The following statement has been changing my life recently:
"God has given you EVERYTHING you need to do EVERYTHING He's called you to do"
It's so refreshing + empowering to know that we're equipped for our calling. God has litterally "graced" us to do what he's called us to do. This makes me ponder 3 things:
1. In his grace, God PURPOSED and CREATED you for your calling. Before the foundation of the earth, God was thinking of you. He literally shaped you to achieve what He called you to achieve. God knew every challenge, every mundane detail of your life, and EQUIPED you to face those challenges head on. You are graced.
2. God knew every mistake you would ever make, INCLUDING SIN, and he still called you. LISTEN: if he loved you YESTERDAY, he'll love you TODAY. If he called you YESTERDAY, He's called you TODAY. You are graced.
3. Grace is received by faith. In order to live the life God intends, we need to take daily steps of faith. It's hard to step out when we don't feel competent or equipped, but faith remembers that God has CALLED us and GRACED us so we step out in spite of our fear. You are graced.
God's given you everything you need to do everything He's called you to do, now live like it! Change the world. You are graced.
K.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
God's Will For Your Life
Romans 12:2 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
How do I figure out God's will for my life? Christians ask that question a lot!
To clarify, when I say "God's will", I'm talking about God's divine CALLING and PURPOSE. You know, your DESTINY.
Romans 12 gives a clue about our calling, "Let God Transform you" by "Changing the way you think" - some translations say, "By the renewal of your mind" - THEN, the Bible says we will know His will for our life.
I think this scriputre makes it clear that we learn God's will when we get to know God. When we spend time with Him, in His word, in prayer and in praise, we get to know Him and His presence transforms us. The incredible by-product of knowing Him is knowing His Will.
So I encourage you as I encourage myself, don't waste time worrying about your calling - simply love Him, seek Him, talk to Him, and as you do, you will discover your destiny.
K.
How do I figure out God's will for my life? Christians ask that question a lot!
To clarify, when I say "God's will", I'm talking about God's divine CALLING and PURPOSE. You know, your DESTINY.
Romans 12 gives a clue about our calling, "Let God Transform you" by "Changing the way you think" - some translations say, "By the renewal of your mind" - THEN, the Bible says we will know His will for our life.
I think this scriputre makes it clear that we learn God's will when we get to know God. When we spend time with Him, in His word, in prayer and in praise, we get to know Him and His presence transforms us. The incredible by-product of knowing Him is knowing His Will.
So I encourage you as I encourage myself, don't waste time worrying about your calling - simply love Him, seek Him, talk to Him, and as you do, you will discover your destiny.
K.
Friday, August 26, 2011
A Perfect Work In Progress
Hebrews 10:14 "For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy."
When it comes to living a moral life - I find the New Testament gives lots of HINTS and TIPS but far less ABSOLUTES than I would like it to. In other words, I wish there was a book called, "How to live a perfect Christian life" in the Bible... But alas, much of the time, it isn't that cut and dry.
As I'm contemplating this, I remember the Old Testament LAW. Jews had to kill animals to pay for sin and follow hundreds of other rules, day in day out. To me, that seems like a more clear depiction of how to live a perfect Christian life - a list of rules to follow.
But then comes Jesus. Instead of bringing rules, Jesus brought transformation. Instead of law, Jesus brought Grace.
In Jesus we see that the Law was perfect and good, but we were never good enough to fulfill it - therefore He offered himself to make us pure. He died so we might be transformed.
Hebrews 10 is so helpful to me - Jesus "Forever made perfect those who are being made holy." WOW. There are two important elements here:
1. He forever made me perfect through the Cross. He forgave my past, present and future sin when I believed in Him. Now, when God sees me, He sees the perfection of Jesus! That is incredible.
2. The scripture says those who are "BEING MADE Holy". I'm, quite obviously, NOT 100% HOLY YET! I make mistakes, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, grace covers my mistakes and love transforms me day by day to be more set apart, to be stronger in faith, to be different... to be HOLY.
So we don't need a "RULE BOOK" in the Bible - we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. And His power can produce so much more than a rule book ever could.
We're all just a perfect work in progress... :)
K.
When it comes to living a moral life - I find the New Testament gives lots of HINTS and TIPS but far less ABSOLUTES than I would like it to. In other words, I wish there was a book called, "How to live a perfect Christian life" in the Bible... But alas, much of the time, it isn't that cut and dry.
As I'm contemplating this, I remember the Old Testament LAW. Jews had to kill animals to pay for sin and follow hundreds of other rules, day in day out. To me, that seems like a more clear depiction of how to live a perfect Christian life - a list of rules to follow.
