"I Give Up: All Else is Worthless"

I know a family that experienced two house fires within 5 years (in fact, they are a reader).  One pretty much destroyed everything they had, the other, only partial.  Most people that experience house fires only get to go through that once in their lifetime.  I have not experienced it yet, and hope that I never do!  However, could you imagine how you would react to this type of tragedy and loss?  Imagine your belongings no longer being around because of a fire that destroyed everything.  I've often wondered what inanimate object(s) I would want to take out of my house, if I ever experienced a house fire?  Have you thought about it or made a list/plan?

Whatever you took out of your house would only be a fraction of what would be left to burn.  All those tangible memories would be gone.  All the heirlooms, gone.  All the toys, gone.  All the clothes, gone. Not a pleasant thought.  That is why there are a few things that are more important than things.  One, being family - biological and spiritual, and, two, your faith.

Giving up things can be difficult, but it may make you appreciate more.  Yesterday, we continued with our "I Give Up" series where we are trying to think about what we can give up so that we can maybe understand what it took for Christ to give up for us.  Here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Examine Yourself ~ Paul, the Apostle, made mention in this text, of all the different things he had done in his life, but considered them not even close to as important as what he had found in Christ.  Think about things that you may put on a resume to cause other people to be impressed.  Then, humbly consider them all as unimportant compared to your faith.  Press on toward Jesus, not things!
2. Lose Something ~ There are all kinds of things one could give up for this short period of time (3 more weeks) that would cause you to miss it, so that you get a hint of the sacrifice that Jesus went through for you and me.
3. Gain Something ~ When you lose you also gain.  Losing weight may cause you to gain confidence, for example.  Losing a habit or time you normally spend, may cause you to gain appreciation or take advantage of the time spent, which you never realized you had.  You may gain a new perspective on life.

Giving something up is simply about discipline.  In this particular lesson it is about realizing that nothing is more important than "gaining Christ".  Paul testified that he had given up all these good things because they weren't even closely as important as what he had found "in Christ".

How about you?  What have you thought about giving up for the sake of gaining Christ?  For some, this is not having Christ for the first time (aka becoming a Christian), but I want you to gain Christ in a way that draws you a bit closer as you seek to experience giving up something of yourself, like He did for you, me, and everyone.  Just give it up...for Him!

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Going Green: Wind Power

When we lived in Illinois, we shared our experiences of the wind from growing up in western Kansas. The interesting thing was, that part of Illinois was not accustomed to receive much wind (except on an occasional storm), so many didn't believe that a 25-30 mph wind, wasn't a gust, it was much of a norm for a day (maybe a couple of days). Gusts could get into the 60's and just start to be on the brink of worry. Some days the wind would get even higher than that.

For you golfers, try playing east-west with a southern wind of 20-30 mph! What isn't fun is when then wind decides to die down a bit just when you hit it toward a side of a fairway and it doesn't come back to the fairway - like you thought it would!

God has created wind for various reasons. It is one 'fuel' which we can/have utilized so that other fuels aren't used up. It is almost unlimited! Especially, if you use it correctly.

As Christians, we have a fuel that is probably not utilized in most people, like it should, and this fuel is basically unlimited (we are the only ones that can limit this fuel). The 'wind' that drives our sails is the Holy Spirit. As we are "filled" with Him, we should take advantage of His guidance. As we looked at this "wind power" yesterday, here are some applications to choose to use this week...

1. Cooling Off - Ever worked physically hard away from a breeze, say inside a building? It is miserable! That is what it is like to work all your life's situations out without tapping in to the wind power of the Holy Spirit...it is miserable. Open yourself up to His power!
2. Sailing Away - Being a father of a young child, I am now watching cartoons. My son likes basically one cartoon. One episode has the group sailing, until they hit the 'doldrums'. There, the wind stops and they must row their big boat. A sailboat was created to utilize the wind. You were created to allow the "wind" in the Holy Spirit to fill your sails to take you through life...don't row, let Him take you places! Maybe some you never thought possible!
3. Transporting Seeds - We've all probably blown on a dandelion, causing the seeds to be blown all over. The wind of the Holy Spirit can act like that. What I'm getting at is that through you and the seeds you plant, the Holy Spirit starts to work in other places. We don't know where that seed will take root or after it grows, another seed will be spread. We may never see what comes of it...that is an awesome mystery of the working of Him...tap into it...relish in it...God is awesome!
4. Fuel Your Fire - Oxygen is an important ingredient in keeping a flame going. Air is fed into a fire to keep it going stronger. A quenched fire will go out. Don't quench the Holy Spirit as that will cause your fire to go out...open up the vent and allow the air to come in to your life to keep the fire going or build it up! Utilize the power of wind!

