Better Things Ahead

The past. Every person has a different one. Every person has some "skeletons" in their closet which they must deal with and try to keep in that proverbial closet. Similar to the person who "cleans" by putting everything in a closet or under a bed, the past is still present even when it is hidden. Just because we hide it does not take it away. Hiding simply takes it out of sight but not out of mind.

The past does not always mean things that we are "guilty" of or that we "did." The past can be filled with events that happened to us. Bullies, bad relationships, abuse, failure, rejection, cancer, illness, fear, and the list could continue.

I have my own set of past memories. Even though I may go on with everyday life like there really is nothing wrong, it doesn't take much to think about it and rehash some memories. However, even if I may remember the past, I know it shouldn't be forming who I am today and for the future. That brings us to this week's quote...

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. ~ C.S. Lewis

As I am getting a bit older, I am noticing that my body is not responding to things like it did in the past. Physically, I am bringing the past to the present - the choices of the past affect the status of the present. It is a tangible reminder.

That can be the way our choices of bringing memories and issues of the past with us into the future. You choose how the past "handles" you. Does it have a grip on you or is it simply a 'sticky note' reminder that you know its there and you can take it off very easily. Which are you going to choose?

Understandably, there are things of the past that may be to a level that you are never going to forget. I cannot imagine how some people who have encountered heinous attacks can make the future seem brighter. Similarly, other violent/shocking life experiences are going to be very traumatic on individuals. So there is no superficiality in this thought and challenge to look to the future with a sense of brightness. The key is stated above when we must understand how we are going to choose letting the past "handle" us. Are we going to take control or let the past control us?

Maybe you need to find someone who you can visit with if you haven't had your "breaking" point. If you have had that point, maybe you can think about how you are stronger than the past. If you are religious, know that God is bigger than any past issue and He can help you throw it. Look to the future, there is a brightness found there!

Now it's your turn...what memory of the past do you need release the grip of? What do you need to do to accomplish this? Feel free to leave comments...

See Reason to Give Thanks?

Growing up, one of the biggest deficits I saw in prayers from people was the lack of being thankful.  There was plenty of asking for God to be with situations that people were going through.  Asking God to be with the preacher and/or the others in the roles of the assembly. But there just wasn’t a lot of being thankful.

Maybe I am on an extreme, but somewhere during preaching school I started being more thankful in my prayers. I like to start out with that to show how grateful to God I am for the various things in my life.  I have also started my son, now 2 1/2, with prayers that are almost entirely thanksgiving.

With those thoughts, that brings us to this week’s quote…

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength.  Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.  ~ Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

I firmly believe that being thankful changes our perspective on God and our life.  Without much expectation mentioned in prayers we can focus on being appreciative of what He has given us.  This is another reason that I have initiated having a “praise prayer” at the beginning of our assembly times.  Some follow it a bit better than others, but the intention is to simply praise God for some things He’s done…with us, as a church and as individuals.

Take some time to have regular “praise prayers” in your life or start out with being more thankful.  Bottom line is that we need to find a reason to give thanks!

Shower Ideas

The shower…a place to bathe, but for some, it is also a place to sort out thoughts, come up with new ideas, sing, or pray.  One spends anywhere from around 5-15 minutes in the shower.  You have a lot of time to be engaged in one of those activities.

What goes on with you while you’re in the shower?  That brings us to this week’s quote…

Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea.  It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.  ~ Nolan Bushnell

I know that I have been in the shower and have come up with several thoughts/ideas.  Sometimes those ideas definitely have disappeared, along with the water droplets.  (Maybe someone needs to invent “waterproof post-it notes” so that all the ideas one comes up with can be put down)

When it comes to ideas I have a tendency to forget them unless I write them down.  My mind seems to go continually, therefore I need to be reminded.  That has been one of the great things of the computer and it sends you a reminder if you set it up on your calendar.

Life is too short to not attempt the ideas that come to our minds.  Don’t let your ideas evaporate with the water…make sure those ideas are stick around longer to see if they could be the next “big” idea!

Monday Mentionings: God Works By His Own Clock - Luke 1:5-20

Our culture is growing more accustomed to not having to wait on things. With the explosion of cell phone use, specifically amongst high school students, they can’t even wait 44 minutes (the length of a class) to talk to a friend because, if they can, they try to get away with sending a text message during class. Our need to know an answer is infected with impatience. This spreads into how we deal with God. We want to have the answer immediately…but God works by His own clock. Here are some applications to choose from regarding yesterday’s sermon…