But then comes Jesus. Instead of bringing rules, Jesus brought transformation. Instead of law, Jesus brought Grace.
In Jesus we see that the Law was perfect and good, but we were never good enough to fulfill it - therefore He offered himself to make us pure. He died so we might be transformed.
Hebrews 10 is so helpful to me - Jesus "Forever made perfect those who are being made holy." WOW. There are two important elements here:
1. He forever made me perfect through the Cross. He forgave my past, present and future sin when I believed in Him. Now, when God sees me, He sees the perfection of Jesus! That is incredible.
2. The scripture says those who are "BEING MADE Holy". I'm, quite obviously, NOT 100% HOLY YET! I make mistakes, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, grace covers my mistakes and love transforms me day by day to be more set apart, to be stronger in faith, to be different... to be HOLY.
So we don't need a "RULE BOOK" in the Bible - we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. And His power can produce so much more than a rule book ever could.
We're all just a perfect work in progress... :)
K.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Empowered by Grace
I'm obsessed with the book of James right now.
James is like an old school Pentecostal preacher who pauses after every convicting point and waits for the congregation to shout AMEN!
James 1:22 has been stirring me:
"Don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves."
This scripture continues to become more and more challenging for me. It SOUNDS simple. But that is exactly the issue - Gods word is EASY to read, but is very DIFFICULT to apply.
It sounds simple to stay married - just love your wife! But the reality is that 50% of marriages end in divorce.
It sounds simple to have faith in difficult situations. But then we loose our job and think, "God where are you?"
If our FAITH is alive, we should ACT on God's word - so how do we live this life of FAITH? How do we become DOERS of Gods word instead of simply HEARING Gods word?
I think my Pastor, John Burns, has an incredible answer. He says:
"When you see His Grace, He sees your Faith."
When I see his Grace, I have strength to unconditionally love my Wife and Son. When I see his Grace, I am empowered to boldly pray and minister to others. When I see his Grace, I understand and trust His faithfulness even when my faith is weak.
So let the goodness and grace of God empower you gladly DO his word. Not out of obligation, but because He's just that good.
K.
James is like an old school Pentecostal preacher who pauses after every convicting point and waits for the congregation to shout AMEN!
James 1:22 has been stirring me:
"Don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves."
This scripture continues to become more and more challenging for me. It SOUNDS simple. But that is exactly the issue - Gods word is EASY to read, but is very DIFFICULT to apply.
It sounds simple to stay married - just love your wife! But the reality is that 50% of marriages end in divorce.
It sounds simple to have faith in difficult situations. But then we loose our job and think, "God where are you?"
If our FAITH is alive, we should ACT on God's word - so how do we live this life of FAITH? How do we become DOERS of Gods word instead of simply HEARING Gods word?
I think my Pastor, John Burns, has an incredible answer. He says:
"When you see His Grace, He sees your Faith."
When I see his Grace, I have strength to unconditionally love my Wife and Son. When I see his Grace, I am empowered to boldly pray and minister to others. When I see his Grace, I understand and trust His faithfulness even when my faith is weak.
So let the goodness and grace of God empower you gladly DO his word. Not out of obligation, but because He's just that good.
K.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Who do you Worship?
John 12:42-43 (ESV) "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."
This scripture always shocks + challenges me. In the NLT it says "For they loved human praise more than the praise of God." In other words, instead of honoring and fearing God by saying "I follow Jesus", they decided to honor and fear their friends, co-workers and leaders by keeping silent.
I always have to ask myself this question, "Who's applause am I playing for?" Is it for my fellow staff to say "Great job!" or the church to say, "Great preaching!" or, instead, do I long to honor God?
Sometimes, if not most of the time, standing for Jesus and striving for His approval is going to cost you something. In John 12, Standing for Jesus meant the disapproval of powerful leaders, maybe even getting thrown out of the Synagogue.
Will I strive to honor God even when all around me disapprove? Even in the little things? Even when the stakes are high? I hope the answer is YES!
K.
This scripture always shocks + challenges me. In the NLT it says "For they loved human praise more than the praise of God." In other words, instead of honoring and fearing God by saying "I follow Jesus", they decided to honor and fear their friends, co-workers and leaders by keeping silent.
I always have to ask myself this question, "Who's applause am I playing for?" Is it for my fellow staff to say "Great job!" or the church to say, "Great preaching!" or, instead, do I long to honor God?
Sometimes, if not most of the time, standing for Jesus and striving for His approval is going to cost you something. In John 12, Standing for Jesus meant the disapproval of powerful leaders, maybe even getting thrown out of the Synagogue.
Will I strive to honor God even when all around me disapprove? Even in the little things? Even when the stakes are high? I hope the answer is YES!
K.
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