When people are using wind turbines to capture the energy of the wind, they are utilizing an energy that is natural and good for the environment.

When you allow yourself to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, you, too, are utilizing an energy that is natural and good for your environment.

Capturing this 'energy' will cause your environment to be better. It will cause your outlook to be different. Your attitude to be different. Your faith to be different. Make someone else's environment cleaner by utilizing this 'wind power' yourself and make a difference in others' lives!

Enjoying the breeze...

Enduring Enterprise - Isaiah 54:10

I wish I had an answer as to why more marriages tend to fail each year. I know there are lots of speculations that have been formed as to answer that pondering. One, Hollywood doesn't model lifelong commitments. Two, previous parents may have been divorced (if married at all). Three, we make it easy to get out. Four, we are a "serve me" society. You may have your own to add, please do, as when you add your comment. However, aside from a few exceptions, relationships are to be permanent.

That permanency is modeled by God, Himself. He shows us that we will give up on Him before He gives up on us. He is not out for Himself, but looking out for our best interest. Even when we have been the one who messed up (again and again).

As we concluded our month talking about relationships, we finished up by looking at the enduring side of a marriage. Whether that marriage is to another human being or to God, He shows us that we are to not be giving up on that "marriage". Here are some applications to choose from to use from this week's lesson...

1. When wanting to "give up" on your partner, think about the "why" factor. Why are you wanting to give up? What have they done that enables you a way out that you have not done to God, sometime?
2. Self-reflect on the idea of you being OK with God giving up on your for the same thing - no forgiveness or grace given.
3. Make a list of all the good things that you see/saw in that person (or the things that attract you to them).
4. Pray for your heart to be softened toward them.
5. "Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." I Peter 4:8 (The Message)
6. Don't give up on your brethren, either. If you have a problem, go and "carefront" them to get things straightened out. Remember the "marriage" you're apart of with them, too.
   

Relationships are to be long-term. Both the ones that are joined together by a ring or a Cross. We are to endure the tough times so as to remain partners. Nothing with relationships are totally easy...but it is totally worth it!

Enjoying my Enterprise!...

Striking the Flint

If you've ever watched the reality show Survivor, you know how important fire is to the participants, regarding their survival. Fire is one of the things that they need to boil water, keep themselves warm, ward off predators, and various other needs. Without fire, they are in trouble. If they go too long without fire, they are doomed to starve or dehydrate. In the early part of the show, there will be a game that gives flint as a prize. Though the winner may have flint in their possession, they must use it correctly to produce enough spark to get fire.

Fire, sometimes associated with passion, is also important to the survival of the soul. Food and water keeps the physical body alive, but passion feeds the soul. That leads in to this week's quote...

Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark. ~ Henri Frederic Amiel

We are all just "possibilities". There is a possibility that you could be a host of different things. But, when you have a passion about something, you will inevitably start to move toward it.

Want to see a change in something? Don't just be the flint that sits on the shelf, never to strike the iron; rather, be the flint that moves toward the iron. Your fire may not start with the first few strikes, but the collection of strikes is sure to get a flame going.

Without food and water, the physical body is in trouble. Without fire, the soul is in trouble.

May passion create a fire within you so that you will not be just "possibility and latent force".

Striking the flint...