1. If you were picking someone to bear a child, your pick wouldn’t typically be someone who had been barren. God did. He picked an unlikely person to bring John into the world. You may think you’re an unlikely person to carry out what God has in store, but you may just be surprised at what happens. Pray that you will be open and willing to carry out what God sends your way!
2. I would rather wait through many cycles of stoplights than sit and try to turn left, crossing traffic, on a busy street. With the stoplights I know what is going to happen, with the other I don’t know when my chance to “go” will be. However, probably the times when I “don’t know what will happen” is when God is going to do something with me. As you go through your week, look for the most unlikely times to have God send someone to you or you are sent to someone who is in need of something you have been selected to provide.
3. What have you been asking God for that He hasn’t given you the answer you requested? Has He provided a clear answer that is opposite? Or somewhere in the middle? Sometimes God may give you an unlikely answer – one you didn’t expect. Maybe that is because it was not His Will to answer in the way you wanted. Maybe it was because you were not specific in your prayer, so your answer was as general as your prayer. Either way, we can learn to ask specifically, not generally. Ask persistently, not conveniently.
4. God is a “dot connector”. He works out situations in ways we can’t fathom. Part of the reason we can’t fathom the ways He works the situations out is because they often overlap with more than just our individual life. People’s paths overlap in various ways and layers. Somewhere in there He allows us to be a dot that, hopefully, brings them closer to Jesus. Let us not be like Zechariah to be stricken with an unlikely condition when he couldn’t speak, but look at each situation as God using us for something good. Remember, a hopeless situation could just be a setup for you to be used as a mighty instrument in God’s Kingdom!!!

God is working things out according to His clock, which keeps perfect time and the batteries never run out. Your requests and situations may or may not work out the way you would like. Regardless, understand that God can use you where you’re at, at any given time. As you understand this, may you be freed from any barricade that may keep your faith from being fresh!!!

May your faith be continually refreshed ~

Prayer Outcomes: Does Praying Yield Tangible Results?

THIS WEEK'S THEME Prayer Outcomes Does praying yield tangible results?

Daily readings are as follows:

Sunday: SOS Prayers
MOI, November 11, 2007

Monday: Pooled Praying
MOI, November 12, 2007

Tuesday: Rapid Response
MOI, November 13, 2007

Wednesday: Crack Solution
MOI, November 14, 2007

Thursday: Sight and Faith
MOI, November 15, 2007

Friday: Test Case
MOI, November 16, 2007

Saturday: Weekend Wrap-up
MOI, November 17, 2007

Monday Mentionings: A Great Work - Nehemiah 6:1-14

It is almost always nice to start something new. In this case, it is nice to start a new week each Monday morning. You can put last week's business behind you and press on to making this week a great week!

God has a "great work" that He is doing all the time and everywhere. He guides us in carrying out that "great work" and that makes me excited to be a part of it! I hope that you can join in with an excitement of being a teammate of God's. Nehemiah had a "great work" going on and he was faced with opposition. See if you can use any of these applications to help you apply the lesson...

1. Though it is Monday morning at 11:30 AM, has Satan called to meet you somewhere yet? Nehemiah's opponents tried to take him away from a safe place to meet up with him. Our Enemy tries to get us to go away from Jesus and meet him in a place where we're more susceptible to being weak. Keep this idea on your mind as you go throughout the week.
2. Kids are taught at an early age that they can't have everything they want. I just visited with my 7 year-old nephew yesterday and he had just been at the store and wanted something but didn't receive it. However, this lesson never sinks in. Sure, some are more disciplined than others, but there is still a desire to want. The opposition to Nehemiah wanted them to not get the wall built so they could still have an influence on Jerusalem. We may want our "way" or may want a product. Either way, damage can be done in our pursuit to achieve that desire. Pray that the next time you "want" something - whether it is "your way" or something else - you think how it will affect your life and any others involved.
3. This week is a new week and Satan will be serving lots of different ping pong opportunities at you. How will you respond? Peter encourages us to be "preparing your minds for action; be self-controlled" (I Peter 1:13a). Pray that God will keep you strong and under control as you "fight the good fight of the faith".

Have a Jesus-filled week!

Keeping up my shield ~

Monday Mentionings - Going Before the King - Nehemiah 2:2-4a

I left yesterday pumped up and excited! Thanks for making it a great day! It was another encouraging "family reunion"! Speaking of encouragement, Nancy informed me that the "encouragement" bulletin board will be left up for another month - so you still have time to encourage someone!!!

Nehemiah has been a great study for me, so far, and I don't think that will change. I love getting my "scriptural snorkel" out to go exploring beneath the surface of scripture. Pray for me that what I discover, through my explorations, will come through clearly in application for you, the recipient.

Yesterday, we looked at the first half of the second chapter of Nehemiah. Nehemiah goes before the king to ask permission to go to Jerusalem. He comes with a "broken heart", revealing a "humble heart", and leaving with a "happy heart". Here are some additional applications for you to choose from...

