Taking the Easy Route - A message to let us "relax" (not become lax) in our journey to heaven

Have you ever had the chance to create something to help solve a problem? It could have been something with more of a massive size or it could be a jig or gadget to make life a bit easier.

I have built a few in my day that were "gadgety" and just did not work too well at all. For some of them, I could make them work, for others they were a flop. Either way, that was OK because it was also fun to exercise my mind.

When things work to help make life easier, they are really fun to watch and see what you "invented." If we don't take advantage of using what was created, we can tend to become very frustrating. As Jesus gives the invitation for people to "come" for help and be able to take the easy route, in Matthew 11:20-30. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Repentance ~ When I was growing up repentance was focused on before a person could become a Christian. Among others, Acts 2:38 tells the people to repent before being baptized. I have often left this "action" at that point (prior to baptism). That is not the only time I have repented, but it is not something that I think about much, to be honest. However, I have done a disservice to myself because there are things that I need to repent of, as life continues. What do you need to repent of? An attitude toward someone? A wrongful action?
• Soften ~ Being hard-hearted can cause one to be resistant. Resisting change in yourself can cause life experiences to be difficult. As you think about the idea of repenting, you must allow yourself to be softened so that you will be open to what is needed to be repented from. Plus, staying soft for God allows you to be moldable as He shapes you into what you may need to become.
• Come... ~ Without a tangible Jesus, some find such an invitation hard to understand. Coming to Jesus means to become closer and more knowledgeable about Him. Enjoying the mysteriousness of Him by seeing what the Bible says about Him, both in the Old and New Testaments. As this text describes Jesus as an interweaving with God, to be fascinated with the mysteriousness of Jesus means that you are also fascinated with God. The more you know, the more you want to know more. So...come!
• Take the Rest ~ Some jobs require people to take their vacation. That time off is supposed to be good for employees to get away from work. Jesus wants us to take a break from trying to be perfect; which is what the Law expected. He was wanting those hearers in Matthew 11 to relax from the heaviness of the Israelite leaders and enjoy what He brings to the table in the way of expectation. He wants us to relax and enjoy life, striving to live for God, not for religious leaders (or anyone else). Enjoy some vacation time, maybe permanently, from guilt and appreciate what Christ has done through His voluntary death on the cross. Then, live out your joy so others will be attracted to it.

Life will have its good days. Enjoy those days! Enjoy taking the easy route as you go through life. This route is with Jesus carrying your yoke and, as a result, you will be given the light and easy yoke.

Now it's your turn...what will/do you enjoy most about having your yoke taken away and be able to wear the yoke of Jesus?

Do You Believe? - A message that prods how deep your faith goes

Do you believe...in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit? In heaven and hell? That Jesus can make your burdens lighter? God will take care of you? He can heal all diseases? He will forgive ALL your sins (aka you are forgivable)? Someone you know wants to know about Christ? He will show you the way? And the list continues...

Do any of those questions start to step on your "faith toes?" They are ones that I have wrestled with in life. Usually, I guess if I'm wrestling with them, someone else will too.

Sunday, we looked at Matthew 9:27-34 as Jesus was healing two blind men. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Blindness ~ I think that any disability/flaw can become numb to the senses. In other words, it may cause us pain, but we become more and more comfortable with it. Maybe it is a chronic pain, over/underweight, disorder, scars, diseases, or disabilities. We can become figuratively blind to various areas in life, which can disable us from seeing the open doors around us to share our faith. Ask Jesus to remove that blindness so you can see the possibilities.
• "Yes, Lord" ~ Not all of life's questions are going to be easy to say "Yes, Lord" when we are posed with the question of "Do you believe I can take care of this?" However, for those hard questions, even if it is answered a bit sheepishly, may we have confidence in Him that He will take care of things and answer, "Yes, Lord."
• Don't Tell Anyone ~ Don't think about pink elephants. I would guess you started thinking about that or something pink or elephants. Jesus told the recipients of this blessing to not tell anyone and they told everyone. I hope you will take the chances to tell others about what Jesus has done for you. They need to have Him too!!!