E-mail Encouragement: Rekindling Others

Just the other day, I was going through the line at our local grocery store. I have gone through her line many times. Each time I approach to be waited on, I ask something of her day, ending with her name (“How are you, [name]?). After all this time, she asks me, “How do you know my name?” I say, “It’s on the receipt.” She replied, “Oh.” Then, I was off to get ice (because I don’t like to grab it and stand in line for it to possibly melt), I responded, “I like to call people by name if I know it because it is better to say a name than not.” I could tell that it kind of opened her eyes and brightened her day, to an extent. Something as simple as calling someone by name can make someone feel good. That brings us to today’s quote…

• In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. - Albert Schweitzer

Whether it is calling someone by their name, remembering a birthday, a random act of kindness, a card/e-mail/text of encouragement, sharing Jesus with a lost soul, or something else, you can make a world of difference in their life and in the Kingdom by a simple encounter. What happens in that encounter is totally up to you.

How will you rekindle someone’s spirit today? Giving a compliment, calling them by name, listening to their struggles, being patient,…how?

Let me know any situations you were the flame burst-er or had your flame bursted – what happened?

I hope you have a great end of your week!

Anticipating the encounters ~

E-mail Encouragement: Which Size of Flame?

Being strong in just about every situation is a good quality. Strong bones help you be supported. Strong heart helps you live longer. Strong muscles help you run faster, jump higher, lift more, etc. Strong teams help you win more. Strong faith helps you not stumble. Each one of those becomes stronger because of strains that are placed upon them to cause them to become stronger. This brings us to this week’s quote…

Just as a small fire is extinguished by the storm whereas a large fire is enhanced by it - likewise a weak faith is weakened by predicament and catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them." ~ Viktor E. Frankl

The recent California wildfires were not diminished by the wind; rather, they were enhanced, to the point of destroying acres and homes. However, blow on a candle hard enough and it will go out. Which one defines your faith? Do you have a “California wildfire” faith that is raging? Or a candle-sized faith? The one can handle about anything that is thrown at him, the other can’t handle a single bad day. Maybe you would be somewhere in the middle…but where? Would your faith look like a controlled forest fire, a pile of leaves burning, a fire place fire, or like candles on a birthday cake?

How do you respond to bad predicaments? Does it weaken your faith or strengthen your faith? When your faith is stronger, it strengthens it. If it is too weak for the storm, it will be made even weaker. If you find yourself having a period of weak faith, pray that God will strengthen it. If you’re going through a rough patch and feel the need to share, let me know and I will be glad to pray for you! May your faith in other people be made strong enough to not tackle your burdens by yourself!

Keeping in (faith) shape ~

Monday Mentionings: Probing the Possibilities - Nehemiah 2:17-18

It was a lot of fun to get together for a fellowship dinner! All the food I had was delicious!!!

Nehemiah is getting ready to start building, and he has rallied the people to be ready to build their portion of the wall. Are you ready to start “building”? As we looked today at a preparatory time before the building process begins, here are some other applications to take with you this week…

1. Taking some time before you begin a project/make a decision is good to allow your mind to be focused on the task ahead. Before we begin “building” what did you SEE today? What did you see that needed to have you and God team up to make a difference?
2. Take these few days before the building begins to pray. What did you get inspired to pray about to want to see changed in your community/neighborhood/circle of influence?
3. You may choose to keep these “plans” between you and God before you become assured that this is what God wants you to be involved in. As Nehemiah looked around the city – you may choose to drive around the city until you find an area that you feel God is calling you to be involved in.
4. A song that was sung when I was a teen (which I am sure many of you know or have heard) was “It Only Takes a Spark”. The point of the song is that it doesn’t take much to get a fire going. As our church would be amazing if everyone took the responsibility, each day, to try to “spark” someone else. If we limit being enthusiastic to Sundays, then we will probably forget from one week to the next. So, if we are doing it each day, Sunday will just be another day to “spark” someone. What will you do to “spark” someone today?
5. Remember, as we get ready to build, you are not expected to “build a wall, but to raise something more than that. We are called by God to go and search amongst the rubble of a fallen world to find precious stones that shall be polished by God into the smooth stones they once were.” (quote from outside source). Have you moved into the circle to say, “God, here I am, use me”. I HOPE SO!!! (If you are struggling with this concept, feel free to let me know how I can get you there.)

What an amazing book! I have really enjoyed Nehemiah! It inspires me to see what God and I can do when we team up to help connect people to His Son!

Have a super week!!!

Wondering who I can connect to Him next ~