1. Nehemiah had a change in demeanor because his heart was broken to make a change in Jerusalem. What is heavy on your heart that you would like to see changed? It may not be directly related to the church, but it might be something the church could be involved in. Regardless of what it is, pray that God would open a door for you to get involved (just as Nehemiah wanted to get involved).
2. Nehemiah was in the habit of praying. He said this quick prayer (Nehemiah 2:4b) in between statements to the king. Remember, Nehemiah went before the King (of heaven) before he went before the king (of the land). A suggestion regarding this type of prayer that I got from an outside source is: While I am cleaning the house I lift my heart to God and say, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, for Christ’s sake. Amen.’ This is just one suggestion that came from a bible verse. Maybe you can think of others. If you find any out...let me know!
3. Nehemiah was granted what he requested. Sometimes it may be difficult to ask God things when we are not getting the answers we are looking for, especially when they don't come as quickly as we want. God wants us to ask Him for help. Remember, He is the God of abundance...don't limit Him...ASK...He may just surprise you with an amazing "YES"! And you would have never known if you didn't ask.

Whatever is on your heart...continue to take it to Him. If you haven't found something that is heavy on your heart, pray that God would reveal something to you.

I pray that prayer will be as needed for your spiritual well-being as breathing is for your physical well-being!

May you have a Jesus-filled week!

Looking for the next surprise ~

Monday Mentionings - What If His People Prayed - Nehemiah 1:4-11

I hope your week has gotten off to a great start! Mine has. I left yesterday's assembly with a fire to see what God had in store for me this week. It gives me the anxiousness of Christmas morning...seeing what I am going to receive that I can open up and see what is inside. That is the way I look at it with teaming up with God...what is He going to hide inside to surprise me with this time???

"What If His People Prayed" is a song by Casting Crowns that has been a motivation for a "vision" of the future of this church for a long time now. I am so motivated by people's heartfelt, unscripted, nervous, prayers. Not all of those have to be included, but most. This usually happens most frequently when I hear a prayer of someone I don't normally hear from. My wife says some of the greatest prayers. I was left the prayer time for the shepherd search last winter so "pumped"! I heard lots of pray-ers I don't normally hear.

Yesterday's lesson, titled the same as the song title, came from Nehemiah's first prayer (in the book). Jerusalem's walls are in shambles and weak. Our faith foundation must be strong in order to keep ourselves from becoming susceptible to anything ungodly. Here are some applications you can choose from to put into practice...

1. Awesome God - Use the word "awesome" in your prayers this week to either describe God or something that He's done for you.
2. I'm Guilty - Is there something that you're guilty of that you haven't expressed to God? It could be something from the past that you haven't confessed to God or it could be just acknowledging that you are a sinner and/or have sinned. Remember...God knows what you do, but He likes to know that you know what you've done and will admit the guilt.
3. Don't Turn - God is a merciful God, so let us not deny that we've erred and revel in the assurance that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Praise God, when you pray, for that constant cleansing blood!
4. Reward Us - Life can have it's fair share of obstacles. The next time that you have an obstacle to face, no matter how small, ask God to deliver you, reward you, and/or bless you as you give this task to Him before you even enter into it.

Prayer is so motivational to me. I hope you will find yourself "intrinsically motivated" to pray to our AWESOME God!

May your prayer fire be refreshed as you seek Him in asking how you can best build your section of the wall. If you want any reminders to pray this week...let me know.

Have a fantastic week!

Monday Mentionings - Under Construction - Nehemiah 6:15-16

What a great day we had yesterday! Fellowship dinners don't happen too often here, so when they do, it is a great time! The enjoyment was multiplied when the Broughton church came up to join us. The day was wrapped up with a time of guitar playing and singing.

Nehemiah is an interesting study. To see what all went in to his life inspires me to do more things for God! As we began the series yesterday, Nehemiah took time in planning, organizing, and building the walls of Jerusalem after they had been destroyed. Here are some additional applications from the lesson...

1. Take a few moments to dream about what you think this church should "look" like in the future. Pray that God will open doors of opportunity for you to help create that "church of the future." For a greater challenge, read through the book to see what Nehemiah faced in order to complete the task.
2. Organizing a project takes a lot of work. Pray for me as we go through this series to have clear direction of what God wants me to do with this series.
3. Completing a project not only takes work, but sometimes perseverance, dedication, and endurance is required. Pray for yourself as we go through this series that you will accept the challenges and be able to implement them into your lives to be a "tool" for God in this building "project".

Prayer is a very important action in Nehemiah's life. It is inevitable that prayer is a main product of the application part of the lesson/series.

Have a surprise-filled week! Let me know how God is surprising you! Yesterday's surprise was the Launis' showing up! Pray they come again soon!