Rejected - a message focusing on Jesus' rejection in His hometown and our appreciation of Him

What is it about rejection that can hurt so much? Is it the fact that you open up yourself to a cause or commitment? Is it the hope of "making it" in whatever area you are pursuing? Is it the rawness of our feelings being later scraped across asphalt? Is it the feeling of time wasted? There are various reasons.

Rejection is something that can be hard to endure. The greater we flay our hearts and feelings in a matter the greater the damage. We put so much effort into something only to hear some sort of rejection can be damaging.

I remember feeling a sense of rejection after not winning, nor knowing how well I did, in a science fair project. I felt I put a lot of effort into making the project to the best of my ability, but after not winning, I felt rejection. Maybe you've had some sort of rejection in life and know how painful it can be. Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

• Unexpected Outcome ~ There are times which you may say or communicate something and the outcome is not what you expected. When someone is working toward a goal and their goal becomes derailed. This derailment causes the receiver to respond in a different manner in which we intended, it will present a sense of rejection. Have you ever felt like this? What is the feeling you felt?
• Mistaken Identity ~ Jesus went back to His hometown of Nazareth and taught in the synagogue. He started teaching and the people were "amazed" and started asking about His heritage. At one point, this caused them to not believe in what Jesus was saying and sharing. They were calling him a "carpenter's son." This title was trying to demean His authority. It is interesting that they didn't even think about Jesus being the Son of God! If they would have understood who He was, they might have understood His power. Are we like that at times? Do we know who He is, but do not think and appreciate what He is capable of? Let us not mistake His capabilities on our lives!
• Missed Opportunities ~ The text says that the people missed out on miracles because of their unbelief or lack of faith. I live a lot of life that deals with opportunities as "I'd rather get a 'no' than an 'I don't know.'" I want to kick myself when I think that I may have missed an opportunity for something good. Sometimes we may not know what we miss out on because there was not a hint of it given. However, I would be so mad at making the choice not to "believe" if this was the result - no miracles. I want every ounce of God in my life that I can. May we challenge ourselves to keep our faith high so we do not have any "I don't know" moments when it comes to any God-workings in our life!

Jesus may not have performed many miracles for these people, but He still died for them. Which makes me appreciate some of what He did for us. Even in the times of our unbelief and/or rejecting Him, we were still "died" for. He loves us enough to give himself up for us. He was rejected but He still went on. Do you feel rejected? May we keep going on knowing there is a God that sent His Son and a Son that was willing to die just for you. I hope that gives you some encouragement as you experience any form of rejection in life.

Now it's your turn...what rejection(s) in life have caused you the most grief? How did you bounce back from the setback?

Biggest Loser: Losing the Noise - Final in Series

Phone calls....commitments....kids' activities....text messages....updating Facebook....laundry....household duties....doctor's appointments....work....meetings....stalled traffic....kids....spouse...the more there are on your list, the louder life becomes and the more likely other things will get drowned out. 

There is a lot of noise in life, so where do we find God?  Maybe God is found in some of those different noises (and I'll bet you could find Him in many of them if you just listened).  However, it is possible that all those noises, and possible stressors are drowning out your focus to even find God in your life or those situations. 

Yesterday, we looked at finding God and losing noise to pick out where He may be.  We looked at a situation in I Kings 19, in which Elijah has run from another human.  He has come to a cave and God tells him to go to the mouth of the cave.  There comes a great wind - God was not found in the wind.  There comes an earthquake - God was not found in the earthquake.  There comes fire - God was not found in the fire.  There comes a whisper or thin silence - God is found in the whisper. 

Sometimes when someone speaks softly, they gather more attention and it can be more effective.  However, there must be focus to hear the whisper.  Maybe God used the first three to get Elijah's attention.  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Be Aware of the Noises ~ Nothing is ever made better when denial is overpowering reality.  Take some time and think about what all is going on in your life to see if things are noisier than others and see if there are noises which you need to lose in order to live a healthier life.
2. Look for God in the Noise ~ Sometimes I've been in situations where I've spent a few hours being distracted before I realized that I hadn't looked for a time where God may have been in this situation. Try to see how God is in the noise or what God is wanting you to do or see in the situation you're in...you may be surprised.
3. Fog Ahead ~ Occasionally you may experience a "fog" in your life that screens the real possibility.  This fog may not allow you to see the end point, but it is well within reach.  These fogs are distractions, just like noise.  Keep going, through the fog, so that you may be able to reach a destination God is desiring for you.
4. Listen for the Whispers ~ God sometimes comes loudly and sometimes comes softly.  He spoke to Elijah in a whisper.  Become closer with God to be able to discern when is God coming loudly or when He is coming to you in a whisper. 

Noises can soothe, penetrate, and pierce.  They come in all tones, from low to high.  Each has a purpose but when they come mixed together or in extremes they can form an upleasant sound. 

Don't be afraid to lose some noise so that you will be a more healthy person and even a bit lighter.

How's your quest to becoming a "biggest 'spiritual' loser" so that you can have a healthier life?




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And the Winner is...

A popular phrase that is said a lot where they are handing out awards. In fifth grade I entered a science fair. I worked on creating an ear model. It was to show how the ear worked. My dad and I worked and worked on that. Then, we took it to the science fair. I was proud of that project. I can’t remember how I did with the speaking part to explain the model to the judge. However, I do remember the anticipation I felt when we went to the awards ceremony. “Is it me? Did I win?” were my thoughts. I also remember the utter shame and foolishness that I felt when my name wasn’t called for third, second, or first place. I had my dad take me home immediately after I found this news out. I didn’t want to have anything to do with that ear model again. I didn’t enter the next year.

This last week, the Powerball lottery was up to $222 million dollars. That isn’t pocket change for anyone. (As I am writing this before the drawing, I don’t know if anyone won or not) That money will make a difference in everyone’s life. Managed well, you wouldn’t have to do anything for the rest of your life. But what about all of the people who put in their one dollar, two, five, or ten dollars, that didn’t win? Will they play again? Most probably will. If no one won this drawing, there was another one last night (Saturday). Someone will eventually win and they will be financially set for life.

In our Christian walk, we sometimes feel like there is only one winner. Only one who “wins the race”. They see all the good things happening to everyone else, and just see their life as creeping toward miserable. Friends, that is not the case at all. The race is there for everyone who is “in Christ” to be able to finish. The finish line is put up again after each person has crossed it. We all get the chance to finish the race. We all can be winners in His kingdom.

Jesus continually holds an awards banquet and He has stacks and stacks of envelopes with cards inside with names on them. Jesus stands at the podium and says that infamous phrase, “And the winner is…” YOU! You are a winner! You have been given the honor of being a part of something great. Then, when all is over, you get to go and be with Him to an even better place, as He considers you a “good and faithful servant”.

How exciting and awesome is it to see yourself a winner! You don’t have to sit in the audience and wonder if your name is going to be called. He’s calling it continually. Relish in the fact that as a child of His, you are a winner! Kick up your heels, get a bounce in your step, puff out your chest because you are a winner! Show it off proudly but in a way that you want others to win, too. Who will you show your winning trophy to this week? Who do you want someone to hear their name mentioned after the phrase “And the winner is…”? Go, help someone else win, too!