14:47

Don't turn Jesus into a drive thru

I just recently read a blog that talked about how churches have looked at changing everything except looking at their times of their services. With the development of mega churches, and also churches that run multiple services on Sundays, we always got the question now of .....time. What time do we start our service, what time do we end our service, how long before another service starts, how long should the worship be, how long should the preaching be. I think these are all good questions and I don't think that we can say that we should never plan for anything. But we also have to the willing to let God be God and let him do what he's going to do. We cant be so concerned about what time it is right now, or worry about what is coming up next on the service's schedule.

I have had people ask me before about both; why don't we shorten our services? God can still move right? And also; Why are our services so short, we use to have 3 or 4 hour services? That's not the way we use to do it!

Our society nowadays is so worried about getting in getting out getting on with life We can never forget that Jesus is life, He's the sole reason for what were doing right now, He's the sole reason were alive right now. It's so easy on a Sunday morning to worry about what's for lunch when your belly starts grumbling. Or not to show up to a bible class throughout the week because your favorite TV shows on. But none of this is the reason that Jesus carry the cross of the hill. He gave his life so that we can have ours, not ours just to do whatever we want but to serve Him and give Him glory.

2 timothy 1:8-9 "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,"  

I wonder if we were living in the book of acts right now, or the apostles were around, what would they have to do different in order to get your message out to a world that wants everything fast and in a hurry? But still be powerful have the power of god. This is something that our church and churches all around the nation have had to struggle with at times. Remember it's not a bad thing to plan a service but it is a bad thing to squelch the move of God. If the Holy Spirit starts moving in your service and you are a pastor or a worship leader I urge you to flow in the Spirit. Do you like the church in acts did, wait around and see what God will do.


And don't worry there will always be lunch afterwards.

Also check out Colossians 2:13-23

Please leave any comments and share your thoughts...

Amazing Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Please take time to listen to this story it is just over 3 minutes, and it is amazing. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136463363/forgiving-her-sons-killer-not-an-easy-thing . I first heard this story while driving with my wife one day; we were both floored when you hear of the challenges these two people had to overcome to love one another. Jesus said “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” Matthew 6:14

It is so amazing to realize that things like this still go on in a world of hurt, pain, and suffering. Hopefully Christians can learn something from this; too many times we get so offended over something small we don’t talk to people for years. Christ has forgiven us so we must return this compassion to other people.

Luke 6:37 Jesus said “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”