I shared that sometimes the cross is like the sleigh bell from The Polar Express. The boy, along with some others, had a difficult time hearing it because they didn't believe. I hope that the cross will be come more "audible" to you as you go through life. Whether you need to believe on the tough issues or the easy ones.

Now it's your turn...what have you struggled in "believing?"

Bank of Heaven

Where do you do your banking? Bank of America, Western State Bank, People's National Bank, Farmer's and Merchant's Bank, First National Bank are just a few of hundreds of banks that are out there, especially when it comes to a "local" bank. How secure are these banks? They may have the latest lines of defense to cause them to be secure, but for every security plan out there a thief is trying to break through it. This could make you not feel that secure.

With all the breaches in security that could come about on any given day, it is a great relief to know that there is still one place that is the most secure...heaven. What you "deposit" there cannot be taken. When you place your belief in the promises of God, those cannot be broken into.

I feel pretty secure in my home, but it would only take one time for someone to break in for me to be very nervous about the possibility of a second time (or even a third time). After having our car broken into once and my church office on another occasion, I have been through the feeling of "lack of security" and it isn't enjoyable.

It has been said that we can lose "things" but we'll always have it as a memory. That is a much more secure place, however, there is a more secure place - heaven - and that is what we talked about this week in our lesson. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Learn From the Past ~ Have you ever had something "broken into" or "stolen?" Maybe it wasn't just your locker, car, or house. Maybe it was in a relationship. Could have been a romantic relationship that you though was secure. But come to find out the other person did something to rock that relationship. Maybe they did something behind your back or took away your trust. Maybe it was a biological relationship that you thought was secure. Your parents got a divorce. You were the victim of abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological). All of these things are areas that will cause you to think your security is not that secure. Hopefully, they will cause you to look to heaven and not to anything on earth for security.
• Prioritize Your Treasure ~ If you haven't seen a show called "Hoarders," you ought to some time. I've never watched a whole episode. People on there have so much stuff around their house it isn't even funny. When you have to turn sideways to go down your hall or move stuff around in your room just to go to bed then you have definite problems. Not to mention the ones with bug or mice issues. One of the main issues is that they prioritize EVERYTHING. The principle here is not so much on the "things" but where the "things" line up accord to God. Make sure He is above everything!
• Stay Focused ~ When I was playing baseball, specifically as a pitcher, the key is to not "aim" but rather "throw to the glove." Where your eyes are headed your body will follow. Symbolically when you are looking at something you like, you will pursue it - whether it is being pursued with your legs or your attention.

As you think about where you're going to "bank" the great suggestion is to use the "bank" of heaven for the greatest security!

Touching Heaven, Changing Earth

This last weekend I had the privilege of attending a youth rally with the teens of our church. It was one I had been apart of before, but hadn't been for a few years. This year's theme was "Touching Heaven, Changing Earth". Among the three speakers, one of them described it in a way that I connected with easily.

He described those times when we are on a mountain, figuratively speaking, and we have an awesome experience...aka mountain-top experiences. But, inevitably, we have to come down off of that mountain, sometime.

We talk of heaven being 'up'. So, speaking from a perspective of mountains, we would be getting closer to God if we were up on a mountain. Several people in the Bible, like Moses and Abraham, all had grand experiences on a mountain top. However, they had to come down and be with the people, eventually.

The best part about their experience, was that when they came off of that mountain, they were changing people (aka earth). They had experienced something hardly anyone else had experienced. They were closer to God, literally. Some heard from God or 'saw' Him in some way.

You have had or will have experiences that take you closer to heaven...that is the touching part. However, since you've touched it, use what touched you or moved you, and allow it to help make a difference in others' lives. Help the motivation that you experienced to change something on this 'corrupt' Earth to point someone or several closer to Him.

May your day be filled with a touch of heaven, so that you will be motivated to change earth!

Touched heaven...excited to see how I can change earth!...